She got in the car in a daze and got out in a daze.


    "Good luck, Juniper,” Jimmie, Harold, and Melvin were all there to cheer her on, though their status required them to stay inside the car.


    “Yeah,” Juniper mumbled, her hands in her pockets as she swayed on her feet.


    "Are you sure you''re okay in this state?" Melvin asked, genuinely worried she might fall over, let alone think clearly. The doctor had rmended she stay in the hospital for a few more days of observation.


    "I''m fine,” Juniper replied nomittally, her gaze drifting to the man standing silently beside her, watching her intently.


    Shanley stepped forward, pulled a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and ced it in her mouth. "I''ll be waiting right here for you," he said softly.


    "Mhm." Juniper nodded. The simple piece of candy seemed to infuse her with a burst of energy, and she instantly felt more alert.


    The three brothers looked at Shanley withplicated expressions. How could they shake the feeling that they were probably going to lose their little sister to him? The old man was already this bold; they couldn''t imagine what would happen after the


    exams.


    "Juniper."


    J, who was taking the exam at the same school, called out to her. To be safe, their teachers had booked them rooms at a hotel next to the school.


    At the sound of J''s voice, Melvin immediately pushed open the car door and got out. The others stared. What was that about? He moved so fast he practically flew out of the car. Why was he so excited to see J?


    Jimmie and Harold exchanged a look with Shanley, their expressions silently asking: *Is he taking a page from a certain someone''s book and robbing the cradle?*


    Shanley''s thoughts were clear: *I''ve learned my lesson, give me a break.*


    "Good morning, Mr. Steele," J managed a polite smile before walking straight to Juniper''s side. "Are you okay?"


    Melvin froze, embarrassed.


    "I''m fine," Juniper said, patting J''s head with a slight smirk. "As long as I''m awake, I can write."


    "We wish you both the best of luck," Melvin said, stepping forward again. His eyes were fixed on J, a gentle smile on his face.


    "Thank you, Mr. Steele," J replied politely, then immediately turned her attention back to Juniper. “Juniper, are Qadir and the others at Era High too?"


    "Yeah," Juniper nodded. "But seeing me would just make them nervous, so we decided to go our separate ways."


    The two girls then walked toward the examination hall, chatting happily.


    Melvin was left standing alone in the cold wind. After a few moments, he returned to the car and met the knowing gazes of the others. He


    awkwardly rubbed his nose an silently sat down next to Shanley. The scene shifted: now it was Jimmie and Harold staring at the two of them withplex expressions.


    Shanley remained silent.


    Melvin remained silent.


    ...


    Not far away, Yelena and Ynda got out of their car, just in time to see J


    helping Juniper walk into the school.


    "How is she even on her feet?" Yelena''s face hardened.


    "Actually..." Ynda clutched her exam admission ticket, a thoughtful look on her face. "I''m d she came."


    Yelena looked at her, confused.


    "If the nation''s favorite actor''s sister gets a terrible score..." Ynda''s tips twisted into a dark, malicious smile. "Shed be torn to shreds online wouldn''t she?"


    ?


    "She does poorly, gets med online until she has a breakdown, and then kills herself..." Yelena steered that sounded like a fitting end for Juniper. She was almost looking


    forward to it.