High school life is always rich and colorful.
For students with maximum socializing skills, the start of the semester means they can gather together again to chat in small groups, stretching a summer job experience into a five-chapter, eighteen-section epic that could easily last until winter break.
For individuals like Locke and Gwen, who genuinely enjoy learning and love studying, the cycle of tests that once again filled their lives brought even greater joy.
Locke wished he could take a test three times a day.
These meant Achievement Points and Potential Points.
In the face of quests, even Wanda's arrival could not stop Locke's passion for studying.
Especially since she is a Wanda who is currently not the Scarlet Witch.
Yes.
Neither Wanda nor Pietro had shown any special traits of the Scarlet Witch or Quicksilver. Locke felt this was likely the same state Carrie had been in previously.
It simply wasn't time for their awakening yet.
Once Locke figured this out, he stopped paying much attention to Wanda.
He has a girlfriend.
Gwen Stacy and Locke are recognized as the model couple of Midtown High. In fact, this year's promotional video for Midtown High has already locked in Locke and Gwen as the male and female leads.
Even the New York Youth High School Newspaper, which focuses on high school life across New York, placed Locke and Gwen at the top of their list of the top ten high school couples.
Therefore, an ordinary Wanda, though somewhat maturely developed and possessing an attractive wild beauty, was someone he shouldn't focus on excessively to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, given that he has a girlfriend.
High school is a miniature society, and within this society, frankly speaking, Wanda and he do not belong to the same world. Wanda's academic performance is not sufficient to allow her to blend into Locke's small inner circle.
Moreover, Wanda has never thought about blending in.
Furthermore, they take entirely different classes. If nothing unexpected happens, and if Wanda weren't named Wanda, then according to a typical story, she wouldn't likely even have a name in a story centered on Locke.
"I'm heading to the office," Locke said to Gwen after they left the cafeteria. "The student council president from Regis High is coming over to sign the agreement. I'll head over there to wait."
Gwen offered a quiet grunt of agreement. "I have one more class this afternoon. I'll head over after I finish."
Locke nodded, turned around, and walked toward the dedicated office reserved for him as the Student Council President of Midtown High.
Since the semester started last month, apart from taking tests to grind points, Locke has directed most of his energy toward his grand plan for taking over the student council.
To establish an inter-school knowledge competition for student councils across New York State and Jersey City.
A competition belonging entirely to student councils, initiated by a strong alliance of the student council presidents from eighteen well-known high schools in New York State plus two high schools in Jersey City.
After a month of busy work, most of the high schools have been settled, leaving only Regis High at the moment.
Fortunately, once the agreement is signed today, they can set up a group chat, have the student council president of Trinity High contact some media outlets, share the news, hold a press conference, and then begin organizing the event.
When that time comes, his planned project—which can be ground for two years and is worth at least 500,000 points—can finally launch.
Locke looks forward to this immensely.
...
"Hi, Gwen."
"Cho."
In the lounge hallway, Gwen offered a smile as she greeted Helen Cho, who had been attending classes with them for a month.
Opening her locker opposite them to retrieve her bag, Cindy waited until Helen Cho left clutching her biology textbook before leaning in close to Gwen.
"Hey, you better not lower your guard."
Gwen smiled and said, "Cho simply admires Locke's knowledge, that's all."
Cindy felt absolute despair over Gwen's casual attitude. "Admiration leads to taking advantage of a loophole when you least expect it."
"How could it be that exaggerated?"
"Go take a look at Wall Street. Every single one of those young stock managers falls exactly that way."
"...Locke is not a Wall Street stock manager."
He is Wall Street all by himself! Gwen thought to herself.
Kim walked over from the side at that moment, asking curiously, "What are you two chatting about?"
Gwen smiled. "Nothing."
Cindy rolled her eyes, pulling Kem into the conversation. "Gwen thinks Helen Cho isn't a threat anymore. It's only been a month and she's already lowered her guard."
Kim looked at Gwen with a trace of surprise. "Seriously?"
Gwen felt somewhat helpless.
Kim then added, "I also think Cho is unlikely to be a threat to Gwen."
Gwen looked at Cindy, indicating: see, this is exactly why Kim is her best friend.
Kim gave a thoughtful nod at that moment. "Cho really doesn't pose much of a threat to Gwen. I actually think that Wanda has potential. I've observed carefully; back when they first transferred, Locke's gaze lingered on Wanda at least twice as much as it did on Cho."
Cindy was shocked. "What? Wanda? That's impossible. They aren't even from the same world."
The minimum entry requirement for their circle is being a top student. Wanda? At most, she is just a smart classmate.
Kim nodded with absolute certainty. "It's precisely because they aren't from the same world that she poses a greater threat. Cho and Gwen are both academic deities, and Locke already has one. If he wants to try something fresh, he would definitely look for someone from a different world. So Gwen, I think you need to watch out for Wanda."
Gwen was completely speechless, rolling her eyes at Kim.
"I take back what I wanted to say just now."
Kim looked suspicious.
Gwen said without words, "What kind of broken theory is this? According to your logic, since you know exactly where Locke's gaze lands, doesn't that mean you've been secretly observing Locke all this time? Following that logic, I should be keeping my guard up against you."
Standing beside them, Cindy's eyes lit up.
Is the throne of Gwen's number one best friend loosening? Then she better add fuel to the fire immediately!
She has always been envious of Kim's position as Gwen's top best friend, but whenever she tentatively asked about it, Gwen's answer remained unchanged: Kim is her best friend.
And now? This is a great opportunity!
Inwardly delighted, Cindy nodded in agreement with Gwen's words, then looked at Kim with a provocative expression. "Mm-hmm, I think you have a point, Gwen. Kim, you're acting quite unusual!"
Kim glared fiercely at Cindy.
This dog! Trying to steal my spot? In your dreams.
Kum gave Cindy a warning look, then extended her hands to Gwen.
"Darling, you have to trust me. My intuition is actually quite excellent. Even my mysterious dad praises my direct intuition as being very good."
Bryan Mills had indeed praised her that way, or perhaps Kim herself didn't know that her intuition isn't entirely natural.
Gwen pressed a hand to her forehead, realizing she shouldn't have brought up this topic with these two friends. Shaking her head, she said,
"Alright, let's stop this topic right here. Wanda is actually quite nice, and I heard she gets along very well with Betty and Carrie. Don't talk about this anymore. Locke isn't a dollar bill; it's impossible for everyone to love him."
Not a dollar bill?
Kim and Cindy exchanged a look, then looked at Gwen with rather peculiar expressions. "Are you certain he isn't a dollar bill?"
Gwen opened her mouth but found no words.
Fine.
Probably the entire school knows Locke is very wealthy. It wasn't because Locke's bank balance was exposed, but rather because Locke's photobook has been selling like crazy across various high schools in America, and it has even gradually spread to universities nationwide.
This is thoroughly ridiculous.
If Locke hadn't looked at the latest dividend transfer of 200,000 dollars last week with a twitching brow and directly forced Cindy to halt her idea of acquiring another printing factory, Locke's photobooks might have crossed the ocean by now.
This is completely absurd.
Gwen still hasn't figured out why Locke's photobooks sell better than those of A-list Hollywood stars. It defies science.
Gwen even specifically sought out a psychology teacher from the New York Police Department to discuss this matter seriously, and the conclusion reached was rather abstract.
It might simply be due to the herd effect: when one girl who appreciates beauty purchases Locke's photobook, other girls see it and follow suit.
In short, after Locke's dividends and the exposure from Cindy's sorority, Locke is undoubtedly a walking greenback in the eyes of certain girls.
Yet Gwen didn't feel a hint of threat from those ordinary individuals.
Looking at her two friends, Gwen shook her head. "Alright, this matter is over, drop it right here. Especially you, Kim. Wanda has a very nice personality."
Although she hasn't spoken much with Wanda, Betty is her friend. Furthermore, they don't belong to the same world, so how could she become a threat?
Following Kim's logic, Gwen felt that Wanda posed no threat, and perhaps Carrie would be the one posing the greatest threat. She is a classmate, and privately, she is also the illegitimate daughter of Locke's godfather. No matter how one looks at it, Carrie poses the larger threat.
So... Kim's set of theories is completely incorrect.
Yes.
Gwen nodded to herself, feeling she should give Locke a bit more trust. Verifying things with a gaze of suspicion would only produce filtered results anyway.
Kim opened her mouth, suddenly feeling like she was the only sober person while everyone else was drunk.
...
"Achoo!"
Inside the office, Locke let out a sneeze and pinched his nose. He then looked at Pietro, who had rushed over to seek justice the moment Locke arrived in the office. Frowning, Locke said,
"If you want to join the football team, you should go find Sam instead. I do not interfere with any operations of the football team."
My goodness.
He came here to use the back door, didn't he?
But... I haven't even become your brother-in-law yet.
Huh! Wait a moment, why... why did I have that thought?
Locke experienced a brief daze, but his mind couldn't help but recall Wanda's indeed overly impressive development.
It's all the fault of those perverted classmates who were whispering about Wanda in the lounge hallway earlier.
Shameless! Vulgar!
They have thoroughly corrupted an honest, proper Student Council President of Midtown High who enjoys a fine reputation throughout New York.
***
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