Chapter 241 Do You Still Want to Be a Mathematician or What?
Caroline found an empty four-person table by the window. The moment she sat down, a girl she was friendly with came over with her tray and dropped into the seat across from her with a grin.
"Caroline! Why are you—"
She stopped mid-sentence when she spotted Alexander hovering by the table with his tray, looking lost. A teasing smile spread across her face.
She snatched up her tray and sprang to her feet.
"Oh! I just saw Mary and the others over there! I'll go join them! You two enjoy!"
She shot Caroline a quick wink, then darted off to the far end of the cafeteria before Caroline could protest, disappearing into a cluster of chattering girls.
"Sophie! Wait—" Caroline reached out but caught only air. She could only sigh.
Seizing his chance, Alexander quickly slid into the seat across from her.
Caroline set down her fork and looked helplessly at her uninvited companion.
"Alexander, I already told you we shouldn't be spending time alone together."
But Alexander acted as though he hadn't heard her rejection at all.
"Even if you can't accept my feelings right now, can't we at least be friends?"
"Just... like regular friends. I won't bother you, I promise. Just talking sometimes, having lunch together—like right now. Is that really so terrible?"
Caroline froze.
Looking at the careful hope in his eyes, the rejection sat ready on her tongue, but suddenly she couldn't force it out.
After a long pause, Caroline let out a heavy sigh and picked up her fork again.
Alexander's face finally relaxed into a relieved smile. He picked up his own fork and dug in enthusiastically.
For the rest of the afternoon, Caroline felt like she couldn't catch a break.
In the hallways between classes, at the sports field, even when she walked out of the restroom—she would always "accidentally" run into Alexander.
This time, Caroline nearly collided with him head-on.
Her face flushed instantly, and she stepped back.
"Why are you here again..."
Alexander looked embarrassed and instinctively backed up as well, stammering, "I... I just... happened to be passing by..."
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "No boy just happens to pass by the girls' restroom at the very end of this hallway, Alexander. This is a whole field away from the boys' wing."
Alexander's face went completely red.
He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I... okay, fine. I wasn't just passing by. I noticed you seemed uncomfortable all afternoon—holding your stomach, looking pale. I was worried you might be... on your period? Do you need me to get you some... pads? Or something else..."
Caroline's cheeks blazed scarlet. Mortified and furious, she clapped her hand over Alexander's still-rambling mouth.
"You... stop talking!"
The warm, soft press of Alexander's lips against her palm—such intimate contact—made them both freeze.
Alexander's mind went blank, every sense narrowing to that delicate, slightly cool sensation against his mouth.
The students watching in the hallway immediately erupted into teasing cheers.
Caroline snapped back to reality and jerked her hand away, the flush spreading from her face down her neck.
Looking at the still-dazed Alexander, she stamped her foot in embarrassment.
"You... you're shameless!"
With that, she turned and fled.
Alexander remained frozen in place, taking several seconds to finally come to his senses.
He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips brushing his own lips.
The delicate touch of her palm still seemed to linger there.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
She'd scolded him, yes—but she'd blushed!
Alexander's heart trembled with excitement, sweetness flooding his chest.
He laughed softly, whistled cheerfully, and strode forward.
Alexander was distracted through the afternoon classes.
The moment the dismissal bell rang, he was the first one out the door.
But he never saw that familiar figure.
He quickly grabbed a girl who'd just emerged from the classroom. "Hey, have you seen Caroline?"
The girl smiled knowingly and pointed toward the office at the end of the hall. "She got called to the math office by Mr. Murphy right after school—something about today's quiz."
Alexander thanked her and immediately turned, jogging toward the faculty offices.
Just as he reached the math office door, he heard Roy Murphy's sharp voice from inside.
"Ms. Neville, I hope you understand that the knowledge and methods the school teaches have been tested and proven to be the most efficient approach! Your solution took such a roundabout route. Yes, the answer was correct, but the process was tedious and redundant—you didn't use the standard method I taught in class at all! This is a waste of time. Are you trying to show off?"
Alexander's chest tightened.
He lightened his steps and moved closer to the door.
Caroline's patient voice filtered through. "Mr. Murphy, I wasn't trying to show off. The method I used, while not the standard classroom solution, is another logically sound approach. In fact, it's closer to how this problem would be handled in higher-level mathematics..."
Roy seemed irritated by the phrase "higher-level mathematics" and cut her off sharply.
"I'm the teacher! You're the student! Students follow their teacher's instruction and master the methods I teach! How old are you? And you want to play these games?"
"Mr. Murphy, I'm not—"
"Enough!" Roy was clearly angry now.
"I heard you were trying to imitate some reasoning approach from a recent paper by an international mathematician? Ms. Neville, aren't you reaching a bit high? You're just a high school student! Your job is to build a solid foundation and pass exams, not dabble in things only professional mathematicians need to worry about! Those things are way over your head!"
Through the glass, Alexander saw Caroline press her lips together tightly.
She probably still wanted to explain, thinking of how to argue back.
But then Roy adjusted his glasses, his gaze dripping with condescension.
"I know the Neville family is prestigious, and you pride yourself on your noble birth and high ambitions—that's fine. But people need to know their place! Girls from families like yours—don't they all end up in arranged marriages anyway? Consolidating status, securing benefits for the family? What's the point of learning all that advanced mathematics you'll never use? Do you really think you're going to become a mathematician?"