Chapter 35: Chapter 34: Pack Your Things
I have to admit, he did have a certain flamboyant, youthful vibe.
Too bad...
Joanna Kennedy’s gaze lingered on his spiky red hair for a moment before she looked away in disgust.
’Too bad he’s a punk.’
Thomas Warren didn’t miss the undisguised disdain in her eyes.
’Heh, she’s as proud as ever.’
He ran a hand through his red hair, his grin widening.
After class, Joanna Kennedy went to get some water, carrying the bright yellow cup Simon Lockwood had recently bought for her.
When she was rich, she’d just buy bottled water or all sorts of drinks whenever she was thirsty. Now that she was broke, she had to get her own water to keep from dying of thirst.
The water dispenser was on the wall near the door. Joanna had barely taken two steps when a human wall blocked her way. She moved left; the human wall moved left. She moved right; the human wall moved right with her.
After this happened twice, Joanna got annoyed. She glared over and saw it was the red-haired guy. "You’re in my way," she snapped.
"I know," Thomas Warren said, pleased by her irritation. He provoked her deliberately, "I’m doing it on purpose."
Joanna was speechless.
Joanna: "Are you crazy?"
"Nope." Thomas Warren grinned smugly. "Hey, thirsty? How about I get some water for you?"
Joanna pulled the cup back, dodging his outstretched hand. "I don’t need your help."
"C’mon, Miss Kennedy. I don’t mean any harm. I’m just trying to get on your good side."
The way he said "Miss Kennedy" was so strange and mocking.
Joanna would have to be a fool to believe his crap. Her expression turned cold. "Get lost."
Thomas Warren didn’t move. He took two steps forward, about to say something else, when the class bell rang right on cue.
Unable to get water, Joanna shot him a harsh glare and returned to her seat.
Halfway through class, she couldn’t take it anymore. Her mouth was uncomfortably dry. She glanced over and saw a bottle of mineral water in the desk of the girl in front of her.
Joanna nudged her own desk forward and gently poked the girl’s back. When the girl turned her head, Joanna asked sheepishly, "Can I have some of your water?"
She quickly added, "I’ll buy you a new bottle after class."
The girl hesitated, but seeing the eager, pleading expression on Joanna’s pretty face, she did look rather pitiful.
Her kindness made her heart soften. She took out the water bottle. "Here, you can have it."
"Thank you!" Joanna’s eyes lit up, curving into a genuine smile, as if she hadn’t been given a bottle of water, but some precious jewel.
The girl felt a little awkward. "You’re welcome."
After a few sips of the refreshing mineral water, she felt like she had come back to life.
’Water truly is the source of life,’ Joanna mused.
During the long break between classes, seeing the red-haired guy about to approach again, Joanna quickly trotted out the back door and didn’t stop until she reached the school store.
Joanna grabbed an identical bottle of mineral water from the shelf, paid for it, and started heading back to the classroom.
As she walked out of the store, she saw Simon Lockwood standing under a tree not far away.
She didn’t know how long he’d been waiting. All the girls passing by were sneaking glances at him.
Simon Lockwood’s gaze paused for a second on the water bottle in her hand, then he walked over unhurriedly. "Thirsty?"
"No, I bought it to pay someone back," Joanna answered honestly.
Simon Lockwood frowned and asked her what had happened.
Joanna’s face immediately scrunched up as she poured out the whole story, like a child tattling. She finished by cursing the red-haired guy a few times, calling him a psycho.
"It’s all his fault I couldn’t get any water. I was so thirsty I couldn’t stand it, so I had to ask someone else for a drink..."
After hearing this, Simon’s expression turned ugly for a split second. Before Joanna could get a good look, he had returned to his usual self, his tone flat. "I get it."
Joanna hadn’t yet figured out what he meant by "I get it" when Simon turned and walked away.
’How weird.’
Joanna didn’t overthink it and went to return the water to her "creditor."
The girl who lent her the water probably didn’t expect her to actually pay it back and was a little surprised. "You don’t have to. It’s just a bottle of water. You can just have it."
Joanna: "No, no! This cost two yuan."
Hearing her say that, the girl’s expression became a bit complicated.
’The rich young lady who never used to look at price tags can actually say something like this now. How times have changed.’
When classes ended that afternoon, she finally understood what Simon Lockwood meant when he said, "I get it."
At that moment, she was about to go find Simon Lockwood to have dinner together when the red-haired guy blocked her path. From his incessant pestering, she learned his name was Thomas Warren and that his family was in the jewelry business.
Thomas Warren insisted on treating her to dinner. "Miss Kennedy, won’t you grace me with your presence? You can pick any place you like."
’Pick my ass,’ Joanna thought. She impatiently tried to push him away, but Thomas Warren was quick and reached for her wrist. Suddenly, a strong force knocked his arm aside.
His arm tingling from the impact, Thomas Warren clutched it and cried out. He looked up to see who was tired of living and dared to oppose him.
He was met with a pair of dark, gloomy eyes, and Thomas Warren subconsciously took a few steps back.
By the time he came to his senses, the newcomer was already pulling Joanna away. Burning with rage, Thomas Warren cursed, "Fuck!"
Simon Lockwood’s face was grim as he pulled her along. Joanna couldn’t keep up with his pace and kept telling him to slow down, but he ignored her.
Finally, at a corner in the hallway, Joanna forcefully shook off his hand. Facing his sullen expression, she felt both wronged and angry. "I told you to slow down! Why are you walking so fast?!"
"You’re angry?" Joanna said. "I’m not even the one who’s mad!"
Her tone was incredibly aggrieved. Simon Lockwood’s expression softened slightly, but his face remained cold. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Facing Simon’s dark eyes, it suddenly dawned on Joanna. "You mean about Thomas Warren?"
’He even knows his name.’
The chill in Simon Lockwood’s eyes deepened.
Joanna pouted. "He’s just a loudmouth. I can just ignore him. You’re not even in my class, so what’s the use of telling you?"
’Besides, that Thomas Warren’s family has some money. Simon is still just a developing male lead; he’d definitely be at a disadvantage against him.’
’I’m so kind,’ Joanna thought, ’being so considerate of the male lead.’
’Praise me, please. Maybe next time I won’t have to be the vicious supporting female character.’
said to her icily: [There will be no next time.]
Completely unaffected by the idiotic little system, Joanna finished her thought, lowered her head, and started fiddling with her fingers.
Simon Lockwood stared at her in silence for a moment before saying, "Let’s go eat first. After we’re done, go back to the classroom and pack your things."
Joanna froze for a second, then her head snapped up. "Pack what things?"
"Let’s eat," was all Simon Lockwood said, striding toward the cafeteria with his long legs.
’How can I possibly eat now? What’s with him stopping halfway through a sentence?’
Joanna trotted to catch up, asking urgently in his ear, "Hey, what do you mean, pack my things?"
"Simon Lockwood, say something! Hurry up and tell me."
Simon Lockwood didn’t even glance at her, nor did he break his stride. "Eat first. If you ask again, I won’t tell you at all."
Joanna was at a loss for words.
She stomped her foot and resentfully shut her mouth.
