At the same time, a huge wave of relief washed over her. Finally, I can rest. Picking up her bag, she left the exam hall. The vast university campus was still quiet. Scattered groups of students chatted and laughed, discussing their plans for Thanksgiving the next day. Darcy checked her phone and saw a message from Cindy. "All done? Come to this restaurant! We're waiting!" Darcy smiled. "Finished. On my way." Distracted by her phone, she wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. Clatter. Her phone hit the ground. Darcy was about to bend down to pick it up when someone else got there first. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," Darcy apologized. Lucian smiled, "No problem." He glanced at the document folder in her hand. "Just finished an exam? What's your major?" "Yes, Financial Engineering." Darcy thought it was odd for a stranger to ask, but he had just helped her, so she answered politely. She started to walk away, but the man gave her a long, searching look. "Quest University's Financial Engineering program is excellent." "Yes, it is." Darcy gave him another curious glance, nodded, and said, "I should go. Thanks again." Even after getting into a cab, Darcy could still see the man through the rearview mirror, standing at the school gate, watching her. The look in his eyes was complex and profound, as if he was looking through her at someone he had missed for a very long time.What a strange man. After Darcy left, Lucian took a lapel pin from his pocket. The pin clearly read "Quest University"—a commemorative pin from the university's centennial celebration. "Ella, I'm at your alma mater now," Lucian whispered, the corners of his eyes reddening. ... As she neared the restaurant, Darcy received a call from Gwen. The background noise was loud. It seemed Gwen had just left an exam hall. "Hello, Gwen?" "Darcy! Where are you? I'm at your exam building!" Darcy was surprised. "I've already left." "What?! Wow, Darcy, you finished early?! Everyone's saying this year's specialized exam was super hard!""Ahem." A timely cough from beside her reminded Gwen of her mission. "Oh, right! Darcy, are you free tonight? Let's get a nice dinner to reward ourselves for all the hard work!" Darcy chuckled, "No, thanks. I already have plans. You go enjoy." Gwen deflated like a punctured balloon. "Oh. Okay. Bye, Darcy." "Is she busy?" Hugo asked, frowning. "She said she has plans with someone else." "With who? Bram?" Gwen faltered. "I didn't ask." Hugo gave a noncommittal hum. If it really was Bram... it didn't matter. Both he and Gwen knew Darcy had no feelings for Bram. ...Getting out of the cab, Darcy entered the restaurant. Just inside, she ran into Zora. Darcy wasn't familiar with her, so she didn't even glance her way, heading straight for the stairs to the second-floor private rooms. But Zora called out to her. Zora looked Darcy up and down, her eyes settling on the stationery pouch in her hand. She raised an eyebrow. "I heard from Kaia you were taking the graduate entrance exam. I thought she was joking. Didn't realize it was true. "Must be hard studying at your age, isn't it? "Oh, sorry. I forgot. You're applying for the part-time program, right? I've heard those degrees don't carry much weight." Darcy gave her a cold look and raised an eyebrow in return. "So the great Dr. Moss is dropping the pretense?" "What do you mean?" Zora frowned."You know exactly what I mean," Darcy replied. Before, she had thought Zora was just incompetent. Now she realized the woman had serious character flaws. Wasting another word on her was pointless. Darcy walked past Zora and up the stairs. Zora glared at Darcy's retreating back, her hands clenched at her sides. Did Darcy know about my... No, how could she? Only Lucian, Jasper, and his mother knew the truth about my time abroad. The former was firmly under her control. The latter would never return to the country. Her secrets were safe. Just then, Zora's phone rang. The caller was Lucian. A smile touched Zora's lips. "Landed? Send me the hotel address."... Darcy knocked on the private room door. Cindy greeted her with a huge hug. "Congratulations, dear! You're finally done! The world of academia is about to gain another brilliant woman!" Darcy laughed, "It's not that dramatic. Besides, the results aren't out yet, and there's another round of interviews after Christmas." Cindy winked at her. "You'll be fine! If you don't get in, then there's something wrong with the examiners!" Such blind faith was touching. It felt good to be trusted. Darcy turned to look at Jethro. He was dressed casually today in a black cashmere sweater and black trousers. He looked refined and elegant, yet relaxed.