Chapter 93

The weather had become colder.

After emerging victorious in the competition, Luca celebrated that evening by gathering his entire class for a lively feast, where everyone raised their glasses and reveled together.

During the meal, Luca received an overwhelming amount of praise from his classmates.

At noon the next day, Luca invited all his roommates and the ladies from a neighboring dorm to another meal. He even planned a private banquet for Jack, but Jack politely declined.

Ultimately, Luca prepared two bottles of fine liquor and snacks. He then invited Jack to the rooftop on a clear night where they drank and talked freely. Content originally comes from fındnovel.net

To Jack's surprise, the usually reserved Luca turned into a hearty drinker once alcohol was involved.

As they drank, Luca unexpectedly broke down in tears, mumbling incoherently before eventually falling into a deep slumber in front of Jack.

The weight of his pressure, burdens, and public persona had finally been released -something he could only do in Jack's presence.

After that night, life at university was mostly uneventful.

Recently, Jack received calls from Wesley, who was studying at the nearby Alnewgo University of Technology, and Eddie, who was pursuing medicine in another state.

They arranged to meet at Alnewgo University as Eddie was in town on short notice.

When the three old friends reunited, a celebratory drinking session was inevitable. They eagerly shared stories of their lives over food and drink, their laughter mingling with the aroma of alcohol.

Wesley, who couldn't hold his liquor, started bragging after just two drinks. He boasted about becoming a class president, joining the student council, and even having ambiguous relationships with several female classmates.

He declared confidently that his future was limitless and that one day, Jack would be left far behind.

Eddie wasn't to be outdone either. He spoke of apprenticing under a renowned medical expert and his prospects of pursuing a combined master's and doctoral degree. His future, too, seemed incredibly promising.

Back when Jack had unexpectedly become the top scorer in the state and gained admission to Alnewgo University, it had placed enormous pressure on both Wesley and Eddie, forcing them to work harder to bridge the gap.

Compared to Feena, who had secured mentorship from a prestigious mentor; Eddie, who had joined a renowned medical program; and Wesley, who was excelling in student leadership roles, Jack now seemed rather ordinary.

The once-glorious halo of the top scorer appeared to have faded, and Jack seemed to have returned to the person they once knew.

But had they ever considered that one day, when Jack's name was known far and wide, they might look back and marvel at how life had unfolded?

The person in question, Jack, wasn't exactly being idle. His small game project had made significant progress.

Yet, a massive crisis was quietly brewing.

It started with the news that Patrick's studio had been reported and shut down.

Patrick and his team were taken into custody, and rumors suggested the situation was severe, with potential jail time involved.

What troubled Jack even more was that word of his connection with Patrick was spreading rapidly.

Even his roommates-Samuel, Isaac, and Luca-couldn't help but ask Jack about the rumors. Had he really done something illegal?

What was bound to happen eventually came. The next morning, while Jack was still asleep in the dorm, two police officers came to escort him in for questioning. They were accompanied by campus security.

One investigator, Daniel Mack, tried to pry information out of Jack but ultimately failed to uncover anything of note.

After their investigation, they found no financial ties between Jack and Patrick. Due to a lack of evidence, the authorities had no choice but to release Jack temporarily.

As Jack walked out of the station, he exhaled deeply in relief.

Thankfully, he had been cautious, handling financial transactions with Patrick in cash and leaving no traceable records. Otherwise, things might have taken a dire turn.

His main concern now was whether Patrick might implicate him.

However, Patrick proved loyal. He was also released the next day, and Jack avoided further trouble.

But the road ahead remained fraught with challenges. Jack resolved to be even more careful moving forward.

Although Patrick regained his freedom, his guilt was undeniable. Reports suggested he had paid a hefty fine of half a million dollars for his release.

Shortly after, news of Patrick's expulsion from university spread rapidly across the campus.

Even though Jack had always anticipated such incidents would eventually come to light, their actual occurrence still left him deeply shaken.