Chapter 383
Chapter 383:
Fernanda returned his smile.
The early morning light bathed the sky in a warm orange-red glow, casting soft light on the clouds, with sunlight pouring down.
A bright beam shone into Fernanda’s eyes, sparkling like stars in the night sky.
Jeff was almost dazzled by her smile.
She was undeniably beautiful, with a cool, distant charm, like the moon hanging high in the sky—beautiful but unreachable, making him drawn to her in an almost magnetic way.
As midterm exams loomed, the pressure was mounting. Even Levi and Alex had set aside their gaming, focusing on their studies instead.
Sloane and Fernanda studied together in the library, sitting by the window.
“Fernanda, are you nervous?” Sloane asked quietly.
“Not really, it’s just a midterm,” Fernanda answered, glancing at her. “Besides, I’ve always been diligent with my studies.”
“I know you’ve been, but I have too,” Sloane twirled her pen. “But you’ve made it to the beauty pageant shortlist, and your exam scores will be part of the evaluation. You can’t just pass; you need to score well.” After all, Esaham University was known for being home to the country’s brightest minds, where grades mattered above all else.
Fernanda needed to stand out among the best.
“It’s fine. I’ll give it my best shot,” Fernanda said. “And if it doesn’t go well, I’ll just have to accept it.”
“Don’t say that. You’re going to jinx it,” Sloane immediately responded. “You were the top scorer on the entrance exam, so you need to maintain your performance!”
Though Fernanda hadn’t felt much pressure, Sloane’s words brought it to the surface. They didn’t leave the library until after nine in the evening. The night had fallen, yet the library was still filled with students cramming for exams. Though midterms weren’t as crucial as finals, the results still impacted overall performance, so everyone was taking them seriously.
Feeling a bit hungry, they decided to grab a snack.
G aln ove ls . com has stories you’ll love
“I love the pizza here,” Sloane said, browsing her phone. “It has fruit on it, perfect for a late-night snack without gaining weight.” Fernanda nodded.
Then she took out her phone and entered Neal’s live stream. Since celebrating Alex’s birthday, Fernanda had been quietly observing Neal. She tuned in to every live session, hoping to find some sign of what might be troubling him, in case she could offer help.
But after several days of watching, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Fernanda began to wonder if she was overthinking things, and that Neal might actually be doing just fine. This thought relieved her somewhat. As long as her friends were okay, that was what mattered.
Just as the pizza arrived, Fernanda took a bite and heard Sloane’s excited voice. “Fernanda, the shortlist for the pageant is out! Come see who you’ll be up against!”
“There’s not much to look at,” Fernanda said indifferently. “They’re all stunning and accomplished.”
“Yeah, everyone’s features are impressive, each with their own appeal,” Sloane commented, scrolling through the list. “Wow, even graduate students are joining, showing how widespread the contest’s appeal is.”
.
.
.