Chapter 8: The Battle for Reputation at the Elite School
That morning at Daehan International School, the atmosphere felt colder than usual. Not because of autumn—but because of the burning gossip surrounding Gevran Yi Jido, the son of Korindro Group's owner, now caught in a national scandal.
"Does he think he can stay clean here just because he's rich?" whispered one student in the hallway.
"His family's corrupt. Plus, he's not even fully Korean," another added with a sneer.
Gevran heard every word, but walked on as usual—backpack slung over his shoulders, earphones in, head held high. He knew this wasn't the first time he'd been the subject of mockery. But this time was different—this wasn't just about him. It was about his family, their honor, and his dream of defending those who had been bullied like he once was.
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In the student council room, tensions were rising. Student council president Min Hyuk, the son of a senator, led an emergency meeting.
"I believe the school's reputation is at stake. We can't let someone like Gevran be the 'face' of Daehan in the eyes of the media," he said coldly.
Several elite students nodded in agreement. But Han Jimin, seated at the end of the table, wasn't staying silent.
"So you want to judge someone without evidence? Aren't we supposed to be learning ethics and justice at this elite school?"
Min Hyuk glared. "Jimin, you're too naive."
"I'm just more fair than you," Jimin shot back sharply.
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During lunch, an incident turned the tension into an explosion. A student "accidentally" knocked Gevran's lunch tray to the floor.
"Oops. Sorry. My hand gets weak around people who reek of scandal," the student said with a smug smile.
The cafeteria fell silent. But Gevran didn't retaliate. He simply picked up the tray and napkins, quietly cleaning up the mess.
Before leaving, however, he turned to the student and said clearly, "You're free to look down on me. But one day, I'll stand above all of this. And when that day comes, I won't forget who tried to crush me."
Just one sentence—but it left several students frozen in place.
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Outside the school, the media began realizing Gevran's silence was a strategy. Social media support grew instead. Some of Daehan's most prominent alumni began to speak up, including a well-known young figure: Hwang Da-kyung, a Daehan graduate now serving in Parliament.
> "I know who Gevran is. And I believe the new generation of Korea needs a leader like him."
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At home, Jido reviewed the latest public opinion polls. Though initially hit hard by the scandal, Korindro's image was slowly recovering thanks to its transparency campaign—and Gevran's mature response.
"My son is starting to build his own stage," he murmured with a proud smile.
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At the end of the day, Gevran wrote in his personal journal:
> Today, I wasn't physically hit. But my pride was put to the test. I know this is just the beginning. But I will keep standing. Because once, I fell—and no one cared. Now, I have a voice. And that voice... will change this country.
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