I do something similar at school when kids try to insult me. For being better than them? Whatever it is, I say thank you and shake their hand.
They don't know what to do.
It's hard to get a long with kids when as a freshman you scored in the 99th percentile of juniors on the ACT, You pitch at 85mph as a sophomore, and you did all that without having rich parents to give you everything you wanted. I can't afford to fit in, so I do it with intelligence, talent, and hard work, and some kids can't respect it. I might be a little conceited also
Most kids at my school are very stupid and get everything they want. Including brand new cars as their own. I had to buy my own car and I'm going to have to pay for everything when I start driving.
I just don't get Americans. Seems like it would have been a lot better to grow up when my parents or grandparents did. When people did things for themselves. i bet only about 50% of kids I go to school with could ever figure out how to open their hood or put air in the tires.