Chapter 8

On stage, Carl Jess calmly explained the Light and Shadow Society's daily activities and recruitment requirements—with a smooth tone, a determined gaze, and every movement radiating confidence. He was a complete contrast to the usual Carl Jess at Bread Tree, who loved teasing her and playing the poor guy.

Lensoe Merrill stood among the crowd, staring at his dazzling appearance and finding it hard to meet his gaze. She had never imagined that the boy who spent every day working and bickering with her in the Bread Tree could have such a side.

Carl Jess quickly concluded his introduction, glanced around the crowd, and immediately spotted LenXiao Merrill in a corner. A subtle surprise flickered in his eyes before giving way to a familiar smile as he walked straight toward her.

When Lensoe Merrill saw him approaching, she felt a surge of anxiety and instinctively wanted to run—she still hadn't figured out how to deal with him, what questions to ask, or why she had been hiding her identity.

"Lun Xiao Merrill, why do you want to run away the moment you see me?" Karl Jies stepped forward quickly, grabbed her wrist, and said with a playful tone, "What? Are you afraid I'll drag you into the Shadow Society and make you work for me?"

Len Xiao Merrill stopped in his tracks, turned to look at him, his face tinged with a hint of guilt, and said calmly, "Who wanted to run away? I just had some matters to attend to and needed to leave first.

"Really?" Karl Jass raised an eyebrow, released her wrist, but stepped in front of her to prevent her from leaving. "Why do I feel like you're afraid I'll press you about why you came to the Light and Shadow Society secretly without telling me?"

Lensoe Merrill's face turned crimson instantly, and he muttered to himself: "How does this person know everything?" "I just came to take a look—can't I?"

"Alright, then why not?" Karl Jess smiled and stroked her hair. "But didn't you realize that I'm the president of the Light and Shadow Society?"

Len Xiao Merrill pursed his lips, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "Indeed, I didn't expect Master Carl Jass to be not only a top student at A University but also the president of the Light and Shadow Society—he truly hides his talents well."

She deliberately emphasized the phrase "Master Karl Jess," and the tone clearly conveyed mockery and dissatisfaction. Having kept it hidden from her for so long, she couldn't help feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Carl Jess noticed her dissatisfaction and said with a smile, "I didn't hide anything from you either; you never asked which school I attended, did you?"

"I..." LenXiao·Merrill was momentarily speechless. She hadn't asked him, but he certainly shouldn't have deliberately kept it from her.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore," Karl Jess said, suppressing his smile and asking seriously, "Do you like photography?"

"It's not that I particularly like them—I just find them visually appealing, so I occasionally take photos of them," said LenXiao·Merrill as he took out his phone, opened the photo album, and handed it to her. "Look, these are all beautiful images I've saved online; I think they're exceptionally well taken."

Carl Jess took the phone and examined it carefully, his eyes filled with approval: "You've got a keen eye—the composition and lighting in these photos are excellent. If you really like them, whenever the Light Society releases new photographic works, I'll have a copy sent to you. What do you think?

Lensoe Merrill raised an eyebrow, his face full of skepticism: "Are you really that kind? Are you trying to trick me into joining the Light and Shadow Society to work for you?"

"If that's how you see it, then never mind," Karl Jess said, shrugging helplessly as if to return her phone. "I've got plenty of things to handle—so many people are applying for positions; I don't have time for jokes."

"No, no, no!" LenXiao·Merrill quickly snatched the phone and said with a smile, "I'll do it—I definitely will! Thank you, President Carl Jess."

Seeing her utterly flattered expression, Karl Jess couldn't help but laugh, "That's pretty much it. I really have other things to attend to—there are still many new students waiting to be greeted over there. If you can't find your friend, just call me."

Lensoe Merrill nodded as he watched her retreating figure, and his dissatisfaction gradually faded. In truth, he wasn't that adverse to her—he was even willing to share his photographic works with her.

After a long search, LenXiao·Merrill finally spotted the three infatuated girls—Isolde Soyer, Viola Hicks, and Muxue—at the instrument club's booth. The three were gathered around several boys, completely absorbed in their admiration; they didn't even notice LenXiao·Merrill approaching.

"Three ladies, please stop watching!" Lun Xiao Merrill reached out and patted their shoulders. "You've been watching all day—can't you get tired of it? It's almost dinner time; if we don't eat soon, we'll go hungry!"

The three girls were disturbed by the interruption, which annoyed them greatly. Viola Hicks frowned and complained, "Lunxiao Merrill, could you please stop disturbing us? We were just chatting with our senior students and had finally managed to get their QQ numbers.

"Exactly," Esold Søye added in agreement, "Admiring beautiful women and seeing more handsome men is beneficial for both physical and mental health. But considering your poor situation, we'll go eat first and then contact the senior students after dinner.

Len Xiao Merrill shook his head helplessly, "I'm truly impressed by you—all of you are complete flowerheads."

The four of them went to a restaurant near the school. During dinner, Isolde Søye and the other two were still discussing the handsome guy they had just met—talking about everything from his looks to his talents—with great enthusiasm. LenXiao Merrill sat beside them, listening so intently that his ears were almost calloused from constant listening.

Back in the dormitory, the three of them still hadn't stopped discussing. Unable to bear it any longer, LenXiao Merrill grabbed a pillow and threw it at them: "Can you all be quiet? I'm going to sleep!"

Viola Hicks whispered to Muxue, "Did she take a dose of poison today? She's so angry—could it be that she didn't see the handsome guy and felt resentful?

Muxue nodded in agreement, saying, "I think so too—I'm definitely envious of us for seeing so many handsome guys."

Hearing their complaints, Lenso Merrill was so furious he nearly vomited blood, yet utterly helpless; he could only pull the quilt over himself and fall into a deep sleep. But when he closed his eyes, all that came to mind was Carl Jass—his confident, composed presence on stage, the playful side of him within the Bread Tree, and the complex emotions in his eyes when he concealed his true identity.

Who exactly was he? Why did he take a job at the Bread Tree? Why did he conceal his identity as a university student from Class A and president of the Light and Shadow Society? Countless questions lingered in her mind, keeping her awake at night.

The next day in class, LenXiao·Merrill was constantly distracted, gazing out the window with Carl Jess's image constantly running through her mind. She didn't even realize that by the end of class, Carl Jess had already been waiting for her at the classroom door for quite some time.

"Lun Xiao Merrill!" A deep, magnetic voice interrupted her thoughts.

Lensoe Merrill looked up and saw Karl Jess standing at the door, wearing a clean white shirt with a familiar smile on his lips, quietly observing her. She felt a surge of unease and instinctively tried to step aside, but Isolde Soyer and the other two had already moved forward to surround her.

"Handsome sir, are you here to pick up your girlfriend after class? Which department does she belong to?" Isolde Söyer surveyed Karl Jess with a curious, gossipy expression in her eyes.

Carl Jess smiled and extended his hand warmly: "From the Department of Finance at University A, Carl Jess."

Lensoe Merrill looked at him, and another question arose in his mind: Could it be that he was still from the finance department? How many more secrets did he hold that she didn't know?