Chapter <b>129 </b>Catherine’s ss


    About ten minutes after the lunch hour began, the canteen began to fill up with more students.


    The three of them stood out. Howard was well–known in the school. Marcelo’s good looks,bined with his wheelchair, drew attention. Renee’s face was also familiar to some students. Even though Renee had picked a corner seat, many students paused to sneak nces at her.


    A few even seemed eager to approach her, but were stopped by Marcelo’s stern look andmanding presence, resorting to secret nces.


    Howard had obligations at the student union, so he left first.


    Marcelo, finding the canteen food disgusting, barely touched his meal. With the growing crowd, Renee hurriedly finished eating.


    She went to put the tableware in the collection area. When she came back, she saw two girls standing in front of Marcelo.


    One was visibly excited, the other timid and shy.


    The nervous and shy girl stammered, “Can…Can I have your phone number? I promise not to bother you unnecessarily.”


    Renee raised her eyebrows, realizing it wasn’t that girls were hesitant to approach Marcelo for his number<b>; </b>she was simply in the way.


    It appeared that a man’s charm wasn’t diminished by a wheelchair, as long as he was attractive enough.


    Upon Renee’s return, Marcelo’s face, tinged with impatience, seemed to say, “Took you long enough toe back, didn’t it?”


    The two girls, noticing Renee standing close to the handsome man in the wheelchair, panicked, thinking she was his girlfriend. The two of them nervously said, “Sorry to bother you.” Then they scurried away.


    Students at the college were typically not bold enough or was it because Marcelo seem significantly older?


    As Renee pushed Marcelo away from the canteen, the two girls suddenly remembered something.


    “That girl looks familiar…”


    “Oh! She’s Renee Hudson. She is the schoolmate from the art school.”


    “Mr. King, you are quite popr with the girls, “Renee, wheeling Marcelo out, teased him, unaware of the hint of jealousy in her voice.


    Marcelo looked up, thinking to himself, “You are one to talk, huh!”


    With a cold expression, Marcelo had already been dealing with Howard’s annoyance, and now he had to endure the canteen trip with Renee.


    To make matters more awkward, some random people even asked for his phone number.


    How dared those little girl?!


    Couldn’t they see that his life literally revolves around Renee?!


    He waspletely annoyed by all these matters.


    “Marcelo are you having trouble with Howard?“Renee remembered the tense atmosphere at the table earlier.


    Chapter 129 Catherine’s ss


    Marcelo simply nodded.


    She was taken aback. “You’re actually having issues? Can you tell me what they’re about?”


    Marcelo preferred not to delve into the details. He mentioned, “He seems to know you quite well.”


    Renee guessed Marcelo was referring to the onion incident. She suggested, “Maybe Howard heard about it from someone else. He’s the head of the student council, so he probably knows a lot of people.”


    Renee didn’t think much of it.


    Marcelo observed Renee. She was so clever,so smart, but so oddly oblivious in certain matters.


    She was unaware of Damian’s feelings for her.


    Nor did she realize Howard’s interest in her.


    “I’m heading to the studio. What about you?” Renee noticed Luke wasn’t there to apany Marcelo, but she knew his bodyguards were discreetly nearby.


    “I’d like to attend your lecture.” Marcelo decided to take the afternoon off to do so.


    “Why do you want to attend my lecture? It has limited seating. Don’t take up a spot that students could use.” The thought of giving a lecture in front of others, with Marcelo in the audience, made Renee feel self–conscious.


    Marcelo thought for a moment and then agreed, “Alright.”


    He wouldn’t go inside the hall.


    Anyway, he had a wheelchair, and it was the same wherever he sat.


    At half past one in the afternoon, students hurried towards the academic buildings for ss. “Catherine, you’re so hardworking. Even though you’re a celebrity, you still make time for sses. I’ve heard of other stars putting their education on hold.” One of Catherine’s ssmatesplimented her.


    Pleased with being called a celebrity,Catherine humbly responded, “I believe the knowledge I gain here is important, and it’s not just about earning a degree.”


    In reality, the University had stringent policies. Catherine had to postpone her professional engagements to attend sses at the end of the semester, or else she risked dying her graduation.


    Catherine and Renee were just one year apart. Renee had already earned her master’s degree while Catherine was still an undergraduate. It would be embarrassing for Catherine if her graduation was postponed. Dressed impably and wearing a mask, Catherine was still recognizable to those who paid attention. She had expected to be the center of attention today, with people asking for her autograph and photos.


    She didn’t expect that no one had given her a second nce along the way.


    Instead, she saw many students hurrying towards the student activity center.


    “What’s happening there?“She inquired.


    “They’re heading to a lecture. Didn’t you know?” A fellow student answered, “It’s Renee Hudson, the alumna with the impressive resume, giving a talk today. I wish I could attend, but I have a ss.”


    Catherine’s smile faltered. She wondered if she had misheard. “Who did you say it was?”


    “Renee Hudson. You don’t remember her? You were the host that day.”


    Chapter 129 Catherine ss


    Catherine certainly remembered. “But… Isn’t she involved in a controversy?”


    After Herman showed up, everyone at the school couldn’t stop discussing Renee’s private matters and how heartless she seemed. Word even spread to the neighboring university.


    “Well, those are just rumors. That Herman’s not a reliable person. He’s probably trying to shift the me to someone else for his own downfall.” As Catherine’s ssmate brought up Renee, her voice brimmed with admiration. “Those of us at this University ought to know better than to believe everything we hear, We shouldn’t let rumors and public opinion sway us.”


    Howard’s words during his presentation really struck a chord with everyone. They resonated deeply.


    How was this possible?


    How did Renee manage to turn her reputation around so quickly?


    Catherine couldn’t ept it and felt uneasy.


    “Catherine, what’s wrong with you?” Noticing Catherine suddenly stopped, her ssmate nudged her, saying, Come on, we need to move. We’re going to bete for our ss.”


    11


    “I, uh, suddenly have something I need to take care of. You go on without me.“Catherine was curious to see what was happening with Renee.


    “What? Something came up? Professor Walters warned us that missing this ss means an automatic fail.”


    “Yeah, but it’s something so


    important,“Catherine replied.


    She doubted the professor’s threat. Surely missing one ss wouldn’t result in failing, right?


    C