Students passing by widened their eyes in surprise at the scene before them. Jade was somewhat famous on campus, and Julian's strikingly handsome appearance made it hard for anyone to ignore."Hey, what are you doing?" Jade felt a surge of nervousness at Julian's close proximity and pushed him away, creating some distance between them.Jade's intense reaction left Julian at a loss. He looked at her hesitantly and asked, "What's wrong, Jade? Do you not like me anymore?""I..." Jade was at a loss for words. She wanted to say she had never liked him, but Julian's expression softened her resolve. After all, she owed him a debt of gratitude."It's not what you think." Jade softened her tone, trying to soothe him. "I'm just not used to anyone being this close to me.""But I'm not just anyone," Julian insisted. "I told you I like you. Isn't it natural to be close to someone you like?"Upon seeing the innocent look on Julian's face, Jade's expression grew serious. "Julian, do you underst
Julian stood up and cheerfully greeted his classmates, "Hello, everyone, I am Julian Orton."As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward Jade, giving her a playful wink.Julian's impressive height, combined with his outstanding appearance, drew the attention of all his female classmates. However, his thoughts were solely on Jade, and his open admiration for her made some of the other young women quite unhappy."Being good-looking really does attract attention.""If only we had the same conditions and were as pretty, wouldn't we have handsome guys flocking around us too?"Jealous voices echoed from the back rows of the classroom.Although they kept their voices low, Jade recognized them. They were the ones who didn't excel in studies but came from affluent families.Aware of their academic limitations, they had decided to let themselves go, believing that once they obtained their diplomas, they could go abroad for further education. This, they thought, would add a touch of prestige and
The professor saw that they admitted their mistakes sincerely, so he let them off the hook for now. He gestured for everyone to sit down and started the lecture.Jade glanced at Melanie and mouthed, "Thanks."Every time Jade encountered difficulties, Melanie would always stand up for her immediately. This friendship was something Jade always cherished in her heart.After class, Julian stuck to Jade like a shadow."Jade," he called, sitting in front of her with stars in his eyes, his chin resting on his hand as he gazed at her with a radiant smile.Jade lifted her eyelids to look at him. "What's up?""I just arrived in Centus and am not familiar with anything. I need a favor," Julian said slyly, immediately putting Jade on guard."What is it? As long as it's within my power, I'll help," Jade replied cautiously.Julian found her wary look adorable. "Don't be so nervous. It's just a small favor. I'm sure you can help.""Let's hear it first," Jade insisted, not lowering her guard.
"Happy? I’m very happy." Julian didn’t pay attention to Jade’s teasing, his eyes crinkling into crescents as he smiled. "This place is nothing like the island, and it’s not like abroad either. The people here are so enthusiastic. I really like it."Julian spread his arms wide, ignoring the strange looks from the people around him, and shouted to the sky, "I love Centus! I want to stay here forever."He looked adorably silly, with the appearance of a youthful, energetic boy, drawing quite a bit of attention.A few talent scouts, observing from a distance, approached him. "Hello, I’m a scout from Fowl Media. You have great potential. Would you be interested in becoming a star?""A star?" Julian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "You mean the kind that appears on TV?"The scout, who had a rather sleazy appearance, nodded eagerly. "Yes, exactly. Are you interested?"Unable to watch any longer, Jade grabbed Julian’s wrist and turned them down. "Sorry, we’re in a hurry."She dragged Ju
Jade glanced at the brand Julian was using and realized she didn't recognize it. They were all high-end foreign brands. When she checked the prices, she gasped—they were in the three-figure range. A single set of skincare products cost as much as the rent of an average family's house. It was truly extravagant."Jade, this is for you." Julian appeared with large bags and handed Jade a beautifully packaged set of cosmetics.Jade took a look and found it was a set of high-end women's cosmetics. She didn't expect Julian to be so considerate. "Thank you." Jade appreciated Julian's gesture and didn't want to reject his kindness, so she accepted the gift.Upon seeing her accept the gift, Julian's face lit up with a smile. He patted his chest and said grandly, "To thank you for taking me in, dinner is on me tonight. Order anything you like."Jade wasn't particularly hungry, so she said, "You decide. I'm fine with anything.""Alright, I'll take care of everything." Julian started searchi
"Sure, as you wish," Jade replied nonchalantly."Yay, let's go!" Julian hopped out excitedly, with Jade following behind and the bodyguards discreetly in tow.…They spent an hour eating, and by the time Jade emerged from the restaurant, the city lights were already dazzling.Julian rubbed his stomach, looking satisfied. "I'm full—that was absolutely delicious."His eyes caught sight of a Ferris wheel in the distance, and he pointed excitedly. "Jade, I want to ride that. Will you come with me?""Huh?" Jade hadn't expected such a request and felt a bit awkward. "That's for kids.""Please, just this once? I've never ridden it before. My parents passed away early, and I didn't have anyone to take me when I was little..." Julian's voice grew softer, and his face showed a pitiful expression that was hard to refuse.Jade was defeated by his plea and reluctantly agreed. "Fine, but only for 20 minutes, and then we must go home. I still have homework to finish.""Deal, I promise." Juli
Julian gazed at Jade's profile, a smile constantly playing on his lips. A thought arose from the depths of his heart—he wanted to be with Jade forever, never to be apart."Jade, I like you," he confessed.Startled by his voice, Jade turned to look at Julian, only to find him gazing at her with an expression of infatuation that was indescribably endearing.She chuckled softly and replied, "Little rascal, do you even know what it means to like someone?"Julian frowned in dissatisfaction. "I'm not a little rascal. I'm almost an adult."He didn't like Jade calling him a little rascal—it made him feel so distant from her. He could sense that Jade always treated him like a younger brother. However, he didn't want to be her little brother. He wanted to be the person Jade could always rely on."Yes, you're not a little rascal. You've grown up," Jade said. She did not want to argue and casually brushed him off.Julian saw through her perfunctory response, his face betraying his disappoin
Earlier, the dim lighting had obscured her vision, preventing her from noticing the presence of another person in the room. Now that her eyes had adjusted, Jade saw a man sitting on the sofa.The man's features were deep and sharp, carrying a hint of cold indifference. He was staring straight at her. It was Caelan!Jade's heart was in turmoil, uncertain whether it was panic or fear that rendered her speechless. How long had he been there? Why was he there?"Who turned your room into this mess?" Julian kicked aside a balloon at his feet and casually switched on the room's light.The bright light flooded the room, exposing the three of them and instantly freezing the atmosphere.Julian glanced at the stunned Jade and then at the cold, piercing eyes of Caelan, quickly understanding the situation.He knew that this imposing man was the one Jade liked.A strong wave of jealousy surged within Julian. His tall frame moved to shield Jade as he faced Caelan directly, asking with disple
Chenelle's words made Jade clench her fists in anger. For someone so heartless, she really wanted to wake her up with a good beating.Taking a step forward, Jade grabbed Chenelle by the collar.Chenelle screamed, thinking Jade was about to hit her, and retreated in fear. "What are you doing? Do you want to hit me again?!"'So, she can also feel fear.'Jade sneered coldly, rolling up her sleeves to show the scars on her arm. "While you complain about the world's injustices, open your eyes wide and see that not everyone is as fortunate as you."I was also adopted, but compared to you, our lives are worlds apart. While you resent not getting enough attention, others are struggling to find their next meal. When you let jealousy drive you to harm others, some people are just praying to survive."Chenelle, you truly don't appreciate the blessings you have."Jade's fair arm was covered in scars of various sizes—burns, cuts, and a long stitched wound that looked like a centipede. Althou
Chenelle forcefully shook off Jade's hand, her eyes filled with venom as she spat, "You bitch! Stop pretending to be so righteous. I despise people like you the most. Do you think the Fitzgeralds adopted me out of kindness? No, it's because they felt guilty."Her face twisted with intense hatred, her gaze sweeping across everyone in the hall with a sharp, accusatory edge.When her eyes landed on Kennedy, her resentment peaked. "Ever since I stepped into the Fitzgerald household, you've treated me with hostility, never once showing me a kind face."My efforts to make you happy were like a dog desperately seeking attention. When you were in a good mood, you were somewhat kind to me, but when you weren't, you completely ignored me. "Do you think bringing me into the Fitzgeralds would make me grateful? No, it won't. I hate you. I hate every single one of you! You took away my only family and snuffed out the last bit of warmth I had."If it weren't for my father trying to protect Cael
After changing her clothes, Jade applied light makeup while standing in front of the mirror. As she gazed at her rosy reflection, fragments of the previous night's events flickered in her mind. Her cheeks flushed, and she covered her face with her hands, fanning herself nervously. 'What to do, what to do? How should I face Caelan later?'After much hesitation, Jade decided to face him. After all, they had already crossed all boundaries. Avoiding him now would be unnecessarily dramatic. Moreover, they would be living together in the future. It wasn't practical to keep avoiding him.With this thought, Jade felt significantly more at ease. As she approached the door, she heard Caelan's voice from the living room. "Hold her there. I'm coming right over." Puzzled, Jade opened the door and looked at Caelan.He ended his call and said, "We've found the person who drugged you. I'm heading over now.""Who is it?" Jade asked angrily.Caelan gave her a deep, serious look before replying,
'And then…' Thinking about it further, Jade couldn’t bear to continue. 'Could it be that I spent the night with Orion?!'"Morning..." The familiar deep voice sent a shiver through Jade, followed by a surge of joy enveloping her entire being. That voice, she would recognize it even in death.It was Caelan. This was Caelan's voice!Jade remained motionless, her body stiff. The swing from immense sorrow to immense joy was too overwhelming—she needed a moment to process it all."Why aren't you saying anything?" Caelan noticed Jade's odd behavior and propped himself up to look at her face, only to find her silently shedding tears.His heart clenched, and his first instinct was to apologize. "I'm sorry, last night I had no choice. Your situation was too dangerous—"Before he could finish, Jade threw herself into his arms.Caelan was at a loss, his body rigid, afraid to move a muscle.Tears dripped onto his chest, scorching his skin and softening his heart."Are you still in pain?" h
Jade felt as if her head was about to explode, her body burning, with her organs seemingly on the verge of combustion."Jade, Jade, wake up." Caelan gently patted Jade's cheek. The moment he touched her skin, he was startled by how scalding hot she felt.Jade's eyes fluttered open in a daze, her vision blurred, unable to discern the face looming close to hers. She grasped the cool hand on her face, pressing it tightly against her skin."So cool… So cool…" Jade murmured unconsciously, her body instinctively leaning closer. She wrapped her arms around the man's neck, rubbing against him desperately. "Help me… I feel so uncomfortable, so hot."Seeing her in such a state, Caelan felt an indescribable pain in his heart. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands as he commanded Samuel, "Find out who did this."Samuel nodded. "The doctor is on his way, but we need to lower Miss Severin's temperature immediately."Caelan's eyes darkened momentarily. He bent down,
Orion's face had turned a shade of red that was far from normal, yet he struggled to stay conscious, shaking his head with a bitter smile."I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be outsmarted."Jade's heart tightened in response. She had reserved a VIP suite in the hotel, with only two rooms on the entire floor. To ensure privacy, she had explicitly instructed that no one was to come upstairs. Now, Orion had been drugged, and she…A sudden spell of dizziness caused Jade's legs to give way. She clung to the door frame to avoid collapsing. To her horror, she realized she had been drugged too. 'Damn it! How could I have let my guard down?!'"I'll call for help. Don't move."Overwhelmed by the heat coursing through her body, Jade was on the brink of losing her sanity. In a bid to stay conscious, she dug her nails into her palm. The pain brought a moment of clarity, but it was fleeting. The heat surged back, stronger and more relentless than before. Fear crept up from Jade's feet
Jade arrived at the hotel and easily found the floor, unlocking Room 2020. As soon as she stepped inside, she was taken aback—red roses filled the entire room, and candles burned softly in the corners, creating a romantic and cozy atmosphere.This was the result of Melanie and Tiffany’s hard work all afternoon.As Jade walked on the soft carpet, Jade's heart danced with excitement. Today, she would give herself to Caelan—she was finally going to be his woman. She had been waiting for this day for so long.Her phone buzzed with a text message. Jade opened it and saw it was from Tiffany.Tiffany: [There's a gift for you on the bed. You're welcome.]'A gift? What kind of prank is this girl up to now?'Following Tiffany’s instructions, Jade found the gift on the bed. She opened it and gasped. A few black straps connected to bits of sheer fabric!'Lingerie?' Jade’s face turned crimson, and she quickly shoved the outfit back into the box. If she wore this to see Caelan, she’d rather
Caelan: [Alright, go ahead and get busy.]Jade felt a slight chill in her heart as she read the message from Caelan. Shouldn't he have asked where she was going? Why did he just reply with that?There was something off about Caelan's mood, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.Seeing Jade lost in thought, Melanie waved her hand in front of her friend's eyes. "Hey, snap out of it. Did Caelan say when he's coming?"Jade, feeling a bit down, replied, "I haven't figured out how to tell him yet.""What's there to figure out? My goodness." Melanie grabbed Jade's phone and quickly typed a message to Caelan.Jade: [I'll be waiting for you at 5:00 p.m. in Room 2020 of Serendipitus. We need to talk.]With a flourish, she sent the message and tossed the phone back to Jade.Jade's eyes widened in shock. "Melanie, can we really do this?""Why not? Trust me, right now Caelan is probably as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof, wondering if you're going to break up with him."Tiffany c
The car sped toward Jade's villa, coming to a stop.Caelan immediately took out his phone and called Jade. Just like before, there was no answer. While staring at the tightly shut door, Caelan's heart clenched. 'Could it be true, as Chenelle said, that Jade has fallen for Orion?'..."Hey, can't you two stop this?" Jade sighed in exasperation.She had been perfectly content at home when Tiffany and Melanie had barged in and dragged her out.To make matters worse, they had taken her phone. Their excuse was to make Caelan worry and see if he would dare to disappear again. Most importantly, they wanted to surprise him."Just relax and stay here. Tiffany and I will handle everything else," Melanie said, pressing Jade into a chair and thrusting a makeup brush into her hand. "You just focus on looking beautiful and don't worry about a thing, okay?"Jade couldn't help but laugh. "Can you two stop being so overbearing? I'm the main character here. Can't you show me some respect?"The