Chapter 4

The day before heading off to college, Lexie arranged to go shopping with her friend Erika Brooks.

Erika had heard about the public confession Lexie received from a younger student during the senior year opening ceremony, and now that Lexie was right next to her, she couldn't resist gossiping.

"Lexie, how does it feel to be confessed to in front of the whole school by an underclassman?"

Lexie playfully pushed her, then said, "Stop it! It was all Kaelyn's doing. How do you think I feel?"

"Your cousin again? What does she have against you, always causing trouble?"

Lexie sighed and said, "How would I know?"

She took a big sip of her cola through the straw, but when she looked up, she saw a familiar face, which made her choke and turn beet red, coughing like crazy.

Erika quickly handed her a tissue, noticing that she was coughing severely. "What's wrong with you? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Lexie wanted to hide, but it was too late. Simon, standing not far behind Erika, had already spotted her. He tilted his head and said something to the person next to him, then walked over with long strides, looking down at her with a cheerful smile. "What a coincidence, Lexie."

It truly was a coincidence. In a city as big as Crestwood, with so many shops, they just happened to run into each other at McDonald's.

Lexie, having recovered, glared at him, but his smile left her flustered, her face, which had been red from coughing, now flushed even deeper.

Lexie was quite frustrated. She had thought the so-called confession at the opening ceremony was just a ploy by Kaelyn to embarrass her, and that Simon would pretend not to know her after his "mission" was accomplished. Who would have thought that not long after, they would meet again, and Simon would act as if they were already well-acquainted?

Damn! Couldn't you just stick to the script?

"Lexie, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Erika looked at Simon, who was tall, fair-skinned, and handsome, then at Lexie, whose face was so red it seemed like a light touch would make it bleed. The gossip fire in her eyes burned even brighter.

Simon's gaze was too direct, and Lexie wished there was a hole she could crawl into to hide. She had no mood for introductions, but Simon, familiar as ever, pulled out a chair and sat down, introducing himself to Erika with ease. "Hello, I'm Simon."

"Ah... I've heard so much about you!" The gossip fire was now a blaze, and Erika even shook hands with him, leaving Lexie speechless.

This brat dared to show up so boldly after offending her. Did he think she was that forgiving?

Lexie felt it was necessary to teach him a lesson, so she cleared her throat and said, "Simon, right?"

Simon turned his gaze to her, smiling in a way that was slightly annoying. "Yes. I'm glad you remembered my name. How can I help you?"

Lexie gritted her teeth and said, "No, but I do have a piece of advice. For your own good, steer clear of Kaelyn." After that, she stood up, ready to leave.

"Thank you for the advice, Lexie. I'll remember it." Simon didn't stop her from leaving, but as she passed by him, he gently reminded her, "And please don't forget our one-year agreement."

Lexie paused, and Erika, in a tone that seemed to enjoy stirring the pot, said to Simon, "Good luck, Simon. I'm rooting for you!"

"I won't disappoint, Erika."

Lexie was so angry she stomped her foot, but it wasn't appropriate to lose her temper in public. She had no choice but to drag Erika away in a hasty retreat, with Simon's hearty laughter echoing behind them.