Chapter 23: My Dog, Back Off, You Bitches!

On the third floor of a small villa, there was a sunbathing area complete with a crystal-clear swimming pool, a birch wood deck, elegant sofas, and shrubbery. Two lounge chairs were set up under a parasol.

At this moment, a blonde young lady of noble status reclined on one of the chairs, basking in the sun.

Her long, slender legs stretched out beyond the parasol, soaking up the sunlight. Propped halfway up on the chair, she lazily sipped sweet coconut juice while sneaking glances below at the vibrant energy of this year’s freshmen.

What a feast for the eyes. These lively and youthful junior girls must be utterly delightful.

Lilith’s mind wandered as she pondered how to motivate Shia after he inevitably failed to clear the dungeon.

She envisioned him groveling in gratitude and pledging himself to her after receiving her encouragement.

But her musings were interrupted when her white-haired maid, Tia, suddenly burst out with a startled exclamation.

Lilith frowned slightly, turning her gaze toward Tia, her expression stern.

“What’s the rush?”

The two were some distance from the central area. While they could see the rankings displayed on the large screen, they couldn’t hear the announcements.

Tia’s face was filled with shock, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak.

“Y-Young Lady, something big has happened.”

“What could possibly have you so flustered?”

Lilith spoke languidly as she leisurely sat up from her lounge chair.

Her slightly arched back, ample chest, and slender waist created an irresistible view.

“Miss, the first place... the first place is…”

Lilith didn’t hear the rest.

As she sat up, her gaze landed directly on the large screen in front of her.

"First place: Shia. Cleared Legendary Dungeon in 59 seconds."

Lilith froze.

Her red lips parted slightly, her face a picture of disbelief.

Was she seeing things?

Who was in first place?

Could there be another freshman with the same name as her fiancé?

But then the portraits of the top ten performers were displayed, and the handsome black-haired boy on the screen confirmed it—there was no mistake.

It was Shia.

It felt like a dream.

Lilith staggered off her lounge chair, rushing to the railing to get a closer look at Shia’s portrait.

“Did my encouragement actually work?”

This was the first thought that popped into Lilith’s mind once she confirmed the news.

She couldn’t believe her charm was so potent. Did she possess such a hidden talent?

If just giving him a pair of worn stockings had this effect, what if she personally delivered them while wearing them and asked for something in return? Wouldn’t she be unstoppable!?

Lilith’s imagination spiraled in a honeyed haze of self-assurance.

Still, despite her inner surprise, her outward words were another story.

"Not bad, I suppose. Barely acceptable."

Her airy tone made it seem as though Shia’s first place was a minor achievement, well within her expectations.

“Just enough to meet my minimum standard,” she added with a crisp, confident voice that left Tia in awe.

As expected of her young lady—calm and collected even in the face of the unbelievable.

Tia’s admiration for Lilith deepened.

As Shia’s official fiancée, Lilith naturally wanted to "congratulate" him in a way that subtly reminded him not to get too cocky.

But when she arrived at Shia’s location, she found herself unable to even get close.

The area had become the center of attention, with countless girls crowding around Shia, eager to learn how he had cleared the hardest dungeon so quickly. Many also took the chance to express their admiration.

Seeing Shia bask in such adoration, Lilith felt a pang of annoyance.

'He’s just my lapdog—how dare so many girls fawn over him?'

They should be worshipping 'her,' not him!

But an awkward reality set in.

When Lilith tried to approach, she couldn’t push through the throng. Even calling out was futile.

Surrounded by a sea of youthful, energetic girls, Shia was experiencing a mix of joy and torment.

In a place filled with top-tier individuals, competition was inevitable, and every girl wanted to make a connection with the new number one freshman.

Shia remained polite and humble, seizing the moment to make a positive impression.

The girls were thrilled. Getting to chat with the top freshman and possibly even becoming friends was an opportunity too good to pass up.

Such was the power of reputation.

Without it, no one would care who you were, what you liked, or where you were from. Even approaching them would likely result in indifference.

But with fame, people naturally flocked to you.

And so, ironically, Lilith—his legitimate fiancée—was left out in the cold.

She tried pushing her way in but was met with glares and complaints from the other girls.

Who wouldn’t want to get closer to the new number one?

Why should someone else jump the line?

The girls didn’t care who Lilith was. At this moment, their eyes were fixed solely on Shia.

Lilith stood on the outskirts of the crowd, stunned.

'When did I have to queue to see my own lapdog?'

'Who’s the master here?!'

The once-proud noblewoman was rendered speechless, as if struck by lightning.

'This is my dog! You bitches, stop trying to steal him!'

Yet, with so many people present, Lilith could only watch helplessly from the sidelines. She cursed herself for not arriving earlier.

Had she known Shia would secure first place, she would have waited for him in advance.

Then, when his results were announced, she could have basked in the spotlight alongside him, surrounded by adoring fans.

Now, all she could feel was a mix of envy, pride, and an odd sense of satisfaction.

'The one you all admire belongs to me, you know! My dog!'

But being unable to approach him was… awkward.

Meanwhile, Shia, unaware of Lilith’s predicament, was overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

Though he anticipated some fame as the new top freshman, he didn’t expect such a frenzy.

Even so, he handled the situation gracefully—until he felt a sneaky hand graze him.

'Who just touched me?!'

With so many people around, it was impossible to tell.

As the chaos continued, a deep, magnetic voice suddenly rang out from a short distance away.

The voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a commanding presence that silenced the crowd.

“Little ones, have you had enough fun?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com