Evelyn stepped back. She looked up at Alexander and said calmly, “Wake up, sleepyhead. I thought you were going to sleep until dawn.” Just like nothing had happened.
Evelyn just realized she was still in the car. She snapped back to reality. But to cover her embarrassment, she had to say calmly, “Mr. Sterling. Sorry, I fell asleep.”
“Did you hit your head?” Alexander asked.
“No, no! I’m fine, Mr. Sterling!” Evelyn turned to look out the window. She saw they were at the school gate. She was relieved. “Thank you for driving me back. I’ll get off now. Please drive safely on your way home!”
Alexander nodded. He unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the central lock, and got out of the car.
Evelyn thought he was getting out to say goodbye. She thanked him again. “Thank you, Mr. Sterling. Goodbye!”
“I’ll walk you in,” Alexander said, walking over.
“Huh?” Evelyn stared at him in shock.
“Let’s go,” Alexander said directly, as if he hadn’t heard her.
Evelyn felt frustrated. He never seemed to understand when someone was rejecting him! How long was his brain circuit?
“Mr. Sterling, our school has strict rules. It’s lights out now. Outsiders aren’t allowed on campus,” Evelyn explained.
“How will you get in?”
“I have my student ID!”
“How far is it from here to your dorm?” Alexander frowned.
“About ten minutes,” Evelyn replied. “It’s really close. You don’t need to walk me back to the dorm!” She looked at him in disbelief. Was this guy a monster?
“Why should I go home?”
“It’s not safe for you to walk back alone so late!”
“We’re already at the school gate!”
“There have been no incidents on campus!”
“I can defend myself!” Evelyn said.
The next second, Alexander pressed her against the car. “Are you sure?” he asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Then he let her go.
Evelyn felt like she had hit a ghost. How could she meet such a strange guy! She barely knew him. Even if something happened, it had nothing to do with him, right? He was way too nosy!
“Mr. Sterling, I don’t think you need to be so cautious. I walk back and forth by myself all the time. There’s never a problem! Besides, our school is very strict. Security guards patrol the campus constantly! Also, it’s very late. Don’t you want to go home and rest early?”
“After I walk you to your dorm, I can go home and rest,” Alexander said.
“…”
Evelyn felt she couldn’t explain anything to this guy anymore. He simply didn’t understand people!
“Fine… Let’s go this way!” Evelyn finally gave in.
Alexander looked at her with suspicion, but he still followed.
They reached a wall a little way from the school gate. Evelyn pointed at the wall. “It’s lights out. You’re not a student or staff here. If you insist on walking me back to my dorm, you can climb over the wall with me!”
But there was a cunning glint in her eyes. Let’s see if you’re still so serious with me.
Alexander frowned. He took off his jacket, handed it to Evelyn, and started rolling up his sleeves.
Evelyn’s eyes widened. She looked like she had seen a ghost. “Are you really going to climb?”
“Isn’t this the only way for me to get in and out?” Alexander teased. He took his jacket back. “Do you want to climb up, or should I help you?”
“I’ll climb! I’ll climb!” Evelyn said quickly. She felt a sense of defeat.
Evelyn awkwardly grabbed the top of the wall. She tried twice but couldn’t pull herself up. Finally, Alexander lifted her up, and she managed to climb up with difficulty. She should never have come up with such a bad idea. She hadn’t climbed a wall in years!
Just as Evelyn reached the top, Alexander had already climbed up and sat beside her.
“I’ll go down first,” Alexander said. He jumped off the wall. Then he reached out to Evelyn. “Jump down!”
“Can I… not jump?” Evelyn looked down at the dark corner below. She hesitated. “Can I just spend the night here?”
“…” Evelyn was depressed. She waved her hand. “Move away. I don’t want to bump into you!”
Alexander stepped back. Evelyn’s heart jumped as she leaped down. It felt like jumping off a building. She almost screamed. But the next second, her body was caught steadily.
Evelyn was stunned for a moment. She wondered why she didn’t feel the impact when she landed.
“Can you let go?”
“Huh?” Evelyn opened her eyes. She realized she was holding onto Alexander tightly. She almost choked on her own spit.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to. I’m just a little afraid of heights. I have a strong reaction,” Evelyn said awkwardly, letting go and apologizing repeatedly.
“Let’s go. It’ll be dawn if we waste more time. Which way?” Alexander put on his jacket and asked calmly.
“This way!” Evelyn replied, walking forward with her head down.
They walked in silence.
At the gate of the girls’ dormitory, Evelyn turned to Alexander. “I’m here. Thank you for walking me back. How are you going to get out later?”
“The same way I came in. Go on in.”
“Be careful. I’ll go back to the dorm now. Good night!” Evelyn said. She hesitated for a moment, but still insisted on waving to him.
Alexander nodded.
Evelyn walked toward the door. It was already locked. She had to wake up the dorm matron to let her in. She turned back and waved to Alexander again. Then she entered the building.
Alexander watched her go in, then turned and walked back the same way.
Evelyn returned to the dorm. Her roommates were all asleep. Emily came down to open the door for her. She asked drowsily, “Why are you back so late?”
“Something came up,” Evelyn replied. She felt too embarrassed to say she had fallen asleep in someone else’s car.
“Go to bed early. We have class tomorrow,” Emily yawned and climbed back into her upper bunk.
“Okay. Good night!” Evelyn brushed her teeth and washed her face. She went to the bathroom, then climbed into bed.
After lying down, she wondered if Mr. Sterling had made it home yet. She didn’t have his contact information, so she couldn’t check. She closed her eyes, ready to sleep. But after a moment, she thought, How did Mr. Sterling know she studied at this university? He never asked her. Did he ask Charlotte? But how did Charlotte know? Or did Charlotte tell him? Forget it. She was back at school anyway. Thinking about it was useless. So Evelyn fell asleep not long after. She almost couldn’t get up in the morning because she had gone to bed so late.
Monday morning was their first two classes. It was the most painful part of their week. But no matter how depressed or tangled she felt, she had to get up. Those two classes were taught by the department head. Unless she didn’t want to graduate.
After the two classes, Evelyn, Emily, and Stella were discussing whether to go to the library first or have dinner first. The cafeteria had just started serving. But if they ate now, they would be hungry again before the afternoon meal time. So they decided to study in the library first and have lunch later.
“Evelyn, was the dinner good last night?” Stella asked with a smile.
“It was so good. So good I could barely bear to come back,” Evelyn said dramatically. But in her heart, she was crying. It was so good she almost couldn’t come back. She had to climb the wall to get back to school last night! In over three years of college, it was the first time she had ever climbed a wall!
“Really? Tell us what was so delicious. Let us imagine it.”
“It was so delicious I forgot what I ate!”
“Oh, come on!” everyone complained.
Evelyn laughed.
Just then, Stella took out her phone from her bag. “I was in such a hurry for class this morning, I forgot to turn it on!”
“Oh, I had mine on silent too!” Evelyn said. She picked up her phone and tried to turn it back on. She saw she had several missed calls. All from Charlotte. So many calls early in the morning!
Evelyn called back. Charlotte picked up quickly. “You’ve been ignoring me all morning! Why didn’t you answer my calls?” Charlotte complained on the other end.
“My phone was on silent during class. I didn’t hear it,” Evelyn said with an apologetic smile.
“Class so early!”
“Isn’t it normal to have class at eight? How are you?”
“I’m fine. I woke up early this morning and found you were gone.”
“You’re gone!”
“Ha ha. I just noticed you were missing. I heard from my cousin that Mr. Alexander Sterling drove you back last night!”
“Yes, thanks to your cousin!” Evelyn replied.
“What does my cousin have to do with it?”
“Mr. Sterling is your cousin’s friend. Your cousin asked him to drive me back. So it’s your cousin’s doing, right?”
“Did anything happen between you two last night?” Charlotte asked vaguely.
“After Mr. Sterling drove me back to school, he went home. What could happen?” Evelyn said. She didn’t mention that she had taken Alexander to climb the wall. She had wanted to embarrass him, but in the end, she had only embarrassed herself!
“Why didn’t you seize the opportunity?”
“What opportunity?”
“To let Mr. Sterling see you for who you really are!”
“I’m not a flower girl in a novel. Why should I let him see me?” Evelyn said, feeling annoyed.
“To be honest, you’re messing with me!” Charlotte sighed.
“I’m being honest. I really don’t have any relationship with Mr. Sterling. So don’t overthink it. If you like him, go after him. I’ll support you with both hands and feet!” Evelyn replied seriously.