As Marcus reached out to Dionysios, his thoughts were a jumble of confusion.

  Although Dionysios had entrusted him with the task of looking after Xanthia when they entered high school and were assigned to Css 3 of the first year, Marcus had never actually interacted with her.

  Based on his impressions, Xanthia seemed like an introverted, quiet, and low-profile individual.

  If Dionysios hadn’t told him she was also a member of the Papadopoulos familia—and, more importantly, a close retive—he would never have associated her with the image of a wealthy familia’s young dy.

  Once Marcus learned of Xanthia’s background, his perception shifted. He began to think that she truly embodied the qualities expected of someone from a powerful familia. He assumed she was modest, polite, and profound—a misunderstanding on his part.

  Of course, this image of her existed solely in Marcus’s imagination, shaped by his preconceived notions. In reality, Xanthia’s reserved demeanor and ck of presence in css made Marcus feel that there was little need to "look after" her. Who would dare bully such a quiet and low-key girl?

  As a day student, Marcus was unaware of how Jimmy had earned the nickname "Pee King" and saw it merely as a quirky joke. He had no clue that Jimmy had scolded Xanthia in the past; otherwise, he would have reported the matter to Dionysios immediately.

  Now, however, a new question emerged: why was the introverted young dy from the Papadopoulos familia suddenly approaching him?

  Marcus found himself puzzled but pleasantly surprised. His first impression of Xanthia in this moment was quite favorable.

  He also found the situation novel. Never before had a girl directly asked him to treat her to a meal. This was a first.

  Marcus had always been self-conscious about his appearance. He had a rough, intimidating look that didn’t lend itself to being called “handsome.” At best, it exuded a certain "tough guy" energy. Unlike other ruffian-like boys who could cim some rugged charm, Marcus had none. His unpolished demeanor made him wonder how any high-quality girl could be interested in him.

  Throughout both junior high and high school, Marcus noticed that girls who approached him usually had ulterior motives—they were interested in Dionysios, not him.

  This didn’t bother Marcus much. He preferred the company of boys, where interactions were freer and less constrained. Hanging out with girls often felt burdensome; the constant need for politeness and the unspoken rules made him feel restricted.

  Unbeknownst to Marcus, Xanthia’s decision to approach him wasn’t random. She simply wanted to expand her network of "tools" for future use. Seeing that Marcus had a good retionship with Dionysios, she figured he might come in handy.

  In addition, she was testing the effectiveness of her “Social Butterfly” attribute: Could she successfully freeload a meal by simply showing up and asking?

  If Marcus agreed, Xanthia thought she might even push her luck further by naming the restaurant she wanted. After all, this was part of completing a time-sensitive activity challenge.

  Xanthia had no fear of rejection. She’d learned that as long as she was confident and thick-skinned, nothing could phase her. As the saying went, as long as you’re not embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to others.

  Meanwhile, Dionysios, seated in the back of a luxury car, had just agreed to dinner with another group of friends in his social circle online. The invitation had come from Evelonia La Melodia, a well-known figure in the upper echelons of the country.

  Evelonia was famous for her stunning looks, elegant demeanor, and multifaceted talents. Among her peers, she was regarded as a angel—someone almost untouchable.

  She and Dionysios had been in the same junior high school, but for high school, she opted for Thessaloniki Foreign Language High School, a prestigious institution emphasizing linguistic studies.

  When Dionysios agreed to the dinner in the Synomilía group chat, Evelonia smiled with delight. Since leaving junior high, she hadn’t seen him, though rumors had once linked them romantically, suggesting she might be his fiancée. Dionysios, however, had always denied this.

  Evelonia was annoyed by his indifference but couldn't stay angry. As far as she was concerned, he could do no wrong.

  Her joy was short-lived when Dionysios suddenly sent a message canceling the dinner:“Sorry, something urgent came up. Let’s reschedule. My treat next time, okay?”

  The group quickly responded with understanding, though one member teased him about not giving Evelonia proper attention. Evelonia, however, felt slighted and tried to salvage the situation, even suggesting a private dinner with Dionysios. He tactfully declined, citing the need to avoid unnecessary specution.

  She consoled herself, reminding herself that there would be future opportunities. Still, she was curious about what had come up to change his pns.

  What Evelonia didn’t know was that Dionysios had received a message from Marcus informing him of Xanthia’s freeloading request. Dionysios responded enthusiastically:

  “Freeloading is great! Let her. Marcus, can I freeload too? I’ll treat you next time.”

  Marcus, eager to strengthen his connection with Dionysios, replied immediately:“Brother Dionysios, it’s an honor to treat both you and your sister! Where would you like to go?”

  As Marcus received Dionysios’s blessing, he turned to Xanthia with an enthusiastic grin that only made his fierce expression more intimidating. “We’re cssmates, after all. Let me treat you. Just name the pce!”

  Xanthia, unaware of Marcus’s quick consultation with Dionysios, assumed he was naturally generous. She felt she’d chosen the perfect “tool.”

  Before she could suggest a restaurant, Marcus, prompted by Dionysios’s advice, encouraged her to pick a pce, making her feel “cared for.”

  Xanthia didn’t hesitate. She named the restaurant tied to her challenge. She wasn’t about to miss this chance to complete the task.

  Marcus appreciated her straightforwardness. He hated when people responded with “whatever.”

  “Oh, by the way,” Marcus added, “there’s someone else coming who might surprise you.”

  Marcus was certain Dionysios must care deeply for Xanthia—he treated her with such indulgence. Maybe I should ask him if he needs another sibling, Marcus thought.