Free Web NovelChapter 23: Chapter 22
To cater to the tastes of students from all over, the university cafeterias offered a wide variety of dishes, including regional specialties and snacks.
There were three cafeterias in total. Joanna Kennedy and Anna Yates went to the closest one.
The omurice was average, but the portions were huge, and the dining area was clean and hygienic. It was crowded at lunchtime, so the two of them had a hard time finding two empty seats in a corner.
The table had four seats, two of which were already taken. When Joanna saw who was sitting there, she wanted to scream at the sky.
’Does it have to be this much of a coincidence? Running into them even here!’
The two people were none other than Simon Lockwood and Serena Sutton. freewёbnoνel.com
Joanna was in no mood to go over and act. Just as she was about to look for other seats, Anna spotted them too.
"Why are those two..."
’It’s over. I can’t avoid this. Time to get back into character,’ Joanna thought.
By the time Anna turned to look at her with concern, Joanna had already composed her expression.
She was fuming, her eyes wide, with a look on her face that could kill.
Anna tried to comfort her. "Jo, don’t be angry. They’re just eating together, it’s nothing. Hey, Jo, slow down, wait for me..."
Joanna wasn’t listening. She was currently agonizing over this sudden, unscripted scene.
’What should I say when I get over there? Scold Serena Sutton? Accuse Simon Lockwood?’
’Round and round it goes. I’m sick of it myself. The lines for the vicious supporting female character are so one-dimensional.’
When she reached their table, the first thing she did was slam her tray down, making a loud noise. As expected, she saw Serena Sutton jump in fright, instantly turning into a delicate, wilting flower.
’Then Simon Lockwood will frown and defend Serena Sutton...’
’Huh? What’s with that look on Simon’s face...’
Simon’s helpless glance left Joanna so stunned that the lines she had prepared got stuck in her throat.
The two of them stared at each other blankly, a strange atmosphere forming a bubble around them.
Serena Sutton’s heart tightened, and she quickly spoke up, "Joanna, are you here to eat too? There are still seats, come and sit down."
Her considerate and gentle words broke the strange atmosphere.
Joanna’s eyes flickered. She looked at Serena Sutton, frowning as she raised her gaze. "I’m not blind. Of course I see there are seats. Do you think I need you to point that out?"
Serena Sutton’s expression turned awkward.
Anna Yates tugged at Joanna, winking and nudging her, signaling her not to be so arrogant and domineering in front of Simon Lockwood.
’No one likes a girl who’s spoiled and bossy.’
Joanna sat down reluctantly.
Simon Lockwood slowly pulled his gaze away from her pretty little face, seemingly unaware that he was the cause of the situation. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The meal was incredibly awkward. Throughout it, Joanna would occasionally throw a couple of sarcastic remarks at Serena Sutton. Even the most thick-skinned person wouldn’t be able to stand it, let alone a female lead with such strong self-esteem.
Serena Sutton made a random excuse about having something to do and left in a hurry, her eyes red. With her head down, she rushed away in a fluster and accidentally bumped into someone walking toward her.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry..."
The girl’s tearful apology made Charles Jennings’s heart clench. He steadied Serena Sutton by the shoulders and had her look up, revealing a delicate, tear-streaked face. "What happened here..."
Charles clumsily wiped her tears away. When Serena Sutton saw it was him, she cried even harder, choking out in a pitiful voice, "It’s... it’s nothing..."
"Nothing? Crying like this over nothing? Serena, do you take me for a fool...?"
"No, that’s not it," Serena Sutton explained hastily. She seemed to glance nonchalantly in a certain direction, then bit her lip. "It’s really nothing."
Charles Jennings followed her gaze and saw Joanna Kennedy with her head tilted up, her pretty, expressive face engaged in conversation with a boy.
It was obvious what had happened.
He had applied to be a chaperone for the university tour specifically to look after Serena. He never expected that she would be bullied right under his nose.
Including the first time Joanna went to Serena’s house, this was already the third time.
Charles Jennings’s face darkened, a plan already forming in his mind.
Meanwhile, Joanna and Simon Lockwood had left the restaurant.
Anna Yates, being the best friend of the year, tactfully left first, not wanting to be a third wheel, leaving the two of them alone.
The image of Simon’s earlier gaze flashed through Joanna’s mind again, making her feel inexplicably uncomfortable. "I’m going to the restroom."
There happened to be a restroom nearby, and Joanna walked over quickly.
The water was a bit cool against her skin at this time of year. Joanna splashed a handful onto her face, keeping her head down and letting the droplets fall, her eyes staring unfocused at the faucet.
’"Joanna Kennedy" likes Simon Lockwood, but I don’t. So why am I so flustered by one inappropriate look from him?’
’He barely made a move, and I’m already having a total meltdown. That makes no sense.’
Having figured it out, she straightened her clothes and went out. When she saw the tall, slender figure waiting in the distance, she only paused for a second.
She walked over with a smile, tilting her face up haughtily. "I thought you would have left..."
"Why would I leave?" Simon Lockwood looked down at her.
Joanna huffed twice and fell silent.
But Simon didn’t let the topic drop. He repeated, "Why would you think I was going to leave?"
"Isn’t that how you always treat me..." Joanna’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, a hint of grievance she couldn’t hide. "You’re always impatient with me, you don’t like me, you don’t treat me like your girlfriend."
’Not treating her like his girlfriend... she’s surprisingly self-aware.’
Simon thought of the calls that didn’t go through, the fact that she called Anna Yates back first, and that perfunctory text message. A nameless fire ignited in his heart.
Under Joanna’s adoring gaze, his face suddenly turned cold. "You’re the same."
"Huh? What?" Confusion clouded Joanna’s watery eyes.
’The same about what?’
But Simon went silent again.
’This tight-lipped jerk. Would it kill him to say a few more words?’ Joanna was rolling her eyes so hard internally they could’ve been counting money.
’Look at him. He looked so flustered when he first saw me, and now he’s back to his scowling face. I guess I was too nice to him.’
Joanna pretended to have just remembered something and said in an accusatory tone, "Why were you meeting with Serena Sutton again? I’ve already told you I don’t like seeing you with her."
"You’re my boyfriend. You should stay away from other girls," Joanna said, looking extremely possessive.
"Now you remember..." Simon muttered for no apparent reason.
Joanna didn’t hear him clearly. "What?"
Simon glanced down at her, then looked away. "We didn’t meet up. She had something to ask me."
"What was it?" Joanna immediately asked.
Simon was silent for a moment. His gaze shifted to her face, and after enjoying her tense and anxious expression for a while, he said unhurriedly, "She asked me which university I’m planning to apply to."
Anyone with a normal level of intelligence could guess why she would ask that question.
Serena Sutton wanted to go to the same university as Simon Lockwood.
Joanna said resentfully, "There’s no way she could get in."
"Joanna, don’t always judge other people," Simon said with a frown.
Simon felt that what other people were like or where they wanted to apply had nothing to do with him. He didn’t like his own affairs getting tangled up with others.
And he especially disliked how Joanna always brought irrelevant people into the space between them.
In his heart, no matter where his relationship with Joanna was headed, it was just between the two of them. It had nothing to do with anyone else.
