"Grace, I might not know the specifics, but I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that you are a good student."

  "However, if the content of the report is true, the university will stop issuing your financial aid grant."

  Hearing this, Grace first nodded in understanding and said to Advisor Lee, "Thank you for your trust."

  Then, with a serious expression, she added, "The report is indeed true, but I need to correct one point: the university grant I receive is not the Special Financial Hardship Grant, nor is it a scholarship."

  "Supervisor, you should be clear about this. Initially, the university recruited me specially from my hometown in Novastra because of my excellent National College Entrance Examination results. At that time, the university offered me 200,000..."

  She almost blurted out "ten thousand" but quickly corrected herself, "... offered me 20 Dollars as a special recruitment bonus and promised a monthly living allowance of 15 Cents after enrollment. This allowance was part of the conditions for my admission as a specially recruited student, promised to me by the university's admissions office."

  "My family circumstances, while not wealthy, aren't at the point of needing to apply for the Special Financial Hardship Grant. My allowance and the hardship grant are two different things."

  Advisor Lee nodded upon hearing this; he was naturally aware of these details.

  However...

  "Grace, I certainly understand what you're saying. But now someone has reported this, and as you said, the report's content is true. Think about it, you use luxury goods while receiving a university grant. If this spreads, it will definitely cause resentment among those students who are financially struggling. Especially the voices online – people on the internet won't bother investigating the details; they'll just attack you and the university without reason. For no good cause, isn't this an undeserved misfortune?"

  He sighed again. "This for your own good. There are quite a few students with financial hardships at the university, and the number of special hardship grants is limited. Many people wait in line but can't get a spot. If you're still receiving a grant at this time, you'll become a target for criticism within the university."

  Ethan Lee spoke earnestly, and Grace could tell he was considering her interests.

  Moreover, the Academic Affairs Office had probably already given him direct instructions about this matter. Even if he was understanding, it was probably already a done deal.

  "Supervisor, I can forgo the grant allowance, but it must be because I voluntarily gave it up, not because the university revoked it. That's the point I want to make."

  Grace didn't really care about the grant itself. Previously, receiving 1,500 Dollars monthly living allowance had indeed made her university life much easier.

  But now it was different. 15 Cents per month meant nothing to her current self, but for students from poor families, it could significantly alleviate their living pressures.

  So, she could voluntarily give up this allowance, but she had to be clear about the matter of principle.

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  Hearing that Grace agreed to give up the allowance, Advisor Lee didn't care whether it was her voluntary abandonment or the university canceling it; it was just a procedural matter. He quickly nodded: "Good, I'll handle it properly. But Grace, you..."

  He looked at her, hesitating, as if he wanted to ask but was afraid of wording it improperly and misunderstanding her.

  She had just said her family wasn't wealthy and had admitted the reported fact about wearing luxury items.

  She was beautiful, and as her supervisor, Ethan was very afraid she might succumb to societal temptations and go astray.

  But at this moment, he really didn't know how to bring it up.

  As perceptive as Grace was, she knew what the supervisor was worried about. She smiled slightly and said frankly, "Supervisor, don't overthink it. I won't degrade myself for money."

  Hearing this, Ethan smiled somewhat awkwardly, but he believed her words: "Alright, I won't ask more. Same as before, if anything happens, be sure to tell me first."

  Grace nodded, bid farewell to Advisor Lee, and left.

  She didn't need to think hard to know that Candy was behind the report, but she really didn't care much about it.

  Thinking carefully, given her current financial status, still receiving the university's monthly 15 Cents allowance wouldn't sound good if it got out. It was just that she hadn't thought about it since returning; otherwise, she would have voluntarily given up the allowance herself, letting it benefit someone more in need.

  At noon, the school cafeteria was packed.

  Grace searched around with the umbrella before finally spotting Leo in the innermost seat.

  Seeing Grace approach, the boys around him immediately burst into teasing sounds, causing surrounding students to glance over curiously.

  "Thank you, returning your umbrella."

  Approaching, Grace handed the umbrella to Leo, a serene smile on her face.

  "It's fine, no need to be polite." Leo still pretending to be calm, took the umbrella, and casually tossed it to Jonathan.

  "Woo—"

  Another round of meaningful teasing sounds ensued. Leo's cheeks burned from his friends' antics, and his heart raced wildly. If not for his naturally wheat-colored complexion, his face would definitely be bright red.

  He feigned annoyance and frowned: "Stop howling nonsense, the girl..."

  But the teasing grew even louder.

  If it were any other girl being teased like this, she probably would have blushed and run away long ago. But Grace didn't; instead, she laughed along with them.

  She was the top female patron; there was nothing for her to be embarrassed about.

  This scene was witnessed by many, but the university had countless students, and not everyone knew them, so they just glanced curiously a couple more times.

  Only one person stood with a gloomy expression, the chill around him as if capable of freezing everything solid for three feet.

  Gifting Carnivals to his roommate, now laughing and talking with his roommate... This was clearly done deliberately for him to see.

  She was intentionally trying to provoke him!

  Eric slowly exhaled twice, trying to calm himself down. Scarlett was right; he couldn't be impulsive again.

  Besides, the reason Grace was provoking him like this must be because she still had feelings for him, still cared about him!

  Just as he had sorted out his emotions and was about to step forward to apologize to Grace for his words and actions last night, a figure suddenly rushed up and roughly yet intimately hooked onto his sturdy arm.

  An excited voice, laced with coquettishness, followed immediately.

  "Brother Eric!"

  Eric instinctively took half a step back, but upon seeing who it was, he was also stunned, then said with surprise: "Clara...?"

  Clara Lin wore an excited smile, hugging Eric's arm and bouncing up and down. "Surprised?"

  "You... how did you get to the university?" Eric was quite shocked.

  Clara was the granddaughter of his grandfather's old friend. He often visited his grandfather's house during holidays, so he had known Clara since they were children.

  But his grandfather and the Lin family were all in Novastra! How could she appear here at the university?

  "Hehe, I got in through the exams!" Clara said proudly. "I've been here for several days already. I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you. But the university is so big, I never ran into you. I didn't expect to finally bump into you today!"

  "I'm in the Astronomy Department too. From now on, you're my senior!"