Chapter 379

Evelyn Langley met Hannah Flores and Liam Kalmien at the campus gate, and the trio headed straight to the newly opened trendy restaurant.

It was peak lunch hour, and a long line snaked outside. They waited twenty minutes before getting a table.

The moment they sat down, Hannah leaned in eagerly. "Evelyn, who was that handsome guy giving you flowers earlier? That bouquet had at least ninety-nine yellow roses!"

Evelyn took a sip of water. "My ex."

"What?" Hannah nearly choked on her own saliva and quickly buried her face in the menu.

Liam gave Evelyn a thoughtful glance.

After lunch, they went to Professor Eleanor Roland's office.

Hannah's eyes widened when she heard they'd be entering the lab that afternoon. "Already? We're just freshmen!"

Though Liam appeared calm, his grip on his pen tightened slightly.

Evelyn stayed silent. She knew better than anyone how long their advisor's research had stalled—every minute counted now.

By the time they left the lab, night had long since fallen.

Exhausted, Evelyn dragged herself home. Too tired to even turn on the lights, she collapsed onto the sofa.

Knock, knock, knock—sudden rapping at the door.

She forced herself up and opened it to find Adrian Klein standing outside, his briefcase in hand. He looked like he'd just gotten off work too.

"I heard Eleanor took you into the lab today?"

"Yeah."

"Worked until now?"

"Yeah."

"Did you eat?"

Evelyn shook her head weakly.

Adrian chuckled. "Wait here."

He disappeared into his apartment across the hall and returned moments later with a thermal lunchbox.

"Eat while it's hot."

Evelyn hesitated. "This is...?"

"From my family. I already ate."

Only then did she accept it. When she lifted the lid, the aroma hit her instantly.

The top layer held glistening white rice. Beneath it lay neatly arranged sweet-and-sour ribs, braised pork, and steamed fish. The bottom compartment contained seasonal vegetables and mushroom soup.

Back at the Klein family estate, Beatrice Merouin paced restlessly in the living room.

George Klein set down his newspaper. "What's got you so worked up this late?"

"Your son, that's what!" Beatrice huffed, sitting only to stand again. "Made me prepare dinner for two, then packed it all up without taking a single bite!"