Confronted with Sharon Lowe’s provocation, Aria snapped, "Have you seen the time? People are trying to sleep! What is wrong with you? Honestly, I can’t imagine how bored someone would have to be to watch your streams every single day."

Sharon Lowe scoffed and said smugly, "I have over a hundred thousand followers now. All I have to do is post a few casual videos, chat with my fans, and I’m pulling in a five-figure income every month. Aria, you’re just jealous, aren’t you?"

Aria said scornfully, "What’s there for me to be jealous of? It’s not exactly a prestigious career."

Sharon Lowe rolled her eyes, unbothered. "Sounds to me like a classic case of sour grapes. I can’t believe my luck, getting stuck in a dorm with three broke losers."

With that, she grabbed her water pitcher and headed to the utility room to fill it up.

Aria was so furious she wanted to follow and confront her, but Eve Vaughn held her back.

"Let it go. It’s too late for this, and you won’t get anywhere arguing with her."

Aria fumed, "I have the worst luck imaginable, getting stuck in a room with someone like that. Just thinking about having to live with her for two more years makes my head want to explode!"

Eve Vaughn’s gaze fell on the empty bed by the window. "I wonder when Nina Steele will be back?"

She didn’t mention that she had run into Nina Steele working at the hot pot restaurant.

But Aria leaned in and said conspiratorially, "She must be out working again. Let me tell you, I saw her in the cafeteria at noon today. You know what she was eating?"

Eve Vaughn asked curiously, "What?"

Aria whispered, "She just got a bowl of the free soup and thirty cents’ worth of rice. She was eating rice soaked in soup!"

Eve Vaughn was stunned. She frowned. "You mean that cafeteria soup? The one without even any egg in it? It’s completely tasteless. How could she eat that?"

"I don’t know. She looked like she was really enjoying it, though," Aria said with a sigh. "Her family must be in a really tight spot."

Eve Vaughn’s heart ached a little. After all, while she had also been desperate when she applied for the financial aid for underprivileged students...

...compared to Nina Steele, at least she had never been so destitute that she couldn’t even afford to eat.

After her falling out with her aunt and uncle, she at least had Mason Lawson to help her with everything.

If it weren’t for him, she might have been in an even worse state than Nina Steele.

Realizing her life was so much better than Nina’s, Eve Vaughn suddenly felt a pang of guilt. "By the way," she asked Aria, "that student aid program sponsored by the rich businessman—was Nina selected for it?"

Aria shook her head. "I have no idea. But with only three spots for the whole university, it must have been incredibly competitive. Besides, the advisors keep things confidential to protect the students’ dignity. How would we know?"

Just then, Nina Steele returned. Aria and Eve Vaughn immediately fell silent, afraid she would get the wrong idea.

Nina Steele quietly went about her routine, fetching water to wash her face. Before sleeping, she would always read for another hour.

She had always been like that, a loner who had no friends and never made any.

「...」

The next day in class, the professor for the cardiovascular systems module had been switched from Autumn Woods to Hamilton Hale.

According to the news, an anonymous whistleblower had submitted all the evidence, and Angus Woods was now under full investigation. As the person most closely associated with him, Autumn Woods also had to be investigated.

So, for the foreseeable future, Hamilton Hale would be teaching the cardiovascular systems course.

The moment Hamilton Hale stepped up to the podium, he instantly captured the attention of a crowd of female students.

He didn’t have the same brooding elegance as Mason Lawson or Jonah Spencer, but his handsome features and witty humor quickly won everyone over.

Aria said excitedly to Eve Vaughn, "Wow, this Mr. Hale is so handsome! And he’s already an associate professor at such a young age. His lectures are so much better than Professor Woods’s, not boring at all."

Eve Vaughn agreed. Unlike Autumn Woods, Hamilton Hale didn’t try to show off his erudition by delving into highly specialized, cutting-edge topics.

His lectures helped them build a solid foundation.

Throughout the entire class, Hamilton Hale didn’t pay any special attention to Eve Vaughn just because he knew her.

Eve Vaughn, for her part, found the situation much more comfortable that way.

After class, Hamilton Hale left right away, merely giving Eve Vaughn a brief nod as he passed her desk.

Aria noticed immediately. "Oh my god, Evie! I think Mr. Hale just looked at you! He even nodded!"

"Oh? Did he?"

Eve Vaughn played dumb.

Aria nodded vigorously. "Yes! I saw it with my own two eyes. If he nodded at me, I think I’d faint."

Eve Vaughn felt a little awkward. "Don’t be so dramatic..."

"Anyway, never mind that. It’s the weekend! I need to get back to the dorm, pack up, and head home!"

Aria’s family lived in a small town near Rivaster, and since it wasn’t far, she went home every weekend.

Eve Vaughn suddenly remembered. ’The weekend... doesn’t that mean I’m supposed to go to Mason Lawson’s place?’

Just as she was thinking that, a message came from Mason Lawson, telling her to hurry out, as he couldn’t park for long at the school gate.

Just like that, Eve Vaughn quickly packed her bag and left the classroom.

But she didn’t know that as she was walking ahead, a tall, thin boy slipped a letter into the outer pocket of her bag.

Soon, Eve Vaughn got into Mason Lawson’s car.

She habitually took off her backpack, intending to toss it in the back seat.

But unexpectedly, the letter slipped out and fell right onto the floor.

Mason Lawson’s gaze landed on the heart drawn in red ink on the front of the yellow envelope.

Eve Vaughn looked at the letter in confusion. "What’s this?"

"I’d like to ask you the same thing. What is this?"

As he spoke, Mason Lawson picked up the letter and opened it.

Eve Vaughn leaned in to look, too. ’What is this? How did it get into my bag?’ she wondered.

Mason Lawson’s sharp eyes skimmed the letter. After finishing, he tossed it to her. "You’re quite popular at school."

Eve Vaughn picked up the letter, baffled. Her heart jumped when she read the contents.

’That’s weird. When did this get put in my bag?’

She read the confession with rapt attention, wondering how someone could have slipped a love letter into her backpack without her feeling a thing.

Gradually, she became aware of an intense, piercing gaze fixed on her.

Eve Vaughn quickly explained to Mason Lawson, "I really don’t know what this is about! I swear!"

Mason Lawson’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest. He asked coolly, "This kid... do you know him? Has he pursued you?"

Eve Vaughn swallowed and said nervously, "He’s... our class president."

"Not bad."

Mason Lawson replied with two terse words, started the car, and didn’t utter another sentence.

Eve Vaughn was on pins and needles for the entire drive.