Chapter 477: Chapter 477: Such a Fool
The next day arrived quickly.
Because it was the first official day of classes, few teachers started lecturing right away, mostly just introducing the scope of the semester’s curriculum.
However, in the afternoon, all the medical students participated in the medical student oath-taking ceremony.
Everyone put on the white coats issued by the school, and, led by a senior from the medical department, recited the oath.
As the ceremony ended, Jocelyn Hayes felt a little uneasy inside.
"Ashley, I suddenly feel like I shouldn’t be here just for fun."
Ashley Shaw smiled knowingly: "It’s good that you’re thinking that way. There’s a saying in Veridia: ’Since we’re already here...’ Since we’re here, let’s just focus on our studies!"
Jocelyn Hayes nodded earnestly, while Lynn Redding remained silent.
She was quite resistant to studying medicine, but Ashley Shaw’s phrase "Since we’re already here" stirred something gently in her heart.
Evening came in the blink of an eye.
The three went out to a music restaurant booked by Jensen Hayes for dinner.
The restaurant was dimly lit, and when the three arrived, the restaurant’s band was already performing.
Jensen Hayes waved at them, and Jocelyn Hayes immediately pulled the other two along.
Their seats were excellent, right in front of the stage, just a few steps from the band.
"Brother!"
"You’re here." Jensen Hayes stood up, his gaze landing on Ashley Shaw.
She was dressed casually today, with no signs of special preparation.
He felt a bit disappointed, but quickly gathered his spirit.
"Have a seat. I’ve ordered a few of the signature dishes. Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like."
He said a few, but the table was almost too full to place anything else.
However, Ariana Grant added a salad to her plate, having only the salad to eat that evening.
Leon Zeller was coming back soon, so she couldn’t slack off on her diet.
Ashley Shaw knew what Ariana Grant was thinking, so she didn’t urge her to eat more and turned to chat with Jensen Hayes.
"Thank you for treating us to dinner."
Jensen Hayes smiled: "You’re like family, there’s no need to be formal. You guys are helping me take care of Robin, so if anyone should be thanking, it’s me."
After a pause, he added: "I originally wanted to treat you guys after the military training ended, but Robin said you two had plans yesterday."
Ashley Shaw nodded: "We went out with our high school classmates."
As she spoke, Jensen Hayes kept watching Ashley Shaw’s eyes.
Seeing her calm expression, his nervousness eased a little.
Just high school classmates, so it was just Robin overthinking.
He discreetly breathed a sigh of relief, then casually asked how Ashley Shaw was adjusting at the Medical University and if anything interesting happened during the military training.
Ashley Shaw responded with a smile, and the conversation went pleasantly.
Only Jocelyn Hayes watched from the side, already thinking of several names for the children they’d have after the two got married.
Anyway, aside from Ashley Shaw, she wouldn’t accept any other sister-in-law.
But good times always pass quickly, and after the meal, Ashley Shaw and Ariana Grant said they needed to return to school early.
"Two of the teachers assigned homework, and we haven’t started on it yet..."
Jensen Hayes initially wanted to invite Ashley Shaw to a movie, having already bought the tickets in advance, but hearing this, he couldn’t insist and offered to drive them back instead.
However, just as the group reached the restaurant entrance, a silver business car pulled up in front of them.
The window rolled down, revealing an impeccably handsome face.
It was Warren Prescott.
Everyone looked surprised.
Only Jensen Hayes felt a sudden pressure.
A man can judge another man accurately; he could immediately tell that the way Warren Prescott looked at the others was different than how he looked at Ashley Shaw.
It was full of light.
A kind of... determined light.
"What a coincidence, are you guys heading back?" Warren Prescott asked calmly, his peripheral vision seemingly inadvertently brushing over Jensen Hayes’s face.
Yeah, just a snot-nosed kid.
Ashley Shaw was the first to speak: "Yes, what a coincidence. Are you here to eat too?"
Warren Prescott replied: "No, I just finished eating nearby, and I’m heading back to school, so I can give you a ride."
Before Ashley Shaw could speak, Jocelyn Hayes quickly chimed in: "Thanks, you’re Ashley’s classmate, right? But my brother drove us here, and we’ve already agreed to ride back with him."
Warren Prescott curled his lips, the smile not reaching his eyes.
"I’m going back past your school. Since it’s on the way, no need to trouble your brother. Get in the car."
As he finished speaking, Assistant Lowell quickly got out from the driver’s seat and hurried over to open the car door for them.
"Ladies, please get in the car... Miss Shaw, once we reach our destination, Mr. Prescott Jr. has something to discuss with you."
Without this latter sentence, there was a fifty percent chance Ashley Shaw would refuse, but with those words, she couldn’t refuse.
Since it was on the way, there was no need to trouble Jensen Hayes.
"Then we’ll take my classmate’s car. Thank you for dinner, and you should head back soon too."
Jensen Hayes opened his mouth, feeling inexplicably choked.
He felt that this so-called classmate was somewhat... aggressive.
And although he appeared to be smiling, it didn’t really seem like he was.
Quite unnerving.
But unnerving aside, his main concern was whether Ashley Shaw really only saw him as a classmate.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind, though only two seconds had passed in reality.
"No need to thank me. As I said, it should be me thanking you. Let’s catch up again and have a meal together sometime. I’ve heard a new movie has come out recently."
Assistant Lowell then interjected: "A new movie? Is it ’Eternal Rings’?"
Jensen Hayes wasn’t sure why Assistant Lowell chimed in, but politely answered, "Yes..."
Assistant Lowell smiled: "What a coincidence! This movie was funded by Mr. Prescott Jr. If you like it, I can arrange a private screening for everyone. If you’re interested, after watching, I can even have the main actors join us for a meal."
All this talk of "private screenings", "investments", and "main actors" made it clear that Jensen Hayes was being indirectly mocked.
He awkwardly tugged at his lips: "What a coincidence..."
Beside him, Jocelyn Hayes grew anxious.
Her brother was truly clueless! He couldn’t even respond after being mocked by an assistant!
If it were her, she would have slapped... well, forget it. She didn’t have the guts either.
After all, the other side did appear to... have more money.
Assistant Lowell remained composed and at ease.
He then turned to Ashley Shaw: "Miss Shaw, shall we get in?"
Ashley Shaw nodded slightly and got in the car with Ariana Grant.
Jocelyn Hayes had so much to say to knock some sense into her brother, so she waved them off: "You guys go ahead, my brother and I have somewhere else to go and will return later."
"Okay, remember not to miss the curfew."
Jocelyn Hayes gave an "OK" gesture and waved goodbye to them.
But as the car slowly drove away, she took a picture of the license plate.
