After groggily finishing breakfast, Stella walked out the door like a wandering soul.
She did find her bra on the nightstand, neatly folded and wrapped in a towel by Leo. She dared not think about the implications of Leo's actions—did he find it distasteful?
Oh my god, how embarrassing.
The dorm group chat kept buzzing, and after reading the long string of messages tagging her, Stella felt even more suffocated.
[Group Chat: Relationship Progress 1/4 (4)]
Meg: @Stella, is the married woman up?
Meg: There's a lecture at 10 that requires fingerprint sign-in. Are you coming?
AnnaLovesFish: @Stella, spring nights are short, and you wake up late.
Jane: @Stella, from now on, TangTang won't get up early.
Meg: This lecture counts for credit.
AnnaLovesFish: Stella, don't push yourself.
Jane: It's normal if you can't get up. We understand.
AnnaLovesFish: The first time is always rough.
Jane: Use some anti-inflammatory ointment.
Meg: ???
Stella: …
Stella: I'm already at the South Gate!
AnnaLovesFish: ???
AnnaLovesFish: Didn't you say you couldn't get out of bed?
Stella: [Death Smile.jpg]
Jane: Tsk, so the great Leo isn't that capable after all.
Stella: …Don't joke around. We didn't do anything.
Meg: What?
AnnaLovesFish: !!!
Jane: A modern-day saint?
AnnaLovesFish: What did you do on your wedding night? Just talk under the covers?
Stella: We didn't even chat, just slept.
Jane: [Eating Whale.jpg]
AnnaLovesFish: Is this the self-control of a great man?
Meg: Leo really is a monster.
Stella didn't find it strange. Perhaps Leo's aura made him seem otherworldly, and she couldn't imagine him indulging in carnal desires.
She had been nervous last night but realized her anxiety wasn't due to resistance. Surprisingly, she didn't resist Leo at all. They had only known each other for six days, and their total time spent together didn't exceed twenty-four hours, yet she felt a sense of security around him. Maybe it was because Leo was chosen by her grandfather, and she always had the utmost trust in her doting grandfather.
The dorm group chat continued its heated discussion, and Stella decided to end the embarrassing topic.
Stella: Dinner's on me tonight. Think about what you want to eat.
Stella: We'll discuss it in the classroom later.
By the time Stella arrived, a long line had formed for fingerprint check-in, and the lecture hall was more than half full.
To encourage student participation, the university allowed attendance at eight lectures to count as one general elective credit. Moreover, this lecture featured a prominent industry figure who would accept resumes on the spot, attracting many students.
Anna and the others had already secured seats in the VIP sunny area by the window on the left side of the classroom.
When Stella sat down, she heard two girls behind her exclaiming, "Wow, look at the door, Evan Starr is here!"
"Ahhh, Evan Starr is so handsome!"
Stella paused.
"Don't worry, darling," Anna teased, "He's called Evan Starr, not your dear husband."
Stella rubbed her nose, "I'm not nervous. Their names just sound similar."
Samantha: "I remember the campus heartthrob is called Evan Starr."
"Yes," Jane nodded, "He's said to be very nice, gentle and refined, unlike Ken, who's just a rich show-off."
Stella took out her laptop and casually agreed, "The name does sound refined."
Samantha nudged her shoulder, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile, "How does he compare to your husband?"
After being teased all morning, Stella's face was getting thicker. She boldly said, "Of course, my husband's name is better—'Like a towering mountain, his conduct is honorable.' Such a meaningful name!"
Anna and the others burst into laughter, and Stella blushed furiously.
There were gasps from the back row, and Stella turned around to see the campus heartthrob standing in the aisle of her row. He nodded politely, "Hello, may I sit here?"
The gasps grew louder, accompanied by girls' excited but restrained squeals.
"…" Stella suspected if she said no, those girls might kill her with their glares, "Sure."
"Thank you." The heartthrob smiled warmly and sat in the empty seat beside her.
Anna nudged Stella gently, "Darling, you and Evan Starr look quite good together!"
"Shh! Don't say that," Stella was nervous, "There are too many of his fangirls behind us, I don't want to die."
Anna chuckled, "I just noticed you both wear black cords. It looks like a couple's item."
Stella turned her head and saw that Evan Starr indeed had a black cord around his neck, extending into his collar, and it seemed similar to hers.
Evan Starr noticed her gaze and asked gently, "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, "Oh, nothing. Sorry."
The lecture hadn't started yet, so she turned on her laptop and opened the outline of her novel that she had been working on.
"Stella?" A sweet yet surprised voice interrupted her thoughts.
Stella looked up to see none other than Bella White, who was clinging to Jack's arm.
There were soft exclamations around them as people curiously looked over.
Bella White seemed to realize she had spoken too loudly. She bit her lip shyly and looked at Jack first, then at Stella with a hint of meaning in her eyes, "Sorry, I didn't know you'd be sitting here."
Stella: "?"
Bella White sat down with Jack in the seats in front of Stella, looking very troubled, "These seats were saved for us. I felt stuffy, so Jack took me out for some air. I really didn't expect you to sit behind us…"
She glanced apologetically at Stella, then took Jack's hand as if making a difficult decision, "Jack, why don't we change seats? I feel much better now. We don't have to sit by the window. We don't want to make Stella unhappy."
Jack glanced coldly at Stella and comforted, "Bella, you like sitting by the window, so we won't change seats."
Bella White looked reluctant, "But if we sit here like this… Stella might mind."
"Bella" Jack gazed at her warmly, "You don't need to care about others."
Bella glanced shyly at Stella and whimpered, burying her face in Jack's chest.
"…"
Again? Stella thought to herself. I haven't said a single word, and you've already performed an entire drama where the true girlfriend meets the rumored girlfriend, gets humiliated, silently endures, and nobly retreats? Last time you were the bossy White Department Head, and now you've transformed into a pitiful, delicate flower? Quite a range of acting.
Meg, Anna, and Jane all looked like they had swallowed a fly, and Anna looked just short of writing "WTF" on her face.
Rose buried her face for a while longer before lifting her head from her boyfriend's chest, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Stella, you really don't mind me sitting here?"
Stella's internal reaction was completely flat, and she even felt a little like laughing. She measured her line of sight, then Rose's height, and said calmly, "What's there to mind? You're not blocking my view."
Rose's expression stiffened but quickly returned to her shy demeanor. "Jack says he doesn't like tall girls; he likes someone petite and delicate like me."
Stella replied, "That's nice. You two are well-matched."
"…"
Rose forced a couple of dry laughs, then turned to the campus heartthrob who had remained silent. She exclaimed with feigned surprise and familiarity, "Evan? I just noticed you. What a coincidence, you're here for the lecture too?"
Evan Starr looked up, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds.
Rose tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, shyly asking, "What's wrong?"
Evan tilted his head, his expression genuinely puzzled, "Who are you?"
The room fell silent.
A snicker broke the silence, followed by stifled laughter rippling through the room. The three words had a devastating effect; Rose's facade finally cracked, leaving her speechless. Jack tried to comfort her, but his typical bluntness only made things worse.
Evan Starr sat quietly amidst the chaos, his innocent expression untouched by Rose's pitiful glare.
Jane, being carefree, quickly moved on from the incident, starting to think about dinner. She asked Stella, "What's our budget for dinner tonight?"
"Anything's fine. Whatever you want to eat!" Stella had just received a manuscript fee and had enough funds.
"How about pasta?" Anna suggested, showing a review of a restaurant. "This place is really popular lately. The crispy pork looks so tempting."
Jane agreed, "Sure!"
"Is it that popular spot on Maple Street?" Rose found a new topic to jump in, "Jack, how about we go there tonight too? The more the merrier. We have reservations at The Grove for the day after tomorrow, so it won't conflict."
Jack nodded, "Of course."
Someone nearby exclaimed, "Wow, Rose, are you going to The Grove? I heard it's hard to get reservations there!"
Stella looked and recognized the girl with the high ponytail, probably a professional hype girl.
"Yes, it's one of the best restaurants," Rose glanced at Stella
Stella looked closely and, oh, it was a familiar face. This girl with a high ponytail seemed to be a professional hype girl.
"Yeah, after all, it's a top-tier restaurant," Rose White glanced at Stella, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Stella, if you're treating your roommates, why not go to The Grove? That would show sincerity!"
Earlier comments were just bragging, but this was a clear attempt to stir trouble.
Everyone knew The Grove was expensive and hard to book. Many working-class people couldn't afford it, let alone college students. So only treating at The Grove was considered sincere? Does that mean ordinary people aren't worthy of friendships?
Jane slapped the table, ready to retort, but Stella calmly spoke, "Sure."
Jane: "???"
Evan Starr smirked slightly.
Stella turned to her three roommates, "How about we go to The Grove?"
Jane, still confused, asked, "When?"
Stella: "Tonight."
Rose White suddenly laughed, "Stella, The Grove requires at least half a month in advance to book. You probably didn't know since you've never been."
Stella said calmly, "I've been there."
Rose White's expression stiffened, "You… you've been there? When?"
Stella: "Yesterday."
"…"
Even Jack was surprised this time. He had spent over a month securing two spots. Stella had just been there yesterday and now again today?
"How is that possible?" Jack said.
Rose White, gaining confidence, said, "Yeah, even if you're trying to save face, you wouldn't lie."
"Don't believe it, then," Stella shrugged nonchalantly and continued discussing with her roommates, "So, are we going to The Grove or for pasta? I'm good with either, you decide."
Anna, finally catching on, lazily propped her chin up, "Let's go for pasta. We can go to The Grove anytime."
Stella nodded, "True."
"…"
Rose White gritted her teeth, refusing to believe it, "Stella, I've heard The Grove's house wine is particularly good, is that true?"
"I don't know, I've never had their wine," Stella said, "but their soy milk is quite good."
"Soy milk?" Jack scoffed, "The Grove doesn't even have soy milk on their menu."
Rose White perked up, "You don't even know what's on the menu, and you claim to have been there?"
"No soy milk?" Stella was surprised, "Are you sure? I had it both times…"
Rose White: "Both times? Are you saying you've been to The Grove twice? How amusing!"
Stella didn't bother with her. She was focused on the soy milk.
She had dined at The Grove twice, and each time, the waiter brought soy milk right after she was seated. It seemed like a regular offering.
"Stella, do you really like soy milk?" Evan Starr suddenly asked.
Stella nodded, "Yes."
"Then it's not surprising. The Grove offers exclusive dishes and services to some special guests," Evan Starr said with a smile, "Their owner must value you highly, and the soy milk is specifically prepared for you. This kind of treatment is very rare, and others can't get it even if they want to."
Stella's heart raced at the words "value you highly."
So, the soy milk was specifically prepared by Leo for her? But how did he know she liked it?
Evan Starr glanced at Rose White's unpleasant expression and then asked Stella, "Is there a special occasion for treating your roommates?"
"Oh, kind of," Stella snapped back to reality and smiled, "I got into a relationship."
The murmurs around them grew louder.
----------------------------
[Evan Starr: I think my identity is quite obvious now :) ]