Seeing so, Hailey and Lena followed Mashauva with knowing smiles, keeping a distance from her as she went after him.

"Hey, hold up."

Mashauva chased after the handsome young man with glasses, calling out while trotting.

The young man stopped and turned around.

"Hey."

As she was hasty, Mashauva almost fell when she got to him. Seeing so, he stretched out his hand, wanting to catch her, but withdrew it when she was able to save herself. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Mashauva nodded, quickly taking money out from her purse and handing it to him as she said, "This is for paying our bill. Please take it."

She handed him a hundred-dollar bill as she didn't have anything smaller.

Looking at the bill, the young man smiled, pushing his glasses up as he said, "Your meals don't cost that much."

Mashauva blushed, hearing that, and said, "I know, but I don't have anything smaller. Just take it."

With that, she shoved the bill to him, but he reached out to block it, leading Mashauva to touch his palm.

Compared to his, her hands were cold to the touch. Growing up, she never had physical contact with boys other than Bruno, Freddy, and the Hanover twins.

Hence she reflexively withdrew her hands as soon as she made contact, somewhat flustered.

"S-Sorry."

Blushing as she apologized, the hundred-dollar bill in her hand fell to the ground.

Eyes slightly downcast, he smiled, noticing the girl's flustered red face, then he bent down to help her pick up the money.

"C'mon, I'm not a monster. I won't eat you; no need to be so nervous."

Hearing that, Mashauva felt even more embarrassed and stammered as she spoke.

Coincidentally, Hailey and Lena, who had been watching by the side, quickly came up. "No, no, Masha's not afraid of you, just that she barely talks to guys, so she's kinda shy."

"Right, Mashauva?"

The handsome young man looked at the three of them and said with a smile, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Roger Zimmer, a senior." "Wow, so you're our senior..."

"Hello, Roger. We're juniors. I'm Hailey Yarbrough, she's Lena Zais, and she's Mashauva Taylor."

Mashauva Taylor?

Roger looked at the girl's flushed face and complimented, "Your name sure is as lovely as yourself, Mashauva. If you can't eat spicy food, better not force yourself; it won't do your stomach good. "Mmm," Mashauva could only nod.

"Also," Roger said, returning the bill to her, "No need to give me the money. We're schoolmates, and you're my juniors, so there's nothing wrong with me treating you all to a meal."

"No, this won't do," Mashauva wanted to refuse, but Lena took the money back, saying with a smile, "Of course, thank you. Let us buy you a meal next time."

"Sure, if there's a next time. I still have classes. I have to go now."

"Okay, bye, Roger."

After Roger left, Lena and Hailey swung Mashauva's arms and said, "Wow, this has never happened before. This is the first time someone came up to you after- you've been in this school for, long. Honestly, I don't get it, you're beautiful and come from such a prominent family. Why did it take so long for someone to hit on you?" "It's not that she doesn't have any," Hailey folded her arms. "But they don't dare to approach her. The Taylor Group is one of the three

North City. So even if they want to, they don't have the guts to

biggest, powerful companies in net

"We finally have a bold one now. But from what see, he doesn't seem to be intentionally pursuing you. Look how chivalrous he was; he didn't even ask for your number. It's as if it's just a coincidence he paid for our meals. Smooth."

Hailey suddenly smirked, "Do you fancy him, Mashauva?"

Mashauva shook her head, "Stop that bull. We probably won't ever meet again."

Besides, she already had someone she liked, even though everyone thought she felt so for Bruno because she had barely interacted with other boys.

"That will depend on if he has that kind of intention. C'mon, let's head back. Mashauva, if things don't work out with Bruno, maybe you should try dating Roger if he pursues you."

"Try?" "Yeah, have a go with him. He's quite good-looking and neat, the gentle and caring type. I bet he'll pamper you to no end if you date him."

Mashauva couldn't help but think of Bruno. Though he looked cold on the outside, fierce, and he always pursed his lips into a grumpy line, perpetually frowned his brows, didn't talk much. But he also pampered her to no end.

"That's right. Don't replace a guy as stubborn as a rock who wouldn't care for you. You should replace someone like Roger."

"But looks alone don't mean everything, no?" Mashauva mumbled, "After all, it's just skin deep."

"You're thinking of Bruno, aren't you? We're not talking about him; we're talking about stubborn men. He's not one of them."

"Hmm?"

"I'd say he's an iceberg, but ice can melt. Stones will always be stones, always hard and cold."

Could an iceberg melt?

Why did she think it would be a challenge? It was no feat to melt an ice cube, but an iceberg? Forget it. She should stop thinking about it.

As they headed back to school, they bumped into Freddy, who came to look for Mashauva.

All of them spotted him standing by the school gates, and Lena and Hailey grabbed Mashauva's arms, both left and right.

They couldn't help teasing, "I noticed Freddy cares a lot about you. If you don't want to be with Roger, maybe you should give him a chance too."

Their words got Mashauva baffled.

What on earth were they on about?

She could only give them a perfunctory reply.

"I don't want to think about these now; it can all wait until I go to university."

"University? But you're already an adult."

So what if she was? She was still a child to some people. Let's see if they'd think she was still one after she went to university.

With that thought in mind, she balled her hands into fists.

"Anyway, my relationship with Freddy is platonic. I don't care if you guys say all this nonsense in front of me, but don't do that with him; save us the awkwardness." Since Mashauva said so, the two girls could only comply.

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