Chapter 30 Not So Dependent on Elders
Zoe was super vain and touchy about her looks. When she heard what I said, her face kept switching between red and pale. She dropped her sweet act in front of Daniel and got furious, her eyes practically shooting flames. "Jane, if you don't treat us, I'll tell Daniel."
I shot back, "Be my guest, tell whoever you want. Heck, report it to the United Nations if that's what floats your boat."
Some people nearby laughed at my comeback, not caring about Zoe's feelings.
Zoe, fuming, pulled out her phone and called Daniel. She put it on speaker so we could all hear.
"Daniel," she said in her usual sweet but slightly whiny voice, "I just got to school and wanted to let you know I'm safe."
"What's wrong? You sound a bit off," Daniel asked.
"It's nothing, just that my classmates want to eat out, but Jane..." Zoe trailed off, giving me a troubled look.
Here we went again!
I grabbed the phone and said, "Daniel, right? Your girlfriend wants me to treat all her classmates to a meal. Can't swing it. That's it, you two can continue."
Zoe looked shocked, probably not expecting me to call her out so bluntly.
Daniel stayed silent, and everyone was waiting for the drama to unfold. Zoe, trying to keep it together, called out again, "Daniel."
In the end, Daniel sent me $500, asking me to spare Zoe's feelings. He said, "I'll cover the cost. Just take them out to eat. Zoe cares about her image; don't embarrass her."
I didn't want to reply, but I couldn't let it slide, so I quickly texted back, [No time.]
Daniel's gesture just made me more rebellious.
I returned the money and told Daniel to give it to Zoe himself, then sent Zoe the restaurant's location and walked away.
Daniel called me several times that day, but I ignored him.
Honestly, I had a personal grudge. Zoe had messed with me too many times. I'm not a saint, so I had to get a little revenge.
That night, as I was about to sleep, Daniel texted me, [Zoe is simple-minded. Cut her some slack, okay?]
I had to laugh. Either Daniel didn't know what "simple-minded" meant, or he was blind because Zoe was anything but simple.
Of course, in Daniel's eyes, Zoe was the epitome of simplicity. That was his view, but I had my own.
I also thought Daniel's late-night message was more of a reminder not to upset Zoe than an explanation.
I couldn't understand why Daniel kept asking me to be more understanding with Zoe. What position was he in to make such a request?
I wasn't Daniel's parent, responsible for supporting him, his girlfriend, and future kids.
That was too much to ask.
I didn't reply to Daniel's message and just ignored it, continuing with my peaceful life.
For some reason, Zoe didn't bother me for several days.
This surprised and delighted me. I thought Zoe had finally realized she wasn't well-liked and decided to change.
Until one day, I discovered a huge secret that proved I was too naive.
This secret really got to me, and I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to do.
The sample for the competition was finally done, and it turned out even better than I expected. I was pumped and ready to show it to Brad when he called me first.
"Brad, I was just about to call you. The sample's ready. Want to check it out?"
"Looks like we're on the same page, Jane." His voice had this warm, almost flirty tone.
I smirked, thinking Brad was trying to flirt. But nah, he watched me grow up and always treated me like a kid. I was probably overthinking it.
"Brad, what's up?" I asked.
"Got a job for you. It's a big opportunity."
"Tell me more. I might not be up for it."
Brad explained, "A friend of mine wants an album for his grandparents' 80th wedding anniversary, illustrating their major life events. He's offering a lot of money because it's high-stakes and on a tight schedule."
"How much?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
"$150,000," Brad replied.
$150,000! His friend must be loaded. I was impressed.
If I took this job, I'd be rolling in cash. It was tempting!
But as a no-name college student, I wasn't sure I could meet such high standards.
Brad knew me well and quickly encouraged me, "Jane, you're amazing. You can totally nail this."
Brad really believed in me.
I asked, "With such good terms, why don't you take it yourself?"
"As a guy, I don't like drawing romantic stuff," Brad replied.
Fair enough, that convinced me.
"I'll take it. You can focus on the competition first, and I'll work on this project after it ends in October. The deadline is after the New Year, so no rush."
Before hanging up, Brad stopped me again, "Weren't you going to show me the sample?"
So, on a crisp autumn night, I carefully carried my sample to the graduate institute to find Brad.
Brad had offered to come to me, but it was late, and there was no place to host him in the girls' dorm, so I decided to deliver the sample myself.
The real reason? I absolutely loved the rose wall by the graduate institute.
Especially at night, under the moonlight, each flower was a radiant beacon, breathtakingly beautiful. I had no idea how the ag students kept them blooming in such cool weather.
Passing through the rose wall, I reached the main entrance of the graduate institute, where Brad was waiting in the first-floor studio.
As soon as I stepped in, a faint fragrance filled the air. I took a deep breath, feeling every pore in my body relax, as if all my fatigue had been swept away.
I was wearing my comfy sneakers, perfect for long walks without getting tired. Plus, they made no noise when walking.
The rose wall was as beautiful as ever, and strolling through it put me in a great mood.
Halfway through, I heard a familiar but off-putting sound from the side.
On a college campus, couples on dates were a common sight. I wasn't usually nosy, but that familiar sound piqued my curiosity. I wanted to confirm if it was who I thought it was.
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