?Chapter 993:


    Hearing Mnie’s question, Ethan immediately swiveled to face Marisa, his eyes zing with curiosity.


    Marisa felt momentarily stunned,pletely at a loss for words. She’d never anticipated Mnie would ask something like this. There was absolutely no way Marisa could admit she’d been following them around. No, that option waspletely off the table!


    Marisa drew in a steadying breath and, forcing herself to appear calm, offered her carefully crafted exnation. “Ahem… I just happened to be walking by when I saw you being dragged into that van, so I followed along, and then I ended up getting caught too.”


    “What a remarkable coincidence,” Mnie said, eyeing Marisa with obvious suspicion. “I distinctly remember your house being in thepletely opposite direction.”


    Marisa’s expression wavered for just a moment before she quickly regained her confidentposure. She arched an eyebrow and shot back, “Well… sometimes life just works out that way. Is it really so impossible to believe?”


    Mnie felt momentarily dazed, but then she remembered how Marisa had thrown herself into danger the night before to rescue both her and Ethan. Waves of gratitude and guilt crashed over her, and she decided to drop the subject entirely.


    “Alright…” Mnie sighed lightly, her face showing a sincere and earnest expression. “No matter what, I owe you this time, Marisa. Really appreciate it. I’m taking back every single prejudice I ever had about you. You’re actually an incredible person.”


    “Hmm?” Marisa couldn’t suppress a smirk at those words, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she pressed, “Come on then! Spill it. What exactly were these prejudices you had about me?” She then deliberately put on an exaggerated stern expression. “Besides, I’m hot-headed and reckless, always getting into fights. What could possibly be good about that?”


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    Mnieughed helplessly, shaking her head with gentle resignation as she chose to stay quiet.


    Marisa’s cheeks colored slightly at being thanked so openly, something that rarely happened to her.


    She had always maintained her reputation as the tough girl with a serious “don’t mess with me” attitude around campus. This felt like the very first time someone had expressed such direct gratitude.<fn3d64> Th?s chapter is updated by fin?novel</fn3d64>


    After several moments offortable silence, Ethan suddenly spoke up, his voice radiating warmth and genuine appreciation. “Marisa, you’re truly amazing! At Wront University, you’re the first…” He paused, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “The first friend of mine.”


    His simple words sent ripples through something deep within Marisa’s chest. A friend? Just a friend?


    Complex emotions surged inside her, but she quickly masked them with a teasing grin and cocked an eyebrow. “Hey, hey, hey… Ethan, aren’t you more like my subordinate? Around school, you’re totally under my protection. When did we suddenly be friends? Shouldn’t you be showing some respect and gratitude to me, after all that I did to save you?”


    Ethan met Marisa’s slightly evasive gaze with a radiant, warm smile. Golden sunlight poured through the hospital window, illuminating his features, and in that moment, both Marisa and Mnie found themselvespletely mesmerized.


    Growing a bit self-conscious under their stares, Ethan rubbed his nose sheepishly and said, “Alright, Marisa. Whatever we call it, thank you for saving me this time. Thank you so much, really.”


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