"I bet that''s why he never appears in public. That face is a lethal weapon!"


    “Hehe, I heard a rumor that he and Mr. Tate are... close. Any guesses who''s on top?"


    "Nonsense, Mr. Schwartz has a fiancée!"


    "A fiancée?"


    This piece of news sent the students into an even more frenzied discussion.


    "He has a fiancée and that Ynda from the other ss still had the nerve to throw herself at him? So shameless!"


    "Someone in themunications program said Mr. Schwartz smiled at her. You don''t think he''s nning on making her his mistress, do you?"


    "Please, rich guys have standards too! Ynda? What does she have to offer?”


    "If I were Mr. Schwartz..." a boy mumbled, his gaze finallynding on Juniper, his expression turning shy, "I''d definitely choose the goddess."


    Their goddess was beautiful and brilliant... ande to think of it, the two of them looked pretty good together.


    “Pfft!” his friend beside him retorted mercilessly. “Go find a mirror. Who are you to be so picky?"


    Juniper frowned slightly, unable to understand the appeal. This old man was that popr?


    “Era University is my alma mater, and I have always held a deep affection for it. I hope to see it continue to flourish. Thank you."


    After a few brief remarks, Shanley sat back down.


    Next, the host took the stage, beaming. “And now, please wee this year''s top schr, Juniper Payne, to deliver the freshman representative''s address."


    As soon as the host finished speaking, a startlingly loud round of apuse erupted from the guest section.


    The faculty members turned in unison to see that the one pping so enthusiastically was none other than Shanley himself. Startled, they quickly joined in, ensuring their apuse was no less vigorous than the tycoon''s.


    The students below were just as confused.


    The president, Lionel, pped until his hands were red. "Tsk," he thought. "Only the top schr gets this kind of treatment!"


    After the host''s introduction, Juniper walked to the podium with her speech folder.


    "Distinguished faculty, honored guests, and fellow students, good afternoon. I am your freshman representative, Juniper Payne."


    Juniper stood perfectly straight, delivering her greeting with politeposure.


    In an instant, all the cameras swiveled towards her, the sound of shutters and shing lights filling the air.


    "Next, I will..." Juniper opened the folder, and her voice abruptly stopped. A sh of cold fury crossed her clear eyes.


    When nothing followed, the reporters looked up from their cameras, ncing at her with confusion. What was going on? Was she too nervous to speak?


    "It looks like she doesn''t have her


    speech!" a reporter whose camera was aimed at the podium eximed. The folder where the speech should ave been was empty


    "What? No speech?"


    “How could such a mistake happen at such an important event?”


    The professor in charge of this segment felt his face go pale. He struggled to remain calm as he tried to solve the problem. "Contact themunications department! Have then send the file over so we can print it."  s?novels


    If they acted now, they could still fix this.


    "There''s no one in the office. The original file is on theputer," came the swift reply. "It''ll take fifteen minutes to get back and transfer it."


    Fifteen minutes? The professor looked at the displeased expressions of the university leaders and guests on the stage, his heart pounding in his chest.


    They had other events scheduled; there was no way they would wait fifteen minutes for her. It was over There was no way Juniper had memonized such a long speech Their options were to have her leave and cut this part of the ceremony, or let her improvise.


    Either choice was a disaster. The professor felt like he was suffocating.