I gave them a cold look: "The dinner is organized by the academy, Jessica Sawyer, can’t you read?" "Senior Brother Gordon asked me about you when he ran into me, I was just doing a good deed, why are you yelling at me?" Jessica Sawyer twisted her head with a mocking tone. Adrian Gordon stared at me and said in a low voice, "I came to see you, and to say hello to old classmates. After all, we were all so familiar back then." Adrian Gordon implied something. Back then, everyone knew about the love between him and me, and later when he got sick and I stayed with him, it became a campus legend. The classmates from our department were indeed very familiar, always sitting in the front row with a curious mindset. Just as he finished speaking and before I could reply, Jessica Sawyer interjected, "Weren’t you two a couple? Why so distant? Lily Miller, you were passionately in love with Senior Brother Gordon back then, even at the cost of your life." I looked at Jessica Sawyer coldly and directly mocked, "I see you’ve lost face now, well—your face now isn’t the same as it was back then." "Lily Miller, what do you mean!" Jessica Sawyer’s face instantly turned dark, her voice low but her aura strong. Grace Chandler immediately retorted, "Literally meaning! Why do you care if they’re a couple? It’s none of your business! You couldn’t beat Lily Miller back then, jealous to the point of distortion, still can’t let go now, always picking fights and making a fool of yourself!" "Grace Chandler, why are you interfering in matters between me and Lily Miller?" "Just standing up for what’s right." Seeing an argument brewing, Adrian Gordon hurriedly raised his hand: "Everyone, let’s say less, I did come to see old classmates and reminisce, after all, you all witnessed the relationship between Lily and me, I’m deeply grateful. Please don’t let my presence spoil the mood, that would be my fault." "Senior Brother Gordon, you and Lily Miller...you two—" An old classmate’s expression was subtle, eyes shifting between him and me. As Adrian was about to speak, I spoke first, "I have divorced him, please stop spreading rumors, classmates." "What?" Jessica Sawyer stiffened, "You’re divorced? Really divorced? You were such a loving couple back then, campus sweethearts..." I rolled my eyes at Jessica, "So concerned, do you like him?" "Pssh! A sickly person, I’m not blind." Jessica Sawyer blurted out, making Adrian Gordon’s face stiffen, losing face. The atmosphere at the dinner table turned awkward immediately. Realizing she had offended, Jessica Sawyer smiled apologetically, "Senior Brother Gordon, sorry, I didn’t mean anything, I was just—" Without finishing her words, Adrian stood up, looked at me, and said, "Lily, I’ll take you home when it’s over." Clearly, he was angry and didn’t want to stay. My face was scrunched up, didn’t expect him to persist. "No need, I can myself..." Before finishing my words, a voice came from behind me, "Lily Miller." The familiar gentle tone made my ears shake, turning back, I saw Daniel Carter appear behind me. My mind buzzed, not understanding why he came, we’re not from the same academy, and there’s a generational gap between us. Seeing him, Jessica Sawyer turned instantly starry-eyed, stood up happily, "Mr. Carter?! Mr. Carter, I’m the eldest daughter of the Sawyer Family, Jessica Sawyer, my grandmother and you—" Before she finished, Daniel Carter gestured politely, interrupting, "Sorry, I’m looking for Lily Miller." Just like that, he nodded slightly to our table, as if he greeted, then looked at me and beckoned, "Lily, come over, the school leaders have something for you." Looking at his face, hearing his voice, it was as if I was being manipulated like a puppet, unconditionally obedient—stood up and followed him. Vaguely, I heard the exclamations from behind. "Isn’t that the distinguished alumni who just spoke? The one who d fifteen billion!" "Oh my! He knows Lily Miller, what is their relationship?" "Ahhh—that senior looks even more handsome up close! Tall and handsome! The most handsome man I’ve seen in real life!" Whatever they said later, I gradually walked away and couldn’t hear. Turning, all my thoughts were drawn to Daniel Carter. He led me towards the area near the podium, explaining as we went, "I’m sitting with the school leaders, they were just talking, your apparel design program will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, they’re planning to host the first ’Science, Art, Fashion’ festival, with various academic and cultural exchanges, I happened to think of you, and they asked me to bring you over for a chat, to give some ideas." Upon hearing this, my mind instantly cleared, turned around, and ran: "No no no, I’m not capable—" But Daniel Carter grabbed me, amused, "What’s there to be afraid of? School leaders don’t eat people." "I can’t, my mind is blank, I have no ideas." I know school leaders don’t eat people, but it’s , I can be at odds with the Miller Family, clash with Adrian Gordon, and go three hundred rounds with Jessica Sawyer—but I’m born to respect teachers and especially school leaders. Letting me sit with so many school leaders for dinner and express opinions, it’s as challenging as taking the college entrance exam again. Yet Daniel Carter wouldn’t let go no matter how I refused. He even wrapped his arm around my shoulder, forcibly guiding me over. "Relax, I’ve got you covered, feel free to say whatever comes to mind." Daniel Carter still managed to bring me to the school leaders’ table. No choice but to muster through. After respectfully greeting the school leaders at the table, an usher added a chair, and I sat next to Daniel Carter. Sitting on the other side was a vice principal in charge of the apparel design academy, who upon hearing I’d started my brand and made a name in the international fashion circle, immediately chatted with me in interest. "Lily Miller is too modest, outstanding alumni like you should communicate with the academy more, and the school should increase its publicity." The school leaders praised me, raising their glasses, "Come, Lily Miller, I toast you, in future, with graduate internships and employment, do take care of the juniors." Overwhelmed, I inwardly whispered that school leaders are truly cunning. This toast seemed to honor me, but it actually placed pressure on me. But considering a dignified school leader would lower themselves for student internships and employment, as a good leader should, I could only raise my glass. Yet before I could bring it to my lips, Daniel Carter suddenly reached out to stop me: "Principal Woods, I’ll take this drink on her behalf." With those words, before I could react, he already lifted his own glass, clinked with the school leaders, and downed it. I turned to look at him, watching his conspicuous Adam’s apple move as he swallowed, accompanied by a strong hormonal vibe, causing my heart to race, ears growing warm. I originally thought a short sit-down meant I could leave after, but ended up staying until the end of the banquet. Daniel Carter didn’t drink much, still very clear-headed, but his face was slightly flushed, eyes shining differently than usual. "Do you want to chat with classmates?" People started leaving gradually, some departing first, some looking for classmates to reminisce, Daniel Carter turned to ask me. Watching him, my heartbeat was restless, "I have things at the original spot, I definitely need to go back." "Mm, go on, I have some matters too, will contact you when I leave." I expressed again, "If you’re busy, I can head back on my own, no need to specially take me." "Not busy, just chatting idly with old classmates." He replied, then used those moist, dark, deep eyes to stare straight into mine, lips curling, "What, afraid I’ll lose my senses from drinking?" I suddenly felt hot on my face, quickly shook my head, "No, I know you’re not that kind of person." With more intensity in his smile, his eyes fixated on mine in a magnetic way. "Don’t trust men too much, no matter how gentlemanly they seem." "..." I stared at him, unable to speak. Is he suggesting he might do something while drunk? Should I still go with him? I had a brief mental lapse, suddenly thought of something, and asked proactively, "You’ve had a drink, so am I supposed to drive later?" If that’s the case, it should be safe on the road, right? He couldn’t say or do anything inappropriate to me while I’m driving. Unexpectedly, he said, "No need, my driver is coming." Upon hearing that, my mind buzzed again. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. With a driver, we’d definitely sit in the back, which shortens the distance between us, potentially leading to something happening. But with the driver there, he probably wouldn’t cross the line, right? Based on my impression of him, he’s not the type to be sleazy or flippant. Just as I was staring at him without responding, my phone rang in my pocket. It was Grace Chandler calling. "Lily, you left your stuff on the seat. Didn’t forget, did you?" "No, I’m heading back now." Ending the call, I looked at Daniel Carter, "I’ll head over first. Get in touch after you’re done." Returning to my original spot, half of the people at the table were still around, with Jessica Sawyer not gone either. Seeing me return, a few old classmates immediately leaned in to gossip, "Lily, what’s your relationship with that Senior Brother Carter? Everyone said you were ditched by Senior Brother Gordon, that you were miserable—now it seems, you dumped him for a better option, right?" That comment was half gossip, half jealousy. I smiled and replied lightly, "Just friends, please don’t spread rumors." Before the words even settled, Jessica Sawyer eyed me sourly, "Lily, how do you know Second Master Carter? Your family and the Carter Family are worlds apart, your circles wouldn’t intersect." I grabbed my bag, prepared to leave, and asked condescendingly, "Who are you to me? Do I need to report my relationships to you?" Grace Chandler followed me out, retaliating with what Jessica Sawyer said earlier today, "Jessica Sawyer, you greeted Senior Brother Carter just now, didn’t he ignore you? So who’s really not worthy to carry his shoes?" Jessica Sawyer was indeed enraged, "Grace Chandler, what’s it to you? So proud to be Lily’s lapdog." "I enjoy it. Jealous?" "..." Jessica Sawyer was too furious for words. Grace and I walked out of the banquet hall, the cold wind hitting us, and we both shivered. The snow from a few days ago was brief, quickly followed by clear skies, but it was still cold in the mornings and evenings. Grace, lightly dressed, was shivering from the cold and turned to ask me, "How are you getting back?" Just as I spoke, someone emerged beside the gym, "Lily." Both of us looked closely, and it was Adrian Gordon again. He’s like a haunting shadow! Adrian Gordon approached, with a smell of alcohol on him. Now whenever I see him drink, I feel particularly repulsed. Even though he is no longer my concern, I still feel angry thinking about the energy I spent saving him all those years. "My car is at the school gate, I’ll give you both a ride home." He stated his purpose, then asked my roommate, "Grace Chandler, which hotel are you staying at?" Grace glanced at me and replied, "No need, we’re going to chat somewhere else." I followed Grace’s lead, "Let’s go then." We walked under the streetlights, with Adrian Gordon trailing behind. "Lily, returning to school, to where our love started, don’t you feel any emotion? Today I visited every memorable spot on campus—the library, the grove, by the lake, and—" "Adrian Gordon, don’t you find yourself disgusting?" I couldn’t take it any longer and interrupted. Grace also asked confusedly, "If you can’t let go, then why betray Lily on the eve of your wedding?" "Because of a life." Adrian replied self-righteously. "Adrian Gordon, as a bystander, I think you should see someone about your mind, or your nerves." Grace wasn’t polite either. For more chapters visit NoveI-Fire.ɴet We kept walking while Adrian Gordon called out from behind, "Lily, what man in a relationship doesn’t make mistakes? I admit I was confused, imagined our relationship too steady—but I’ve repented, does it still mean being struck down for good?" Grace halted, wanting to scold him again, but I tugged her along, "Let’s go, ignore him." The next moment, a massive black SUV pulled up beside us, accompanied by a familiar gentle voice. "Lily, get in the car." The rear window rolled down, revealing Daniel Carter’s handsome and profound features, made even more captivating under the streetlight. I turned back, a smile unknowingly forming on my face, "Finished so soon?" "Yes." Daniel Carter smiled and nodded, then looked at Grace, "Have your roommate get in too, it’s cold out." As he spoke, the back door was already open. Grace recognized the person in the car, her eyes widening like saucers, gazing at me with an ambiguous joy. "Ahem, Grace...then, will my friend take you back to the hotel?" I turned to look at Grace, seeking her opinion. Grace nodded vigorously, proactively saying to Daniel Carter, "Then I’ll trouble Senior Brother Carter." Daniel shifted inside, making room. I lifted my leg to get into the car. "Lily!" Adrian Gordon suddenly rushed forward, grabbing me, "You can’t go with him. Don’t forget our divorce decree hasn’t been finalized. If you go with him now, I’ll appeal tomorrow!" I instantly flew into a rage, shaking him off, "Fine, you appeal tomorrow, and I’ll make sure your sister goes to jail tomorrow. Let’s both go all in!"