Chapter 243

Chapter 243

"Ugh, we just started school, enough of that talk. I heard there are tons of great food around the university district. I'm so used to fancy meals all the time — I really want to try some street food. Everyone says it's amazing."

"That's true."

It was right around dinnertime anyway, so Beatrice and I headed straight to the food street in the university district. Before long, our hands were full of bags packed with snacks.

We found a spot and sat down.

It was cloudy that day, so the weather wasn't too hot.

"Wow, this burrito is so good — it's my first time trying one." Beatrice was eating with pure joy, her eyes literally lighting up.

I was enjoying mine too. "It's really good."

"This is way better than fancy restaurant food. I've always wanted to try street food, but my parents never let me."

"Well, now you can eat as much as you want."

Corn dogs, pizza slices, potato balls, burritos…

Beatrice and I tried just about everything and left completely satisfied.

At some point, I spotted a familiar figure walking toward me. It was Eleanor.

She was dressed simply, clearly cheap clothes. There were at least a dozen universities in this area, so it looked like she'd managed to enroll after all.

As she walked up to me, she blurted straight out: “Charlotte, are you happy now? Every cent for my tuition and train fare was borrowed money!”

"Good for you — at least someone was willing to lend you money," I said, taking another bite of my skewer.

Seeing how unbothered I was, Eleanor clenched her fists in fury. "Aiden got over twenty years, and Victoria got life in prison. Are you satisfied now?"

"Not really. Death penalty would've been better," I said without missing a beat.

Eleanor looked like she was about to lose her balance. Her lips trembled, and her face cycled between pale and green.

Beatrice knew exactly what Eleanor had done, so she waved her off without any patience. "Get lost. Don't ruin our meal. The moment you showed up, all this food started tasting like nothing."

"Mind your own business!" Eleanor snapped. It was obvious she had no idea who Beatrice was.

"Oh, it is my business. Ever heard of Montague Group? That's my family's company. I've been wanting to deal with you for a long time. If Charlotte hadn't already handled things, I would've made your life very unpleasant." Beatrice swung her fist like she was about to throw a punch, and Eleanor stumbled backward in a panic.

"Charlotte, don't think this is over! I won't let this go!" With that, Eleanor turned and scurried away.

"Her whole scandal was all over the internet. It's been two months, and entertainment accounts are still posting about it. And she still has the nerve to show up at school? That takes some serious shamelessness."

I took a sip of my juice, completely unbothered. "Her parents are in prison, she's in debt, and she has a criminal record. Even with a degree, she's never landing a decent job."

"Exactly. She's got a record, and she thinks education is going to turn her life around?" Beatrice burst out laughing. "That's honestly hilarious."

After we'd eaten our fill, we took a walk around to digest before heading back to the dorm.

Physical training was starting tomorrow and lasting a whole week, so everyone was already complaining that night.

"Ugh, I really don't want to do this. I'm going to ask my dad to get me out of it," Beatrice muttered.

I didn't really care either way. Physical training was nothing for me — if anything, it was a good chance to stretch and get some exercise.

Alice and Violet were both easygoing types. They didn't mind either — whatever the school arranged, they'd just go along with it.

We'd already picked up our training uniforms. Beatrice tried hers on and immediately went digging for sunscreen.

"These are short sleeves. Tomorrow I'm slathering sunscreen all over my arms and neck. One week in the sun and I'll be roasted."

"Same," I said, rummaging through my stuff.

"I've got plenty." Beatrice dug through her bag and tossed me a brand-new bottle, then handed one each to the other two.

When Violet saw the brand, she gasped. "I know this brand. It's really expensive — over a thousand dollars a bottle."

"It works so well, though. I use it every day in summer. Even if you're out in the blazing sun all day, you won't tan at all." Beatrice grinned, enthusiastically selling it.

Alice quietly placed her bottle back on Beatrice's desk.

"It's too expensive. I can't accept this."

"Come on, just keep it. I'm not asking for money, and I've got a ton of it stocked up." Beatrice pushed it back into her hands.

Alice had no choice but to keep it.

---

The sun was brutal. Even the breeze felt hot. The field was packed with rows of students, and even with hats on, everyone was getting scorched.

"Everyone, stand at attention! Hold the position for fifteen minutes — nobody moves!" Instructor Martin Collins barked.

Everyone snapped upright, backs straight as a board.

Sweat trickled from my temple into my eye, stinging so bad I could barely keep it open — but I didn't reach up to wipe it.

This was nothing to me.

A lot of students were already struggling, their bodies swaying.

When you're having fun, fifteen minutes fly by. But standing at attention, every single second feels endless.

One by one, people started breaking. Martin Collins had no choice but to let everyone rest for a bit.

Beatrice groaned. "It's so hot."

"I know. Just push through."

"I can't. I've never had to deal with anything like this." She kept muttering.

"Don't go pulling the princess act now. You really want to go crawling back to your dad this fast?"

That shut her up. "Fine. You win," she grumbled, and kept going.

Just then, a voice came from nearby. "You're Charlotte, right?"

I looked up. A girl with reddish-brown hair and doll-like features was staring down at me.

I nodded. "Yeah. What do you want?"

"I heard you're a black belt in taekwondo. I've been training since I was little, too. I want to spar with you."

Beatrice and a few others nearby looked confused. I kept my expression flat. "Do I know you?"

"You don't know me, but I know you."

"Sorry, even if you know me, I'm not interested in sparring."

The girl crossed her arms. "What? Are you scared?"

"That kind of thing doesn't work on me."

"I'm challenging you. Three years ago at the International Taekwondo Championship, I watched you compete. You took first place. I got second. I lost to you that day. Now that we're at the same school, you won't even give me a rematch?" Her voice was sharp and arrogant, with a clear edge of resentment underneath.

I had zero interest, and honestly, no memory of her at all. I'd been in too many competitions to remember every face.

"No."

"Are you going to spar with me or not?!" She grabbed my shirt.

I looked down at her hand on my collar. My expression went cold. Something shifted in the air around me.

"Let go."

"I'm not letting go. Who do you think you are? You won one championship — big deal!"

Students nearby were turning to look. Murmurs spread through the crowd. The mood got tense.

Beatrice stood up and grabbed the girl by the collar. "What is wrong with you?"