After a grueling day of testing, Stephanie felt mentally drained. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to outdo that tall guy named Carn. As she walked away, she shot a glare in his direction as he chatted with the dragonkin and the sleepy guy who had also performed well. With a scowl, she headed towards the fountain which would teleport her back to the front of the school. Hundreds of students followed suit, making their way to the street to meet their ride or summon their own vehicle.

As Stephanie searched for her ride, a man with ginger hair and a sharp suit caught her eye. "Miss Stephanie, I am your driver today. Get over here!" he called, waving her over.

Stephanie greeted the man with a sideways hug. "Johnny, what did you do to Dad to get stuck driving me home?" she teased.

"Nothing this time, I promise. I wasn't needed at work today, so I'm on chauffeur duty," Johnny replied, playfully ruffling Stephanie's hair.

Rolling her eyes, Stephanie pushed back. "You know I don't believe that. Come on, tell me the real reason."

Johnny thought for a second before responding. "Well, you know that kid who saved Grandma Cho? By your father's recommendation, he was admitted to Stanford and took the test today as well. So, I'll be driving both of you home. Honestly, I don't know what your father sees in him. He got carsick from a 10-minute drive, after all."

"Johnny, anyone would get carsick from your driving. I'll wait in the car. I want shotgun, after all," Stephanie said, slipping into the luxurious floating black car.

As she relaxed in the plush chair, Stephanie tried to think of who might have saved her grandmother's life. She had heard the story before but didn't know the person's name or what they looked like. For all she knew, the hero could have been in her group the whole time.

Stephanie tapped her foot impatiently as she waited in the luxurious black car, her irritation growing with each passing moment. When she saw Johnny approach someone taller than him and lead him toward the car, she craned her neck to get a better look. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized that her rival, Carn, was about to get into the car with her.

“Ah, Stephanie, I thought you were Mr. Cho’s daughter. It seems I was right. I hope you don’t mind that I’ll be driving with you today,” Carn said, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Stephanie glared at him, her anger barely contained. Johnny got into the car, seemingly oblivious to the tension between the two.

“So you two have already met. Fantastic, that makes my job much easier. We’ll get going then,” Johnny said, starting the car.

Stephanie couldn't keep quiet any longer. "Wait, Johnny. This is the guy that saved Granny? There is no way," she protested.

Johnny looked at Stephanie in surprise. "This is the guy. His name is Carn Roswal. He worked at that restaurant in San Francisco that Grandma Cho loved. You know... the one she always brought you dumplings from," Johnny said, “What did he do to you to make you so angry at him?”

Stephanie's gaze hardened as she looked at Carn. She couldn't bear the thought of being in the same car as the guy who had beaten her in almost every test. "He, uh, he... he is just annoying is all," she said, refusing to admit the truth.

Carn's face lit up with recognition. "So you were the one she got those shrimp and vegetable dumplings for. I always wondered why she ordered some to go," he said, making Stephanie feel even more uncomfortable.

The car rose into the air and shot away from the school as the passengers sat in awkward silence. After about half an hour Johnny spoke up, “So Carn what class are you?”

“I’m a ranger, though I just started. Tonight I am going to start my first tier-up ceremony so that is fun.” Carn said with a toothy grin.

“Oh, a ranger, that class is quite versatile… I will warn you that some rangers end up specializing in nothing and are more a Jack of all trades, master of none,” Johnny said dismissively.

Carn wanted to thank the man for the advice but realized he didn’t know his name, “I will keep that in mind, uh what’s your name again sir?”

“Jonathan but you may call me Johnny,” The ginger-haired man said.

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As they drove, Carn looked out the car window in awe as the scenery changed from the city to the beachside. Johnny shared some valuable tips about God's Paradise, but Carn's attention was drawn to the mesmerizing view outside. Finally, they reached their destination and the car doors opened to a breathtaking view of the beach. The sand was pure white and the breeze was crisp and rejuvenating.

"Welcome to Laguna Beach!" Johnny exclaimed with excitement, spreading his arms wide.

Stephanie's expression quickly soured as she spoke through gritted teeth, "Johnny, why did we drop him off here? Are you just dropping me off first? That must be it, right?"

But before Johnny could respond, he dropped a bombshell that left Stephanie speechless, "Oh Steph, you didn't know? Your father gave Carn a house in this area as thanks."

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Stephanie's jaw dropped in disbelief as she stomped off toward a nearby mansion. Her tail drooped in defeat as she slammed the door shut behind her.

"Why is Steph so mad at you? You try to hit on her or something?" Johnny asked, giving a curious glance at Carn.

Carn remained focused on the sea, his voice calm and collected as he replied, "She must be mad that I did better than her on most of the tests. She is a sore loser."

Johnny was surprised at Carn's bluntness. Most people treated Stephanie with great respect due to her father's power, but Carn didn't seem to care.

"Well, you aren't wrong, she is a sore loser... Anyways, follow me, and I'll take you to your new house," Johnny said, leading the way toward Carn's new home.

They walked for 5 minutes and Carn noticed that there were absolutely no houses between the mansion and where they stopped. As Carn approached the modern two-story house by the beach, his heart raced with excitement and anticipation. He had never lived in a house before, let alone one as impressive as this. The fresh ocean breeze and the sound of the waves made him feel alive, and the sight of his new home took his breath away.

As he stepped inside the house, his eyes widened in amazement. The interior was spacious, bright, and beautifully decorated. He could hardly believe that he was going to live here. For Carn, who had spent most of his life on the streets, this was a dream come true.

As he explored the house, he felt a mix of emotions - gratitude, disbelief, and a sense of belonging. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the generosity of the Cho family, who had offered him this new life. The feeling of a roof over his head, a place to call home, was an entirely new experience for him.

As Carn looked out the window, the view of the ocean waves crashing onto the shore left him mesmerized. The sea breeze was a refreshing change from the smoggy air he was used to breathing in. He couldn't help but think that he was a million miles away from his old life.

The peacefulness of the moment was interrupted by Johnny's voice, "It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"

Carn turned around, "Yeah, it's amazing. I can't believe this is mine."

Johnny smiled, "You deserve it. And I have good news for you. Most of the houses near the mansion belonging to the families of Mr. Cho's closest assistants and bodyguards."

Carn raised an eyebrow, "Why is that good news?"

"Well, it means you'll have some neighbors to talk to. And they're all loyal to Mr. Cho, so you won't have to worry about any troublemakers."

Carn nodded, feeling reassured. He turned back to the window and took a deep breath. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a real home.

Before leaving, Johnny remembered something important. "Carn, make sure to give me a list of the ingredients you'll need for your house, as well as for the dinner tonight. Mr. Cho said it was part of the deal. Dinner is at 8:00, and you'll be cooking in the mansion's kitchen, so keep that in mind."

Carn was taken aback. "That's in three hours! You should have told me sooner!" he exclaimed quickly, jotting down the ingredients he would need.

Without missing a beat, Johnny took the list and disappeared into thin air, leaving Carn to his thoughts. As he glanced out the window once more, a sense of hope and optimism filled him up. He knew that his life would never be the same again, and he was ready to embrace the future with open arms.

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Carn had spent the last couple of hours in the grand mansion's kitchen, working hard to prepare a feast for the eleven] people. The cooks had kept a close eye on him, assisting with the preparations while observing his every move. But Carn was undaunted, his time in God's Paradise had made him more efficient, and he was able to work at a breakneck pace.

As he plated the dishes, Carn was pleased with what he had made - a generous amount of succulent dumplings, fried rice, bok choy, and spicy kung pao pork. The head chef waved his hand over Carn, causing the sweat to evaporate, leaving him feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Carn and the chefs brought the food to a spacious room, where ten guests were already seated at a long table. Mr. Cho sat at the head of the table with Stephanie by his side, Johnny beside her, and Granny Cho and some bodyguards that Carn had seen at the hospital.

A woman who looked like an older version of Stephanie greeted Carn with a warm smile. Her light brown hair hid her feline ears, which poked through her locks, and a long brown tail rested across her lap.

Mr. Cho stood up and addressed Carn, "Hello Carn, thank you for making us dinner. I have heard things from my mom, so I will be critical if your cooking needs work." He gave Carn a stern look.

The brown-haired woman chuckled, "Honey, you can't be too critical. After all, we all know how good your so-called 'palate' is." The rest of the table laughed, while Mr. Cho cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Granny Cho came to Carn's rescue, "Carn dear, please take a seat. I, for one, know your cooking is wonderful."

Carn sat down at the open chair at the end of the table. A little boy with light brown hair with a tail and ears like his mother, who looked no older than twelve, stared at Carn in admiration, "So, you saved Granny? Wow, you must be super strong!"

"I’m not that strong," he chuckled uncomfortably, "I only did what anyone would have done in my position. Well, dig in! The food is going to get cold."

The dinner was a revelation for Carn. He had never been in such a welcoming environment before, and everyone at the table seemed genuinely interested in getting to know him better. Stephanie, who had been cold and distant earlier, was now sneaking bites of food while trying to hide her smile.

Carn couldn't help but feel curious about the one person who hadn't spoken much during dinner. He looked to the young man with dark brown hair and tail, who had introduced himself as Blake. Carn couldn't help but notice the intensity in his gaze as if he was trying to read Carn's thoughts.

On the other hand, the youngest member of the Cho family, Joshua, was bursting with excitement. He was a small boy with big eyes and he gushed over Carn’s stories, always asking to know more about his life.

After everyone had finished their meal, Mrs. Cho licked some food off of her lips and revealed long canines in her mouth. "That was one of the best meals I have ever had, Carn. You must give our chefs your recipe," she said, beaming at him.

Carn was overwhelmed, this was an experience he had always wanted, a meal with family and this was the closest that he had ever gotten. Carn's eyes misted with tears of gratitude. "Gladly… Also, I am happy to cook whenever. I have never had a family, so a meal like this was a very new experience for me and really made me happy."