To avoid exposing their relationship, Greg and Vivian tacitly went their separate ways after reaching the surface.
Vivian took a shortcut toward the Student Council office building, while Greg followed the main path toward the Academy's central district alone.
The morning sunlight spilled over Glory Kail's campus, gilding its Gothic spires and vine-covered stone walls in soft gold.
Dewdrops glittered in the flower beds, and the air carried the fresh scent of grass mingled with earth.
Thanks to his outstanding performance at the Exchange Meeting, Greg encountered the first wave of students greeting him as soon as he stepped into the crowd.
"Good morning, Senior Greg!"
Two first-year girls spotted him from a distance, immediately stopped, and bowed to him in unison, their voices clear and bright.
Greg paused briefly, then nodded and smiled back. "Mm, good morning."
Both girls instantly flushed crimson and hurried off, tugging at each other and leaving behind a trail of barely suppressed giggles.
That was only the beginning.
From the moment he set foot on the main path, someone greeted him practically every few steps.
There were younger students who respectfully called him "Senior Greg," classmates who clapped him on the shoulder with a "Morning, buddy," and even professors he rarely interacted with who nodded to him as they passed.
At first, Greg had found it rather difficult to get used to all this.
After all, not long ago, he had been ostracized at the Academy because of all sorts of rumors.
Suddenly becoming an outstanding genius everyone admired had left him at something of a loss.
But as the days passed, he had no choice but to get used to this treatment.
He smiled and waved to the people around him, his movements natural and easy.
That alone made several girls beside the