Brian simply leaned against the car, smiling teasingly at her, “You jealous?”

Olivia’s face heated up, and she didn’t respond.

Brian grabbed her wrist, pulling her in front of him, and brushed the long hair from her chest.

“She was disrespectful to you at the hotel.”

Olivia tilted her head, “So what?”

“I’m standing up for you, little girl,” Brian said dotingly, tugging at her hair. “Get in the car, I’ll take you home.”

Olivia immediately smiled and got into the passenger seat.

Brian closed the door, and as he turned around, the smile on his face vanished.

On the way, Olivia occasionally chatted with Brian.

“I just heard them talking, and I realized that universities in China are so easygoing,” Olivia wrinkled her nose, “I’m always busy writing papers and don’t even have time for romance.”

Brian raised an eyebrow, “You mean that I’m delaying your studies?”

Olivia’s face turned red, “No, no...that’s different.”

Brian chuckled.

“By the way, I just heard Captain Sophia say that there’s a cute guy next door, Robert. He seems to be confessing to someone today, and he even bought—ah!”

The speeding car suddenly braked, and Olivia, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, was thrown towards the front window.

With a thud, she hit the window, and her forehead turned red.

“Brian, what’s the matter!”

Olivia thought there had been an accident, and quickly turned to look at Brian.

Brian’s face was livid, and he tightly gripped the steering wheel, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

It seemed he was suppressing great anger.

After a few seconds of silence, Brian looked at her expressionlessly, “I just remembered something urgent, and I haven’t dealt with.”

“What urgent matter?” Olivia saw his almost cold expression for the first time and felt uneasy. “Did something happen at the company?”

Brian gave a vague reply and called his assistant.

“I have something to handle. My assistant will take you home.”

Olivia looked at him incredulously, “Didn’t we agree to spend the afternoon together—”

Brian’s gaze was cold and hard, “Sorry.”

But his eyes showed no trace of apology.

With just those two words, Olivia was at a loss for words.

To make it worse, he directly opened the car door, “The assistant will be here in about ten minutes.”

He didn’t even want to wait with her.

Olivia’s eyes quickly turned red with tears, and she got out of the car angrily, standing by the roadside.

She thought Brian would comfort her, but as soon as she steadied herself, the car door slammed shut, and he drove away.

Watching the speeding car, Olivia clenched her bag strap tightly.

...

Back in the classroom, Ashley found that the senior who had previously accepted her well suddenly changed.

They grouped up in threes and twos, whispering.

Ashley took a deep breath, realizing that she could no longer stay in the dance troupe.

She put on her jacket, grabbed her phone, and apologized to Sophia before quickly leaving the Art Building.

Walking all the way to the gate, Ashley stopped at a pharmacy to buy medicine.

Under the store owner’s strange gaze, she bought emergency contraception and took it. Unsure whether to go home, she received a message from Robert.

Robert, “Ashley , Sophia said you’re not joining the dance troupe anymore? Why?”

Ashley carefully composed her reply, “Robert, I thought it over and decided it’s not a good idea. There are many juniors who applied, but only I got selected. It’s unfair for other students. If someone notices, even you might get implicated.”

For the first time playing the role of a bitchy girl, Ashley still felt uncomfortable.

After sending the message, she waited for a reply but received none.

Ashley thought, she’s indeed a bitch.

Robert had gone through great lengths to get her this opportunity, and she had foolishly given it up.

Soon, Robert called her.

Ashley quickly answered, “Robert.”

Robert’s tone was serious, “Ashley, did something happen? Did someone say something?”

“Oh, no,” Ashley replied lightly, “The senior are all nice. It’s just that I feel it’s not suitable.”

Robert was silent for a few seconds, “Didn’t you really want to join the senior rehearsal?”

“I did,” Ashley sighed bitterly, “But I overestimated myself.”

Robert said, “If you give up this opportunity, it’ll be hard for your application to study abroad to go through.”

Now it was Ashley’s turn to be silent.

“I saw your application in the counselor’s office, and I know you’ve been rejected several times. The counselor said the reason for your rejection was ’insufficient qualifications.’

“If you could rehearse and perform with the Senior Dance Troupe, it would be a great way to make up for this shortcoming.”

Robert almost blurted out, “I’ve been watching you,” making it impossible for Ashley to play dumb.

But Robert wasn’t done, “Do you have time?”

Ashley felt embarrassed, “Robert, you...”

Robert, “Meet me at parking area A9. I have something to tell you.”

His confident tone made Ashley uneasy, “Robert, I—”

“Please, I’ll be right there.” With that, Robert hung up.

Ashley looked at the darkened screen and bit her lip.

Oh god. Crap!

After thinking for a moment, Ashley called John.

“Miss, we just met, and you already miss me?”

“Cut the crap,” Ashley sighed. “I think Robert is about to confess to me.”

“What?” John was shocked, “Oh god...”

Ashley pressed her temples, “I didn’t expect it either.”

Ashley was attractive and had a good temperament. Even with a blank expression, she could attract boys’ attention just by standing somewhere.

Although she usually kept to herself, people confessing to her were never-ending.

Since her freshman year, Ashley had received love letters by the pound every week.

To avoid trouble, Ashley had her childhood friend John help her.

Whenever someone chased her, John would pretend to be her boyfriend and drive them away.

Earlier, John had asked if she needed help with Robert, but since she had just accepted his favor, she didn’t want to embarrass him.

Who knew karma would come so quickly.

John laughed, “Messed up, huh? I knew you couldn’t pull off the flirting act.

Such a innocent kitten, but pretending to be a bitch.”

“Wait there, I’ll be right over!”

After hanging up, Ashley walked to the parking area.

After a few minutes, John hadn’t arrived, but Robert had.

Ashley looked around. The parking area was empty except for a familiar Rolls Royce.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Robert walked over with a serious face, glanced at Ashley, and went straight to the trunk.

Ashley watched him to find something through the back, and she’s even more nervous.

Robert took something out, hid it behind his back, closed the trunk, and walked toward her.

When he reached her, he extended his hand, presenting a bouquet of roses.

Ashley instinctively stepped back, “Robert, you...”

Seeing her reaction, half of Robert’s hope died.

He forced a bitter smile, “Is it not obvious enough? Ashley, I have never hidden my affection for you.”

Ashley looked around helplessly, hoping John would appear out of nowhere.

Robert gritted his teeth and suddenly reached for Ashley’s wrist.

Ashley instinctively dodged, but his hand shifted, wrapping around her waist.