Arthur’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his chest. He had finally done what he’d been dying to do. Ashley’s eyes widened in shock. She froze, completely forgetting how to react. Arthur had never done this before, but he’d seen enough to know how it was supposed to go. And Ashley… she was even sweeter, even softer than he had ever imagined. This was the boldest thing Arthur had ever done, and he had no clue what he was doing. All he could do was copy what he’d seen on TV. Her body was soft and warm, and her waist—so slim, so delicate. She felt like she could melt right into his arms. Once the initial shock wore off, Ashley instinctively pushed against him, trying to break free. But Arthur’s arms were like a vice, locking her in place. She couldn’t budge. Their breathing grew heavier, the air between them getting hotter—until suddenly, Ashley started gasping. Arthur was blocking her nose. The clueless rookie finally realized something was wrong and, reluctantly, let her go. Ashley gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. With no strength left, she slumped against Arthur’s chest, her burning face buried against him. Arthur held her tightly, his entire body uncomfortably hot. But they were still young—there were some things he simply had to endure. It took Ashley a long time to steady her breathing, but surprisingly, she wasn’t angry. Instead, a strange sweetness bloomed in her heart, spreading rapidly, filling every corner of her chest. Her pink lips were swollen, a lingering heat tingling against them. This was the first time she had ever been this close to a guy. So this is what it feels like… Ashley was still a little dazed. Right now, she looked like a flower after a summer rain—soft, delicate, and glistening with dewdrops. They stayed like that for a while, Arthur debating whether he should take a cold shower. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go of her.Ashley, on the other hand, only felt the heat radiating off of him. She was completely unaware of his inner struggle. After a long moment, Arthur cautiously asked, "Are you okay?" Ashley thought about what had just happened and blushed again. She pouted her swollen lips, raising a small fist in pretend anger. "Hmph! You didn’t even ask me first before stealing my first kiss. Don’t you think you deserve a beating?" Arthur’s gaze flickered to her swollen lips. A hint of guilt flashed through him… but along with it, an even deeper heat. He swallowed hard. "Then next time, should I ask you first?" Ashley had no idea how to respond to that. She opened and closed her mouth several times but couldn’t find the words. Finally, she stomped her foot. "Hmph! I’m ignoring you!" At the Gray residence, during dinner, Julie suddenly said, "I heard Arthur ranked first in the entire grade on the finals. Who would’ve thought he’d improve that much?" Zac’s grip on his fork tightened instantly. A dark look flickered in his eyes. Rosie frowned in disbelief. "First in the grade? That’s impossible." She had done well in school herself, but ranking first had never been easy. After years of studying, she had only managed to claim that spot once. Everyone else at the table was equally shocked. "Arthur really got first place?" Raelynn’s voice carried a rare note of surprise and delight. John didn’t say anything, but his eyes betrayed his astonishment. As one of the most prominent families in South City, countless eyes were watching them. Education was a major priority in their household. Having a top student in the family was a huge point of pride. Julie and Rosie had always excelled in school, which was why John favored them more. Arthur, on the other hand, had always been an embarrassment. His grades were so poor that he rarely even passed. Zac wasn’t much better academically, but he was well-behaved and excelled in social interactions among high society. Because of that, John had always groomed him as his successor. Susie scoffed. She didn’t believe it at all. "Zac, you’re in the same class as Arthur. Did he really rank first?" At her words, everyone’s attention shifted to Zac."Yeah, Zac," Julie added patiently. "Last time, Arthur barely passed. How did he suddenly improve so much? Maybe you should learn from him." Zac quickly masked his dark expression. His eyes flickered before he forced a smile. "Yeah, I have no idea what method he used, but somehow, he managed to rank first." His tone carried a subtle implication. Susie caught on immediately.