THE SECRET BEHIND THE NERDY MAN

Laughter split the sky that afternoon, echoing across the wide courtyard of one of New York’s most prestigious universities. A day that should have been filled with farewells and hopes for the future instead turned into the stage for Kai’s most humiliating suffering.

Every pair of eyes was on him. Not with respect, not with admiration, but with contempt.

Kai stood stiff in the middle of the courtyard, his face pale, his hands trembling as he clutched a small box containing a simple ring. He had been preparing for this moment for months, with the absolute belief that the woman who had been his reason to endure all this time would surely accept him.

But reality was far crueler.

That woman—Catherine, whom he had always believed to truly love him—was now smiling coldly in front of everyone. A smile sharper than a thousand blades.

“You really think I’d marry someone like you?” Catherine’s voice rang out, loud enough to make sure the entire courtyard heard. “Kai, wake up. You’re just a part-timer. You’re nobody. Your future… is zero.”

Laughter exploded again. Some students even raised their phones, recording the moment as if it were a cheap comedy show.

Kai froze. His eyes turned red—not with anger, but with a pain he couldn’t put into words. It felt as if all his strength was draining out of him.

All this time, he had believed. Believed that Catherine accepted him as he was. Believed that her little gestures of affection were sincere. Believed that, just once, someone saw him as more than “the loser part-timer.”

But he was wrong. Fatally wrong.

“Catherine…” Kai’s voice was hoarse, trembling. “So all your care… all your words… they were just an act?”

Catherine scoffed, crossing her arms. “Oh, Kai. Don’t be so naïve. I only needed someone I could easily use. You were always there whenever I needed something. Did you really think I loved you? Please.”

Her words struck like lightning to his chest. His breath caught, his throat was dry, but the pain in his heart was far worse.

The crowd grew louder. Jeers flew around him.

Kai lowered his head, fighting back tears. He couldn’t cry. Not in front of Catherine, not in front of them. But the more he resisted, the hotter his eyes burned.

His greatest courage had turned into their greatest entertainment.

“I never thought you could be this cruel, Catherine,” Kai finally spoke again, bitterness lacing his tone. “I was sincere with you. I really loved—”

“Love?” Catherine cut him off sharply, her voice rising. “Love doesn’t give me the life I want, Kai. Love can’t buy me branded bags, can’t get me into the social circle I dream of. You? You only make me look pathetic.”

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment, before another wave of laughter erupted. Catherine looked pleased with her own cruelty.

But before Kai could respond, a deep voice came from behind her.

“That’s enough, darling. You don’t need to waste your time on someone like him.”

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward, dressed in an elegant black suit that screamed money. His gaze dripped with arrogance, his smirk full of disdain. He wrapped his arm possessively around Catherine’s shoulders.

Kai stared, stunned. “He’s… your new boyfriend?”

Catherine smiled sweetly, but not at Kai—at the man beside her. “Not just a boyfriend, Kai. He’s everything you’ll never be.”

The man stepped closer until he was right in front of Kai. “Name’s Leo,” he said in a threatening tone. “And you better understand one thing. You’re nothing compared to me.”

Kai clenched his fists. Rage boiled inside, but his body trembled not from the urge to strike back, but from the feeling of being utterly trampled.

“If you still don’t get it,” Leo continued with a mocking smile, “then let me make you understand.”

Before Kai could react, a hard punch landed on his face. His body staggered as the cheers around them erupted.

He collapsed to the ground, but Leo didn’t stop. A kick to the stomach, another punch. Some of Leo’s friends joined in, ganging up on Kai mercilessly.

“Losers like you don’t deserve to be near Catherine!”

Kai tried to get up, but his body was too weak. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his vision swam, but he could still hear Catherine’s soft laugh beside Leo.

A humiliation worse than any blow.

“Enough, don’t take too long,” Catherine said casually. “You’ll ruin your clothes.”

Kai wanted to scream, to fight back, but only a broken rasp escaped his lips. The world was turning dark, his voice drowned out by the crowd.

Until—

A long car horn blared. Everyone turned.

A sleek black car pulled up at the edge of the courtyard, followed by two SUVs with special plates. Doors swung open, and several men in sharp suits stepped out with steady strides. Their presence radiated authority—cold, commanding, unmistakably powerful.

The crowd buzzed with confusion, not laughter.

One man, around fifty with graying hair, walked forward. His piercing gaze swept over Leo and Catherine before softening as he looked at Kai. Then, in front of everyone, he bent slightly, bowed his head, and extended his hand toward the battered young man.

“Forgive us, Young Master. We arrived too late. Tell me who has done this to you, and we will deal with them immediately.” His voice carried both authority and deep regret.

Kai froze, breath caught, eyes widening. Slowly, he shook his head, and the man immediately nodded in understanding.

Young Master.

The entire crowd went dead silent. Even Leo was struck dumb, while Catherine stood frozen, her face drained of color.

The man helped Kai up with the utmost respect as others cleared the path. Another opened the door of the black car.

“Oh, I see now!” Catherine suddenly shouted, making Kai and the suited men turn to her.

“This loser even went as far as hiring actors from some theater group to pretend he’s important in front of me! That’s why they’re calling him Young Master! God, how pathetic! Poor and still pretending to be rich!” she sneered.

Her words shattered the silence. The crowd, regaining their voice, jeered once again at Kai. The noise swelled until one of the suited men looked ready to act—but Kai raised his hand in a calm signal.

“Don’t do anything. Let’s just go,” he said quietly.

They retreated, leaving behind the mob still shouting after him: