Mauve might come across as cold on the surface, but underneath, she had a warm heart. She found the situation a bit ridiculous, yet she couldn't help but feel touched.

  In all her years, Scarlett was the first person to cry like that over her.

  Grace grabbed a couple of tissues and gently wiped Scarlett's tears away. "Okay, stop crying. Your eyes look like goldfish."

  Scarlett's emotions settled slightly. She nodded, then couldn't resist checking herself in the mirror—and promptly burst into fresh tears. "I look hideous!"

  Grace and Mauve exchanged a glance and shook their heads, laughing. But it was precisely Scarlett's presence that made the dorm feel so alive.

  Soon, a message arrived from Charles. Scarlett glanced at it and said to Grace, "Your package is here. I'm going down to get it."

  Grace's face lit up. "The invitation?"

  Scarlett nodded. "My dad said the seats might be in the back, but there's nothing we can do about it."

  "That's fine. As long as we can get in—even standing in the back is fine."

  Scarlett shot her a teasing look. "So unambitious!"

  The rain had stopped. The air was cool and damp. Scarlett walked straight up to Charles and held out her hand.

  Instead of handing over the envelope, Charles studied her face. His expression tightened. "What's wrong? Have you been crying?"

  "Just give it to me. Stop asking questions." Scarlett was impatient.

  Charles rarely stood his ground, but now he looked at her seriously. "Who upset you? If you don't tell me, I'm not giving it to you."

  "Give it!"

  "No. Tell me first."

  "Are you giving it to me or not? I'm getting mad!"

  "Tell me why you were crying, and I'll give it to you!"

  They bickered back and forth like children. Eventually, Scarlett had to snatch it from him. Charles let go, afraid the invitation might tear if he held on too tightly.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  But the worry and concern in his eyes were unmistakable.

  Scarlett felt a twinge of guilt under his gaze. She lowered her head slightly. "I'm fine. I just heard a sad story and cried."

  "Oh." Charles's expression immediately relaxed. "That's good, then. I'll be going."

  Scarlett nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "Wait. Um... thank you."

  Charles's brow furrowed. As Scarlett turned to leave, he called out, "Scarlett!"

  "Hmm?"

  She looked back, puzzled.

  Charles walked back over and stopped in front of her, his gaze earnest. "Why do you keep thanking me?"

  "Huh? Is thanking you a problem now?" Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief. "You don't like it?"

  To her surprise, Charles nodded. "I don't."

  Scarlett was momentarily speechless. Then Charles continued, a hint of hurt in his voice, "You never used to be this formal with me. Why all of a sudden..."

  "I'm not being formal! I just..." Scarlett's mouth opened, but she didn't know how to explain her sudden change in behavior.

  Finally, she blurted out, "I just wanted to be nicer to you, okay? Otherwise, I'd seem so rude!"

  Charles looked at her with utmost seriousness. "I don't need that. Just be the same as before."

  That way, she'd treat him differently from others. He'd be special.

  But Scarlett didn't quite get it. "Same as before? Bossing you around and ordering you about?"

  "Yeah."

  "Then call me 'Your Highness'!"

  Charles stared at her like she'd lost her mind. Then he curled his lip, shook his head in exasperation, and walked off without another word.

  Scarlett's face scrunched up. She thought he'd like that.

  Back in the dorm, her earlier sadness seemed to have vanished. Scarlett waved the invitation triumphantly at Grace. "So? How are you going to thank me?"

  "I'd give you my life," Grace declared.

  Scarlett grinned, satisfied. "Deal!"

  Mauve leaned in curiously. "What's this?"

  Scarlett explained Grace's role as an investor, delivering just the right amount of shock.

  Mauve's gaze toward Grace shifted instantly. "Wait—so all your money now is from investments?"

  Grace hesitated, catching the earnest, almost eager gleam in Mauve's eyes. After a pause, she asked, "Do you believe in rebirth?"

  Mauve blinked. "In what?"

  "Never mind. Yes, I made it from investments." Grace nodded.

  Mauve was genuinely impressed. "That's amazing! Can you teach me? I need money!"

  "Wanting money" wasn't just talk for Mauve. She truly needed it, and Grace now knew her full story.

  "If I come across any surefire investments, I'll bring you in."

  "Really? Thank you so much!"

  Scarlett, uninterested in business, seized the moment to ask, "How was your date tonight? How's the police officer?"

  "He's nice." Grace considered. "Seventy percent, I'd say."

  "What? Only seventy? Where'd the other thirty go?" Scarlett was genuinely surprised.

  With Eden's height, build, and face, surely he'd start at eighty?

  "There's one key factor still unknown." Grace's expression was knowingly suggestive.

  Scarlett and Mauve instantly caught on, exchanging that look.

  Scarlett exclaimed, "That's worth thirty percent? You're exaggerating!"

  "Not at all. It's really important!" Mauve fully agreed with Grace.

  That certain ability was the glue in any relationship. Scarlett, clearly an innocent newbie, had no idea how crucial it was.

  "So how far did you get? You watched a movie, right? Did you kiss?"

  The rapid-fire questions hit Grace like machine-gun fire. She snorted at Scarlett's burning curiosity. "Sorry to disappoint. Completely PG. Didn't even hold hands."

  "What?" Scarlett's face fell. "Boring."

  Mauve looked at Grace. "Next time, just sleep with him. Give Scarlett a real shock."

  "What?!" Scarlett's eyes went wide again. "That's way too fast!"

  Grace ignored them and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

  Thanks to the invitation Scarlett had secured, Richard and his team successfully attended the AI technology conference. Top teams from major corporations across the country shared experiences and industry insights—everyone came away having gained immensely.

  After the conference, they gathered for another team dinner.

  Mid-conversation, Richard brought something up. "The East River Group has started investing in AI this year. As one of the four major conglomerates in the country, they've traditionally focused on the real economy and highly profitable sectors—real estate, commercial districts, natural gas, mining. Now they're moving into AI, which shows it's one of the most promising sectors now and for the future."

  "With their financial muscle, they're bound to pour massive funds into AI. And as a new player in the field, our project would actually be a perfect fit for them. If only we could connect with their team somehow."

  Listening to Richard, something stirred in Grace's memory.

  After a moment, she ventured, "Senior, this East River Group—is their chairman Chris Cavendish?"