Vette casually pulled a piece of candy from her pocket and offered it to John. John, having just calmed down, felt awkward. His embarrassment increased when he saw Yvette's offering. He wiped his hands on his shirt and took the candy, intending to keep it.

Yvette seemed to understand. She shook her candy box and said, "Go ahead and eat it. I have plenty more."

John's face flushed. Worried she thought him strange, he quickly explained, "I just want to save it for later." Yvette didn't press him. "Just eat it. It'll help your wound."

John didn't take this seriously, figuring she was trying to cheer him up. He carefully unwrapped the candy; a sweet aroma filled the air. Afterward, he felt better—even his leg hurt less, though he attributed it to his imagination.

"Thanks, Yvette," he said, feeling grateful. Without her, he couldn't imagine how bleak his day would have been. Her presence felt like a ray of sunshine.

Noticing Yvette's silence as she ate candy, he felt uneasy. "I don't even know how to repay you..."

Yvette suddenly looked up, a strange expression on her face, and asked, "Do you have any money?"

John was startled. Worried he didn't have enough, he assured her he could get more from his dorm, pulling out sixty dollars.

Yvette's eyes lit up. "Come with me."

John followed without question. She led him to a new milkshake shop at the school entrance and ordered ten cups of banana milkshakes. The staff recognized Yvette; she was strikingly beautiful and had been there earlier, ordering three cups for herself.

"Fifty dollars, thanks," the cashier said.

Yvette gestured for John to pay. Still dazed, John hesitated.

With a slight frown, Yvette said, annoyance in her tone, "Are you trying to stiff me? Just lend me sixty dollars, and I'll pay you back later."

John couldn't believe Yvette liked milkshakes, assuming someone wealthy would drink fancy coffee. "No, I... I'm not trying to skip out on paying. I'll pay, I promise!"

Yvette's frown softened. A classmate who would buy her milkshakes? Not bad!

Ten minutes later, John juggled ten cups of milkshake while Yvette sat on a bench, drinking one after another. John was stunned by her appetite. "Wow, her appetite for milkshakes is off the charts! How could a girl drink this much? Doesn't she care about her figure?"

After a moment, he expressed concern. "Uh, Yvette, will today's incident cause you trouble? Victor won't let this slide easily. And there's Rebecca. She's quite a force at Argrol University. I'm worried they might go after you."

Yvette turned, a playful glint in her eyes. "John, when you have real power, any scheme against you is just hot air."

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed the last three milkshakes and walked away. "What's up with that guy watching me?"

John understood: real power meant real authority. Across the street, in a Maybach, Jeremiah had been watching Yvette for ten minutes, irritated by her apparent casual friendship with John.

After shopping, Andrew found Jeremiah staring into space. He followed his gaze to a girl and boy chatting. "Look like students from Argrol University? Are they dating?" Andrew wondered. The girl was gorgeous; he was tempted to approach. "Jeremiah, check out these college students. They seem so happy, dating and sipping milkshakes like it's some sort of sweet romance. I'm so jealous." As soon as Andrew spoke, a chill ran down his spine.

Jeremiah clenched his jaw, his dark eyes narrowing. "Sweet romance? I'd like to see just how sweet it really is."

At the Carter residence, Victor stormed in, knocking over a fruit platter. Ripe strawberries rolled across the carpet as he stomped on them.

The noise alerted his parents, Robert and Yulia. Victor was their only son, his older brother having passed away, so they spoiled him excessively, fueling his reckless behavior.

After his pride was hurt, Victor's mood spiraled. "You btch! All of you—just btches!"

Robert and Yulia surveyed the chaos, bewildered. "Victor, what are you doing?"

Victor spat out, "What am I doing? Mom, Dad, do you even know what Rebecca did today? She made me apologize to Yvette and a nobody! The whole school was watching—everyone saw me get humiliated. How am I supposed to show my face on campus now?"

"What? Rebecca made you apologize? Are you serious?" Robert's expression darkened. He didn't ask for details; in his eyes, his son was never wrong.

Yulia felt the same. She pulled Victor aside to calm him, instructed the servant to clean up the mess, and asked the butler to call Rebecca home. To cheer him, she secretly bought him a limited-edition sports car. He calmed down and agreed to wait for Rebecca.

Rebecca had been busy with company issues, unable to eat before receiving a call to return home. When she arrived, the family had finished dinner, Robert and Yulia hovering over Victor, feeding him. Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Spoiling him like this is just going to ruin him. Actually, he's already a mess!"

They ignored her. She laughed coldly and turned to leave.

"Stop right there! Where's your manner? Why didn't you greet us when you got home?" Robert scolded.

Rebecca, exhausted, retorted, "Just get to the point. I have things to do at Grandpa's."

Robert felt no warmth toward her. "What got into Dad? Why is he so determined to push Rebecca while being cold to Victor? All these years, I've never had a good relationship with Rebecca."

"Just explain why you made Victor embarrassed today," Robert demanded.

Rebecca looked at Victor, stung by his hatred. "The one who embarrassed him isn't me—it's him. Why don't you ask him what he did? He nearly took out a student from the physics department, and he even asked his lackeys to humiliate Yvette in public! How old is he? Is this how he should behave!"

Victor knew he was wrong but refused to admit it.

Yulia chimed in, "So what if he hurt a guy? We can afford to pay for it, right? Why should Victor apologize? That's just embarrassing."

Robert agreed, believing Victor could do no wrong.

Rebecca felt helpless. No matter what Victor did, her parents shifted the blame.

"I'll say it again. If Victor keeps getting away with this behavior, I'll make Grandpa take back his shares. Just think over it. Oh, and I'm here to relay Grandpa's message. Don't mess with Yvette. Otherwise, you'll face the consequences." With that, Rebecca stormed out, leaving the three in shock.

"Don't mess with Yvette? What's so special about that girl from the countryside?" the three thought dismissively.