Chapter 202
Shane Holloway's face darkened instantly.
"What are you photographing?! That's a violation of portrait rights!"
Hannah Morse raised her phone.
"Legal evidence gathering in a public space. I'm a concerned citizen. Feel free to sue."
"You—"
Shane was livid, his face turning a shade of green.
Ashley Lowell frowned.
"Shane, stop talking nonsense."
Shane froze.
"This meal is Dutch treat. Who asked you to reimburse anything? Finish up and let's get back to campus!"
Shane shot a resentful glare at Sophia Sullivan but was pulled away by Ashley.
Jude Granger stood frozen in place.
The words "Dutch treat" made his expression shift.
"I just remembered something! I have to go!"
He turned and practically ran.
Shane sneered.
"Cheapskate! Probably scared of having to pay!"
Ashley replied, "Forget about him."
Sophia and her two friends exited the restaurant.
Their ride-share pulled up just then.
Hannah and Marcus Lawrence got in first.
As Sophia moved to open the front passenger door, a figure in the corner caught her eye.
She paused and walked toward the shadows.
"Jude?"
A tall figure emerged awkwardly from the darkness, scratching his head.
"That's me."
"We're heading back to campus. We can give you a lift."
"Really?" Jude's eyes lit up, though he still seemed hesitant.
It was a long way back to campus.
A taxi would cost over twenty dollars.
He had planned to take the bus, but service had stopped for the night.
He'd placed a ride-share pool order for just five dollars, but no one had accepted it.
Just as he was weighing his options, Sophia appeared.
"It's on our way."
"Thank you!"
Jude was too tall, so Sophia had him take the front seat.
The back was already crowded with Hannah, and adding him would have been too tight.
The driver chuckled.
"Son, you're a big one. My car feels smaller with you in it."
Jude smiled sheepishly, revealing a set of very white teeth.
Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the university gates.
Jude got out.
Seeing the three still inside, he looked puzzled.
"We're here. Aren't you getting out?"
Sophia replied, "We don't live on campus."
"Oh..." He scratched his head again.
"Thank you for today."
He suddenly shoved something through the window at Sophia, then turned and sprinted away.
Sophia looked down.
It was a twenty-dollar bill.
Mobile payments were ubiquitous now.
Few people used cash.
Marcus glanced over.
"Incredibly earnest."
The total fare was twenty-five dollars.
Split four ways, it was just over six dollars each.
Just because they weren't going to the dorms, Jude had insisted on paying twenty.
Hannah sighed softly.
"Such a shame he's with the wrong advisor. Why did he choose Victoria Lowell?"
Marcus said, "He's from the same hometown as Caleb Watson. Naturally, he'd choose her."
"How do you know that?"
"Caleb was looking for him on orientation day."
"I see."
These days, many people pretended to be simple.
Genuinely kind and honest ones were rare.
...
The car stopped at the mouth of the alley.
Sophia got out.
Marcus and Hannah had already left.
Sophia walked toward her apartment building.
Moonlight streamed down like water.
The stars were sparse.
The summer wind was hot and stifling, offering no relief.
Her steps suddenly halted.
Leaning against a tree by the building's entrance was a man, hands in his pockets.
Seeing her, he immediately straightened up.
A smile touched his lips.
"Surprised?"
Sebastian Evans walked up to her.
Sophia was slightly taken aback.
"A little."
"How's the start of the semester treating you?"
"Fine."
"Lots of classes?"
The question hit a nerve.
Not just lots—it was an explosion!
Sebastian chuckled softly.
"Your expression tells me everything."
"...Is it that obvious?" She touched her face.
"No."
"Then how could you tell?"
Sebastian said, "I have a sharp eye."
Sophia's lip twitched.
"It's too hot out here. I know you won't invite me up, so how about we find someplace cool to sit?"
He certainly knew his place.
"I bet you're thinking, 'This guy is pretty perceptive.'"
Sophia: "!"
"Seems I guessed right again."
"..."
They went to their usual bubble tea shop.
It was just across the street, and the air conditioning was strong.
Sebastian was in a business suit, looking completely out of place in the bubble tea shop.
It drew quite a few glances.
Sophia asked, "What would you like? My treat."
"Oreo Milk Tea. No ice. Full sugar."
"?"
"Why that look?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
Sophia was silent for a moment before walking to the counter.
"Two Oreo Milk Teas. No ice. Full sugar."
The man laughed softly.
"So you like it too? Great minds think alike?"
Sophia: "Just a coincidence."
Sebastian's lips curved.
How many coincidences could there possibly be in this world?
What she liked, what she disliked—he had figured it all out over the years.
He knew her better than Ethan Roscente ever did.
The drinks were ready quickly.
They sat opposite each other.
Sophia asked, "What did you need to see me about?"
"Can't I just want to see you?" He arched a brow.
Sophia was silent for two seconds.
"I don't think you would."
If it were just small talk, Sebastian wouldn't have found a specific place.
He certainly wouldn't have shown up outside her building late at night.
Even if he truly wanted to see her, he would have found a proper reason, not come so abruptly.
"So who showed up abruptly to see you?" Sebastian's gaze turned sharp.
Sophia: "..." Was that the point?
"...Has Ethan been to see you recently?"
She didn't want to answer.
Sebastian wouldn't let it go, smiling faintly.
"Let me guess. He definitely came, and it wasn't at night."
"..."
"And he brought flowers."
"..."
Sebastian: "You're at school during the day, so he went to find you there?"
He got every single detail right.
Sophia gave a light laugh.
"With guessing skills like that, why not set up a fortune-telling booth?"
"I'm only interested in one person's fate."
She asked without thinking, "Whose fate?"