Hugo’s jaw nearly dropped as the words on the System notification shed across his vision. He even rubbed his eyes and read it again just to be sure.


    When he gazed at the hologram screen once again, the message remained the same.


    [Ding! Due to the influence of Sanchez’s public hyping, your social status stat has temporarily increased by 5 points for the duration of the pool party!]


    [Social Status Buff +5]


    Duration: Until the end of the pool party.


    He read it twice, then a third time. He could hardly believe it.


    This was unreal! Heck, he didn’t even know that something like a temporary buff could be possible!


    And to the stat that was hardest to raise, even!


    Social status was a measure of fame, prestige, and all the things that made people idolise you, practically drool over you and treat you like a mini celebrity!


    It simply meant and determined your standing in the socialdder and your influence to other people around you.


    In other words, it showed how far you are on the celebrity scale.


    Since Hugo’s social status stat was 3 before, the added temporary stats of 5 means he currently has a social status of 8!


    8!


    Probably even Ronaldo didn’t have that much!


    Okay, maybe he was exaggerating. Ronaldo probably had like a social status of 50,000, but still...


    Still!


    Tonight, he’d be treated just like those guys who made girls swoon with a nce!


    Tonight, he’d have a piece of that magic that made everyone around you hang onto your every word, like how girls always lit up when a famous guy walked by, giggling at his jokes, eager to please.


    Hugo’s heart thudded with excitement. He might actually be... cool tonight?


    He had seen it before: how people seemed to gravitate to anyone famous, acting as if everything they said was pure gold, eager to make them happy.


    And now, for tonight, that power was his. He’d never been more thrilled.


    Unable to contain his excitement, he turned to Sanchez. "This... this is insane! I’ve gotta thank you—"


    But Sanchez just grinned, pping him on the shoulder. "No need for thanks, cuz. Just go out there and enjoy it."


    Collins looked on, wide-eyed. "Dude, you’re gonna be the king of the party tonight!"


    As a fellow professional like Sanchez, he knew that Sanchez had basically set the stage for Hugo. All he had to do was not mess it up and he would be able to bang a dope chick this night!


    It was such a priceless gift!


    Hugo didn’t need to be told twice. Unable to hold back, he made his way down to the pool area, which was packed with people lounging,ughing, and sshing around.


    The moment he arrived, heads turned, and people started greeting him, nodding, trying to catch his eye. Some were even pushing their way over to talk, like he was the guest of honour.


    ’So this is what it’s like to be famous?’ Hugo thought, a mix of pride and disbelief in his chest.


    He felt like he was in top if the world. Like he had grown wings and had be a Celestial being!


    It was awesome!


    But before he could fully enjoy it, a deep voice rang out, "Hey, let’s give the birthday boy a ssh!"


    Hugo barely had time to blink before a giant, muscr guy appeared out of nowhere, scooping him up like he weighed nothing.


    "Wait—what?!" Hugo stammered, struggling. ’They can’t—’ His stomach dropped as he realized what was happening. ’They’re going to throw me in, and I don’t know how to swim!’


    "Wait—hold on! I don’t—" Hugo stammered, eyes wide as the guy lifted him like a feather.


    ’I don’t know how to swim!’ Hugo screamed internally, panic flooding him. ’They’re going to throw me in, and I’m going to die! Famous for five seconds, and I’m already about to die!’


    He couldn’t believe his bad luck was that overpowered. He had barely enjoyed being famous for five seconds!


    Heck, in a way, he hadn’t even enjoyed it!


    Which demon had he offended for him to be so cursed?! Or was it a witch? Or a genie?!


    The crowd cheered,ughing, oblivious to his inner horror as the man swung him over the pool and—ssh!


    Hugo hit the water with a graceless flop. He thrashed wildly, inhaling a mouthful of chlorine and sputtering like a drowning cat.


    "Hel—"


    The people around him keptughing, thinking he was just ying around, until Collins, wide eyed and rmed, yelled, "Uh… guys? Hugo is actually drowning!"


    As soon as Collins shouted this, someone hurriedly tossed a pink mingo float Hugo’s way, which he grabbed with a death grip, coughing and gasping as he clung to it like his life depended on it.


    ’This is it,’ he thought bitterly, ’I’m famous, and I almost drowned because of it!’


    Trying to make a sneaky escape out of the pool, Hugo was almost to the edge when a stunning girl stepped right into his path.


    n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She was drop dead gorgeous, with eyes that glinted as she looked him over. She leaned in, her voice soft and yful.


    "Hey, Hugo," she purred, her voice almost a whisper. "What’s the dirtiest thing you’ve ever done in a pool?"


    Hugo’s brain froze. "Uh , uh..." He felt his cheeks me, mind racing. She was practically pressing up against him, looking at him with a bold glint in her eye.


    He was about to stammer something ridiculous, but managed to catch himself. Taking a deep breath, he activated Aura of Zen and his nervous immediately calmed, steadying his nerves.


    His gaze crew nonchnt and his voice became cool.


    "Nothing... yet," he replied with a slight smirk, surprising even himself with how cool he sounded.


    Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him into a secluded, shadowy corner of the pool.


    "Well," she whispered, her voice dripping with promise, "how about we change that?"