After lunch, Ashley arrived early at the Art Building.

The classroom was empty, so she went to the barre to do some stretching exercises. Just as she settled into position, Robert Walker walked in with two cups of fruit tea.

Seeing Ashley glance over, he shook the cups in his hands. “Want some? It’s your favorite milk tea, less ice, no sugar.”

Ashley’s face flushed, and she sheepishly stood up straight. “Robert, you came over?”

Robert watched her intently.

Ashley was slender but not skinny; her figure was curvy and nearly perfect.

Her delicate features and fair skin made her look soft and alluring. Standing by the window, bathed in the afternoon sunlight, she seemed like an innocent and charming painting, sweet as cream at the edge of her lips.

Robert was momentarily entranced. Until the condensation on the cup dripped onto his foot, he was back to reality.

His adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously, and he ignored the pounding of his heart as he raised the cup towards her.

Ashley had no choice but to come over and greet him.

Robert was tall, handsome, and gentle, said to have held the title of Huai University’s most attractive student since his freshman year.

His classical piano training gave him an elegant and refined aura. Even in a simple white shirt and black trousers, he looked like the perfect prince from a manga.

Many joked that his smiling eyes could make even passing mosquitoes blush.

Ashley took the cup from his hand. “Robert, weren’t you practicing the piano?”

“I was next door. Just came to say a hello.”

Ashley nodded awkwardly.

Robert clinked his cup against hers, “What’s wrong? You look like you have something to say.”

Ashley hesitated. “Well, as for the Senior Dance Troupe, is that you?”

Their eyes met. Robert’s palms grew warm, but he pretended to be cool, “What...”

Ashley felt guilty.

She knew Robert liked her.

Normally, she would have rejected his advances outright and cut ties. But he had helped her get a chance with the Senior Dance Troupe... She couldn’t let it go.

Facing Robert, Ashley felt a bit guilty. Robert tapped her cup again. “Don’t you like it?”

“I do, but—”

“If you like it, that’s all that matters,” Robert interrupted, drinking a large sip of tea to quell the stirring restlessness in his heart. “What you like is the most important thing, no need to mention anything else.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ashley nodded. “Thank you.”

Her elegant neck was exposed as she moved, making Robert’s fingers itch to touch the cup’s edge.

His voice grew husky. “If you really want to thank me, how about treating me to a meal?”

Ashley agreed, “Oh, I would love to...”

Robert smiled meaningfully. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Ashley was famously hard to date. In her first two years of college, less than five people had shared a meal with her. His straightforward gaze made Ashley feel uneasy again. “It’s the least I can do, given how much you’ve helped me.”

Robert was about to respond when a cheerful male voice called out, “Ashley, what are you doing?”

They turned to see John Edwards entering with a water cooler jug.

Ashley was surprised. “What are you doing here?”

John carried the jug to the water dispenser in the corner. “I just found a part-time job.”

John often worked part-time jobs to support his family.

Seeing their familiarity, Robert frowned slightly but kept his tone neutral. “Ashley, who is this?”

“He—”

John walked over, draping an arm over Ashley’s shoulder and grinning at Robert. “You’re Robert, right?”

Robert looked at John’s hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “Yes, and you are?”

“John,” he said cheerfully. “I’m Ashley’s Romeo—”

“Bromeo!” Ashley cut him off. “John is my Bromeo, my best friend since childhood.”

As she spoke, Ashley pinched John’s side behind her back. He yelped and grabbed her hand, laughing. “...Right, Bromeo.”

Ashley shot him a glare, signaling him to keep quiet. Their intimate interaction displeased Robert, who cleared his throat. “Ashley, I need to talk to you. Can we step aside?”

Ashley was about to respond, but her her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and apologized before stepping away.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?” The man’s lazy voice was unreadable.

Ashley glanced at Robert and moved farther away. “At school.”

Robert noticed her evasiveness and tried to follow, but John blocked him. “Robert, it’s not appropriate to follow a girl on a call.”

Robert pushed John’s hand away, scrutinizing him. “Are you really just friends?”

John raised an eyebrow. “Could be more than friends.”

Robert’s eyes narrowed with caution.

John remained calm. “You like Ashley?”

Robert snorted, ignoring him, and watched Ashley from a distance.

Ashley spoke quietly into the phone.

Brian, “Aren’t you off today?”

“Yes, but a senior asked me to come over,” Ashley added, “to practice dancing.”

“Looks like I was too lenient last night,” Brian sneered. “You still have energy to practice today.”

Ashley felt anxious and instinctively used a softer tone. “No, no...I’m really tired, my legs are weak, and my waist is sore.”

Brian laughed. “Didn’t I tell you to—”

“Ashley, is that a call from your family?”

A sudden male voice interrupted. Brian paused.

Ashley’s heart pounded. “Mr, I’m really in the dance studio! I—”

“Senior?” Brian grinned softly.

Ashley tightened her grip on the phone, cold sweat forming on her forehead. “It’s a classmate from the next practice room, just chatting. Mr, I’m not lying, I—”

“Chatting?”

The connection made Brian’s voice even colder, and Ashley couldn’t help imagining his sneering, disgusted expression. She took a deep breath. “Mr, it’s true—”

The call ended with a mechanical beep.

Brian despised lies.

The lesson from last night was still fresh, and Ashley didn’t want to provoke this unpredictable man again so soon. She hurried to call back.

But just as she dialed, the classroom door opened, and the senior dancers filed in. Sophia clapped and called for a gathering.

John came over, cutting off her call. “Time to gather.”

“But...”

“Look,” John patted her shoulder. “Practice is the most important thing right now.”

This was a hard-won opportunity for Ashley.

He glanced at Robert, then whispered in Ashley’s ear. “Suitor?”

Ashley snapped out of it and nodded.

“Need help?”

Robert’s face darkened at their close interaction. John ignored him, focusing on Ashley. “Now is the perfect time.”

“Not yet,” Ashley bit her lip. “I might need his help later.”

John looked at her in surprise, then chuckled. “Ashley, you’re so bad.”

Ashley blushed and glared at him.

John’s smile widened. “Yeah, kind of a bitch.”

“Hey!”

“But... I like it.” John took her drink and nudged her towards the group. “Go do your thing. I’ll handle this.”