Chapter 149
Josie was still overwhelmed by the shock of winning the award and did not realize that Sean was still holding her hand. Her heart pounded relentlessly, unable to rest for even a moment. This was the very first—and only—time she had ever stepped onto a stage to accept an award. Even when she was recognized as a recipient on David’s team, she never went up to receive it and had never appeared before an audience in such a dazzling way.
As the three stepped onto the stage, excitement swept through the seated audience in the auditorium.
“Wow, is Sean really holding Josie’s hand?”
“Could they be a couple?”
“Please don’t jump to conclusions. Didn’t you notice that Claire was also holding Josie’s hand? They held hands on stage to accept the award because they’re on the same team.”
“Are you focusing on the wrong issue? Shouldn’t your attention be on the fact that they received the award?”
“Indeed, this was their first time participating in the competition, and they managed to win First Prize. Sean is truly outstanding.”
“The credit does not belong to him alone; please do not overlook Josie.”
“Yes, right, I just realized that Josie is so adorable!”
“She’s just too cute! How can there be such a well-behaved girl!”
“When you put it that way, I suddenly feel that even if she were in a relationship with Sean, it would not be surprising.”
“Don’t you think that someone like Sean is naturally suited to be paired with a young girl like her?”
“Come on, Sean is the undeniable heartthrob of the campus—have you all forgotten that he’s actually ranked number one on the campus male idol list?”
“Wow! So handsome and so cute—truly a perfect match!”
“Indeed, a perfect match.”
As the murmurs grew louder, the expressions on Aiden and his companions’ faces became increasingly solemn.
“Is he even worthy of her?” Jaden was the first to object. “How could someone like Sean possibly have a girlfriend? Josie would never be interested in him!”
Natalie lowered her voice and asked Kyle, who was beside her, “I heard that Jaden once pursued her. Is that true?”
“Yeah.” Kyle was in no mood to discuss these matters. His cold gaze fixed on Josie on the stage; he found her so unfamiliar.
Natalie sighed, “Why doesn’t Josie like Jaden? Could it be that the kind of man she truly prefers is someone with a dark, mysterious personality like Sean?”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Aiden said with a frown. “Josie isn’t involved in these things—her only focus is research. Sean must be the one who led her astray!”
‘Wasn’t he the one who accused Josie of being flirtatious before? Now he’s saying Sean seduced her?’ Natalie seethed inwardly, and let out a sigh. “But just now, Josie smiled so sweetly at Sean. I’ve never seen her smile like that before.”
“Idiot,” Jaden muttered, barely audible. “You don’t even notice when people betray you, yet you still smile at them. What a fool.”
Aiden also noticed the sweet, gentle smile on Josie’s face. It felt as if someone had struck him hard in the chest, leaving him unbearably uneasy. “She’s smiling because she won an award; happiness naturally brings a smile.”
Natalie was stunned. ‘They only seem to appreciate things once they’ve lost them,’ she thought angrily. ‘Do they really believe that saying a few nice things about Josie behind her back now will convince her to forgive them and restore their friendship? That’s completely unrealistic.'
She quickly changed the subject. “After the Second Prize and Third Prize are announced, it should be time for the Grand Prize, right? Aiden, can I go on stage to receive the award? I thought Josie looked beautiful up there, and I’d like to…”
Before she could finish speaking, she heard the teacher announce, “Congratulations to Aiden’s team for winning Third Prize in the campus competition. Would the team representative please come to the stage to accept the award?”
Everyone was baffled; they couldn’t believe it was a Third Prize. After a brief silence, the venue was filled with the sound of intense discussion.
Even Josie frowned slightly. “They still managed to win an award!”