Chapter 6 A Fresh Start in a New Space

At last, he had a private space of his own. The dorm room wasn’t luxurious, but it came with basic furniture, appliances, and even a small sofa. Cleaning it up wouldn’t be too difficult. Ms. Lovett handed him the keys and left without lingering. Arthur placed his suitcase down, rolled up his sleeves, and began tidying up. In the past, Arthur had taken on numerous part-time jobs, including dishwashing, cleaning, and working as a waiter. He wasn’t some spoiled young master who avoided chores. Cleaning this dorm was a piece of cake for him. By the time he finished, it was already late afternoon. Arthur looked around the clean room. It was small, with minimal furnishings, but it exuded a peculiar sense of comfort. Perhaps it was because he no longer had to endure the constant judgment of the family. His stomach was already growling loudly. Checking his pocket, he found less than five dollars remaining. It wasn’t enough to buy even a bowl of noodles. This was a prestigious school for elites, where most students either lived nearby or were nobles. Boarding students usually went home on weekends, leaving the school cafeteria closed. For now, his priority was figuring out how to earn some money for food. Sitting on his freshly cleaned bed, Arthur started thinking about his next move. Having lived a second life, he felt like he was holding a script that revealed the future, giving him foresight. With that advantage, Arthur was confident that making money wouldn’t be too difficult. He left his dorm room, deciding to scout the area before coming up with any plan. There was a shortcut from the school to the street. A narrow alley led directly to the main road. Arthur didn’t hesitate to take it. The long route would have wasted too much of his time. Arthur had just entered the alley when a familiar, harsh voice called out. "Arthur!" The tone was filled with hostility and fury. Arthur turned to see who was calling him. It was Xavier, Zac’s right-hand man! A group of thugs followed closely behind him, all loyal to Zac. They showed up fast; it seems Zac's fake illness has been conveniently "cured." The Larsen family was a small business in South City that always sought the favor of the Gray family. Naturally, Xavier became one of Zac’s henchmen. The gang behind him all came from moderately wealthy families in South City. Seeing Xavier, Arthur’s anger surged. Xavier had tormented him countless times! Half of the injuries Arthur suffered in his previous life were Xavier’s handiwork. Now that life had given him a second chance, it would be a shame if he didn’t avenge himself. In his past life, Arthur had saved up enough money during college to learn martial arts so he could defend himself against Zac’s bullying. Now that Xavier had shown up, it was the perfect time for a little exercise. Xavier, tall and brawny, approached Arthur in just a few strides, looking down at him with disdain. "Arthur, you’ve got guts! Dared to talk back to Mr. Zac and get him hospitalized? Looks like you’re asking for a beating!" "Well, if it isn’t Zac’s loyal servant," Arthur sneered, tilting his chin in mock defiance. He remembered Xavier’s fate in his previous life; Xavier didn’t end well. After Zac joined the company, he mercilessly crushed the Larsen family to inflate his own achievements, leaving them bankrupt. Xavier’s parents couldn’t handle the stress and ended their lives by jumping from a building. Arthur wondered how Xavier would react if he knew that Zac would eventually betray him. Hearing Arthur’s defiant words, Xavier was stunned. Had Arthur actually grown bold? In the past, Arthur would cower in a corner, too terrified to fight back. Even when he was injured, he would wrap himself up tightly, scared that the Gray family would discover it and punish him further. Xavier’s gang couldn’t stand Arthur’s insolence and started yelling. "Arthur! How dare you talk back to Mr. Xavier with that audacity!" "Has it been too long since we beat you? You’re getting cocky!" "Looks like he's asking for it, wanting to be beaten!" "Exactly! I heard he’s living on campus now, in a single dorm room no less. Who knows how much he’s stolen from the Gray family to afford that!" "Staying on campus, he clearly doesn’t fear a beating!" "Xavier, stop talking and start teaching him a lesson already!" Arthur looked at them coldly, mentally noting each of their faces. Give it two years. When I’ve reached my goals, I’ll make sure they face the consequences for everything they’ve done to me. While they were busy throwing insults, Arthur secretly called the police. For now, he lacked the strength to take them on, but at least he could let them experience a few days of jail life. Previously, he had been hesitant to involve the police, fearing it might bring unwanted consequences for his family. He’d rather shoulder the burden alone than seek outside help. Now, he had let go of those concerns. Arthur no longer had anything holding him back.