A dark surge pulled on Yana's heart as she stared into those dark and mysterious eyes. Then her gaze wandered to his high nose and his attractive lips.

His unkempt black hair and his loose t-shirt gave him a lazy and careless vibe but the muscles on his arms told another story.

Like a void, his relentless gaze paired with a mix of annoyance and indifference completely bound Yana as her last words echoed throughout the entire cafeteria.

"Are you bloody serious? He-" Mia gave him a disdainful look before she pulled Yana away and they sat down at the opposite corner.

Yana threw him a few looks back and saw that he unbothered picked up his spoon and started to eat. She was curious to know what he was thinking as all the whispers around them circled him.

"Tell me now, who is he?" Yana edged Mia on as soon as they sat down on a table where everyone scurried to make space for them.

"How can you not know, dammit," Mia drove a hand through her hair and as the strands gently fell over her face, the males all gasped. But both Mia and Yana ignored them.

"Luka, an outcast. Plenty of bad stories about him, just don't get close to him," Mia delicately picked up the cutlery and elegantly cut the meat.

"Eh? Really?" Yana shifted her butt on her seat to turn around and look at him.

He briefly met her gaze but ignored her. It was a shame.

Yana thought he was pretty good-looking. A handsome guy like him would've had females drool all over him especially if a bad boy image was attached to him, so she didn't understand why everyone shunned him.

"Also controversial," Mia added as she saw that Yana kept staring at him. She just hoped Yana wouldn't make a foolish mistake and kept her distance from him.

"Bam and down he goes," Yana lost interest and instead drooled over her A5 wagyu, "My baby, you waited so long. I'm sorry, so sorry, please forgive me while you enter my mouth."

Mia gave her a disgusting look. Mia's last point about Luka was all Yana needed to know. It made sense why Luka was an outcast. In a world where politics reigned, especially in a uni full of aspiring politicians, anyone who had a controversial view was disdained, mocked and doomed to be at the bottom.

Just as anyone who would go against society's main stream would be beaten up by a ferocious, opinionated mob to never see the light again.

That was why, Yana who wasn't interested in politics at all, kept her opinions out of it. In the first place, she wasn't too bothered or educated when it came to politics, so her two cents would only agitate anyone.

Luka has basically sealed off his own future if he stood against everyone. Yana was slightly curious about what Luka said or did but didn't care enough.

Instead, her meal was quickly slung down, of course in the most civilised way and even back to the next lecture, her mouth incessantly produced praise upon praise for the beautifully marbled beef.

"Do you think if I do another good deed for the prof, he'll give me another coupon?" Yana nudged Mia as they listened to the lecture in the front.

"You crazy? How much is a coupon? More than your ass could afford."

"But the prof could afford it," at this thought, Yana giggled lightly.

"Hey, I guess a good deed means nothing to you," Mia raised an eyebrow. She has long known that despite her friend's holy aura in everyone's eyes, Yana cared more about herself than anyone else.

"Not true, I have to reject," Yana held up her finger and pointed at the blackboard, "My heart lies in what I believe."

"So your selfishness," Mia rolled her eyes as Yana was picked by the professor.

"Yes, do you have a question?" the professor was excited that a student was so enthusiastic but he didn't know that Yana had absolutely processed nothing.

Realising she held her hand up, Yana quickly jumped up and asked, "Indeed. This topic is really fascinating, I'd like to ask you about it in detail after class."

"Of course, of course!'' the professor was exhilarated and with 10 times the vigour he started to turn this lecture into a one-man play.

"What are you planning now?" Mia bored watched Yana's mischievous face, "What I mentioned. Exploiting every professor for a coupon. This'll be my new goal."

Yana chuckled in a low tone and Mia was really wondering if Yana's appearance hasn't sucked out all of her brain cells.

"Ok, big brain, what has the teacher been talking about?"

Yana was already in her second year of studies. She wasn't stupid by any means but the way she lived prioritised anything that helped her survive over anything else. In that case food. Anything free, she'd grab it all.

Yana only needed to study for a few hours for an exam to pass with an upper second, she didn't care much for grades as she should. She wasn't aiming for a distinguished degree, instead settled for upper-second.

As long as she had a job to finance her roof over her head and enough food, she was content.

She didn't have any lofty aspiring dream-like Mia or the others. In the case as to why Mia was in the same class as Yana despite their different majors was because Mia was a hardworking student who chose a combined degree.

Thus, they ended up in the same class and became friends. They understood each other and shared almost the same interests.

"We're doing applied microeconomics as the professor's explaining, there are two fields- Labour field and population field, oh and-"

"Stop!" Yana has heard enough, after all, she didn't really care, instead, she was brooding over how to make the professor agree to her proposal. Mia saw the grin on Yana's face and rolled her eyes.

What a troublemaker.

After the lecture ended, Yana skipped down the stairs to put her acting into play.

"Your lecture was fantastic, especially the public economics interest me a lot," even though Yana hasn't heard anything the professor was preaching about as her brain was filled with coming up with a strategy. In the end, she decided to improvise.

"You're interested in the public sector?"

"Very much so, I'd like to dive deeper into the topic. I've heard that good research projects can be founded by a sponsor and if the research project's successful, it'll raise the economic department's reputation," Yana gave the professor an excited smile who almost shed tears in joy.

"You're a good student. I can't believe I've raised a good student like this."

Yana has come across various research projects while Mia forced her to study and saw that they were mostly funded, some even were rewarded with awards.

Knowing that the professor tried to raise the fame and reputation of economics in a uni known for politics, Yana took the opportunity and dangeled a bait in front of the professor who couldn't help but take it.

"If the research project I'm working on is funded and acknowledged, professor, can you reward me?" Yana hesitatingly looked at the professor in expectation.

"Of course! It needs to be celebrated, anything you want the university shall provide, even if I need to force them. They'll also be happy if the less visited departments get recognised!"

"Then something like a year long free VIP meal will be possible?" Yana's heart shook in anticipation.

"That's nothing. You could even receive a scholarship if your research is groundbreaking."

Yana doubted that but played along.

"Wait, you can't do it alone, you need help," the professor fumbled through his documents,

"I was thinking about-" Yana wanted Mia to help her before the professor pulled out a document,

"There's this extraordinary student who's really good at economics. He's like my private student. Where's his contact details… Oh, here," the professor handed Yana a piece of paper.

"His name's Luka, really intelligent and good kid."