Chapter 9

"Senior Karl Jess?!" Viola Hicks's eyes lit up instantly. In the blink of an eye, she reached out and shook his hand with admiration. "I've heard about you! You're the president of the Light and Shadow Society, a top student in finance, and incredibly handsome—you're like the perfect hero from a novel!

Seeing Viola Hicks's utterly infatuated expression, Lensoe Merrill couldn't help rolling his eyes and whispered, "Do you know him?"

Viola Hicks shot her a glare full of disdain: "Lunxiao Merrill, have you really been isolated from the world for too long? Senior Carl Jies is so well-known—I couldn't possibly not know him! He's a standout figure at our school, and many girls are fond of him!

Isolde Soyer leaned close to LenXiao Merrill's ear and whispered, "Don't pay her any mind—she's just a flowerhead; she knows every handsome guy out there."

Lensoe Merrill covered his mouth and smiled secretly; the slight discomfort in his heart gradually faded. It turned out that Karl Jess was so well-known at school.

Carl Jies smiled warmly, withdrew his hand, and said to them, "I'm the president of the Light and Shadow Society. Feel free to visit us whenever you have time."

Isolde Søye, Viola Hicks, and Muxue exchanged glances before simultaneously raising their voices in unison, uttering an "Oh..." with eyes filled with ambiguous expressions—as if they had suddenly grasped something.

Carl Jess seemed somewhat perplexed by their reaction, but Len Xiao Merrill grew uneasy and quickly explained, "Don't make assumptions—I'm just... just an ordinary friend of his."

"An ordinary friend?" Isolde Soyer raised an eyebrow and pinched Lensoe Merrill's small face with a playful tone. "An ordinary friend would secretly watch him at club events? An ordinary friend would be the one he called aside alone? Lensoe Merrill, tell me honestly—when did you start dating? You're hiding it from us!"

"No!" Len Xiao·Merrill's face turned bright red instantly, his voice trembling with urgency. "We're really just ordinary friends—I only found out yesterday that he and I attended the same university."

Seeing LenXiao·Merrill so distressed, she was on the verge of tears, Karl Jess rushed over, took her backpack, held her hand, and said to Isolde Soyer and the others, "Let's go ahead for now; we'll talk again next time."

Before Isolde Søye and the others could react, Karl Jess pulled Renesho Merrill away and hurried off. The three girls stood frozen in place, exchanging glances before breaking into an ambiguous smile—clearly, their best friend had truly fallen in love.

Lensoe Merrill was being pulled forward by Karl Jess; the blush on his face had not yet faded, and he felt both embarrassed and angry: "What are you doing? They all misunderstood!"

Carl Jess turned around, smiling as he patted her forehead: "If there's a misunderstanding, let it be. Anyway, ma'am, you've got to come back with me to the Bread Tree today—no excuses."

"I don't want that!" Lunschon Merrill tried to shake his hand off. "I just finished class and need to go back to my dorm to rest. Besides, with the new semester starting, I don't have to go to Bread Tree anymore."

"No," Karl Jess said firmly, his tone clearly indicating refusal. "The business at Bread Tree is thriving—I can't manage it all alone; you must come help me. Besides, don't you want to learn how to make bread too? If you don't come to Bread Tree, how am I supposed to teach you?

Lensoe Merrill was left speechless by his words, able only to let him pull him along, while inwardly muttering: "This Carl Jess is simply too domineering! His entire college life had been ruined by him, and now he's forced to work at the Bread Tree every day—even busier than during summer vacation. "

The evening sun stretched both figures far and wide. Karl Jess walked swiftly, completely ignoring Len Xiao Merrill behind him; Merrill had to jog along the entire distance just to keep up.

"Carl Jess, wait a moment!" Lunschon Merrill shouted from behind. "Your legs are long—mine aren't; I can't keep up!"

Carl Jass turned around, noticed her gasping for breath, and a smile played on his lips. Yet he deliberately slowed his pace and teased, "Who said your legs are short? That's not my fault."

Lensoe Merrill gritted her teeth in anger, yet felt utterly helpless. As she watched Karl Jess's shadow on the ground, a brilliant plan for revenge suddenly struck her: she lifted her foot and stomped relentlessly upon the shadow—on his head, on his body—while muttering under her breath, "You bullied me, you said my legs were short, you made me a fool!"

Seeing Karl Jass walking ahead, unaware of what was happening, LenXiao Merrill felt a surge of satisfaction and couldn't help but laugh.

When Karl Jess heard her laughter, he turned around helplessly and couldn't help but laugh at her childish demeanor. He strode over, grabbed her schoolbag as if carrying a little rabbit, and pulled her close: "You're an adult now—why play such childish games? If you don't leave soon, it'll get dark and the bread tree will close."

"I like it—do you even care?" LenXiao·Merrill raised his head, looking at him with a defiant expression, just like a child who had suffered injustice.

"There's no use worrying about it, is there?" Karl Jess shook his head helplessly, pulled her along, and continued walking toward the bread tree—with a tone full of affection.

After school resumed, business at Bread Tree was even better than during the summer vacation. LenXiao·Merrill and Karl Jess were busy every day until late at night before closing. LenXiao·Merrill initially didn't want to return to Bread Tree, but Karl Jess would insist on taking her there after class each day; over time, she grew accustomed to this hectic routine.

That day, business at the Bread Tree was exceptionally brisk. LenXiao Merrill was so busy that he nearly lost his bearings; after finally seeing off the last customer, he was about to close up when a familiar voice suddenly entered: "Younger student, you can't even recognize your senior?"

Len Xiao Merrill was utterly exhausted, muttering perfunctorily "Welcome," without even the strength to lift her head. But upon hearing those words, she suddenly raised her head, her eyes lighting up instantly: "Professor Li? How could it be you?"

Li Zhe was her senior; when she suffered from autism, he often cared for her with great kindness, and he remains someone she is deeply grateful to in her heart.

"Little sister, business at the store is doing really well," Li Zhe said with a smile, gently nudging her head with his thumb in a loving tone. "You look so tired—you're almost asleep. If any customer sneaks off some bread, you'd be in serious trouble."

Len Xiao Merrill smiled foolishly and said playfully, "Could the senior help me manage the store? Giving roses to others leaves fragrance in your hands—and it would spread the senior's reputation for being helpful throughout the entire school. That's a win-win situation."

"You're still as quick-witted as ever," Li Zhe said, shaking his head helplessly; the affection in his eyes was even more evident. "It's been a while since we last saw each other, and you've actually become much more cheerful."

Lensoe Merrill smiled without saying a word. She knew that her cheerful disposition was largely thanks to Carl Jess.

"Younger classmate, I haven't seen you attend class for quite some time. Has something happened?" Li Zhe asked with concern. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, really," LenXiao·Merrill waved his hand with a smile, "I just fell ill recently, so I've been absent from class occasionally. Now I'm fully recovered—don't worry, senior."

"It's all right," Li Zhe said, reaching out to gently touch her head. "You always fail to take proper care of yourself—it's really concerning."

The two stood at the counter, chatting and laughing in a very pleasant atmosphere. This scene was witnessed by Karl Jess inside the bakery.

The dough in Karl Jies's hands was tightly clenched; his fingers turned pale from exertion. He kneaded it at an increasingly rapid pace, his forehead drenched in sweat and his face growing grim. As he watched Li Zhe touch Lunxiao Merrill's head, a sensation of obstruction filled him—a sense of oppression and pain—while an inexplicable surge of anger instantly rose within him.

He couldn't understand why he was so angry. All he saw was LenXiao·Merrill smiling at another boy and seeing how kind the other boy was to him—this made him feel uneasy. He wanted to pull LenXiao·Merrill close to himself and prevent anyone else from getting near him.

The next day, Karl Jess was still standing at the school gate, waiting for LenXiao Merrill. When Merrill approached slowly, however, he said nothing; instead, he turned coldly and strode toward the Bread Tree.

Len Xiao Merrill watched his cold back and felt a wave of confusion—what was wrong with him? Why had he suddenly become so indifferent? Could it be related to what happened to Dean Li yesterday?

She hurried after him and asked carefully, "Carl Jess, what's wrong? Are you angry?"

Carl Jess didn't turn around or say a word; he simply quickened his pace even further.

Lensoe Merrill watched his retreating figure, her heart filled with resentment and confusion. She had no idea that behind Karl Jess's coldness lay a jealousy he himself hadn't even noticed, and a storm surrounding them was quietly brewing.