Natalie left, her face full of mockery.

"Why is she being so smug?" Adeline stomped her foot in anger.

Josie smiled, "What's there to be angry about?" She raised her voice and said, "Natalie, I'll definitely give you a big gift then. Don’t miss it!"

"Who cares about your gift?" Natalie turned and rolled her eyes.

She said, "You want to curry favor with me now, but it's too late. No matter what you give, I can’t help you. Just give up!"

Josie laughed and pulled Adeline away. "It’s a shame it’s happening on Friday. I had originally intended for them to enjoy a good meal!"

The person next to Natalie was confused, "What does Josie mean by that?"

Natalie said, "Who cares what she means? It's just a pretense to make her loss less embarrassing. Now that my results are out and awards are about to be given out, whatever she wants to do is too late." Natalie didn't take Josie’s words to heart at all.

Adeline said, "Josie, how can you not be angry? Natalie is truly too brazen. I heard that the research institute..." She rolled up her sleeves, her face angry. "She has achieved minor accomplishments, and Professor Lawson protects her. Therefore, she looks down on everyone, and now she’s even going for an award. If she really wins an award, that would be crazy. When she sees us again, she will become even more arrogant."

"Don't worry," Josie smiled slightly. "She won't win an award!"

Adeline asked, looking surprised, "How do you know? I heard that many of this year’s judges are Professor Lawson’s friends. As long as her research doesn’t have major issues, even if there are some minor flaws, she might still…"

Josie smiled. "David's influence doesn’t extend that far! Alright, don’t worry about this. Let’s register first. We’re having a meal with Zoey and the others later!"

A month ago, Zoey, who had just received her diploma, got engaged to Colby, which completely made Aiden give up on her. After her internship, Allison received a formal offer letter from Reedshaw Group. After careful consideration, she decided to stay at Reedshaw Group. However, she applied to change departments, which was quite a rational decision to make.

That evening, Josie and her friends, who had spent five years together in the same dorm, met at a restaurant to celebrate their graduation and embark on a new chapter in their lives. All four were excited and happy. Josie and Adeline had successfully passed their postgraduate entrance exams, Allison had found a job, and Zoey had not only secured a job but also found her life partner.

"Congratulations, Zoey," Josie raised her glass to Zoey. "You're the first among us to get engaged. I wish you all the happiness!"

Zoey, also pleased, raised her glass. "If you want, you can get engaged right away, too. I think Sean can’t wait!"

"Stop teasing me. Drink up!" Josie’s face was flushed as she finished a glass of wine in one gulp.

Perhaps due to their excitement, all four girls had had a bit too much to drink. Zoey called a driver to take Allison back. She lived in the dorm provided by Reedshaw Group. The other three were all picked up by their boyfriends.

Watching each of them get into their cars and leave, Josie turned and threw herself into Sean’s arms, saying, "Hug me!"

"Drunk?" Sean cupped her face. "How much did you drink?"

Josie’s cheeks flushed. "I’m not drunk at all. Don’t talk nonsense…" She struggled out of his arms, turned her head, and walked forward. Skipping as she walked, she exclaimed, "I haven’t been this happy in a long time. They're finally different from before. No one has suffered misfortune, everyone is doing well, and everything is developing in a good direction!"

"Slow down. Be careful!" Sean looked at her with a tender smile in his eyes. He asked, "Could it be that you have experienced a different life for them than the present one?"