From that day forward, Aveline''s ears were constantly filled with gossip about the


    mixed-race basketball captain. Stories ranged from failed confessions to his expensive designer outfits.


    "Hey, there''s going to be a basketball match between the junior high and high school teams this afternoon. Let''s go cheer them on."


    "Sure, I''m going to cheer for my hero!"


    "Who''s your hero?"


    "Dorian from 23F. He''s so handsome!"


    "If we''re talking about looks, the mixed-race basketball captain from the high school team is definitely better. Those green eyes of his are just amazing, and he''s always smiling. Sigh, if only he were my boyfriend."


    "Keep dreaming. Someone like him would never go for you."


    "By the way, Aveline, why don''t youe with uster?" Liora, Aveline''s deskmate, turned to her.


    Liora was Aveline''s only friend. She reminded Aveline of Joyce, with her ever-present smile and the same shallow dimples. More importantly, Liora shared the same overly dramatic tendencies as Joyce, which made Aveline feel unexpectedly at ease around her.


    "No," Aveline replied coldly. Perhaps it was because she had grown up surrounded by strikingly beautiful people, but she felt indifferent toward good looks, whether male or female.


    "Aveline, I really like that mixed-race guy, uh..."


    "Hmm?" Aveline turned to her. "What is it?"


    "Can you deliver this love letter for me?" Liora asked hesitantly.


    "Why don''t you do it yourself?" Aveline frowned. She had no patience for such trivial matters.


    Liora rubbed her hands nervously. "I... I''m too embarrassed. Aveline, please, I''m begging you. Help me deliver it."


    In truth, Liora hadn''t told her the whole story. She had heard that many people had already given the basketball captain love letters, but he hadn''t bothered to read a single one.


    However, Aveline was beautiful. At the very least, if she delivered it, the captain might pause for a moment. Liora thought it was worth taking the chance, no matter how small.


    Unlike others, Aveline was naturally aloof. She showed no interest in romantic matters whatsoever. Even when someone as handsome as Dorian confessed to her, she didn''t bat an eye. That was why Liora felt secure asking Aveline for this favor.


    "No, it''s boring," Aveline said bluntly. She would much rather spend her time reading a book.


    "Aveline, you''re my best friend! If you don''t help me, what am I going to do? Please, Aveline, I''ll buy you ice cream afterward."


    Aveline wasn''t fond of sweets, and her interests were quite different from those of ordinary girls.


    At school, Aveline kept a low profile. Cherrywood High wasn''t like the elite private schools she used to attend. Most of the students here came from average families. She had chosen this schoolrgely to avoid Orion. She wanted a rxed, free environment where she could grow without beingbeled as someone''s fiancée.


    After learning about everyone''s lifestyle, she made a conscious effort to hide her own background. She had her driver drop her off a block away from school every day and wore simple, ordinary clothes. At most, her ssmates assumed she came from a well- off family, but no one could have guessed how wealthy her family truly was. None of her old ssmates had transferred here, so no one knew her past.


    "So annoying," Aveline muttered, clearly irritated.


    "You''re the best, Aveline!" Liora quickly handed her a pink envelope decorated with a heart sticker. "Just tell him I''ll be waiting for him in the grove after school." "Okay. What does he look like?"


    "He''s really tall, with green eyes and a warm smile. He''s the only mixed-race guy in our school. You can''t miss him-there''s no one more handsome."


    "Got it."


    For the first time, Aveline found herself at the basketball court. She wasn''t there for the game, though, but to deliver the letter to the handsome mixed-race captain.


    The match between the junior high and high school teams had already drawn their respective cheer squads. Even before the yers arrived, the atmosphere was electric.


    Dorian stepped onto the court in his white jersey. He was well-known in the junior high division-not a mixed-race student, but undeniably good-looking.


    Rumor had it that Dorian came from a wealthy family that owned apany, making him a ssic example of a rich, handsome, and sessful young man.


    Many junior high girls adored him, and even some high school seniors had pursued him. Just a few days ago, he had tried to win Aveline''s favor, but she had rejected him outright.


    To her, love was something profound, like what her parents shared-a bond forged through trials and tribtions, a decision to hold onto each other no matter what.


    What did these kids know about love? They threw the word around like it was a game. Aveline found it all childish and ridiculous.


    But since Liora had asked, Aveline reluctantly agreed to help, though she found it all very bothersome.


    As Dorian appeared, cheers erupted from the crowd. Some fans even held up banners. Aveline couldn''t help but think it was all so over-the-top. He wasn''t a celebrity, so why were they making such a spectacle?


    Dorian quickly spotted Aveline sitting among the crowd. She wasn''t dressed to stand out-just a simple white dress and a ponytail.


    Butpared to the brightly dressed girls around her, Aveline shone like a star, dazzling in her simplicity.


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    Was she here to watch his game? Dorian smiled at her.


    Aveline, however, was preupied, wondering when the mixed-race captain would show up. The cheers around her grew louder.


    "Ahhh! Dorian smiled at me!"


    "Pfft, no, he smiled at me!"


    The chatter buzzed around her as Dorian walked toward her. With each step he took, the screams grew wilder.


    When he finally stopped in front of Aveline, the cheers turned into loud whistles and teasing shouts.


    Dorian leaned down, his voice gentle. "Will you cheer for me during the game?"


    Aveline blinked in confusion. Why would he want her to cheer for him?


    She wanted to refuse, but since it wasn''t a big deal, she decided there was no need to embarrass him in front of everyone. She nodded.


    That small nod filled Dorian with joy. Maybe she didn''t dislike him as much as he


    thought. Perhaps she was just shy.


    With that, Dorian took off his jersey.


    His physique was lean-not overly muscr, but well-proportioned. Even so, his gesture


    sent the crowd into a frenzy, with screams erupting left and right.


    Dorian handed the jersey to Aveline. "Can you hold this for me?"


    The other girls were practically green with envy. Holding a yer''s jersey was


    something only girlfriends did.


    All eyes were on Aveline. Surely she wouldn''t refuse, right? After all, Dorian had openly


    shown her favor. To reject him now would be unbearably awkward.