Carly immediately raised an eyebrow and smirked. “What’s wrong, Celine? Are you afraid? You’ve been riding high on your recent wins, and are you afraid of me?”
Celine ended the call. “Alright, I’ll see you soon.” After hanging up, she got ready to leave. Her phone buzzed with a text notification from James, who had sent her a complex surgical proposal. “Doctor, this was a tricky surgery I encountered. If you have a few minutes, please guide me through it.” James was a professor at Yorhine University and also one of her students. Coincidentally, Tracy, one of James’ most promising students, had graduated from Yorhine University. To that point, Tracy's sole research assistant had been heavily supported by James' recommendation. In a way, they were all part of the same mentor-student lineage.
At the café, Celine spotted Carly immediately. Unlike someone casually waiting, Carly stood by the staircase, as if deliberately waiting for her rival.
Celine ascended the stairs, her voice calm and direct. “Carly, I don’t think our relationship has ever been close enough for casual coffee. Say what you wanted to say.”
Carly, in her crystal heels and a bold red slip dress, looked radiant and dazzling. “Celine, congratulations. You really pulled off a win at the press conference.”
“Thank you,” Celine replied flatly.
“But so what? Even if you win, can you truly ever have Adam?”
Celine met her gaze and said simply, “So?”
At that moment, Carly’s peripheral vision caught sight of the café doors swinging open. A tall, handsome figure walked in, exuding an air of power and sophistication.
Carly edged closer to the staircase, lowering her voice as she grinned. “Celine, I’m just worried that you’re flying too close to the sun. It’s time I brought you back down to reality.”
Before Celine could retort, Carly grabbed her sleeve and suddenly screamed in panic. “No! No!”
With that, she dramatically tumbled down the staircase, rolling all the way to the bottom.
Celine’s eyebrows fluttered slightly as she watched. She wasn’t entirely sure what game Carly was playing this time, but it was clear the woman wasn’t holding back.
A gasp went up. Someone called out, “Carly!”
Celine turned her head and saw Adam. He was here. In that instant, Celine understood what Carly was trying to do.
Adam arrived just in time to see Carly falling down the stairs. He immediately rushed forward. “Carly! Carly!”
Celine descended the stairs and said in a neutral tone, “Adam, she’s pulling the same stunt again. Don’t tell me you can’t see that she threw herself down the stairs.”
Adam felt something warm and sticky on his hand. He looked down and realized it was blood. Carly’s leg was injured, and blood was streaming from the wound.
Without sparing Celine a glance, he scooped Carly up in his arms and headed straight to the hospital.
Celine called after Adam, “Adam, don’t be fooled by her!”
Adam stopped and turned his head slightly. His gaze swept over her. “Celine, how can you be so heartless? Carly is a dancer—her legs are her livelihood. And now she’s hurt!”
With that, he carried Carly out, leaving Celine standing frozen in place. He had called her heartless.