The King's Heiress

4: The man who leaps

Kei’s POV

“No, I don’t! Who is he, by the way?” I asked, turning to Gail with one eyebrow raised as high as it could go.

She turned to me, looking utterly shocked, her eyes wide like I had just said the most unbelievable thing.

“I can’t believe you! Anyone who wants to be in the business world knows him—especially those who are already part of it!” she said, rolling her eyes in disbelief.

“Okay, let’s start from the beginning. He’s a genius with an IQ over 300—if I’m not mistaken. Because of that, he skipped middle school entirely. After finishing primary school, he jumped straight to his second year of secondary school. At just 15, he became the youngest freshman to enter this very institute,” she explained.

I processed everything she said, but I couldn’t believe it. Skipping two grades was one thing, but skipping more than that? And entering university at 15?

“Impossible! He must be from a rich family, right? One with deep roots and an endless pit of money?” I asked. She nodded in confirmation.

“See? His family probably paid a fortune just to make sure he could skip middle school. They’re rich and powerful—people probably just agreed to it. And I bet they donated a whole research lab or something to get him accepted here,” I said, annoyed.

That earned me the biggest sigh I had ever heard in my 17 years of life—and in the two years I’d known Gail. I looked at her as she shook her head dramatically before fixing her gaze on me.

“I get why you’d think that. You don’t know him, and you don’t know anything about his background. That’s understandable. I’m not going to get mad at you, but be careful saying that outside. He’s famous, and a lot of girls like him,” she warned.

She kept talking about him, and strangely, I found myself listening—actually listening. I was suddenly more curious than ever.

“He’s Carlisle Anderson, from the Anderson Group—the company that handles most major investment projects across the continent. He grew up here in the U.S. with his grandmother, living a simple life, far from the fame of his family. Apparently, it was his choice. At the age of three, he even insisted on using his grandmother’s middle name to avoid the spotlight.

“He’s truly a genius. He started school way earlier than normal, just like how you’re finishing university ahead of most people your age. The difference is, while you worked hard to get here, his brain alone could crack the world in an hour. He completed two degrees in just four years, got his PhD in both at 20, and now he runs the Anderson Group, taking it to the top.

“But what makes him even more impressive is that, despite his power and wealth, he never looks down on anyone—whether they’re from high society or the lowest of the low. He treats his people kindly. My cousin works at one of his companies, and she always says he’s the best boss anyone could ask for. He’s a loving son, grandson, and even a good younger brother to his older brother and his wife.

“And yet, no one has ever seen him with a woman. No dating scandals, no rumors—he keeps his distance. He’s nice to everyone, but no one gets close,” she finished.

I couldn’t help but be amazed by everything she said. How had I never heard of him before? Sure, I grew up in an urban area, but my family runs a real estate and architecture firm—businesses that work closely with major companies like his. Was I really that out of touch? Or did I just not pay attention?

Well, I never expected to take this course in the first place. If my father hadn’t fallen ill, I wouldn’t have had to step up. I sighed at the thought.

Gail suddenly giggled, eyeing me with a teasing look.

“What?” I asked.

“The ‘no women’ part of his story might not last much longer. The way he was staring at you earlier—it was as clear as day. He’s smitten,” she said with a sly smirk.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t overthink it. We probably won’t even see each other again. I’m going to Paris after graduation for my architecture course. And even if we do cross paths, I doubt we’ll even remember each other’s faces.”

She was crazy to think anything would come out of this.

Graduation was around the corner, and after that, I’d be heading to Paris—just like my father once did. With his health declining, my mother and I were worried about how much longer he could manage our business. As their only child, I knew my future was already set.

I would have to take over someday.

But, to be honest, I was scared. Growing up with my grandmother in a small town had made me ignorant about the world outside. The fact that I hadn’t even heard of Anderson Group proved it.

Then, a strange thought crossed my mind.

Aren’t we kind of the same?

Before I could think too much about it, I felt a small smile tugging at my lips. Shaking my head, I pushed the thought away.

Classes ended, and I headed back to my dorm as quickly as possible. I had to finish my application for Paris.

I was lucky that I didn’t need a part-time job. My parents and grandmother insisted on supporting me financially, always saying:

"We’re old. You’re our only child. We never spoiled you because you never let us. Now that you’ve grown up, if we don’t spend our money on your education, then what’s the point? We can’t take our fortune with us when we’re buried underground.”

They were right. I had never asked them for anything I didn’t truly need. Maybe it was because I saw so many of my classmates struggling—kids whose parents had to work long hours just to provide for them. Because of that, I grew up thinking ten times before asking for anything, and most of the time, I convinced myself I didn’t need it.

Shaking off those thoughts, I focused back on my application. I was grateful to have my dorm room all to myself—it made concentrating easier.

Once I finished, I took a quick shower, ate dinner, and collapsed onto my bed.

Today felt like a long day—maybe because I spent more time talking than usual. Normally, I’d be in the library, reading or researching, but with our thesis done and the term almost over, there wasn’t much point in going there anymore.

I sighed, letting exhaustion take over.

Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.