With a crisp "snap," the sound echoes. Jessica instantly retracts her foot.
"Hey, what kind of person do you take me for?" Sebastian says, between laughter and disbelief, as if Jessica truly sees him as some kind of deviant.
"Well, you don't have to slap them at least. Now that you've said it, I won't let you see them anymore." Jessica, rubbing her foot, remarks, "That's probably for the best. Always resting them on the table isn't good for blood circulation anyway."
Sebastian, speaking without thinking, quickly finds himself under Jessica's narrow gaze, and tries to recover with a more professional tone, "What I mean is, you can't consider it a sort of access pass to my office."
He adds sincerely, "Without my permission, even Patrick can't come in here."
"Hey, Seb," Jessica calls out.
"Yes?" Sebastian responds, keeping his composure.
"You're quite amusing when you try to act all serious," Jessica says with a teasing smile.
"And your point is?" Sebastian glances at her sideways.
"I've never had the habit of paying an access fee," Jessica states proudly.
"So, you plan to take advantage without contributing?" Sebastian looks at his computer, feeling a sense of loss at the thought of not having her company anymore, which makes him unexpectedly sentimental.
At that moment, a pair of feet moves toward him. Sebastian's eyes light up. At the same time, Jessica's voice, tinged with pride, reaches his ears. "I don't have the habit of taking without giving, either."
However, her confident tone quickly turns flustered, "Sebastian, what are you doing?" Jessica, seeing her feet being drawn closer by Sebastian, blushes as the long-suppressed shyness overwhelms her.
"Didn't you say your feet were feeling numb?" Sebastian says as he begins a gentle massage. "Let me help you with that."
"You never said you knew massage techniques, did you?" Jessica asks, her eyes revealing a hint of skepticism.
"Why don't you put more faith in me?" Sebastian increases the pressure slightly and says with a warm smile, "Why don't you give it a try and see?"
Deep into the night, stars sparkle brilliantly in the sky. At ten in the evening, the Pretty Generation dormitory is shrouded in darkness when the sound of a door opening is heard. Jessica tiptoes inside but is startled by a hazy figure in the living room.
"Ah, Victoria, why are you scaring people by hanging around the living room in the middle of the night?" Jessica chastises, hand on her chest.
"I was waiting for you, Jess." Victoria replies softly.
"Waiting for me?" Jessica is taken aback and, seeing the sincerity in Victoria's eyes, appears contemplative.
"Everyone else must be asleep. Let's go to the balcony," Jessica suggests, leading Victoria there. After closing the door behind them, she says with a smile, "Okay, now you can tell me what's on your mind."
Just as Victoria is about to speak, they both say at the same time, "It's about Sebastian."
"How did you know?" Victoria is surprised.
"You still want to thank him?" Jessica asks curiously.
"I just feel a bit guilty and don't know how to make up for it," Victoria says, biting her lip.
"Is there a story?" Jessica's eyes show interest as she sits down, urging Victoria to share her tale. "Don't worry, is there anything you can't talk to me about?"
"But your relationship with Mr. Vanderbilt seems..."
"We're not in a romantic relationship right now. As for the future, who knows? But until I'm certain it's love, I won't meddle in his affairs. If he happens to fall for someone else before I develop feelings, then we just weren't meant to be," Jessica says with a reassuring smile. "Is that promise enough for you?"
"Jess, that's not what I meant," Victoria replies softly.
"I know you're just feeling guilty. Having known you for so long, I can tell," Jessica reassures her.
"But why..."
"Guilt, curiosity, anger, suspicion—if you experience emotional turbulence because of a man, and he happens to be an exceptional one in every way, then the first step to falling for him might have already been taken without you realizing it," Jessica says. "Don't rush to deny it. Think it over carefully and examine your own feelings."
"Actually, it's a series of misunderstandings," Victoria sighs, then proceeds to share everything that has happened recently.
"So did the argument you had with Charlotte the other day lead to a misunderstanding about Sebastian?" Jessica is slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Victoria to develop a misunderstanding about Sebastian over such a matter.
"Actually, from the time he chose me and then abandoned me, I've been harboring some resentment," Victoria admits candidly.
"And now?"
"Now, I just want to make it up to him in some way. I don't feel right otherwise," Victoria speaks, her expression complex. She doesn't like being indebted to anyone. But Sebastian has inadvertently caused her to owe him a significant favor. "So Jess, what do you think I should do?"
"If you ask me, the best thing would be to forget the whole incident," Jessica says with a bright smile. "From my perspective, Sebastian is so wealthy that you can't really make it up to him. Starting a cycle of obligations and repayments could lead to complications, which would be troublesome for me as well, so I prefer if you two don't have any contact."
"Ah, Jess! You're teasing me again," Victoria protests, somewhat annoyed.
"I'm just being honest," Jessica replies with a smile. "Alright, I've heard your story as you shared your secret. Now, what do you need from me in return?"
"What?"
"I know our Vicky wouldn't be confused about life, but rather someone who plans carefully before taking action," Jessica praises without reservation.
"Jess..."
Victoria sighs softly, looking up to see Jessica's eyes reflecting the stars outside, shining brightly.
"Perhaps, you could find out when Mr. Vanderbilt is getting his vaccination?" Victoria breaks the silence, her beautiful eyes filled with a trace of apology. "If I don't do something about it, I'm afraid I really won't be able to sleep."
Phone was answered.
"Seb?"
"Yes?"
"When are you getting your rabies vaccine?"
"The day after tomorrow, in the morning. Why?"
"Nothing, bye."
"???" Sebastian sits on his bed, looking bewildered.
"The fee has been paid, okay?" Jessica swings her phone playfully and says, "But please don't come to me about Sebastian again. I don't want to create an enemy in the future."
"It's not what you think," Victoria says helplessly.
"Vicky, if I may speak frankly, when you're with Sebastian, remember you're interacting with him out of a sense of apology. If you notice his good qualities and can distance yourself, then do it quickly," Jessica advises earnestly. "Otherwise, once you realize you're stuck in the mire, it'll be too late. You'll only sink deeper the more you struggle."
"Jess, how can you have so little faith in me?" Victoria says, laughing and crying. "I've seen plenty of men before."
"Can you refuse someone who asks what you want to eat, who opens water bottles for you without being asked, who unconsciously shields you on the street, who's humorous, good-looking, started his own business at a young age, and has already made a fortune?" Jessica asks. Waving her hand, she adds, "I've said all I needed to say as a sister to you. I'm tired, I'm going to rest."
With that, she leaves the room, leaving Victoria alone on the balcony, deep in thought.