Noreen had always beenpletely honest with Wade. "No," she said firmly. "That chapter of my life ispletely closed."


    Wade believed her. He opened a drawer in the coffee table and pulled out a stack of photographs, cing them in front of her. "I had someone help me select these promising young men. Their character, education, and family backgrounds are all excellent. Take a look and see if anyone catches your eye. Pick one."


    Noreen was caughtpletely off guard. She never expected this from Wade. It seemed all elders were the same, always wanting to find a stable match for the younger generation.


    "Mr. Harcourt, I really don''t have the energy to date right now," she said with a helpless smile.


    "That''s why I''m just asking you to look. See if there''s someone you find appealing, and then you can give it a try. Just because you''re not interested now doesn''t mean you won''t beter."


    "Then maybe I can think about it after this busy period is over."


    Wade knew she was preparing for Professor Joyner''s highlypetitive graduate program at Halley University and that it required intense focus. He nodded in agreement. "Alright. That gives me more time to vet them for you."


    Noreen agreed. As it was gettingte, Wade didn''t keep her long, just reminded her to drive carefully.


    No sooner had Noreen left than Seth returned to the estate. Wade knew without asking that Evelyn must have called him secretly.


    Sure enough, as Seth walked in, Evelyn emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of hot soup. "Seth, have some chicken broth."


    Seth took the bowl and sat on the sofa across from Wade, his gaze falling on the photos spread across the table. Wade ignored him, arranging the pictures one by


    one.


    Seth crossed his legs, sipping his soup as he scanned the photos. Once Wade was done, he began his critique. "This one''s features are too soft. He might have issues in... other departments."


    "This one isn''t her type."


    "This one looks like he has a temper."


    "And this one," he drawled, "looks like he''s ying for the other team. You don''t want to push her into a disaster."


    Wade shot him an icy re. He then pulled out the final photo, cing it on the table with a thud. This ope we know well he said coolly He''s already familiar with Noreen, they have a good rtionship, and his qualifications are impable."


    Seth fell silent. He put down his spoon and called out, "Evelyn, I''m full." He''d lost


    his appetite. And why was Dn''s picture in that pile?


    Wade didn''t bother with him and went straight to his room. Evelyn took the soup bowl from Seth, letting out a long sigh, her expression a mixture of disappointment and unspoken reproach.


    Seth got the message. He wasn''t exactly wee here. "Goodnight, Evelyn. I''m leaving," he said tactfully, getting up to leave.


    Outside, a fight rain had begun to fall, a cold, drizzling mist. After Seth got into the car, just as the driver started the engine, the man in the back seat spoke. "Don''t go back to the apartment."


    The driver understood immediately, changing course and driving away from the Harcourt estate.


    ...


    In the final two weeks before the entrance exams, Bianca cut off nearly all social activities to focus entirely on studying, Jude tried to get hento hang out twice and failed, prompting him toin in their group chat.


    "Bianca, give us failures a break! You''re already gorgeous, a genius, and you work so hard. You have a Ph.D. in finance and you''re still taking this exam? Thepetition is insane!"


    "Compared to you, I feel like my existence is a waste of oxygen!"


    Bianca sent a cute smiling emoji and replied, "It''s because I want to be someone Seth can be proud of."


    Jude felt like he''d been pped in the face with their public disy of affection, which only worsened his mood. He didn''t know why, but everyone seemed to be incredibly busytely.