*


    Mark answered decisively, "Sure, go ahead with your experiment."


    Jessica skipped toward theb but turned back for a lighthearted reminder, "Bro, don''t get so caught up in your dates that you forget my meal." Mark couldn''t help butugh, "I won''t."


    Only after their exchange ended did Shirley nce at her watch. "Let''s just eat at the campus café. That way, you can easily pick up something for her."Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    "Are you upset?"


    "No, I''ve got stuff to doter anyway."


    "Alright then."


    The two headed to the campus café, and Shirley barely spoke throughout the meal. Noticing Mark was busy replying to messages and chuckling at his phone, she put down her fork and knife. "Who are you texting?"


    "Jessie. She managed to blow up a ss jar in theb. The mentor is going to have a field day. It''s the first time I''ve seen someone actually blow up a jar. Kind of goofy, really."


    Shirley forced a smile, suddenly finding herself unable to eat. She pulled out her phone and saw a message from Abner, frowning slightly.


    No thanks needed, and remember no phones during ss.


    There was no reply; ss was probably in session. Feeling a mix of difort and uncertainty about whom to share it with-especially since senior year was so hectic for everyone-she sat opposite Mark, watching himugh at his phone, feeling as though she was suffocating. She knew making a scene would only lead to her father threatening to send Abner away again.


    Overwhelmed by a sense of fatigue, she took a sip of water. "I''m going to head out. You go back to your experiment."


    "Okay, I''ll grab a bite for Jessie. My birthday is in a couple of weeks. I''ll be throwing a small party and you shoulde early."


    Shirley nodded, watching his retreating figure, feeling as though they were drifting apart. Perhaps Mark hadn''t noticed, but she was painfully aware.


    Time flew by, and within those two weeks, Shirley was swamped with work. She had bought Abner lots of clothes, filling his closet to the brim. Abner was diligent,ing homete every night, fullymitted to his studies. Such a well-behaved kid, Shirley couldn''t bear the thought of sending him away, increasingly determined to support him through college.


    Even on weekends, Abner would stay at school, actively seeking help from teachers whenever he encountered difficulties. His teachers praised him to Shirley over the phone, their voices filled with joy. Shirley felt a surge of pride, as if witnessing a boying of age.


    Abner had also gained some weight, looking even more handsome, which led to a yful suggestion from James about starting a "school hunk" contest on the campus forum. Hearing this while staring at a page full of French vocabry, Shirley couldn''t help but smile. She was preparing to attend Mark''s birthday dinner that evening, too busy with work to chat any longer.


    At the party, she brought a scarf she had picked out herself. Mark''s family had rented several private rooms at a fancy venue, and the ce was bustling with people from theirb. Shirley didn''t know most of them. As she opened the door to the room, she caught Mark and Jessica performing a duet to a love song. The crowd was cheering them on as


    if they were an actual couple.


    Jessica blushed under the room''s lights, looking even more attractive, asionally locking eyes with Mark, their interaction filled with an intimate vibe. Shirley immediately felt out of ce.


    Some people recognized her, and the atmosphere turned awkward. Mark was clearly taken aback and rushed to exin. "We were ying Truth or Dare and lost, so we had to sing. Shirley, you''re herete." Jessica quickly added, "Senior, don''t get it wrong. Mark and I are just colleagues. Everyone here can vouch for that."


    Someone immediately raised their hand, "It was my idea for them to sing."


    After all these exnations, Shirley, who hadn''t even voiced any concern, seemed to be the odd one out. The lively ambiance cooled down, and she felt increasingly ufortable. But arguing with Mark seemed too costly, especially with her desire to peacefully finish her senior year.


    She handed Mark the birthday present, only to hear Jessica say, "Wow, senior and I have the same great taste. I got him the same style scarf."