"Say you don't know anything about jade. If this is the real deal, that shade of green would be emerald grade. And look at the clarity—it's glass-like. A glass-grade emerald jade bangle costs how much? Just look it up online and you'll know." Emily said with disdain.
"Oh." Evelyn replied, pretending to understand.
"But your relatives wouldn't give you something this valuable. It's probably B-grade. It's fine for you to wear for a few days." Emily continued.
Evelyn nodded.
But after hearing Emily's words, she wanted to take off the jade bracelet and store it safely.
There was no way the old lady's gift was a cheap imitation.
But if it really was a family heirloom like Emily said...
If she accidentally knocked it or broke it, she couldn't afford to pay for it even if she sold herself!
During the afternoon break, Evelyn saw a missed call from Charlotte on her phone. She stepped out of the classroom and called back.
"Any classes tonight, dear?" Charlotte's voice was cheerful on the other end.
"No, I have four classes this afternoon until six. No class tonight. Are you coming to see me?" Evelyn asked.
After dinner that day, Evelyn went back to school. Charlotte had been busy with social events lately and hadn't had time to see her. She hadn't called until today.
Coincidentally, Evelyn wasn't in a great mood today. Thinking Charlotte was coming, they could go shopping together and eat some good food to soothe her wounded heart.
"Yes, I'll come over at six. Should I wait for you at school?"
"Or the south gate. The south gate is closer to the student street!"
"Alright, see you tonight!"
"See you tonight!"
After making plans with Charlotte, Evelyn went back to the classroom with her phone and continued class.
"Emily, I can't study with you tonight. My elementary school friend is coming to see me!" Evelyn explained.
"Boy or girl?" Emily asked with a grin.
"Girl!" Evelyn said, almost laughing.
Sigh, she was a married woman now. She didn't even have a chance to develop anything with a boy, okay!
Not to mention her and Noah!
They'd been good friends for ten years!
"Oh, no gossip then!" Emily looked disappointed.
Evelyn was speechless.
After the last two classes, Emily helped Evelyn take her textbooks back to the dorm. Evelyn headed straight to the south gate.
It was getting colder and colder now. Walking out of the classroom, she felt a chill.
She couldn't help wrapping her down jacket tighter and walking toward the south gate with her head down.
When she got near the school gate, she heard voices discussing around her.
"She's the same as before!"
"Walking the same way, head down!"
"She's afraid of the cold, all bundled up like a dumpling!"
"Yeah!"
A man and a woman walked beside her, chiming in together. Their voices sounded familiar.
Evelyn turned her head in surprise and saw Charlotte and Noah beside her!
She stopped and asked in shock, "How are you here? I thought you'd be late!"
"We've been waiting here for half an hour! Didn't you say you finished at six?" Charlotte complained.
"Yes, but it takes ten minutes to walk from the teaching building! I forgot to tell you to come later." Evelyn said sheepishly.
She thought it would just be Charlotte alone. She didn't expect Noah to come too.
"It's okay. We happened to look around your school. I saw you coming. But you didn't see us at all." Charlotte said with a smile.
"I thought you were at the gate!"
"You still like walking with your head down, just like before!" Noah said.
"Carrying your bag, you look just like a turtle!" Charlotte echoed.
Evelyn laughed. "I'm a little hunched over. Can't change it. Let's go. What do you want to eat? It's my treat today."
"Noah, listen. When you come here today, Evelyn's words are different. A few days ago, I just got back from my hometown and called her. She even told me she'd treat me to a meal, and I'd pay for it! But now that you're here, it's her treat. She really values you more than me, playing favorites!" Charlotte joked.
Evelyn blushed and explained awkwardly, "I just got my living expenses today!"
"I'm just joking with you. I'm definitely going to eat you out today." Charlotte put her arm around Evelyn's shoulder and said with a smile.
"It's okay. Take your time! There are lots of delicious things on the student street." Evelyn said.
So the three of them walked toward the student street.
Besides selling clothes, shoes, and books, the student street had all kinds of specialty foods. Besides the student union, their school was also a tourist spot. Naturally, tourists wouldn't miss the chance to visit the student street and see handsome guys and pretty girls.
So even though it wasn't night yet, the crowd was already bustling.
"Evelyn, what's your major?" Noah asked.
"Finance!" Evelyn said.
"I didn't expect you to choose that major." Noah was a bit surprised.
"My sister chose it for me. She said I was suited for it." Evelyn explained with a smile.
Back then, she wanted to major in international trade or law. Victoria directly said it would be more practical for her to choose something hands-on, given her eloquence and brains, and work as a bank teller in the future. She had to give up.
"Oh, Evelyn has a sister!" Charlotte answered.
"Yeah, isn't that the same as you? You have a brother." Evelyn said with a smile.
"Forget it, my brother only bullies me!" Charlotte rolled her eyes.
Didn't people say brothers and sisters were very close? Why wasn't it like that in her house at all!
Evelyn laughed. Although her sister Victoria often bullied her, it was mostly just minor teasing. Most of the time, she still took care of her.
"Noah, envy us!" Charlotte turned to Noah.
"I have a sister too!" Noah said timidly, hands in his pockets.
"You have a sister?" Charlotte suddenly widened her eyes and asked in surprise, "How come I've never heard of you before!"
"We've lived with his mother since we were kids. We're half-siblings." Noah explained.
"Oh..." Charlotte looked at Evelyn and didn't ask further.
Everyone seemed to keep quiet about the Sterling family's affairs.
"Do you want barbecue? This barbecue is delicious!" Evelyn turned to ask.
"Sure, we'll eat anything delicious now." Charlotte answered.
So they went to the barbecue stand, ordered some skewers, and sat down at the small table by the door, waiting for the food to be cooked and served.
"I'm still happy. I'm going to university in China. I can eat whatever I want every day!" Charlotte sighed.
"I don't envy you for studying abroad." Evelyn said with a smile.
"Noah studies abroad. I'm basically just coasting along." Charlotte responded directly. "He's almost done with his master's degree."
"Ah?" Evelyn looked at Noah in surprise. "Aren't we elementary and middle school classmates? Why am I just a senior this year, and you're about to graduate with a master's degree?"
"Can you compare the books you read step by step with the ones he read later?" Charlotte complained.
"It's not as exaggerated as Charlotte says. I just skipped a year in high school, and the university uses a credit system. Once you finish the courses, you can graduate, so the time is shorter." Noah shook his head and answered modestly.
"That still requires finishing the credits. I guess it'll take me four years to finish." Evelyn said with a smile.
The barbecue was served. They ate and talked about the past, feeling emotional inside.
How time flew.
Back then, they were still so simple. All they thought about all day was either holidays or exams. But now, they were much more complicated than before.
For example, she still had to think about her married life and how to get along with a husband whose face she didn't even know.
Charlotte and Noah didn't stay very late. After the barbecue, they walked around the student street, ate some other snacks, and then went back.
Before leaving, Noah asked for Evelyn's phone number.
Actually, Charlotte already had Evelyn's number, but he still asked for it directly.
After they left, Evelyn returned to the dorm.
"Back so early!" Emily, who was studying in the dorm, was a bit surprised.
"Just strolled around the student street and ate something." Evelyn said.
"It's a pity I didn't show them around our school. Our school is so beautiful!"
"It's okay. It's the same next time." Evelyn smiled and replied, putting down her bag. "I'm going to take a shower first!"
"Go ahead."
When Evelyn came out of the shower, Emily said, "Evelyn, your phone rang just now!"
"Oh, okay!" Evelyn answered, put down the towel to dry her hair, and took out her phone from her bag.
It was Charlotte.
"Charlotte, I just took a shower! Are you home yet?" Evelyn asked.
"I'm home, and I just took a shower too!" Charlotte said with a smile. "Happy to see Noah today!"
"Of course, I'm happy to see an old classmate."
"Who's talking about old classmates? Didn't you notice Noah was acting special toward you?"
"What's special? Don't think he's special to other girls just because you like Noah." Evelyn said with a smile.
"I'm serious with you!" Charlotte protested.
"I'm serious too!" Evelyn said.
"Seriously, do you know how I got to your school today?"
"A taxi!" There was no way she flew here!
"Noah drove me here. He called me in the afternoon and asked if I was free. He said he wanted to come to your school and asked me to contact you to take a look. It wasn't convenient for him to come alone! You can see his intention. He's not here to visit your school. He's here for you."
"Are you being a little too imaginative? I'm the only one of our classmates at this university. Of course, he's looking for me." Evelyn couldn't help but laugh.
"Then he could come to you directly. Why go through me?" Charlotte was speechless.
"Doesn't he have my contact info?" Evelyn said with a smile.
"You can ask me directly. You're so confused! On one hand, he did this so you wouldn't feel awkward with the three of us together. On the other hand, he also wanted to find out about your recent situation through me! By the way, you don't have a boyfriend, do you?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't have a boyfriend..." But I already have a husband!