I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home-Chapter 149: An Unsparing Shoulder Throw

"Professor, with my current skill level, getting into the Ministry of Diplomacy is a bit of a long shot, isn’t it?" Grace Winslow asked instinctively.

She was well aware of her own abilities and never indulged in unrealistic fantasies.

She had originally started studying foreign languages because she knew the knowledge would be useful for her future plans. As for joining the Ministry of Diplomacy, she had never given it much thought.

Claire Dunn found her reaction amusing. "Anyone else would be ecstatic to hear about a chance to join the Ministry of Diplomacy. Why do you have that expression on your face?"

"If they really let you in, you wouldn’t go?"

Grace Winslow thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Professor, I know my own capabilities. If I joined the Ministry of Diplomacy but couldn’t complete the tasks and work required, I wouldn’t last very long."

"I’ve only been a student here for a little over a month, and I still have so much to learn. My conversational skills are only good enough for simple exchanges right now."

"Working for the Ministry of Diplomacy would surely involve a vast amount of professional terminology, and I’m completely clueless about all of that."

"Professor, this business about joining the Ministry of Diplomacy—was it mentioned personally by the leadership?"

At this, Claire Dunn’s expression grew much more serious.

She was relieved that Grace Winslow hadn’t gotten carried away by a few compliments and lost sight of her own abilities.

She thought for a moment before speaking. "The senior leadership only mentioned a few names—all students who performed well during the exchange conference. Your name was on the list."

"Two of the foreign dignitaries couldn’t stop praising you, which is another reason the leadership mentioned your name."

"Don’t worry. It’s not that easy to get into the Ministry of Diplomacy. You can forget about it for the next three years. Even if you do get in, you would only start training with the Ministry in your junior year."

"Just keep working hard. I have very high hopes for you. I’m sure you have an incredibly bright future ahead."

Grace Winslow now had a good grasp of the situation.

’As long as they don’t want me to join right now, things are manageable.’

’I still have time to learn more.’

After bidding farewell to Claire Dunn, Grace Winslow didn’t head back to the classroom. Instead, she went to the school library.

The library’s books could be borrowed. All you had to do was register them with a library card and return them promptly when you were finished.

Grace Winslow came here often to borrow books, so she was already quite familiar with the librarian. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Comrade Winslow, here to borrow books again? We don’t see many young comrades as diligent as you these days." The librarian was a kind-looking woman in her sixties, wearing a pair of reading glasses.

"Hello, Grandma Cook. I’d like to borrow a few foreign language books." Grace Winslow greeted her with a smile before heading off to find the books she wanted to borrow.

After selecting a few relatively advanced textbooks, Grace Winslow had Diane check them out for her before leaving the library and heading back to her dormitory.

The dormitory was much more peaceful without the troublemaker, Pearl Thorne.

Grace Winslow enjoyed the rare moment of peace. She read for a while after getting back to her dorm, then checked the time, stuffed the books into her bag, and left for class.

She had missed several classes due to the exchange conference, and all she wanted now was to catch up as quickly as possible.

She began attending her classes relentlessly, resuming her old, hectic campus life where she was always on the move.

"So that’s the girl you like? She certainly looks exceptional. It doesn’t look like she saw you, though."

On the Crestwood University campus, two tall, handsome men walked together, speaking in low voices.

Archer Rhys’s handsome features and tall frame were enough to attract attention anywhere.

Many of the girls on campus were drawn to him, their eyes following his every move.

Some were even bold enough to approach him and ask for his contact information; a few even asked directly if he wanted to be friends.

Throughout it all, Archer Rhys wore a cold expression, rebuffing everyone who came near.

The man beside him, on the other hand, had a pair of charming, almond-shaped eyes and wore a floral shirt. With his devil-may-care attitude, he clearly didn’t look like a prim and proper gentleman.

He was now walking beside Archer Rhys, hands lazily stuffed in his pockets.

Archer Rhys shot him a look. "Don’t get any ideas."

"The woman you’ve set your sights on? I wouldn’t dare. However, I’ve heard the Quinn family is looking to revive their marriage alliance with the Rhys family. The rumor’s been all over our social circles lately. That Wendy Quinn has been going around calling herself your fiancée. Aren’t you afraid your sweetheart will find out and get angry with you?" Byron Sinclair asked, looking at Archer Rhys with a curious expression.

Archer Rhys’s handsome brows furrowed. "That’s nonsense. If the Quinns hadn’t betrayed us back then, my grandfather wouldn’t have had his ’accident,’ and my parents wouldn’t have died so tragically. A marriage alliance between the Rhys family and the Quinn family is absolutely impossible."

"If the Quinns continue to push this, I won’t hesitate to settle old scores."

Seeing Archer’s expression, Byron Sinclair shrugged. "You should still clear up those rumors as soon as possible. Otherwise, a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth."

Archer Rhys said nothing, his brows remaining tightly knitted.

Just then, a fragrant perfume wafted by as someone suddenly clung to his arm. Acting on pure reflex, Archer immediately executed a grappling hold, seizing the person’s arm. Then, in one smooth motion, he squatted and performed a perfect shoulder throw, viciously slamming the person who had ambushed him from behind onto the ground.

"AHH—"

The sound of a heavy thud was accompanied by a piercing scream.

Wendy Quinn landed flat on her back, looking utterly disheveled.

Many of the onlookers couldn’t help but cover their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Lying on the ground, Wendy Quinn looked up at Archer Rhys with a wounded expression, her eyes red. "Archer, it’s me! Why would you do that? I’m in so much pain. Can you help me up?"

She even held out her hand, her fragile, aggrieved expression pitiful enough to stir anyone’s heart.

But Archer Rhys’s face remained devoid of expression, as if carved from ice. "Comrade Quinn, we are not familiar."

"Even if we were acquainted in the past, we are not boyfriend and girlfriend. I must ask that you, Comrade Quinn, be mindful of maintaining a proper distance between men and women."

Wendy Quinn’s eyes grew red as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "But we’ve been engaged since we were children! Archer, is it because you have someone else in your heart? Is that why you’re abandoning me?"

Hearing this, Archer’s expression grew even darker. He stared coldly at Wendy Quinn. "There are some things I would prefer not to say."

"Comrade Quinn, have you perhaps forgotten what your family did all those years ago? What right does a family of traitors have to speak to me of past affections? You have the nerve to mention our former engagement? Wasn’t it your family that rushed to cut all ties the moment mine fell into trouble? Didn’t you personally come to our home to cancel the engagement?"

"The engagement tokens were returned long ago. Isn’t it utterly laughable for you to bring up the matter of an engagement now?"

"If the Quinn family thinks they can come crawling back now that I’m successful, they can forget it."

"I am not my grandfather. I’m not that sentimental. All I feel for the Quinn family is disgust and hatred."

"Don’t ever come near me again. Otherwise, what happens next won’t be as simple as a fall."

"And another thing. As a woman, Comrade Quinn, I hope you can have a shred of decency and stop spreading rumors that you’re my fiancée. If you don’t, I will report you to the Public Security Bureau for slander."