"The teacher's here," someone called out leisurely from behind.
Amelia walked leisurely into the tiered classroom.
As the teacher entered, everyone's discussions came to a halt.
"Do you know what everyone's saying about you?"
Someone sent a message to Amelia's phone.
She replied with a question mark.
"Everyone's saying you tried to seduce the school's heartthrob yesterday, even though you're already engaged, and that you're a flirt."
The person continued, sending a picture as well: "This is from the school's website."
Amelia looked at it and smirked, following the girl's lead, she found the person who posted it and flipped it over.
The indignant description amused Amelia.
She typed a few words casually: "Judging from your rage, anyone who didn't know better would think I slept with your dad."
As soon as Amelia sent the message, the gazes in the classroom fell on her one by one.
After class, the teacher coughed in the classroom: "There's something I need to tell everyone. You're all sophomores now, and you need to choose a minor. Think about it."
"Some people don't have to," a sarcastic voice came from the center of the classroom, followed by roaring laughter.
Everyone laughed while looking at Amelia.
Amelia's gaze slowly swept over them, about to argue back.
The teacher on the stage suddenly spoke gently: "Classmates, our vice dean has a saying - don't judge a person by one incident, and don't mock someone for being different from you. As humans, we should be compassionate."
Amelia's eyes grew hot upon hearing this.
This phrase was one her former teacher had said and had become her motto.
She just didn't expect to hear it again in Capital University's campus.
The teacher's words personally put an end to the onlookers' amusement.
The people in the classroom began to leave one by one. Amelia took her time packing up her things, and once enough people had left, she approached the teacher: "Who told you that phrase you said earlier?"
"Oh, Dean Graham said it," the teacher replied.
Perhaps thinking Amelia might not know the dean, the teacher added, "The vice dean of the French Department."
"Can I choose French as an elective?"
The teacher looked at Amelia, a bit taken aback. In his memory, this student rarely spoke and seemed to have no talent for languages.
But since the student asked, he nodded: "Of course."
After Amelia finished class, she prepared to leave.
She saw two familiar figures from afar: the two old people with silvery hair walking side by side, their straight backs exuding a scholarly air.
"Did you ask? Is there really no chance of survival?" the woman's voice trembled.
The man sighed: "I asked, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already been notified."
The woman stumbled slightly: "She was so young, what will the Cobb family do?"
Amelia followed them at a distance, close enough to hear their conversation.
The two were her teacher and his wife.
She had graduated from Capital University and was a record-holding alumnus, a source of pride for them. But now, she had died without an explanation.
"How could such a mistake happen, since it was a national event and went through multiple screenings? I don't understand," the woman said, her tone revealing confusion.
The man beside her sighed.
All remained unsaid.
"Miss," the driver called out to Amelia.
Amelia had stopped walking by now, and the two figures in front of her had disappeared.
The driver came to pick her up when he saw her standing on the side of the road, not moving. "Mrs. Cobb is waiting for you at home."
Amelia sat in the car, the conversation between the two old people kept replaying in her head. It turned out she wasn't the only one who found her death unexplained.
When the car stopped at the Holy Garden Villa, Kallie Rayno came out to greet her. Holding Amelia's hand, she patted it gently: "How was school today?"
"It was fine," Amelia answered, somewhat disoriented.
"I picked out some clothes for you. Go try them on and see if they fit. We'll have dinner with your grandfather tonight."
"Okay," Amelia absentmindedly went upstairs, ignoring the clothes, and opened her computer. She started browsing the news.
"Amelia-", Kallie pushed the door open to see Amelia sitting in front of the computer with red-rimmed eyes. She became frantic.
"What's wrong?" Kallie asked gently, her demeanor exuding the warmth and elegance of a gentlewoman.
As Kallie asked, she glanced at the computer screen.
Astonishment flickered in her eyes.
"Nothing, I'm just moved by the news," Amelia lied with an excuse.
Kallie nodded, unsure whether to believe her or not. She gently touched Amelia's head: "No more looking. There's a time for life and a time for death. Let's just live our lives well."
The phrase "a time for life, a time for death" pierced Amelia's heart like a needle, leaving her breathless.
She nodded: "I understand."
Old Mr. Cobb didn't live in Holy Garden, but in the suburban old mansion.
Today, Amelia showed up with her hair in a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead.
Kallie was taken aback by her appearance: "Amelia, you look very good like this."
In Kallie's memory, Amelia was very insecure, with a timidity typical of shy children.
As her mother, Kallie felt helpless, with no other options but to blame herself.
The trip from Holy Garden to the suburban old mansion took nearly half an hour even on the expressway.
By the time they arrived, the old mansion was filled with people.
Without exception, Amelia didn't recognize any of them, except for Old Mr. Cobb.
Bang! As soon as Amelia entered, a purple clay pot flew to her feet.
Kallie was startled: "Dad—"
"What were you doing last night?" Old Mr. Cobb questioned Amelia angrily.
Amelia looked down at the clay pot near her feet and pulled Kallie back.
Kallie was dumbfounded.
Just as she was about to speak, Amelia said: "Someone drugged me at a nightclub last night out of jealousy, wanting to have their way with me. They all want our marriage with the Robinson Family to fail. Wasn't she there too?"
Amelia pointed her chin at a girl nearby.
"Sophia, you tell us, what happened?"
Old Mr. Cobb's gaze fell on Sophia, who was sitting close by, with anger.
Kallie's startled eyes stayed on Amelia, feeling as if the girl standing beside her was not her daughter. Amelia never used to be like this.
Never.
Meanwhile, Sophia was stunned, having not expected Amelia to rebut in such a way.
The dazed girl was brought back to her senses by Old Mr. Cobb's angry shout: "Grandfather, when I arrived, my sister was already lying on the ground. How would I know what happened?"
"Even if you didn't know, you shouldn't have ignored me lying on the ground with another man holding my hair. After all, we're still sisters," Amelia retorted.
Sophia: ........