Chapter 99

At that moment, the ward door opened, and Liam, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, entered. He had just left a large meeting. He carried a man's medical report.

Seeing Emma awake in bed, he approached.

Emma nodded. “I’m fine. I’m feeling better now.”

“Good,” Liam said, turning to Bob. “Bob, you can leave first.”

Emma was surprised. “Do you know each other?”

The two men remained silent for a moment. Bob pressed a finger to his lips, coughed, and then said, “He’s my uncle.”

Emma was stunned. Remembering Bob was her age, she thought, What is going on? Am I… his aunt?

She looked at Liam in confusion. “Really?”

Liam explained, “Bob is my cousin’s son.”

Emma’s eyes widened.

Facing Emma’s shock, Bob remained calm. “I’ll leave first, Uncle Liam… Emma, goodbye.”

After Bob left, Liam expressed his displeasure. “The one who tampered with the water is a student from Dimonate College. But a mere student couldn’t obtain such professional laboratory poison. I suspect someone else is behind her.”

Emma nodded. She had been in the limelight recently. Countless eyes watched her in Train City, and many internationally sought to attack her.

“Rest. Leave this to me,” Liam said.

Emma was discharged that night. She updated her class group chat, and the students breathed a collective sigh of relief, reminding her to rest and leave the competition to them.

She then received a friend request from Bob, which she accepted. Bob didn't send a message, and Emma went to sleep.

Dimonate College's malicious poisoning of Emma not only led to their disqualification from the competition but also resulted in the student's prosecution. Vark College ultimately won first place.

After a two-day break, Emma returned to training. Entering the classroom, she found it filled with balloons and flowers.

“Surprise!” the students shouted.

They looked at Emma as if she were a hero.

“Miss Wilson, you’re finally back!” someone exclaimed.

“This is a surprise we prepared for you. Welcome back, Miss Wilson,” another added.

Emma was not only the idol of her class but also a legend at Vark College. Her record-breaking run had caused a sensation in all the high schools and universities in Troln City, attracting attention from the official media who lauded her as a new-era sportswoman.

Looking at the flowers, Emma was reminded of her previous competitions. Victorious returns were always celebrated, but those celebrations lacked the opulence of this one.

She noticed three large bouquets on her desk, each more extravagant than the last. “What’s with these three bouquets?”

James approached, looking mysterious. “Miss Wilson, take a guess.” He gestured to the bouquets, which nearly overwhelmed her desk, much to everyone's envy.

The first, gorgeous blue orchids, bore a card: “[Congratulations on being discharged. Look forward to tasting your cooking again soon. From Aiden.]”

Emma smiled and shook her head. The second bouquet was wine-colored roses. The third was sunflowers.

James continued, with interest, “It’s sunflowers from Bob, from Woodland High. He arrived this morning and placed them on your desk. The blue orchids were a delivery. The purple roses were delivered by Mr. Hall’s assistant.”

“Only Bob delivered his personally,” one student observed. “Miss Wilson, is he interested in you?”

“That’s right. What did you talk about in the hospital the other day?” another asked.

“But why did he send sunflowers? Bob’s taste is really strange,” a third voice remarked.

Emma looked at the sunflowers. “You’re thinking too much. Bob and I are just friends. And the sunflowers are to celebrate my discharge. Perhaps it means healthy recovery.”

The explanation seemed plausible. After all, no one would expect sunflowers from a boy like Bob.

Emma decided to keep Liam's roses and returned the orchids. She considered returning the sunflowers but her classmates were already vying for them.

They created a special space for the sunflowers at the back of the classroom and placed them in a glass vase. The sunflowers became a focus of attention.

After school, Emma walked around campus with Liam's roses, the center of attention.

However, as she left the school gates, Fiona rushed towards her. Emma instinctively prepared to defend herself, but Fiona, unlike last time, carried no paint. Seeing Emma's stance, she stopped. “I–I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Emma, recalling the red paint incident, eyed her cousin suspiciously. “What’s up?”

Fiona bowed. “Sorry for what happened last time. I was impulsive. I’ve reflected on myself. I shouldn’t have done that. Kate went to prison for her actions, and I shouldn’t blame you. I’ll find a job in Troln City and start anew.”

Emma offered a few words of encouragement before leaving.

At that moment, a gentle voice called, “Emma.”