“I want to talk to you.” Kyle’s eyes were tinged with sorrow.

Josie’s exam went smoothly, and she was in a fairly good mood. But seeing Kyle’s bloodshot eyes filled her with a surge of gloating exhilaration. ‘Oh yeah, it’s finally his turn to have trouble sleeping!’

She pulled on her gloves and adjusted her scarf. “What is there to discuss? At this point, is there anything left for us to talk about?”

Kyle fixed his gaze on her. Josie had been away from the team for just over two months—less than three months in total. However, her face had already become noticeably brighter. The bluish shadows beneath her round eyes had vanished, replaced by a rosy complexion. Josie looked like a completely different person—exceptionally adorable.

“I know you won’t forgive me, and I never expected you to,” Kyle sighed. “Since I once truly tried to comfort you, could you please listen to a couple more words, if that’s okay?”

“Trying to placate me?” Josie was amused. “Where’s the sincerity?”

Josie pulled up the hood of her down jacket and put it on. “Every word you use to placate me is calculated and purposeful, all just to get me to help you keep Aiden in check. Later, when Natalie appeared, you noticed that Aiden treated her better than he treated me. As a result, you did not hesitate to abandon me and join Natalie’s side.

“All those pleasant words, all that so-called sincerity of yours, were bullshit. Just give all of your attention to her from now on, Kyle. I don’t hate you, really. I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Now go and coax Natalie. With her family background, she’ll give you more than I ever could. But let me make one thing clear: don’t provoke me again, because the next time you pull this, I won’t hold back.”

Watching her resolute figure as she walked away, Kyle knew that he had bet wrong this time, and disastrously so. Josie could never forgive him, and he couldn’t stay at school. Natalie said that David would find a way to help him, but he did not believe it for a moment. David cared too much about his reputation. The previous incident had already served as a warning to him, so Kyle was skeptical. His expulsion was already a foregone conclusion.

Kyle tilted his head back. Warm tears welled in his eyes, but he tried to hold them back. He pulled up the hood of his down jacket, concealing his entire face, and walked step by step toward the Department of Student Affairs.

Meanwhile, Josie entered the school cafeteria and found the spot where her team regularly sat. “Josie! You said you would be treating, so I ordered two extra dishes. You don’t mind, do you?” Claire winked at her.

Josie removed her scarf and shook her head. “Why would I mind? Order whatever you like. I can afford it now.”

It should be noted that for the First Prize in the campus competition, the team received a total prize of 120,000 dollars, with each member receiving around 40,000 dollars. Josie later learned that the prize money for the team competition was not distributed on a per capita basis, but rather allocated to each team as a whole. Since her team had fewer members, each individual received a larger share.

“Oh, Josie, you’re so generous!” Claire said, pulling her to sit down. “It’s cold outside, huh? The soup was just served. Quick, enjoy it while it’s hot.”

Josie held a bowl of soup and drank it in large gulps. Soon, Sean returned carrying the prepared dishes. He only asked about the main matter after seeing her return. “How did the exam go?”

Josie put down the fork and said, “I was just about to talk to you about this. I have a feeling something is not quite right.”

“What’s wrong? Is it too difficult?” Claire found it strange. “That’s not possible. The review materials I provided to you covered the most frequently tested topics in recent years. Based on your learning progress, the entry-level examination should not pose any difficulty for you.”

Josie shook her head. “It’s not that it was too difficult. Rather, it went too smoothly, which makes it feel a bit unreal. I’m always worried that it’s just my illusion, and I’m afraid that when the results come out, I will have the lowest score!”