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Novel Catalog
Lily glanced at the stack of money on the table. The crisp, brand-new 100-dollar bills seemed to shimmer in the dim light. She couldn’t quite tell how much there was, but just the thickness of the stack told her it was a significant sum.
Tears welled up in her eyes again. “Thank you so much, Carlisle…” Her voice broke as she spoke, overwhelmed by the generosity he was showing her.
She had mocked him earlier when he swapped places with her, yet here he was, offering help without holding a grudge. It was more than she could have expected, more than she could process.
Carlisle smiled softly, as if the gesture was nothing. “We were schoolmates. Don’t make it so formal. I’m just helping out a friend.”
“I’ll pay you back as soon as I can,” Lily said, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to fall. She pressed the money to her chest, feeling a mixture of relief and guilt. If it hadn’t been for Carlisle and Sean, her future would have taken a very different turn.
Carlisle, sensing the weight of her emotions, chuckled gently. “Alright, put the money away now. You don’t want to walk around with it exposed like that. You were probably targeted because you had your cash out in the open.”
Lily shook her head, wiping her eyes. “I didn’t show my money to anyone…”
Carlisle raised an eyebrow, thinking for a moment. “Then, there’s another possibility. The robbers were likely aware that freshmen often carry money at the start of the school term. It was probably just bad luck that you were the one they targeted.”
Lily pouted, frustration and anger clouding her thoughts. “They’re horrible. I hope the police catch them soon!”
Carlisle smiled but kept quiet, knowing the reality was far more complicated. The police couldn’t always protect people, especially in a place as chaotic as Riverland. If the authorities had an easy solution, the robbers wouldn’t have dared to wield knives in public.
The staff arrived with the food, and the table soon filled with nine dishes. Carlisle, looking at the extravagant spread, couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “Well, Sean, you really went all out, huh? You’re definitely a nouveau riche now! This meal is on you, I take it?”
Sean shrugged, nonchalant as always. “My treat it is.”
Carlisle shook his head in mock disapproval. Sean, having only spent a small portion of the 20,000 dollars Carlisle had given him, was still living more extravagantly than anyone would expect for a guy who hadn’t touched much of it.
Sean opened a bottle of beer and poured glasses for himself, Carlisle, and Lily. “Cheers to our freedom!” he said with a grin.
Lily hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between Carlisle and Sean. She still felt a little uneasy, both grateful and indebted to them. But unable to refuse them, she raised her glass, joining in the toast.
“Cheers!” Carlisle said, his voice warm, his smile genuine.
Lily glanced at them both—at Carlisle, who had already done so much for her, and at Sean, whose lightheartedness had made the past few hours a little easier to bear. She lifted her glass and clinked it with theirs, a small smile tugging at her lips as she took a delicate sip.
Carlisle finished his drink in one gulp, followed by Sean, who downed his beer in a matter of seconds. Lily, still cautious, only took a small sip, savoring the taste.
Just then, the MSN Messenger notification sounded on Carlisle’s phone. He set his cutlery down and pulled the phone from his pocket. He expected it to be a message from Sweet Like Candy, but when he looked at the screen, he realized it was from someone else.
Goldfish_memory: “Carlisle, have you arrived in Riverland yet?”
It was Christine Goodman.
Carlisle quickly typed back: “Just got here not long ago. How about you?”
Goldfish_memory: “Hehe, just arrived too! Where are you? Can I treat you to a meal?”
Bygones_b_bygones: “I’m near the University of Science and Technology…”
Goldfish_memory: “Oh, what a coincidence! I’m nearby too!”
Bygones_b_bygones: “We’re at A1 Seafood Restaurant. Sean and I are having dinner here!”
Goldfish_memory: “You’ve already started? I’ll treat you another day then! I can’t afford this kind of place.”
Bygones_b_bygones: “Don’t worry about that. Just come over! Sean ordered so much food, we won’t be able to finish everything!”
Goldfish_memory: “Alright, I’m on my way!”
Sean, taking another bite of the lemon butter fish, suddenly looked up and asked, “Carl, come to think of it, how did you know Lily would be in danger today?”
Lily, who was already startled by the question, turned her gaze toward Carlisle. “You knew I was going to be in danger? You asked Sean to save me?”
Both of them fixed their eyes on Carlisle, waiting for an explanation. Carlisle’s expression turned serious, and he leaned back in his chair.
“I’ll let you in on a secret,” he said, lowering his voice. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
