Chapter 62
Back when Josie was with them, she never cared about her appearance—she’d show up to the lab every day looking disheveled, in mismatched clothes, with dust on her face. Her time was all about working in the lab and writing reports—there was no room for sweet smiles or trying to charm anyone.
If she wasn’t trying to catch Sean’s attention, why would she change so suddenly? The way she looked now… it was truly stunning. If she’d looked like that back when she was on the team, the seniors would have never dared to have her do all the chores. They’d have probably pampered her like a princess. After all, pretty girls were always easy to like.
Gavin sighed. “The saying ‘a woman dresses to please the man she loves’ just means none of us seniors could catch her eye. She didn’t bother to dress for us.”
The way Josie looked after getting dressed up was indeed striking. She might’ve lost some weight and looked a little pale, but her eyes were bright, and her features seemed much sharper. Even Gavin, who often went to bars and had dated several women, couldn’t help but look at her a little longer.
“What do you mean, ‘a woman dresses for the one she loves?’ Gavin, who are you talking about?” Natalie came over, setting her food on the table.
Aiden shot her a brief glance, frowning. “When did you get here?”
“Just now. I saw a crowd gathering over here, but by the time I came close, everyone had already left. What happened?” Natalie blinked her large eyes, looking at the group curiously.
Kyle quickly waved his hand. “Nothing, nothing. Just some gossip. You shouldn’t be asking about it, Natalie. Eat your food and focus on your studies.”
“Yeah, yeah, eat more. You’ve got class later,” Gavin added, shoveling some meat onto Natalie’s plate. He hoped she wouldn’t ask any more questions.
Aiden was in a bad mood and shot Natalie an irritated look. “Did you finish the materials I asked for? We need them for the group discussion this afternoon.”
“It’s done. Don’t worry, Aiden, I’ve got it covered,” Natalie said with a bright smile, patting her chest confidently. Her smile was dazzling, but for some reason, when Aiden saw it, Josie’s face flashed in his mind. They were totally different; Josie always gave off a calm, distant vibe, and her occasional smile stayed with you long after she’d stopped smiling.
But Natalie…
“Aiden, what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? Why aren’t you happy?” Natalie tugged at his sleeve. She swayed gently, her soft, coaxing voice almost impossible to resist. Aiden looked into her doe-eyed gaze, seeing her concern for him, and for some reason, it felt… nice.
Women… Women like Natalie were always easier to like. Sweet smiles, knowing how to act cute, obedient, and gentle—everything about her was so pleasing. Josie had some of those qualities once, but now she had lost them all. No wonder he grew to despise her.
Sean wasn’t a good guy, and Aiden didn’t believe for a second that someone like Josie would ever win his approval. He was just waiting for the day Josie came crawling back to him.
“I’m not upset!” Aiden raised his hand and gently patted Natalie’s head. “Eat your meal.”
As Aiden’s expression softened, Natalie secretly sighed in relief. She had seen and heard everything. She never expected Josie to confront Aiden in public like that. She wondered, ‘Is this love turned to hate? How could she not like Aiden? A figure like him—who wouldn’t be attracted to him?’ Natalie figured Josie was just being stubborn.
Josie is only playing hard to get to get Aiden’s attention. And as for Zoey—what campus beauty? She isn’t even close to being as pretty. How could Aiden possibly like someone like her?
‘So many people are after Aiden, and it is honestly a bit annoying. I will deal with them one by one.’
As Josie and the others left the cafeteria.
“Zoey, you saw it, right? Aiden is definitely no good. Maybe you should consider liking someone else?”