As they walked away, Ariana Thorne could no longer bear the pain in her heart and collapsed behind the door, retreating entirely into her safe corner.
For the first time, Shea Thorne completely lost touch with Ariana Thorne inside her, but she knew she hadn't disappeared, just temporarily went dormant.
Like someone exhausted, slipping into a deep sleep, but bound to wake up eventually.
With a bit of strength returning, Shea Thorne stood up, picked up the car keys Milo Sinclair left on the desk, and headed solo towards Milo Sinclair's car, carrying a violin.
It's daytime, and if she walks with Milo Sinclair, she'd surely be seen, triggering National Medical University students to indiscriminately attack, calling F University toads lusting after swan?
After all, even with Miles Crawford, they still say she's reaching too high; she has already experienced the intensity of their prejudice firsthand.
Sitting in Milo Sinclair's car, Shea Thorne calmed her emotions a bit, picked up her phone, noticing Miles Crawford's contact empty, revealing to him that Ariana Thorne's life or death matters less than his dear senior sister enjoying some Japanese cuisine.
Unexpectedly, despite despising Ariana Thorne's sycophant nature, he turns out to be someone else's sycophant.
Seeing this, she believes Miles Crawford capable of having an affair with the surrogate in the first life, ultimately driving Ariana Thorne insane; in the second life, with Ariana Thorne freshly deceased, not even cold yet but already married to Zoe Wymond swiftly, such ruthless behavior.
But wasn't Zoe Wymond interested in Milo Sinclair? How did she end up with Miles Crawford in the second life?
Considering that they got married after Ariana Thorne's death, at the age of nearing thirty-five; by then why abandon Milo Sinclair?
Could it be that Milo Sinclair married at that time, leaving Zoe Wymond heartbroken, turning her back to be with Miles Crawford, the sycophant and reserve option?
But with that reasoning, Milo Sinclair would've already celebrated his fortieth birthday by then, how could he be unwanted at forty? That defies logic of species.
It's also possible Zoe Wymond wanted to be Milo Sinclair's paramour, but Milo Sinclair refused; however, this speculation seems less convincing than assuming Milo Sinclair is gay.
Nevertheless, these are not Shea Thorne's concerns now; she keeps Miles Crawford's WeChat number saved, to prevent Ariana Thorne from waking up shamelessly begging him to add again, which would be humiliating.
She sent Milo Sinclair a text: "I'm waiting for you in your car."
Milo Sinclair didn't reply, likely still in class without checking his phone.
Shea Thorne wasn't in a hurry; she lowered the passenger seat and lay down, put on earphones to continue listening to music, and recalled that near-kiss with Milo Sinclair earlier.
At that moment, "Aria" echoed in their ears as they gazed at each other, the atmosphere perfect for a kiss.
Unfortunately... it didn't happen.
No matter, with Milo Sinclair's current attentiveness, perhaps it might happen later?
Now Ariana Thorne temporarily "dormant," she likely won't jump out at the critical moment to sabotage her.
Moreover, the most crucial task now is to figure out what Miles Crawford's family is plotting; in the past two lives, Shea Thorne firmly believed Mrs. Crawford was a good mother-in-law, but from Shea Thorne's perspective, Mrs. Crawford is undoubtedly not the nice role; otherwise she wouldn't have eagerly facilitated her son's match with another daughter-in-law right after two lives of Ariana Thorne's death.
Especially in the first life, even as Ariana Thorne went mad, "good mother-in-law" didn't even glance.
Suddenly recalling Miles Crawford mentioned treating Zoe Wymond to Japanese cuisine; ha, the cheapest Japanese meal starts at two hundred, so Mrs. Crawford surely doesn't only provide a thousand for Miles Crawford.
And Miles Crawford now has a car, not mentioning his spending isn't frugal; an ordinary family would feel tense after buying a car, let alone Mrs. Crawford's lack of income and Miles Crawford having thin earnings only after entering the second year of internship.
A thousand wouldn't buy even a mid-range coat in Kingscrest; if Mrs. Crawford didn't buy those clothes for her, she'd be freezing in winter.
For Ariana Thorne, this amount barely covers the basics of eating in Kingscrest, not enough for the simplest knickknacks, not to mention skincare basics; Mrs. Crawford is stifling Ariana Thorne's chance to become beautiful.
As long as Ariana Thorne doesn't receive new proposals, or other men's favor, she will surely look up to Miles Crawford in self-abasement.
Truly a clever maneuver, binding Shea Thorne to rely unconditionally on their family, thus secretly scheming for Mr. Thorne's money.
Miles Crawford is essentially a social climber; calling him a 'The Social Climber' flatters him.
...
Milo Sinclair, post-class, got surrounded by a group of students, accompanied by Jonah Bell gathering his materials, realizing Milo Sinclair remains encircled, he helped him pack as well.
As the questions gradually turned gossipy, Milo Sinclair promptly interrupted: "Dear students, I'll evaluate your questions, if you plan to inquire about personal matters, then your term paper instantly doubles from two thousand to four thousand words, otherwise you will fail this subject!"
With someone awaiting him in the office, Milo Sinclair had no desire to tangle with the circling female students, swiftly using paper doubling to deter certain girls.
Jonah Bell beside him remained unfazed, every freshman season, his mentor's class exploded for a while, and the term papers collected filtered out a large batch of female students, those attending just for "a glimpse of beauty," if undervaluing the paper risks a complete fail.
National Medical University's regulations state once you fail a single course during undergraduate studies, you become ineligible as an exemplary graduate, unable to obtain a school recommendation.
His mentor's moniker "The Living Devil" originated from that, regardless of how pretty or coquettish a female student, he'd fail them if necessary, hence his renomé surging annually.
Despite his mentor's well-known single status, his face attracting waves of admirers, seems this year's medical school's brutal arena is kicking off again.
A popular saying at school: "White moonlight illuminates your beauty; Milo Sinclair makes your eyes go dark."
Even after filtering out some students, those seriously questioning Milo Sinclair remained plenty, receiving patiently explanations from him.
As they left, already one o'clock in the afternoon, Milo Sinclair picked up his phone to dial Shea Thorne, but noticed her message indicating she's waiting in his car.
A clever girl, knowing where to wait for him.
Seeing she's in the parking lot, Milo Sinclair opted against returning to Jenson Hall, handing his laptop to Jonah Bell instructing: "Please take this back to the office, I'm occupied this afternoon won't return; instruct them to self-review this morning's reports."
Milo Sinclair not returning implies a thorough inspection upon next visit, Jonah Bell accepted the laptop and agreed: "Got it, Master, I'll coordinate accordingly."
Prepared to inform classmates at Jenson Hall that everyone's in for trouble tomorrow morning, urging stronger academic efforts.
"Jonah Bell, at your age, what do kids usually like?" Milo Sinclair suddenly inquired.
Jonah Bell hesitated, realizing he referred to girls his age, responded: "Well… nowadays girlfriends' moods shift unpredictably, my girlfriend particularly enjoys buying eyeshadow cosmetics, red and green ones she never even uses, just claims she likes taking them home to admire."
Which seemed odd enough to him, buying is understandable, but buying just to admire is beyond him.
"Food-wise?"
"Probably milk tea varieties, disregarding flavors; regardless of sweet-tartness, they love munchables." Jonah Bell recalled: "Anyway, my girlfriend eats everything except properly dining."
Each time coaxed well to finally indulge half a bowl, yet possessing bottomless capacity for snacks.
Milo Sinclair realized he may need some exploration.
"Thanks."
Jonah Bell belatedly perceived, is Master wooing a girl? Could it mean National Medical University's icon concluding bachelorhood? A major event indeed!
But since Master hasn't disclosed, he must hold back and resist discussing.
On one hand, respecting privacy, he shuns gossip; on the other, their mentor's proximity to Wymond Sister, and once informed she'd cause havoc if there's potential they might have a Mentor's wife, wreaking havoc?!
Should she obstruct to ruin Master's plans, a consequential loss.
For their future peace, unless Master openly divulges romance, he'd rather die than speak!