Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Under a chorus of cheers and screams, the spotlight swept over the central table.

Then, it landed on a couple sitting by the table.

The host exclaimed, "Wow, looks like we've caught a couple here! Would you two like to introduce yourselves?" Grace stood up, taking the microphone handed to her: "Hi everyone, I'm Grace, majoring in Bioinformatics."

The host turned to her companion, "And what about this gentleman? Won't you introduce yourself?"

Murray remained seated, his expression unchanging.

Grace smiled, "Let me do the honors. This is my boyfriend, Murray. He's not a student here but made a special trip just to be with me today." "Wow!" As soon as she finished, a wave of envious gasps filled the room.

Most attendees were single and hoping to mingle, so this public display of affection felt like a direct attack.

Jealous much?

"Lucky guy!"

"Grace is the belle of our Bioinformatics department. The guys haven't had their chance yet, and here you are, having swept her off her feet!"

"Exactly! With so few options and now even outsiders are stepping in, tsk tsk..."

Despite being reserved, Grace's beauty and pleasant demeanor made her the center of friendly banter.

Murray remained unfazed, his composure unshaken by the surrounding chatter.

But Grace knew it wasn't indifference; he simply didn't care.

Neither praise nor criticism seemed to affect him, hence his nonchalance.

Murray's attention, however, was elsewhere, his gaze drifting towards Roseanne's corner.

From the moment she entered with Mamie, to the guys who tried to hit on them and got rejected, to Owen Reynolds and Corley making their way to her... He observed every move Roseanne made, including now-

As she and Mamie returned to their seats with their desserts, oblivious to the ongoing teasing and jesting.

Even so, Murray doubted she even noticed him.

Roseanne was, of course, aware. She wasn't deaf.

When Grace introduced her

boyfriend as "Murray," she heard at but felt nothing; her emotions remained as still as calm waters, no longer disturbed by his presence.

en FindNovel

Mamie commented, "This tiramisu is amazing, much better than the macarons. What do you think, Roseanne?"

"I didn't try the macarons. The tiramisu is indeed nice, but the rum flavor is a bit strong."

"Ah, that

taste!

Hone, you're so sharphet Howplains the slightly off

this little cream puff? It's pick for today."

Roseanne tasted a small piece: "Yes, it deserves the title."

"Really? Let me try-" Corley snatched the remaining half and

popped it into his mouth, nodd net

he chewed, "Mmm, so

Roseanne: "..."

Mamie: [Cringe]JPG

My skin is crawling, dude!

as

Owen Reynolds stared with a frosty gaze, though his face remained expressionless.

When the spotlight hit Corley, he had just swallowed his half of the cream puff.

He calmly stood up, taking the microphone: "No need for introductions. I'm not from your School of Life Sciences."

"How did you get in then?" The host was curious, voicing everyone's question.

Corley replied, "Oh, I'm a sponsor."

A murmur ran through the crowd-

"Sugar daddy!"

"He's way too young and handsome to be the kind of sponsor we imagined..."