Chapter 465: Refusing to Let Go (Part 5)
Preston Patterson had been keeping his eyes on Seraphina Sterling lately. It wasn’t just during club activities; even outside of them, he paid attention to her every move. Preston was already a senior, and based on his credits, he could have graduated by now. He used to spend most of his time off-campus, rarely setting foot in the school unless the stock market club had an event.
But recently, the students noticed that the genius of the School of Economics and Management was suddenly appearing on campus all the time. They would often spot him in the library, the study halls, and even in elective classrooms! Everyone couldn’t help but wonder if he had fallen in love and was coming to school to spend time with his girlfriend. After all, a top student who almost never showed his face on campus suddenly making such frequent appearances was bound to attract attention—especially since Preston Patterson wasn’t just a top student, but a handsome one from a wealthy family.
Gradually, people started to notice a pattern: wherever this genius senior appeared, a certain girl was sure to be there too. Moreover, the senior’s gaze was always fixed on her. Then, someone else revealed that the girl was from the same school and even the same club as the genius!
The school forums immediately blew up. A campus god from the School of Economics and Management was getting a girlfriend right before graduation? Instantly, the hearts of countless underclassmen girls with secret crushes on Preston Patterson shattered. CRACK! Speculation about the pair’s relationship ran wild across campus, with theories of all shapes and sizes.
Some felt the two were a perfect match, a true golden couple. Others thought Seraphina Sterling was nothing but a scheming bitch who had joined the stock market club just to get the inside track with Preston Patterson—a classic real-life opportunist. And then there were those who believed there was nothing going on between them at all, that it was all just people grasping at straws. After all, there wasn’t a single photo of them together on the entire forum. If they were really a couple, how was that possible?
Preston Patterson had known about the various comments on the forum from the start, but he’d never paid any attention to that kind of thing. ’When it comes to online comments, if you take them seriously, you’ve already lost.’
Seraphina Sterling, on the other hand, was completely in the dark. She was busy. Very busy. ’Time is running out, and the weather’s getting colder. There are some things I need to pick up the pace on!’ But even in her rush, she had noticed Preston Patterson’s unusual amount of attention on her. However, since Preston hadn’t said anything, she didn’t think it was her place to bring it up, so she just acted as if she hadn’t noticed a thing.
On the fourteenth day of their bet, Preston Patterson finally couldn’t take it anymore. When Seraphina Sterling’s last afternoon class ended, he was waiting for her right outside the classroom and intercepted her.
The scene that followed was nothing short of a spectacle.
Preston Patterson was the resident campus heartthrob and a top student at the School of Economics and Management. To put it simply, he had the looks, the talent, the money, and the status. But the most crucial thing was that a man of his caliber also had a clean reputation and never messed around. He was, without a doubt, the ultimate dream guy for every girl at Aethelgard University.
But a man like that was notoriously elusive; catching a glimpse of him was next to impossible. So when rumors spread that this campus god had been appearing more frequently, some girls started waking up half an hour early every day to pick out their outfits, do their makeup, and style their hair. ’You never know,’ they thought, ’if you run into him, you have to look your best. It might just be love at first sight!’
As soon as the final bell rang, students began to file out of the classroom, only to be met with a breathtaking scene. The horizon was a fiery crimson, and the last rays of the setting sun bathed a tall, slender figure in a warm glow. A few strands of his hair danced in the gentle breeze. Already incredibly handsome, the light gave him an even softer, more refined aura. He just stood there quietly, as still and silent as an oil painting, causing everyone who saw him to become lost in the enchanting atmosphere.