The next day.

  Because she had classes in the morning, Grace woke up early. Seeing Scarlett was still sleeping soundly, she washed up quietly and left the dorm alone.

  In the school cafeteria, as it was still early, the hall was empty, with only a few early-rising students having breakfast.

  Grace bought a bowl of soy milk, an egg, and two steamed buns, then found a corner seat to sit down.

  Taking out her phone, she happened to see a message from her sister.

  "Sis, we start military training tomorrow. We can't bring our phones then, so we might be out of touch for a while!"

  Looking at the message, Grace subconsciously showed a maternal smile.

  "Got it. Remember to wear sunscreen during training and be safe."

  "Sis, you're up this early too? Do you have class today?"

  "Yeah, having breakfast in the cafeteria now. You remember to eat breakfast too. Don't be reluctant to spend the money I sent you; I'll send more when it's gone."

  "Okay! But looks like it might rain. Sis, did you bring an umbrella?"

  Seeing the message, Grace instinctively looked outside. Just then, raindrops as big as beans started pattering noisily against the window.

  She really hadn't brought an umbrella.

  The next second, a burst of footsteps mixed with conversation and laughter suddenly came from the cafeteria entrance, breaking the previous quiet.

  A group of boys wearing basketball jerseys crowded in. The rain had started suddenly, drenching the boys who had been playing on the basketball court.

  Grace immediately recognized Leo. His rain-soaked jersey clung tightly to his body, clearly outlining his well-developed pectoral muscles and distinct abdominal muscles.

  He casually pulled a few paper napkins to dry his hair, his every casual movement exuding hormones.

  Youthful, intense.

  Grace watched for a moment longer before looking away. As the top female patron, everything she had just seen was what she deserved.

  "I told you to bring an umbrella, you didn't. I said it would definitely rain."

  "You brought one but didn't have time to use it either, did you?"

  "Exactly, this rain came on so suddenly."

  "I want thread-like noodles. Anyone else? My treat."

  "Leo, what are you eating? I'll buy it for you."

  "I'll have soup dumplings and tofu pudding, savory."

  Five or six boys were noisy and boisterous. While talking, Jonathan was the first to spot Grace. He quickly pulled Leo over excitedly and said, "Grace is over there!"

  Leo followed his gaze and saw Grace sitting quietly alone in a corner seat by the window, intently peeling her egg.

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  "Should I go thank her?" Jonathan asked.

  After all, Grace had gifted him twenty 'Carnivals’ gifts. He netted three dollars, directly breaking his daily earnings record since he started streaming.

  But the eager Jonathan was pulled back by Leo. "Forget it, don't disturb her."

  "Right." Jonathan calmed down and nodded. "This is also kind of hard to bring up. Maybe Grace thinks she's being all mysterious. If I tell her I recognized her, she might stop watching my streams."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Leo slapped the back of his head hard.

  "Why did you hit me?" Jonathan cried out in pain.

  Leo's expression darkened slightly. "Stop thinking messy all day. Hurry up and get food."

  With this rain, even fewer people came to the cafeteria for breakfast. After finishing her meal, Grace didn't leave. She didn't have an umbrella and wanted to wait for the rain to stop.

  After waiting a while, she received a message from her supervisor.

  "Grace, come to the office to see me later. I have something to ask you."

  "Okay, I'll come right away."

  After replying, Grace glanced at the gloomy sky, then got up and went to the window where she had bought the buns. She asked the auntie inside, "Auntie, do you have an umbrella? Could I borrow it? I'll return it to you at noon."

  "Sorry, little girl, we didn't bring an umbrella either."

  Grace pressed her thin lips together and nodded, momentarily unsure what to do.

  She walked to the cafeteria entrance and looked out. It seemed the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon.

  Leo, who seemed to have been concentrated to eating, had actually been watching Grace out of the corner of his eye. Seeing this, he suddenly stood up, grabbed the umbrella Jonathan had placed on the table, and under his companions' surprised gazes, quickly walked towards Grace at the entrance.

  Just as Grace was about to message Advisor Lee to explain she would come after the rain stopped, an umbrella suddenly appeared in front of her.

  "If you're in a hurry, you can use this umbrella first."

  Leo spoke in a low voice. This was the first time he had spoken to Grace. He tried hard to make his gaze seem steady and unwavering and to keep his voice stable.

  "Damn, that's my umbrella!" Jonathan, seeing this scene, almost popped his eyes out in surprise.

  Just moments ago, Leo stopped him from disturbing Grace, but now he was seizing the opportunity to get face time with her himself!

  Grace looked up sideways and was a bit surprised to see it was Leo. After all, although they knew of each other, they had never had any interaction.

  But with just one glance, Grace saw through Leo's feigned composure.

  His seemingly calm eyes were actually flickering unintentionally, and his subconsciously moving Adam's apple betrayed the fluster he was trying hard to hide.

  Grace pretended not to notice and asked calmly, "What about you?"

  "I have no class this morning. I can wait for the rain to stop before leaving," Leo said.

  Grace reached out and took it, thanking him politely. "Alright, thank you then. I'll return the umbrella to the cafeteria at noon."

  Leo also nodded, said nothing more, turned, and left.

  Grace smiled, pushed the door open, opened the umbrella, and soon disappeared into the curtain of rain.

  As soon as Leo sat down, the boys started teasing him.

  "You're quite smooth, using Jonathan's umbrella to offer a favor!"

  "Didn't see that coming, Leo. None of us noticed Grace needed an umbrella. You're pretty observant."

  "I thought Leo was the most respectable among us, but it turns out he's deep."

  Jonathan was the most aggrieved. Looking at Leo, he gritted his teeth and said, "Hypocrite!"

  Leo looked at them with impatience. "Hurry up and eat. Even food can't shut you up."

  As he spoke, he lowered his head to eat his tofu pudding, but a faint, almost imperceptible smile crept onto the corners of his mouth.

  Faculty Office, Administration Building. The door was open. Grace knocked symbolically, her eyes already spotting Advisor Lee.

  Advisor Lee looked up from his workstation. Seeing it was Grace, he didn't invite her in but instead stood up and came out himself.

  Leading Grace to a quiet, unoccupied spot in the corridor, Advisor Lee first sighed and looked at Grace with a complicated gaze without speaking.

  Sensing something was off about the advisor's demeanor, Grace's expression turned serious. She couldn't help but ask first, "What's this about? Looking at your expression, it doesn't seem like good news!"

  Advisor Lee let out another long sigh and nodded. "Definitely not good news. Someone reported you to the Academic Affairs Office, alleging that you wear and use high-value luxury goods while receiving the university's financial aid grant."