After parking the car, Evan planned to head straight back to his dorm. But when he checked the time and saw it was already past six, he changed his mind and went to the cafeteria instead.
Dinner was simple—a cheeseburger with fries. He ate alone, quietly, and by the time he finished, it was already after seven. However, since it was still summer, the sky hadn't darkened yet.
Back in the dormitory, Evan pushed open the door.
Ryan and Jack were still playing games on their respective beds. When they saw Evan return, they greeted him briefly and then went back to their games.
Everything looked the same as always.
But only Evan knew that his life had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Before today, he had worried about his four years of university and what kind of job he might find after graduation. Now, the only thing he needed to think about was how to enjoy life.
Suppressing his emotions, Evan went to the restroom to wash his face. When he came out, Ryan and Jack had already put down their phones, blaming each other.
"If you had joined the fight just now, we would have won the team battle. But you didn't, which led to our loss," Ryan said, somewhat displeased.
"How can you blame me? I was clearing the minion wave, and you guys didn't even check if I was there during the team fight!"
Jack scowled.
"You..." Ryan was about to speak, but then saw Evan come out and waved quickly.
"Evan, save me. I've lost six games in a row."
"Yeah, come play a few rounds," Jack added.
"You're way better than us."
Evan was noticeably better at games than both of them.
"Come on," he said.
Since he had nothing else to do, Evan pulled out his phone.
Jack leaned over, eyes widening.
"Wait… is that a new phone?"
Ryan glanced over.
"No way," Jack said, staring. "That's the latest iPhone, right? That thing costs a lot."
They all knew each other's family situations. Evan wasn't someone who usually spent money so freely.
"How much? $1,000–1,100? Really? Evan, you're willing to buy something so expensive?" Jack asked, envy creeping into his tone.
Ryan looked on in disbelief.
"About $1,500," Evan replied calmly.
"What's going on, buddy? This isn't like you,"
Ryan said, surprised.
Evan smiled. "I'm a rich kid."
For a moment, the dorm was silent. Then—
"Pfft."
"Yeah, right."
"If you're a rich kid, then I'm a self-made billionaire," Ryan laughed.
Evan didn't explain further. "Alright, forget it. Let's just play."
They quickly dropped the topic, convinced it was just a joke.
After a few rounds, it was already past 8:30 when the dormitory door opened and Nathan walked in.
Evan and the other two were still playing, so they simply greeted him.
Nathan glanced at them, a faint smirk on his lips. He felt superior—not just because of his family, but also because he was the first to have a girlfriend.
His girlfriend was pretty, at least by ordinary standards, though not comparable to Emily. Even so, Nathan felt confident that none of Evan's future girlfriends could surpass his own. Besides, he didn't even know if Evan had a girlfriend yet.
Lying back on his bed, Nathan opened his chat with Jasmine.
I'm back at the dorm.
Did you get back yet?
Miss you already ❤️
After waiting a while with no reply, he got up to wash his face and brush his teeth. His thoughts drifted to the $100 he'd spent on clothes and dinner earlier. Even with a monthly living expense of $280–300, he sometimes found it hard to keep up.
Still, it was worth it. Thinking of Jasmine's pretty face and figure, he couldn't help but smile.
Once finished, he checked his phone again. Still no reply.
Jas, why aren't you replying? Your babe is waiting.
Then he opened a chat with his mother.
"Mom, I need to buy some study materials. It's about $200."
Mom: Didn't you just buy some a few days ago?
"Nah, that was before. This is different. Hurry, don't delay my studies."
A second later, the transfer came through. Nathan's mood instantly lifted. The study materials were just an excuse; he was short on cash. But he had plans with Jasmine tomorrow, and this ensured he could go.
"I'm done for tonight," Evan said, locking his phone and tossing it onto the bed.
"Come on, just a couple more games," Ryan protested immediately.
"Yeah, two more rounds," Jack added. "We're finally on a winning streak."
The truth was, Evan had carried them through the last few matches. Without him, their chances dropped sharply.
"Tomorrow," Evan said, shaking his head. "My eyes are tired. I need to rest."
Seeing that he wasn't changing his mind, Ryan and Jack exchanged disappointed looks before giving up.
As they headed toward the balcony to smoke, Nathan suddenly walked over, stopping Evan on his way to the bathroom.
"Hey, man," Nathan said casually, a faint tone of superiority in his voice. "What kind of girl are you into? I can ask my girlfriend to keep an eye out for you."
He chuckled. "Emily's obviously out of the question. Even I wouldn't dare go after her, and I'm local with two houses. For you? No chance at all."
"Still," Nathan continued, "there are plenty of average girls around. Tell me your standards."
Evan glanced at him. Nathan's words sounded friendly, but the condescension underneath was obvious.
"I'll find one myself," Evan said calmly, walking into the bathroom without waiting for a response.
Behind him, Nathan scoffed quietly. Find one yourself? You'd be lucky if anyone even looked your way. Shaking his head, he decided not to bother. Helping Evan find a girlfriend? That was clearly unnecessary.
----
Girl's Dormitory
Emily was holding her towel and about to enter the bathroom when the dormitory door opened from the outside.
She looked up and saw her roommate, Isabella.
"You're back?" Emily greeted her, but her gaze lingered on Isabella's face.
Emily was proud of her looks and had never seen anyone around who could compare. But Isabella was comparable, and even Emily had to admit it was impossible to tell who was better.
Isabella's appearance was bright and generous, while her demeanor was delicate, fair-skinned, and aloof.
"Yes, I'm back," Isabella nodded.
"Are you going to wash your hair?" Isabella asked, looking at the towel and shampoo in Emily's hand.
"Yes, I'm washing my hair," Emily said, then entered the bathroom and closed the door.
Isabella put down the book she had been reading and turned her gaze to the closed door. She could tell Emily had been in a happy mood.
Shaking her head, Isabella returned to her desk and tried to focus on her reading. But then her phone buzzed.
She frowned. Her already aloof temperament tightened as she picked it up.
It was a message from her mother:
Mom: It's been almost a month since school started. Are there any boys from well-off families at school?
Mom: If you find someone, go for it.
Relationships in college are still very pure. Even if their families approve, that's a plus.
Mom: I don't want you to end up like me, sacrificing financial security for love and ending up with a messy life.
Isabella sighed. She put down her phone and closed her book, knowing exactly why her mother wanted her to find a wealthy boyfriend. Her mother had married for love, but money worries had followed.