Students trickled out of the classroom as the lunch bell rang, heading toward the cafeteria. Shane gradually woke up, watching Seraphina as she packed her books and prepared to leave. Rising to her feet, she took her cardholder and left the room. When she navigated the packed hallway, the students glanced her way, and their whispers trailed behind her. "Hey, isn't that the girl sitting next to Shane?" "Wait—didn't he kick her out?" "Guess not." "What's her deal?" "She's that daughter of the Whitewood Family who just came back. I heard she clashed with Ryder this morning. It almost took him out. Wish I'd been there to see it." "Same. What a missed opportunity." "Missed? Who knows? Maybe we'll watch Shane toss her into the lake later." "If he does, I'm filming it and posting it everywhere." Shane exited the classroom with his usual troublemaking group. Other students avoided them, creating a space bubble. Conversations floated by the hallway, but Shane focused on the figure ahead—Seraphina. One of his crews nudged him. "So, what's the plan? Cafeteria No. 3 or Cafeteria No. 2 today?" Bloomington School had three cafeterias, each designed to suit various preferences and budgets. Cafeteria No. 3 offered the most extravagant dining experience. Cafeteria No. 1 specialized in international cuisine created by five-star chefs, and its prices exceed those of most external dining options. Cafeteria No. 2, known for its cozy atmosphere and à la carte menu, charged three times as much as Cafeteria No. 1. Despite this, Cafeteria No. 3 consistently attracted the largest crowds and was the preferred choice among students. Shane didn't answer. He simply trailed the crowd and headed toward Cafeteria No. 3. As Seraphina entered the cafeteria, a slight commotion near the card station caught her attention. A group of students surrounded someone—Yvonne. Yvonne looked visibly uncomfortable, shuffling her feet awkwardly as the group's taunts escalated. "You're joking, right? You said you'd treat us, and now you can't pay? Were you just bluffing?" one girl sneered. "Don't act rich if you're broke," another chimed in. "Being poor isn't the issue—it's pretending you're not. That's the real problem." "You were so confident earlier, but now? Pathetic." Yvonne's face burned with embarrassment. She hadn't realized how pricey the food was here—one dish cost nearly half her monthly allowance. Following her big talk, the group chose the priciest items on the menu. All she sought was acceptance, yet the price proved too high for her. Their words hit her like a hammer, and she wanted nothing but to vanish. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Seraphina walking into the cafeteria. A wave of relief washed over her. "Seraphina!" Yvonne called out, her voice loud enough to turn heads. The group surrounding her turned toward the new arrival. Their eyes fell on Seraphina, and her poise and natural beauty immediately caught their attention. "Who's that?" one girl murmured. "No clue," another replied. "Must be one of her broke friends," a girl scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. Yvonne rushed up to Seraphina, her face flushed and desperate. "Do you have your card on you? I'm short today—can you help me out?" Seraphina's face remained unchanged, yet she couldn't help but smirk to herself. She thought, I bailed her out countless times in my last life. She never repaid me, not even a single time. Some things never change.