Evelina's POV

  "Come in." The teacher said and gave me a small nod, signaling that it was time to enter.

  I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and stepped inside.

  The moment I walked through the door, the atmosphere shifted.

  Silence.

  All eyes turned to me, some students sitting up straighter, others freezing mid-whisper. A few students gnced at each other as if confirming that, yes, they were indeed seeing a tall, foreign girl with long blonde hair and gray eyes standing in their cssroom.

  I swept my gaze across the room, noting their expressions. Curiosity. Surprise. Admiration.

  At least they weren’t openly gawking. That was a relief.

  I smiled politely, my expression composed.

  "Hello, everyone," I greeted smoothly in fluent Korean, my voice calm and even. "My name is Evelina Solovyova. I apologize for deying the lesson."

  For a long moment, there was complete silence.

  And then—

  "Whoa, she speaks Korean?"

  "Her voice is so refined..."

  "She’s so pretty."

  '...Okay. That was an overreaction'.

  I kept my smile intact, but internally, I sighed. 'Are they seriously this easy to impress?'

  [Ding!]

  [Leave a good impression on 15 students! (30 EXP)]

  [15/15]

  [Completed!]

  [You've earned 30 EXP!]

  I didn’t react outwardly, but internally, I smirked. As expected, I’ll finish this before lunch.

  The teacher seemed pleased by my behavior. "Welcome, Miss Solovyova. I assume you weren’t present yesterday due to travel?"

  I nodded. "Yes. I had an important meeting to attend, and I was still adjusting to the time difference." 'More like adjusting to my sudden transmigration, but details'.

  The teacher nodded in understanding. "Alright. You’ll be sitting next to Jay. He’s the one with the blonde hair by the window."

  I froze for a fraction of a second.

  OH FRICK. ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS.

  'NO. NO. NO. I DON’T WANT TO SIT THERE'.

  But I had no choice.

  I forced myself to nod calmly and walked toward my assigned seat.

  As I passed by my new cssmates, I could feel their gazes following me. Some students subtly straightened their backs, some leaned in slightly as if trying to get a better look at me, and others simply looked stunned.

  Keeping my face neutral, I approached my seat and nodded to Jay, offering a small polite smile.

  He gnced at me, nodded back, and returned his attention to the front.

  '...Huh. That wasn’t so bad'.

  At least he wasn’t the talkative type.

  I sat down, keeping my movements elegant and composed.

  The css resumed as if nothing had happened.

  =================================

  The rest of the morning was smooth. I introduced myself again during another css, answered a few standard questions about my background, and managed to avoid unnecessary conversations.

  [Ding!]

  [Leave a good impression on 3 teachers! (45 EXP)]

  [3/3]

  [Completed!]

  [Have a rexing day! (15 EXP)]

  [Completed!]

  [Do not get into trouble! (60 EXP)]

  [Completed!]

  [Ding!]

  [Level up!]

  I mentally stored that information away for ter. Right now, my priority was keeping a low profile.

  I could check my stats once I got home.

  =================================

  The bell rang, signaling the start of lunch.

  Before anyone could approach me, I swiftly reached into my bag, grabbed my lunch box, and dashed out of the cssroom.

  I wasn’t in the mood to deal with curious cssmates trying to invite me to eat with them.

  =================================

  After a quick search, I found an empty cssroom with a window that let in plenty of natural light. Perfect.

  I stepped inside, closed the door behind me, and settled into a chair near the window.

  Pcing my lunch box on the desk, I carefully opened it.

  Inside were three beautifully prepared meals, arranged neatly:

  Kulebyaka (Кулебяка) – A rich, multi-yered Russian pastry filled with buttery salmon, earthy mushrooms, rice, and eggs, all wrapped in a crisp, fky golden dough. The aroma of salmon and fresh herbs filled the air.

  Smoked Sturgeon Sandwich (Сэндвич с осетриной) – Delicate smoked sturgeon fillets with creamy butter and fresh dill, yered inside dark, slightly sweet Borodinsky bread. The distinct scent of the rye bread mixed with the subtle smokiness of the sturgeon, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

  Chicken Kiev Sandwich (Котлета по-киевски, бутерброд) – A crispy, golden-breaded chicken Kiev, sliced and pced into a warm, buttered brioche bun. As I picked it up, I could already see the garlic-herb butter oozing into the soft bread.

  I took a small bite of the Chicken Kiev Sandwich first.

  The crispness of the golden-brown crust gave way to the juicy, tender chicken inside. The rich, garlicky butter melted in my mouth, soaking into the buttery brioche bun.

  I nearly sighed in contentment. Perfect.

  Next, I tried the Smoked Sturgeon Sandwich.

  The combination of the smoky sturgeon, fresh dill, and slightly sweet rye bread was both delicate and fvorful. The creamy butter added just the right amount of richness, bancing out the stronger fvors.

  And finally, the Kulebyaka.

  The moment I bit into it, I tasted the harmony of buttery salmon, the umami of mushrooms, the softness of rice, and the richness of eggs all wrapped in fky, golden pastry.

  For a moment, I allowed myself to rex, simply enjoying my meal in peace.

  After finishing, I took a sip of cold water, letting the refreshing coolness wash down the richness of the food.

  I leaned back slightly, enjoying the moment of solitude.

  The sound of the bell ringing, signaling the end of lunch, brought me back to reality.

  Sighing softly, I packed up my things, made sure I left no mess behind, and walked back to css, ready to continue my peaceful school life.

  =================================

  The final bell rang, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. 'Finally'.

  I took my time gathering my things, neatly pcing my notebooks and pens into my bag. The day had been long, and honestly, I was just looking forward to going home, maybe drinking some tea, and reading a book in peace.

  But, of course, peace was not something easily granted to me.

  As I reached for my st book, a shadow loomed over my desk. I gnced up, my eyebrows raising slightly as I found myself looking at an athletic-looking guy standing there with a confident grin.

  'Did I forget his name?' I tilted my head slightly. 'Is he from my css?'

  I had been here for only a short while, so I wasn’t familiar with many of my cssmates yet. But that wasn’t the most pressing question in my mind.

  'Is he trying to recruit me into a club or something?' I blinked up at him, confused.

  "Hey, Evelina!" he greeted, his tone casual but oddly self-assured. "Since it's dangerous for a woman to walk alone at this hour, how about I walk you home?"

  I just stared at him, momentarily caught off guard. Before I could even formute a response, voices from the other boys in css suddenly erupted from around the room.

  "Bro, get out of here! You’re ugly!"

  "Yeah, let someone else ask her!"

  I turned my head slightly, watching in amusement as our cssmates mercilessly heckled him. He, however, remained completely unbothered, keeping his focus locked onto me.

  "So? What do you say?" he asked, his grin unwavering.

  I hesitated, debating how to respond. I had no intention of going anywhere with him, and besides, my brother was already on his way to pick me up.

  I gave him a polite smile and said, "I appreciate your concern, but my older brother is picking me up. Thank you for the invitation, though."

  Most guys would’ve taken the hint. Unfortunately, this one had persistence.

  "Oh, come on!" he said, ughing lightly, as if I had just told a joke. "Walking is good for the body. I can even convince your brother to let me accompany you."

  I resisted the urge to sigh. Instead, I gave him a bnk stare. "If you insist," I said pinly, "but be warned—my brother is quite overprotective."

  That wasn’t a joke. If Alexei sensed even the slightest ill intention from this guy, he'd probably make him regret being born.

  He waved off my words like they were nothing. "Pfft, don’t worry! Just leave it to me!"

  I sighed internally. I already warned him. If something happened to him, I was out of it.

  Shaking my head, I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder, making my way toward the school entrance. The persistent guy followed right behind me, still looking confident.

  The moment we stepped outside, my eyes immediately locked onto the tall, striking figure standing near the gates.

  Alexei.

  Even in a crowded space, my older brother was impossible to miss. His tall frame, golden blond hair, and sharp green eyes stood out against the dull background of school uniforms. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, he looked like he had just stepped out of a high-profile business meeting rather than come to pick up his little sister from school.

  And, judging by the way several girls nearby were staring at him, whispering amongst themselves, they clearly agreed.

  "He looks so hot in a suit!"

  "Is he a model?"

  "Maybe he's a CEO…?"

  I chuckled to myself. 'Oh, I am absolutely teasing him about this ter'.

  Alexei was speaking to someone through his earpiece, his expression neutral and professional. But the moment his eyes met mine, his features softened into a warm smile. He raised a hand and waved.

  I waved back, but I also spared a gnce at the guy beside me. He still had that cocky, self-assured expression.

  'You poor, poor fool'.

  As we got closer, I saw Alexei’s expression shift. His warm smile faded the moment his gaze nded on the guy beside me. His usual warm demeanor cooled into something unreadable. His posture remained rexed, but his eyes sharpened like ice.

  I knew that look.

  It was the "I might kill someone today" look.

  Alexei’s voice was smooth but cold as he asked, "Кто это?" (Who is this?)

  I smiled innocently. "Просто одноклассник." (Just a cssmate.)

  Alexei’s gaze flickered over the guy, analyzing him from head to toe. Then he said, "Thank you for escorting my sister." his voice smooth but unreadable.

  The guy, seemingly encouraged by Alexei’s polite words, finally remembered his original pn. He straightened his shoulders and said, "Actually, I was pnning to take Evelina home myself."

  The temperature around us dropped several degrees.

  Alexei turned his full attention to him, his gaze sharp as a bde. "And what qualifications do you have," he asked, his tone as sharp as ice, "to earn the right to take my little sister home?"

  The nearby students who had been eavesdropping erupted into ughter.

  "PFFT!"

  "Bro, just go home already!"

  "Man, that was brutal!"

  Alexei flicked his gaze at them, and they immediately shut up. I covered my mouth to stifle a ugh. My brother looked like he was about to commit a crime.

  To my surprise, the guy didn’t back down. He stood straighter and argued, "Walking is good for the body, and just because you're her brother doesn’t mean you have the authority to tell her what to do. Also, I can handle a few thugs if something happens!"

  I sighed internally. 'I didn't even want to go with him, and my brother wasn't controlling me'—just stating facts.

  Alexei let out a low chuckle, one that sent a chill down my spine (HE'S PISSED!).

  "Oh? And what exactly would you do if someone truly dangerous approached her?"

  "I told you, I can fight—"

  Alexei scoffed. "You think making my sister walk instead of riding safely is proof of your strength? How amusing."

  Then, he casually fixed his tie and sent a fake punch toward the guy.

  The poor boy flinched so hard that he fell on his butt.

  Silence.

  Alexei looked down at him, unimpressed. "You couldn’t even see that coming. And you think you can protect my sister?"

  The guy opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked thoroughly defeated.

  Alexei took a step forward, clearly ready to finish what he started, but I quickly reached out and grabbed his arm.

  "Хватит, Алексей." (That's enough, Alexei.) I sighed. "Он не имел дурных намерений." (He didn’t have bad intentions.)

  Alexei exhaled sharply, his expression softening. "Ладно." (Fine.)

  He turned back to the guy and gave him a dismissive nod before guiding me toward the car.

  Before getting in, much to Alexei’s horror…

  I bowed deeply.

  Alexei stiffened in shock. "Евелина, что ты делаешь?" (Evelina, what are you doing?)

  "I apologize for my brother’s behavior."

  "Evelina—" Alexei started, but I didn’t stop.

  The guy blinked, stunned. "Huh…? Uh, yeah. I forgive you. And your brother."

  Satisfied, I straightened, gave him a small smile. I got into the car, leaving behind a very confused cssmate and an even more stunned older brother.

  ==================================

  The moment the doors shut, I burst into ughter.

  Alexei was still frozen, his face a mix of disbelief and betrayal.

  "Ты… поклонилась… обычному человеку." (You… bowed… to a commoner.)

  I ughed even harder.

  "Почему ты это сделала?" (Why did you do that?) he finally asked.

  Still grinning, I leaned back. "Ты скоро переведешься, верно?" (You’re transferring soon, right?)

  Alexei nodded slowly.

  "Ну, если этот парень запомнит сегодняшний день и решит с тобой драться, это создаст проблемы, верно?" (Well, if this guy holds a grudge and tries to fight you ter, wouldn't that cause trouble?)

  Alexei blinked, then chuckled, ruffling my hair.

  "Спасибо, моя умная сестра." (Thank you, my clever sister.)

  I grinned. "Конечно." (Of course.)

  And with that, the topic was dropped—though I was absolutely teasing him about his fan club ter.