Chapter 198
The opening ceremony ended.
Sophia Sullivan's graduate studies had officially begun.
Her class schedule was packed.
It ran from nine in the morning until noon, with barely any breaks.
Hannah Morse nearly overslept on her first day.
She rushed into the classroom wearing shorts and flip-flops.
Sophia glanced at her. "Hannah, you didn't change your shoes?"
Hannah looked down at her Crocs. "I did change. These are new."
"You're wearing flip-flops to class?"
"Yeah, is that a problem? Everyone wears them in summer back home."
Marcus Lawrence shot a look. "You call this formal?"
Hannah glared back. "Why isn't it formal?"
Marcus was silent for a moment. "Whatever makes you happy."
Hannah sniffed. "You just don't get it."
He really didn't.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
The three of them planned to have lunch together.
During their chat, Sophia learned neither of them lived on campus.
Marcus lived at home.
Hannah rented an apartment near the university.
Coincidentally, Hannah lived very close to Sophia.
Hannah liked Sophia a lot.
She was often mocked for her weight, and few girls wanted to be friends with her.
Sophia was different.
She was beautiful but not arrogant, sincere and without prejudice.
"Sophia, there's this super popular little restaurant near campus. Even influencers go there. It's cheap too. Let's try it…"
Before she could finish, a bouquet of yellow roses was suddenly presented to Sophia.
Ethan Roscente stood there in a suit, his collar slightly open.
His cropped trousers made his legs look long and straight.
He walked up to Sophia, holding the yellow roses.
"Mimi, long time no see."
Hannah blinked and tactfully pulled Marcus away.
"What are you doing?" Marcus frowned.
"Can't you see someone is giving her flowers?"
"So?"
"You want to be a third wheel?"
Marcus fell silent.
Sophia looked at Ethan, her brow slightly furrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"Your favorite yellow roses. Happy start of the semester."
He offered her the bouquet.
Sophia took half a step back. "I don't want them."
He gave a bitter smile. "Can't I even say congratulations?"
"You can say it. But I won't accept the flowers."
Sophia wasn't falling for it.
Ethan asked, "Do we have to be like this?"
Sophia replied, "Haven't we been like this for a while now?"
He was left speechless.
"Wow! Someone's getting flowers!"
"That guy is so handsome!"
"Who's the girl? I haven't seen her before."
"Is she a new student?"
People came and went at the university gate. Ethan's flashy gesture drew many eyes.
Though most didn't know Sophia, some did.
"Hey, isn't that the mature-age graduate student?"
Ashley Lowell stopped walking.
Fiona Valentine beside her also stopped, following her gaze.
The next second, she froze.
A tall, handsome man was holding yellow roses, standing before Sophia, who looked cold and indifferent.
Ashley scoffed lightly. "It's good to be pretty. Getting chased after just days into the semester."
"Fiona, you're not bad either. How come no one sends you flowers?"
Fiona smiled. "What's there to compare?"
"Stop pretending to be above it all. I don't believe you're not jealous!"
Fiona's smile remained unchanged.
Ashley snorted. "Too much pretense is just hypocrisy." She turned and walked away.
Fiona stood still, her smile gradually fading.
Two boys stood not far away.
Caleb Watson was speaking. "...Did you remember everything I said?"
Jude Granger scratched his head, then suddenly looked ahead. "Whoa!"
Caleb followed his gaze and saw the flower-giving scene. He frowned. "If you want academic success, don't get distracted by irrelevant things. Like dating."
"...Got it, senior!" Jude nodded emphatically.
But...
"That girl seems to be Professor Watson's student," he added. "She's really impressive."
She left Shane Holloway speechless and even dared to mock Professor Lowell publicly.
So cool!
Caleb wasn't interested. He glanced over and then looked away.
"Let's go. I'll take you to the supermarket to get some daily necessities."
Jude quickly waved his hands. "No, no need. I brought everything."
Caleb's mouth twitched. "You mean the toothbrush with flying bristles, or the towel full of holes?"
Jude's dark face flushed with embarrassment. "I... I think they can still be used..."
New things cost money.
Caleb sighed softly, as if seeing his past self.
He and Jude were from the same village, but Caleb had gotten into MIT for his undergraduate studies earlier.
Jude only went to a regular 211 university for his undergrad and took two tries to get into MIT for grad school.
Being from the same hometown, Caleb naturally wanted to look out for him.
For rural kids like them, warmth was a rare luxury in this unfamiliar city.
Having been through the rain, he wanted to hold an umbrella for someone else.
"I'll buy them for you."
"No, really," Jude said hurriedly, waving his hands. "My folks gave me some money."
In his panic, his accent slipped out.
Caleb didn't say more, just led him towards the supermarket.
Some confession, some man, some girl—it had nothing to do with him.
They hesitated over buying a new toothbrush, while others spent hundreds on a bouquet of flowers.
The world was never fair.
Sophia avoided the yellow roses again. "I have things to do. I'm leaving."
She walked straight over to Hannah and Marcus.
Ethan stood there holding the flowers, a bitter smile on his lips.
After who knows how long, Sophia left, and the onlookers dispersed.
He walked to a trash can and let go.
The bright yellow roses fell into the filth.
He turned and left.
Fiona was still there.
She watched Ethan's retreating figure thoughtfully for a long time before finally leaving with her books.
Sophia met up with the two others and they walked together to the trendy restaurant.
A modest line had formed outside the restaurant by noon.
They waited for two parties to be seated before a table was ready.