Chapter 264: E55 Vouchers

"Can't you see that he detests you? Natalie, do you have any self-awareness at all? Josie would never be as clingy as you are." Kyle did not mince his words at all.

In the past, Josie would just follow instructions in a docile manner. After completing every task entrusted to her, she would only look at everyone expectantly, hoping that someone would give her a look of approval.

However, no one in Aiden's team fulfilled that tiny wish in her heart. Slowly, things progressed to the current stage, whereby she felt so let down by everyone that she turned against her team totally. In the process, she seemed to have turned into a different person.

Kyle suddenly found himself feeling nostalgic for the Josie of the past. With a start, he suddenly released his grip on Natalie and didn’t want to go near her anymore.

The realization dawned on him then. Natalie had engaged in all forms of intimacy with him short of sleeping together. Yet she was still hankering after Aiden and even tried to seduce Aiden right in front of him. Suddenly, he felt a bit disgusted.

In comparison, Josie was much more virtuous, yet he had used the most vile language to slander Josie. Ironically, he did all this to defend this detestable woman before him.

Kyle felt very remorseful all of a sudden, and the crushing weight of that remorse was downright unbearable…

He distanced himself from Natalie and said, “You are on your own henceforth. Vincent, Gavin, if you still consider me your friend, join me for this meal. If not, then don’t bother.”

With that, Kyle also headed for the campus gate. Gavin and Vincent exchanged glances. Then, with a collective sigh, they looked apologetically at Natalie.

“Those two are in a bad mood. Don’t hold it against them, Natalie. We should all go for this farewell lunch. Let’s go!” Vincent tugged at Natalie’s sleeve.

“That’s right. All of us should go,” Gavin chimed in eagerly.

Natalie could barely contain her fury. Kyle was only able to get into the research institute on her account, yet he was putting on airs in front of her. This guy had some nerve! She would never let him off the hook.

“If you guys want to eat, go ahead. I don’t give a damn about Kyle!” With that, she shoved Vincent aside and dashed off.

Natalie was so infuriated that she wanted to rush back and get her mother to deal with Kyle at once. She was determined to make him regret it and force him to beg her for forgiveness.

That night, Kyle drank a lot. Even Gavin and Vincent got drunk with him. Soon, all three were sprawled out morosely on the floor, dead drunk…

In the pub next door, people were also drinking, but it was accompanied by joyful merrymaking.

Colby raised his beer mug. “Josie, here’s a toast to you! Thank you for helping me with the exam, and for convincing my aunt to invest in my venture!”

“Gosh…” Josie laughed bashfully before saying, “I’ll accept the credit for the exam, but your aunt’s investment has nothing to do with me. If you want to thank, you should thank Zoey. If she hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known about it.”

“Of course I want to thank her too!” Colby looked affectionately at the young lady beside him before turning back to Josie. “But I must thank you too. You two are different people, after all.”

After everyone clinked their mugs, Colby drained his mug in one go. As he sat down, he secretly squeezed Zoey’s hand under the table.

That surreptitious act did not escape Josie’s eyes, but she simply responded with a knowing smile, “Of course.”

She took a small sip of the beer and found that it was a little too strong for her.

“Don’t drink it if you don’t like it. Would you prefer some juice instead?” Sean leaned closer and spoke in a gentle voice.

Josie shook her head petulantly. “No, I have to learn to drink it even if I don’t like it. I won’t have any friends if I can’t drink!”

“Silly girl, friendship isn’t determined by whether one can hold his liquor. Heed my advice. If you don’t like it, don’t drink anymore.” Sean reached out, took her mug, and decanted her beer into his own near-empty mug.

He did this so matter-of-factly that Josie found it weird somehow.

“But… I just drank from that?” Josie blinked a few times blankly as she turned her slightly flushed face toward Sean.