Chapter 204: A faceslap Noah decided to arrive at Ethan’s school before dismissal time, wanting to surprise his cousin without any advance warning. The element of surprise would make the gesture more meaningful, and honestly, Noah was curious to see how his cousin was adjusting to his new confidence after their mall encounter. Let’s see how the "Young Master" is doing at school. He made his way to the garage where his GT-R waited, the sleek Japanese machine gleaming under the overhead lights. The Nissan GT-R represented the perfect balance of performance and presence on the roads. A car that warranted respect without being ostentatious. Time to make an impression. The drive to Ethan’s school took twenty minutes through moderate traffic, giving Noah time to consider his approach. He’d park somewhere visible, wait for dismissal, and see how the students reacted to his cousin being picked up in a demi-supercar. He wasn’t doing it out of arrogance, certainly not. He just wanted to play around with Ethan, because he knew the young man would be flustered from the other kids’ reaction. Secondly, he also wanted to help Ethan gain some fame points in school. Noah knew very well how important these things are. Ethan’s high school appeared. It was an average school in the district; nothing stood out at all. Just a decently large building and space for students to study. Noah pulled into the visitor parking area, standing directly in front of the main exit where students would flood out in five minutes. The GT-R’s distinctive silhouette immediately drew attention from passing people and early-release students. He cut the engine and stepped out, the car’s presence already creating ripples of interest among the small groups of teenagers waiting for their friends to finish. Whispered conversations and pointed stares followed his movement as he leaned casually against the driver’s door. "Who does that car belong to? Is that someone’s dad? I’ve never seen it before, but that student sure is rich." The questions were written clearly on dozens of teenage faces as word began spreading through the school’s social networks at digital speed. Within minutes, students were finding excuses to walk past the visitor parking area, phones discreetly capturing photos and videos of the mysterious GT-R. The dismissal bell rang with perfect timing, releasing hundreds of students into the afternoon sun. The exodus began as a typical teenage flood, but quickly transformed into something more focused as students spotted the gleaming supercar waiting in their school’s parking area. Here we go. Groups began clustering around the GT-R at respectful distances, their conversations growing louder with excitement and speculation. Noah maintained his casual pose against the driver’s door, scanning the crowd for Ethan’s face. His eyebrows rose as a familiar group emerged from the main building. Amy walked at the centre of her usual entourage, flanked by girlfriends whose hierarchy had probably changed since the mall incident. The group was heading directly toward the parking area where Noah waited, their path guaranteeing they would pass within perfect viewing distance of both him and his car. Amy’s eyes were focused on her phone, probably texting someone, while Jason walked alongside his own group, separate from Amy’s. It was clear that after the incident at the mall, their relationship had become strained. Then Ethan appeared, walking alongside another student. Noah could see that they were friends from the way they were talking to each other. Ethan’s backpack hung casually over one shoulder, and his pace was normal. Time for the show. Noah straightened up from his casual lean and pulled out his phone, dialling Ethan’s number while maintaining visual contact with his cousin. He watched as Ethan slowly retrieved his phone and answered. "Look at the parking lot," Noah said with a smile, watching as Ethan slowly raised his head from his conversation. "Huh, Wh—" Ethan’s eyes widened in shock as he spotted Noah leaning against the GT-R, the phone pressed to his ear with an unmistakable grin. "Noah?! What are you—how did you—" Ethan stammered into the phone, his voice carrying across the parking area. "I’ve come to pick you up," Noah replied, ending the call and pushing off from the car. The effect on the surrounding students was immediate and dramatic. "Wait, isn’t this the streamer? I never knew he was rich," a girl whispered loudly enough for half the parking lot to hear. "The guy with the GT-R knows Ethan?" another student questioned with obvious disbelief. Amy’s group had frozen in place, their chatter dying as they processed what they were witnessing. Amy’s phone lowered slowly from her face, her expression changing from typical teenage disinterest to stunned recognition. "Isn’t that Ethan’s butler or something?" one of Amy’s friends confirmed, her voice carrying uncertainty. Jason’s group had stopped walking entirely, their attention focused on the unfolding scene with obvious envy. "GTR..." Jason muttered. Ethan began walking toward Noah, his friend following with wide eyes and obvious curiosity about this unexpected development. "Dude, who’s this?" "My cousin," Ethan responded, his eyes fixed on Noah. "You didn’t tell me your cousin was loaded," Ethan’s friend whispered, loud enough for nearby students to overhear. The crowd began gravitating toward the GT-R as word spread that the mysterious supercar belonged to someone connected to their schoolmate. Students who had never acknowledged Ethan’s existence were suddenly paying close attention to his movements. "Is that really a GT-R? Those cost like six figures," someone called out from the growing crowd. "My dad says those are faster than most Porsches," another student added with obvious reverence. Amy’s expression had changed to something approaching sadness. After what had happened in the mall, Amy tried very hard for days to try and fix the tension in their friendship. She had succeeded in the end, but she still lost Jason’s attention. Ethan reached Noah with a mixture of excitement and embarrassment, colouring his face. "You could have warned me," Ethan said, though his grin betrayed his genuine pleasure at the surprise. "Where’s the fun in that?" Noah replied, opening the passenger door. "Your chariot awaits, Young Master." As Ethan settled into the GT-R’s leather interior, Noah caught Amy’s eye across the parking lot. She regrets it... a lot.