Young Master's Ascension: From Shadows to Spotlight

There came in a long expanse of faded linoleum and chipped lockers, as the hallway stretched out before a familiar slender figure emerging from the shadows. The air was laced with the scent of fresh paint, coupled with murmurs of distant conversation from students, that filled the background.

Aiden, a frail, weak, lowly, and lonely looking boy, sauntered towards an empty class with his shoulder drooped beneath his old backpack, his worn out sneaker squeaking on the polished floor and echoing off the walls. He held a small blue assignment file tightly.

His dry lips let out a sigh of exhaustion, and he wiped the heavy beads of sweats like soybeans appearing on his forehead, his jet black hair sticking to his clammy skin. His eyes were sunken , with dark circles below like a stormy sky that refused to clear, and his feet felt heavy with the weight of his struggles.

He had just finished cleaning up the whole restrooms in the college, in order to pay for his semester's examination fee.

This just reflected his though life, and struggles to make ends meet with dirty jobs.

As he turned to a corner, the fluorescent light made his sunken eyes to squint but he lowered them and walked ahead. Sucking in a breath, he pushed open the door to the empty class.

Promptly!

His steps came to an abrupt stop, perceiving a familiar giggle in the dimly lit empty class.

Could it be? He mused to himself, lowering his full brows.

Just then, his midnight black eyes spotted four figures at a corner.

The infamous school king, Chris, sat arrogantly, with a lazy expression, his well molded and structured features, plus his designer outfit was in sharp contrast to Aiden's faded shirt and worn out dirty sneakers. He playfully pinched the school beauty, Alex, who in turn couldn't help but giggled cutely. A small flush creeping up her face as she lowered it.

They were guarded by two fat lackeys, who were Chris' subordinates in school, but they were equally students as well.

"Alex."

Aiden whispered beneath his breath, barely audible, as his gaze lingered on the group, and his expression dimmed even more.

When did Alex became intimate with Chris?

" Didn't she promised to be his girlfriend , hun?"

A bitter smile graced over his lips, and his eyes became arduous and complicated.

No one liked him in school, since he was a nobody, acting like an errand boy to the rich, and doing dirty works. He was over the moon when Alex became his best and most close friend, even his humble savior, when she saved him from bullies a time ago. He thought she was different and could finally find comfort from a student like him.

In fact, she had already promised to be his girlfriend this night after their agreed date night.

But, he didn't expect her to hook up with Chris now, a notorious haughty jerk, known to be the most popular playboy in school. Chris was only respected and admired because his family was one of the top first tier family in the country, and his handsome face could indeed make thousands of ladies go mad!

" Hey moron! You stink like a dead rotten rat!" An haughty, disgusted deep voice rang out across his ears, interrupting his thoughts.

" Are you just going to stand there like a worthless bag of filth?! Stench, drop my assignment now!"

Aiden's forehead snapped, lowering his eyes, and he managed to walk forward.

Alex looked up immediately, pursing her lips, and she furrowed her brows slenderly.

It seemed she wasn't expecting Aiden to appear here.

Aiden didn't bother to say anything even though it brought an ache to his heart, and just dropped the blue file on the desk.

" Here's your assignment. What of my pay?" He demanded in a hoarse voice, trying to conceal the gnawing pain at his heart.

Chris looked down at him with scorn, his nose crinkling in disdain. He snorted coldly, his breath spraying out a scent mixture of haughtiness and smoke.

He checked the assignment immediately.

In the next minute, his upper lip snapped into a scowl, as he screwed up his face!

" Are you sure you are really intelligent or just a lying blockhead? This is nonsense! You wrote something meaningless! Do you think I won't check your work?!" He yelled disdainfully! " Listen, I won't accept this assignment, do it again and make it perfect!"

Aiden couldn't believe his ears. He ignored the pain in his chest and focused on Chris

His fists gradually tightened, his knuckles turning into white, and he narrowed his eyes annoyingly at Chris!

" No!" He refused in that moment and argued in a confident tone, " I know what I wrote! Why are you making things hard for me?! I only did what you asked me, and for the record, this is the eleventh time you are asking me to redo it. I can't anymore. Just pay me my money, and i will leave."

Chris was about to laugh, but his head sparked the instant he heard Aiden talking back to him.

He was stunned for a second.

This thrash had never spoken back to him before!

Was it because of Alex?

Of course, he knew the relationship between the both of them and was aware of the fact that Alex was just using and toying with the useless Aiden.

"You......." He rose from where he was sitting, a vein popping out from his neck, and his eyes blazed with fury! " Do you know who you are talking to?! Are you seeking death?! How dare you?!

Aiden didn't even spare him a glance. He stretched out his right palm, requesting his pay again.

Chris lost his cool, and roared! " You won't do it, and you want me to pay you?! Fine! you will get your big pay!"

He turned to his two lackeys, his body trembling as molten anger rolled through him and ordered them in a domineering tone! ''Cripple him!"

The two fat lackeys growled, cracking their knuckles, and they charged forward!

" Imbecile! You are done for today!"

" You should have control your mouth when you could, but it's too late!"

Aiden just looked at them and waited for them to start dealing with him. There was no sign of fear roaming across his face. Simple guess, he was already used to it.

The two lackey raised their fists and punched Aiden on the tommy! They carried him and threw him harshly on the floor!

*Thud!*

Aiden winced quietly and hissed in pain, squeezing his eyes shut!

He felt his blood rushing to his chest and bit down his lower lip.

Chris watched with a satisfied look and pulled Alex closer to him, smirking evilly.

" Now, this is how to deal with a foolish bloody rag."

Alex relaxed on Chris ' chest and hooked up the corner of her painted lips , mocking Aiden in her heart.

This is your fault, Aiden. Don't blame me, you are so unfortunate!!

The two lackeys derided Aiden, pointing at him and laughing out loud, the same time they increased the intensity of their hits!

However, despite been beaten mercilessly and mocked without remorse, Aiden didn't reveal any expression of pain or hurt. In fact, his eyes were clear as crystal, bright, and he showed a resolute look! Although, he was bleeding at some parts of his limbs.

He had always been bullied like this and treated as if he was a scum. Harshly , he had grown accustomed to it over time.

This infuriated Chris! He wanted to see Aiden crying and begging him!

His eyes flared with fury, outraged, and he glowered at Aiden!

" You dirty penniless bastard!"

He rushed over and slapped Aiden's chest!

Aiden coughed as he trembled slightly, gritting his teeth silently! He wheezed from the pain he was feeling and turned to Alex.

" Are you satisfied?"

He lifted a corner of his lips sadly.

Alex's smile suddenly faded, and a muscle in her jaw twitched.

" I don't know what you are saying!" She sneered, her forehead creasing. She looked away, feeling guilty as her bottom lip trembled, but she was quick to cover it up. " Aiden, you are so miserable and dumb! Did you really think I will be a friend or love someone like you, even consider you as a person worthy? You aren't even fit to carry my school bag or tie my shoe! You don't even possess the charisma!"

She snapped, glancing him up and down with contempt!

" I only used you, wanting to see what you have, but there's nothing special about you! You can't even help my career as an upcoming artist. No money, status, power, honor, value, prestige, or connections! You are just a walking useless vomit!''

Aiden's face swiftly glinted a quick frown, his pupils contracting while he glowered at Alex.

'' Alex!''

His eyes turned crimson, and his breathing became heavy.

*Smack!*

A crisp sharp sound exploded in his ear immediately, and for a moment, everything turned hazy, his cheek swelling up like a pig's head.

" You are not worthy of calling my name!"

Alex's face flushed in anger, and she blew her right palm, patting it as if she had just touched something dirty.

" Chris, can we go? I don't want to see this piece of a rotten maggot! He doesn't deserve to be looked at. I feel disgusted just standing beside him."

Chris laughed out loud, his chest vibrating, feeling pleased!

Alex walked away with Chris and ordered the two lackeys to humiliate Aiden even more.

"Don't let him stain the floor! His blood is worthless!"

Instantly , Aiden got up and wanted to say something, but he was held down and kicked even more!

At this moment, some of the students realized something was going on. They rushed to the empty class and excitedly watched the scene of Aiden getting beaten up harshly!

" Oh, this loser is in deep trouble this time!"

" I can't wait to see him crying and begging for mercy!"

" Yes, he had offended Chris, and I am sure he won't let him go!"

" Yes, he is to be blamed! He should know the powerful and rich are not to be messed with!"

As usual, it was humiliating for Aiden, and these comments stabbed his body that was already screaming of pain. Sadly, this pain was nothing compared to the pain of betrayal he felt in his heart. It was like his heart was been pierced, repeatedly despite it bleeding. Regardless, he couldn't unveil his pain in front of them.

Suddenly, amidst the kickings, his phone rang. He managed to answer the call, shifting away from the lackeys.

As he listened to the phone call, his eyes froze in terror and shock! The voice on the other end said something that made his expression to instantly shattered like a glass breaking into million pieces with what he just heard! The color drained out of his face, leaving him pale and shaken, and his world started spinning. Then, everything went blank......