Pursuing Her

Sophie halted in her tracks and turned to look at Mark.

“Thanks.”

Mark had offered all the warmth and concern he could muster to her, but alas, she really could not reciprocate it.

“Why don't you guys head home? There's no need to keep waiting here.”

The test that morning was two and a half hours long.

Sophie reckoned the whole thing would probably come to at least three hours, give or take.

As such, she thought The Wheelers being there was just a waste of time. They could very well just go home early.

“You're the star of the show today, so you don't need to worry about us. Go on, now,” said Mark with a smile.

After all, they showed up to cheer her on. The last thing they wanted was to make her worry.

“Okay.”

Sophie had her arm hooked around Tristan's as they both huddled under an umbrella. Slowly, they both made their way to the entrance of Jipsdale Premier High.

“All right, since you can't enter, I think you should go home too.” When they reached the security checkpoint, Sophie stopped walking.

Tristan held up the umbrella to shield them both before lowering his head and kissing her on the lips.

“I believe in you.”

To him, Sophie had always been someone who did not make others worry.

Sophie could not help but laugh.

“All right, I got it! But there's only one umbrella. How will you go back?” It's raining cats and dogs now.

“I'll be fine. Just go on inside. It's been a long time since I've been caught in the rain.” Immediately after saying that, Tristan stepped out into the pouring rain.

“I'll be waiting for you!”

Sophie's heart was filled with warmth as she took in Tristan's touching gesture.

He had always been like this, waiting for her.

Sophie nodded.

“You should get a change of clothes before you catch a cold!”

With that said, Sophie turned around and walked in with Ysabelle.

Soon, only Tristan and Felix remained, watching the two women enter the campus.

The first test was Chanaean language.

After receiving her paper, Sophie's mind began to wander. Has Tristan gone home yet? Did he change into something warm?

However, such thoughts were only fleeting. Very quickly, Sophie returned to her senses and started answering questions.

She was the type who could answer questions speedily. A single glance told her everything she needed to know about the question and the correct answer.

As such, Sophie managed to complete the entire test in one go. After she finished, she realized that she had forty minutes remaining.

In the meantime, the rain outside had already stopped.

The sun was out, shining brightly.

Because one could not submit a test early during a university entrance exam nor could they leave early, even in the last thirty minutes of the test, Sophie had no choice but to find a comfortable position on her desk to nap.

The invigilator spotted her sleeping and glanced at his watch. Seeing that there were forty minutes left, he shook his head.

Despite so, he made no move to wake her up.

This was a university entrance exam, after all. There was nothing he could do if she was not going to take this seriously.

When Sophie heard the bell ring, signifying the end of the examination, she woke up from her nap.

Everyone stood up and waited for the invigilator to collect the answer sheets and scripts before filing out of the examination hall.

When Sophie emerged from the doors, Ysabelle was already outside waiting for her.

“How do you think you did, Sophie?” Ysabelle thought that the test this time around was quite simple, and she was confident in her ability to score at least a hundred and forty marks.

“It was all right.”

“If you're going to give me that answer, I shouldn't have asked,” huffed Ysabelle. Knowing her, she'd probably still manage to get full marks even if it were astonishingly tricky. Any deducted marks would be from her composition, I bet!

“Mmhm.”

Hearing that, Ysabelle was rendered speechless. Ugh, this is what happens when you're friends with a top student. she's torturing me with her nonchalant remarks. Is no one going to pity me?

“Let's get going.” Seeing that Sophie had not moved, Ysabelle stopped to urge her on.

“Let's wait for the crowd to disperse a little first. Seeing this many people makes my head hurt.” Sophie was not particularly fond of crowded spaces.

“Okay.” Ysabelle did not care either way. As such, she stayed behind to wait with Sophie. After all, what the latter said was true.

Willow was also at Jipsdale Premier High. After leaving the classroom, she saw both Ysabelle and Sophie standing there.

She originally planned to pass by the corridor, but after seeing the two of them, she immediately made a detour.

She had no desire to get into another conflict with them.

Each time it happened, Willow had no upper hand.

This made her somewhat fearful.

Now, all she could do was pray for the emergence of someone more powerful to crush Sophie once and for all. That was the only thing that could put her mind at ease.

When Ysabelle noticed Willow had opted for a detour, she felt smug.

“I think Willow has finally learned how to behave! Tell me. Since we're not trying to bully her or anything, why does she always try to pick a fight with us?”

Ysabelle truly found the woman despicable, which made it difficult for her to hold back.

“Don't let yourself be influenced by someone who doesn't matter,” chided Sophie.

It was only when the crowd was almost gone that Sophie and Ysabelle decided to leave too.

Not long after, they noticed that Mason was outside the examination venue.

“Sophie,” hissed Ysabelle. “What's he doing here?”

Mason had already received surgery and was now on the mend.