Grace tried hard to pull her hand back but found it useless. She couldn't help but glare and order in a low voice, "Let go!"

  "Eric, calm down. Let her hand go first," Scarlett said, standing up upon seeing this. With so many people in the cafeteria, making a scene would only make them a spectacle.

  Eric's eyes were bloodshot, having stayed up all night without sleep until now. He looked both disheveled and irritable.

  Yet, facing Grace now and looking at her flawless, porcelain face, the anger in Eric's heart dissipated greatly in an instant.

  He released her hand, forcing himself to calm down. "Sorry, Grace. I... I was a bit impulsive."

  He came back to school to face these things with Grace, not to interrogate her.

  Remembering his original intention, Eric frantically tried to find the right words and said, confused, "I know the Dylan Group canceled the donation to the department has implicated you. But don't worry, I will definitely help you resolve this matter. I won't let your words fall flat in front of everyone."

  "No need. I'll fulfill the promise I made myself. I don't need your help," Grace said coldly, turning to leave.

  Eric anxiously stopped her, asking in confusion, "Even at a time like this, you still refuse my help? Do you know how much an astronomical telescope costs?"

  "Of course she knows. Isn't she the top student in the Astronomy Department?" Clara sneered. "Eric, I think you should just leave her alone. I'd like to see how she's going to handle this mess she bragged about."

  "Can you just shut up?" Eric turned and roared at Clara.

  Clara's words caught in her throat. "I... I'm just stating facts, is that wrong? She created this mess herself. The whole school is waiting to see her become a joke. Why should you clean it up for her?"

  Before anyone else could react, Scarlett looked at Clara with thinly veiled anger and scolded, "What are you talking about? When did you see Grace asking Eric to clean up her mess? Didn't Eric insist on sticking himself to her? Has Grace called him once, said one word of 'please'? Where's the proof?"

  Clara opened her mouth but found herself momentarily unable to retort. Finally, she widened her eyes and said, "How dare she even talk about donating telescopes to the school? Saying that is to make Eric step up and solve it for her, isn't it? Does she have the capability herself?"

  She had investigated long ago. This Grace was from Novastra, with a very ordinary family background. While not impoverished, they were certainly not wealthy.

  If not for relying on Eric's affection for her, how could she dare to talk about donating things to the school?

  In the end, wouldn't it be Eric who figures out a way, begging Mr. Dylan to donate?

  Scarlett found Clara's words laughable. She had genuinely seen Grace's order confirmation page. She had advised Grace to donate just one, but Grace insisted on donating four.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Now, in others' eyes, they looked down on Grace's capabilities so much. They were truly blind and ignorant.

  Whispers from the surroundings also began to rise at this moment. Everyone held a skeptical attitude towards Grace's words. Unlike Eric, whose identity as a wealthy young master was well-known, Grace became famous at school for her looks. Those who didn't know her family background also didn't really believe she could donate something worth over a thousand dollars to the school all at once, and in her personal name at that.

  Which of those huge donations wasn't made under the banner of a company or group? Even the Dylan Group's donations were made under the group's public welfare banner for publicity, never attributing the honor solely to Eric.

  Hearing the murmurs, Clara couldn't help but raise an eyebrow smugly. Regardless of whether Eric would get angry with her, she just wanted to seize the opportunity to stomp on Grace hard and make her lose face completely.

  She let out a cold laugh and said, "Grace, you keep saying you and Eric have broken up. Then you shouldn't take advantage of his feelings even more. If you can't afford to donate, just say so. No one had any hope for it in the first place. Even four telescopes with the most basic configuration aren't a small sum. If you admit now that you were just bragging, everyone will just laugh at you in their hearts at most. They won't blame you."

  "Clara, shut your mouth!" Eric roared angrily, turning and leaning close to her to say threateningly, "Say one more word, and I'll throw you out. Believe me?"

  Clara raised her head and met Eric's gaze without flinching. She loved Eric deeply but was never an obedient little bunny.

  "Auntie told me to keep an eye on you. I won't let you do anything stupid," Clara retorted unyieldingly.

  Watching these two going back and forth, Grace was already tired of it. She composed her expression, walked up to the two of them, gently pushed Eric aside, and positioned herself in front of Clara to look at her.

  Clara's eyes darkened, then she shot back a defiant glare.

  Seeing her aggressive, unwilling-to-back-down demeanor, Grace couldn't help but curl her lips in a light scoff. "You keep saying I'm bragging and boasting, thinking I can't afford to donate. Then let's make a bet?"

  "Bet on what?" Clara frowned slightly, asking with some hesitation.

  Grace said with a casual expression, "If I fulfill my promise to the school, you run three laps around the track at dusk when it's most crowded, shouting 'I'm an idiot' at the top of your lungs. How about that?"

  "Pfft..."

  "Playing it so bluntly?"

  "A beauty cursing is kind of cute. I'm starting to like Grace's personality."

  "Is that girl Eric's sister? 'Eric this, Eric that'—she's way too targeted against Grace."

  "Although I don't really believe Grace can keep her promise, I kind of want to see that girl do the punishment. What do I do?"

  "Should we crowdfund to help Grace? I kind of want to see it too."

  The watching students instantly became interested. The murmurs clearly reached the ears of the people involved.

  Clara's face instantly flushed red. Grace dared to humiliate her in public like this?

  "And if you lose?" Clara asked through gritted teeth. "You can't use any connections through Eric!"

  "Of course. I have no ties with him anymore. From now on, there will be no emotional or financial involvement with him whatsoever," Grace said frankly. "If I lose, I can also run three laps and do the same punishment. Dropping out of school is fine too, whatever makes you happy."

  Hearing the words "dropping out," Clara's eyes lit up. "Really? If you lose, you're willing to drop out and leave UST?"

  "Leave the planet too, whatever. It's all fine," Grace said.

  Grace's casual yet resolute attitude made Clara instinctively wary. But then she thought, without Eric's help, how could Grace possibly donate something worth over a thousand dollars on her own? Absolutely impossible!

  Moreover, her willingness to drop out as punishment was too tempting. Auntie had used methods, but couldn't get the school to expel her. If she could accomplish that, Auntie would definitely like and appreciate her more. Then, her relationship with Eric could gain the support of his parents.

  Thinking this, Clara's mind was filled with the benefits of winning the bet. She could barely suppress the joy at the corners of her mouth. "Fine, I'll take the bet. If you can't donate what you promised within three days, you drop out and get out of UST!"