Chapter 401 William and Hayden (2)
As she stepped out of the bathroom, she wrapped a towel around herself. She was about to return to her room when the dorm's main door creaked open, and her roommate Michelle stumbled in, supported by a man.
With a golden face mask still on, Hayden turned her head towards the noise. But just as she caught the eyes of the man helping Michelle, her bad luck hit its peak as her towel slipped, threatening to fall...
Reacting swiftly, Hayden let out a sharp scream and grabbed the towel, clutching it to her chest before dashing into her room and slamming the door shut with a loud bang.
"Heh... sorry about my roommate," Michelle chuckled apologetically to the man who'd escorted her, steadying herself by the couch.
The man smiled at Michelle, a slight curve touching his lips. After helping her sit down on the sofa, he calmly said, "For any follow-up treatment you might need or help with life and studies, feel free to contact Jialiang or me. Either will do."
"Oh," Michelle, seated on the couch, gazed upon the strikingly handsome and exceptionally gentleman before her and asked with a smile, "Could you give me your contact information then?"
"William, cell number XXXXXX." William stood before the couch, set aside his cane, and addressed Michelle with a subdued expression.
"Just a second, let me jot that down." Pulling out her phone and unlocking it, she looked back up at William. "Could you repeat your number for me?"
Nodding, William recited his number once more.
After Michelle wrote it down, he nodded politely, bid her farewell, and left.
As soon as he was gone and the dormitory door had closed behind him, Michelle's face bloomed into a radiant smile, with no trace of the misfortune and irritation brought by the car accident that fractured her bone.
She never expected that a traffic accident would introduce her to two attractive upperclassmen—Jasper, who drunkenly collided with her, and William, Jasper's friend who had just escorted her home.
Naturally, William stood out even more than Jasper in both looks and demeanor. His gentlemanly and tender nature made it difficult for her not to feel an attraction toward him.
Sitting on the sofa, she let her excitement linger for a moment before suddenly remembering Hayden, who had burst into the room with a scream earlier.
Quickly grabbing her cane, she limped towards Hayden's room.
Inside, Hayden was clutching her chest tightly, her back pressed against the door, replaying the way that man looked at her when he entered, wishing she could claw out his eyes.
What was with her luck today, repeatedly embarrassed by the same man?
Although it was just a glance, she noticed that his attire hadn't changed, aside from the absence of his mask.
His height, his presence—all identical.
And so, she recognized him on sight: the man who had accidentally spilled wine on her at the masquerade and had almost completely exposed her just moments ago.
Getting soaked in wine was one thing, but nearly being seen in her entirety by him... This feud had escalated, and she was adamant he would owe her an apology—an exceedingly sincere one.
"Knock, knock…" "Knock, knock…"
Then came Michelle's knock on the door.
"What's up?"
"Hayden, are you okay?" Michelle stood at the doorway, full of regret, "I'm sorry, I should have told you in advance."
Hearing Michelle's apologetic tone, Hayden took a deep breath, turned, and opened the door. She did not press further but glanced at her leg and asked, "What happened to your leg?"
Michelle glanced down at her leg and said, "Got clipped by a car. It's just a fracture, nothing serious."
"The guy just now, he hit you?!" Hayden pressed.
Shaking her head, Michelle replied, "No, it was his drunk-driving buddy who hit me. The guy got arrested, so he called the driver to take me to the hospital. He's actually pretty decent, and he's our senior by one year. He'll be graduating next year."
The London School of Business, one of two business schools within the University of London, is among the elite business institutions globally. It offers only postgraduate courses in finance and management that usually last two years.
Hayden nodded in understanding and looked at the cast on her leg. "If you need anything, just let me know," he offered.
Their acquaintance had only begun after enrolling in the school, no more than a few weeks earlier. To speak of a deep friendship or strong emotional bond would be inconceivable.
"Sure," Michelle readily agreed.
After exchanging a few more words, they both returned to their rooms to rest.
Hayden had taken painkillers, but throughout the night, she felt uncomfortable bloating in her lower abdomen, which made it difficult for her to get a good night's sleep.
In the morning, she got up extra early.
Mornings in London are usually foggy.
Today was an exception – the morning sun was shining brightly. After freshening up and putting on a particularly casual sweatshirt, grabbing her textbooks, Hayden headed out to make the most of the beautiful morning light.
Just a short walk from the dormitory was a coffee shop known for its excellent pastries.
Hayden inherited a fondness for sweets from her mother, who loved to make them for her from a young age.
Her mother always said, "My daughter should grow up happy and sweet."
Although she had only been living in the dorm for a week, the coffee shop owner and the waitstaff already recognized her. Not only because her coat and demeanor were so eye-catching but also because she had virtually made it a daily routine to order a cup of coffee and a pastry, sitting by the same window each time.
Her presence was like a beautiful addition to the scenery, drawing the attention of many and even seeming to boost the coffee shop's business. Men often came in to order a cup of coffee in hopes of striking up a conversation with her.
Yet, she had consistently ignored the advances of any man who tried to chat her up.
Thus, both the owner and the waitstaff started to refer to Hayden as the "Ice Queen jokingly."
Seeing Hayden come in so early, the owner greeted her warmly.
Hayden ordered a cappuccino and a slice of tiramisu, then took her seat by the window as usual.
Back when her mother was still around, she loved desserts because they tasted like happiness.
Now, she found herself drawn to sweets, feeling as if, aside from desserts, life held no other sweetness.
It was only while savoring desserts that she could vividly recall the tender, happy moments she had shared with her mother.
Sitting by the window, basking in the bright morning sunlight, she flipped through a textbook as her coffee and cake arrived.
Lifting the coffee to her lips, she took a delicate sip. The rich taste of coffee blended with creamy milk was not at all bitter. Yet, as it went down, it somehow tasted of sorrow in her heart.
Without hesitation, she forgot the spoon and scooped out a generous portion of tiramisu with her fingers, stuffing it into her mouth.
The instant sweetness spread through her, and she danced in her mind, recalling baking with her mother as a child.
Gradually, the corners of her mouth curled into an adorable, girlish smile.
A few dozen meters from the café, William had just parked his car and was holding breakfast, heading toward the women's dorms. Glancing up, he saw the scene unfolding before him at the café window.
The girl by the window eagerly shoved a huge piece of tiramisu into her mouth, savoring it with an air of sheer delight. She soon bore a blissful and innocently charming smile.
It was just a slice of tiramisu, yet it seemed as if the girl had discovered the ultimate delight of the world.
What struck William most was the oddly familiar sense he felt toward the girl, thrilled by a piece of tiramisu.
She wore a beige hoodie, her long cascade of hair loosely draped over it. Her skin was fair and radiant. Her features held an innate sexiness and charm, and she carried herself with regal grace like a princess.
At first glance, the girl clearly came from no ordinary family; wealth and pedigree were written all over her.
William stood rooted to the spot, watching for over a dozen seconds before he involuntarily smiled and went on his way with his breakfast.
Hayden sat in the café a little longer after finishing her tiramisu, mindful of the class she had to attend shortly. She grabbed her books and left.
Of course, as she exited, she noticed the café owner flashing her a friendly smile, to which she responded with a polite, subtle smile of her own.
The café owner was a middle-aged man nearing fifty, quite friendly, warm, and a true gentleman. Most importantly, his coffee and sweets were top-notch.
Leaving the café, Hayden made her way back to the dorm.
She needed to change clothes and grab her materials for class.
Yet, as she reached the dorm door and was about to unlock it, the door clicked and swung open from the inside.
Startled, Hayden looked up, and the first thing she saw was a handsome face that was refined and smooth as jade.
Why was it him again?
