He asionally nced at his watch, as if waiting for someone. He was surrounded by students, all holding up their phones and taking pictures as if he were an exotic animal at the zoo.


    And a rare species at that.


    Everyone knew that Shanley Schwartz was a notoriously private person who rarely made public appearances. Even when he did, he was a world away from ordinary people like them.


    To see him in the flesh at the school gate was unbelievable. He was so handsome he didn''t seem real.


    But what was this titan doing at Era University? And why was he waiting at the gate instead of in the president''s office?


    Everyone waspletely baffled.


    "I''m waiting for my girlfriend."


    Shanley''s voice cut through the murmurs of the surrounding students. Instead of being annoyed, he answered with surprising patience.


    Girlfriend?


    The chatter around him instantly grew moreplex.


    Mr. Schwartz''s girlfriend was a student at Era University? Who was she? Did anyone know? Which family was she from? What was her major?


    To be Mr. Schwartz''s girlfriend, she couldn''t be just anybody.


    As the end of ss approached, the crowd at the gate grewrger. The news that Mr. Schwartz himself was there to pick up his girlfriend had spread like wildfire.


    "Girlfriend?" Ynda''s brow furrowed deeply when she heard the rumor. "I haven''t heard of any top-tier heiresses attending Era University."


    In her mind, only a woman from the highest echelons of society was worthy of Era City''s ultimate prize.


    "Is he still at the gate?" Ynda asked.


    "Yes!" her ssmate replied, grabbing her backpack and rushing out. "Ynda, are youing? If not, I''m going ahead."


    Even if she couldn''t have this rare swan, she had to at least get a look.


    "I''ming."


    Ynda grabbed her bag and hurried to catch up. She had just been on his mother''s variety show; surely Shanley would find her somewhat familiar?


    The two of them jogged all the way to the entrance, which was nowpletely mobbed.


    It was less than five minutes until ss was over.


    Ynda squeezed her way through the crowd, quickly fixed her makeup and clothes, and then bravely spoke to Shanley. "Mr. Schwartz, are you looking for someone? Perhaps I can help!"


    Most people there were just gawking, too intimidated by the powerful man to dare speak to him.


    "?"


    Shanley turned his head at the sound of her voice, his gazending on Ynda''s face.


    "Ms. Sherwin?"


    "That''s me," Ynda said, shing a sickeningly sweet smile andying the charm on thick. She couldn''t believe Mr. Schwartz actually remembered her.


    "Right," Shanley said, his voice cold. "I saw you on that show. The way you made your exit was certainly... unique."


    "Pfft-"


    A few snickers rippled through the crowd.


    Ynda''s face froze, and she wished the ground would swallow her whole. The humiliation of falling into a pile of horse manure had finally been overshadowed by Juniper''s scandal, but now Shanley had just brought it up again.


    He had to have done that on purpose.


    The bell rang, signaling the end of ss. After the professor left, Juniper finally checked her phone. The scene outside was even more chaotic than she''d imagined.


    Good grief. She had just asked Shanley to show his face at school, not to cause a massive scene. How was she supposed to show her own face here ever again?


    "Juniper, you have to see this!"


    Hattie grabbed her hand, her voice filled with excitement. "You


    remember Shahley Schwartz, right?” It turns out his girlfriend goes to our school!"


    "Come on, let''s go check it out, or we''ll miss everything!"


    "We won''t miss it," Juniper said nonchntly, letting Hattie pull her along. "When his


    girlfriend appears is up to me."


    "Huh?" Hattie stopped in her tracks, staring at her in shock. "You know his girlfriend?"


    Juniper replied, "Very well."