Lucas looked at the two of them—clearly on the same side—and gritted his teeth in frustration.
Still unwilling to give up, he muttered, "I was just curious! You said her name is Riley, and I happen to know someone with the same name. I just wanted to check. Who knew she'd be this violent?"
Adrian frowned. "She's not the one you know. And don't call her a fool."
Lucas was indignant. Weren't you the one calling her that first?
He grumbled all the way out, clutching his injured shoulder.
Once he was gone, Adrian turned his attention back to Riley.
"That wrench," he said lightly. "Was it meant for me?"
There was a faint smile on his lips—but something about it made her uneasy.
Riley tilted her head. "Don't know. For bad people."
"Nice try," he said calmly. "I'm keeping it."
Before she could react, he took the wrench from her hand.
Riley's eyes widened in disbelief as he wheeled himself away, clearly satisfied.
The next morning—
Mr Yeardley personally drove Riley to school.
The moment she got out of the car, she saw Felicia waiting at the gate.
"Riley! What exactly did you put in those bags yesterday? You said they were diamonds!"
She had carried them home excitedly, opened them with her mother—
Only to find two bags full of useless stones.
She had been furious.
Riley switched her bunny to the other arm. "They are stones."
Felicia choked.
Then suddenly remembered Riley mentioned about glowing stones.
"Then why did you say they glowed?"
If not for that, Felicia wouldn't have misunderstood.
"That's what the book said," Riley replied earnestly. "Pebbles in the backyard glow."
Felicia shot her a furious glare and stormed off.
Today was the second day of enrollment.
According to Imperial University's traditions, all new students had to take placement exams.
In just two days, students had to sit through English, maths, foreign languages, physics, chemistry, and more.
Felicia was fully prepared.
Her high school grades had always been near the top of her class. Combined with the "extra materials" her mother had given her, she was confident.
Once inside the lecture hall, both of them took their seats.
Felicia glanced at Riley, who was still hugging that oversized bunny, and sneered.
Once the results are out, everyone will see what she really is.
A fool who got in through connections will only be laughed at.
And me?
I'll use this exam to prove myself—and officially become an Imperial University student.
The instructor entered and handed out the papers.
Felicia immediately bent over her exam, writing furiously.
Riley lifted her paper, glanced through it—
Then picked up her pen.
And started writing.
From the seat diagonally behind her, Felicia caught the movement and smirked.
A fool pretending to take an exam?
As if she knows how to answer anything.
She snorted softly and focused back on her own work.
The questions weren't difficult.
Riley finished quickly.
Half an hour in, she was already done.
She wanted to submit but school rules required students to stay for at least forty-five minutes.
She glanced at the clock on the wall.
Twelve minutes left.
She exhaled, leaned back, and idly spun her pen between her fingers.
Her mind drifted.
How should I treat Adrian without exposing myself?
She thought about it for a while—
Then gave up.
No good ideas.
She checked the time again.
Forty-five minutes.
Finally.
Riley stood up.
The first in the room to hand in her paper.
And leave.