Shermaine didn’t want to go out, especially not with Ruth. But if she refused, Ruth would probably just hang around and not leave. So, Shermaine went upstairs to change. She wasn’t much of a dress person. The maple leaves outside were already turning yellow, and the autumn wind carried a chill. She swapped into a black hoodie that went with anything, a pair of vintage jeans, and slipped on some canvas sneakers before heading back down. She didn’t wear any makeup, just a layer of lip balm. But her features were so naturally striking that even without anything on, people couldn’t help but be stunned by her beauty at first glance. Her skin was clear and flawless, her hair pulled up into a bun. There was a cool elegance to her, with a hint of effortless charm.
The moment Ruth saw her, though, her brows furrowed. It was clear she didn’t like how casually Shermaine was dressed, with none of the elegance expected from a well-bred young lady. Ruth started nitpicking. "Shermaine, your father just gave you a ton of pocket money yesterday. You should go buy a few decent outfits sometime. If you walk out dressed like this, people are gonna think we’re neglecting you. I mean, seriously—what is this thrift-store look?" She thought Shermaine’s good looks were completely wasted on such sloppy fashion.
"Comfort’s all that matters," Shermaine said.
"You’ve got no taste at all," Ruth replied, her tone full of disdain.
Shermaine stayed calm. "Mom, are we going or not?"
Ruth was about to say something else, but the second she looked up and met Shermaine’s clear, steady gaze, a strange chill crept down her spine. Still, Ruth had to admit, even if Shermaine was wearing nothing but cheap clothes, the way she carried herself made it look like high fashion. Ruth shut her mouth, got up, and walked out the door.
Basterel University Visit
A black Rolls-Royce was parked out front. After getting in, Shermaine pulled down her hat and closed her eyes to rest. About forty minutes later, Ruth nudged her awake. Shermaine opened her eyes, turned her head, and glanced out the window. They had arrived at Basterel University—the most prestigious institution in the entire city of Basterel. Since they were riding in a luxury car, they drew a lot of attention once they drove onto campus.
The car stopped in front of the girls’ dormitory. Ruth stepped out first, instantly catching the attention of the people around. Shermaine followed closely behind. Ruth walked ahead with an air of familiarity, clearly not her first time here. "This is Basterel University. It’s the top university in the city—and in the whole country, really. Wendy goes here. Back then, she scored almost a perfect SAT. She missed full marks by just three points. She’s majoring in Comparative Literature. She’s one of the most popular girls on campus, all while keeping top grades. Don’t you think she’s amazing? Such a shame she’s had such bad luck."
Shermaine wondered, ‘Bad luck? Wendelyn’s only bad luck is not becoming Joshua’s fiancée. She’s an orphan, but she got taken in by the Jean family and lives in comfort. What’s so unlucky about that?’ She smiled faintly and said nothing.
Ruth’s voice brimmed with pride for Wendelyn. "Sheary, since you didn’t take the SAT, you missed the chance to go to college. I brought you here today so you could walk around and get a feel for the atmosphere and the academic vibe."
Shermaine thought, ‘I radiate academic vibe. I don’t need to feel it.’ Maybe it was the way her expression stayed so cold, but in Ruth’s eyes, Shermaine just looked especially resistant to being there—probably because her pride had taken a hit. With that thought, Ruth’s lips curled ever so slightly.
Ruth continued, "And then there’s Joshua—the heir to the York family. He also went to Basterel University. He’s even more impressive. He got straight into Basterel University at sixteen, then Harrod University at eighteen. By twenty, he had dual master’s degrees. Then he enlisted. He didn’t return to take over the York family’s business until he was twenty-five."
Joshua was indeed impressive. And what Ruth said barely scratched the surface. From the very first moment Shermaine met him, she had sensed it—that sharp, familiar scent of someone cut from the same cloth. But Ruth’s whole speech was transparent. She clearly wanted Shermaine to feel inferior, to realize how incapable she was by comparison. The whole point was to put her in her place. Too bad Ruth’s plan was completely off the mark.
Since Ruth was so set on thinking that way, Shermaine came up with an idea. A quick glint of sly amusement flickered in her eyes before she let out a light, gleeful whistle. "My fiancé’s that amazing? That’s freaking awesome."
Ruth was instantly speechless, feeling utterly frustrated.
Wendelyn's Performance
When they reached the building of the girls’ dormitory, Wendelyn appeared, looking all gentle and graceful. She wore a blue vintage-styled dress, her figure slender, her makeup polished, with a book tucked in her arms. Students passing by looked at her with admiration and envy.
Right then, a clean-cut guy stepped forward, holding a massive bouquet of roses. He confessed, "Wendelyn, I love you. Please be my girlfriend. I promise I’ll treat you well."
Wendelyn turned him down gently. "I’m sorry, but I can’t say yes. I’m already in love with someone else."
The guy looked utterly disappointed.
After he walked away, Wendelyn came over to Shermaine and Ruth, all sweet and innocent. "Mom, Shermaine."
Shermaine couldn’t even be bothered to respond.
Ruth, on the other hand, lit up. "Wendy, you’re so popular. Are you heading to class?"
"Yeah," Wendelyn nodded.
"What class do you have this afternoon?" Ruth asked.
"I’ve been into math lately," Wendelyn replied. "Thought I’d sit in on a calculus lecture."
"It’s okay to have hobbies, but make sure you get enough rest too, alright? Don’t wear yourself out. You already know so much."
"Mom, I’m not good enough yet. I want to be better."
No wonder Ruth was so pleased with Wendelyn. Since childhood, Wendelyn had been the model student—academically brilliant, sharp-witted, gracefully beautiful, the kind of girl who outshone Shermaine in other people’s eyes. Shermaine was utterly speechless, thinking that the whole thing was just too much to watch.
Right then, Wendelyn switched the topic. "Shermaine, don’t you think Basterel University is beautiful?"
"It is beautiful," Shermaine said.
Wendelyn was always good at keeping up appearances in front of others. Yesterday, things had nearly turned into a full-blown catfight between them. But today, she was standing there in front of Shermaine like nothing happened, all smiles and small talk. She remarked, "Mom doesn’t know the campus that well. After my class, I can give you a tour."
"Sure," Shermaine’s tone was lazy.
Wendelyn beamed and suggested, "Why don’t you come to class with me?"
A sly smile flickered in Shermaine’s eyes. "I’m not even a student here. You think I can just tag along?"
"You totally can," Wendelyn said.
Shermaine hesitated. "I’ll pass." Calculus was way too basic for her. If she sat through that, she’d probably end up falling asleep.
But Ruth, clearly worried she might back out, coaxed her, "Sheary, just sit in and get a feel for what a real college class is like. We can walk around the campus afterward."
"All right then," Shermaine said.
Ruth and Wendelyn exchanged a smile, perfectly in sync.
They took a campus shuttle to the Department of Mathematics. By the time they got to the lecture hall, most of the seats were already taken. Mathematics wasn’t exactly the most popular major—usually not a go-to for the average student. Still, this was the top university in Wallington. Academic overachievers were everywhere, so a crowded lecture wasn’t that surprising. Though honestly, most of the people in the room seemed more like they were just tagging along for fun.
Sure enough, the moment Wendelyn walked in, a student got up right away and offered her a seat, saying, "Wendelyn, come sit here."
"Thank you," Wendelyn smiled, pulling Ruth along to take the best seats in the middle. Shermaine ended up sitting behind them.
Just then, someone muttered, "Holy carp. I heard the professor has taken the day off, so today’s class is being covered by Lorenzo Hussain. Yep, we’re screwed. Looks like we’ll all be retaking this course."