Chapter 443 William and Hayden (44)
They visited a new American restaurant on Queen's Avenue that had recently opened in Southern. The restaurant's location, atmosphere, and service were top-notch and meticulously arranged.
Ever since Hayden read the materials Azalea sent her, she knew William was the CEO of Queen's Avenue Dining. The rapid growth of Queen's Avenue Dining Group these past few days was mostly due to William's efforts.
However, William didn't mention that the restaurant belonged to his family and that he was the CEO of the Queen's Avenue Dining Group.
The study aimed to observe men's behavior and attitudes toward shopping, as well as their preferences and habits during this activity.
Hayden was thrilled to take part in the research, as it combined her two passions—psychology and shopping. She reached the shopping mall where the study was happening and met her research partner, Lily.
Lily was a friendly and outgoing girl, and the two quickly hit it off. They were assigned a specific area of the mall to observe and engage with the male participants.
While strolling around, Hayden and Lily observed that most men appeared disinterested and bored. Some were engrossed in their phones, while others sighed audibly, displaying impatience. Although a few chairs were available for men to rest, they remained largely empty.
Hayden approached a visibly tired man sitting on one of the chairs. She introduced herself and explained the purpose of their study. The man, Mark, seemed surprised but agreed to participate.
During the interview, Mark confessed that he didn't really enjoy shopping and preferred spending his time on other activities. He admitted feeling pressured to accompany his girlfriend, even though his heart wasn't truly in it.
Hayden and Lily continued their observations, noting the men's different reactions and attitudes. They encountered a few who seemed genuinely interested and engaged in shopping, but they were in the minority.
They also observed that many men were more drawn to the entertainment or food options within the mall. They enthusiastically suggested watching a movie or grabbing a bite to eat, but their interest waned quickly once they returned to the stores.
After several hours of observation, Hayden and Lily concluded that the majority of men viewed shopping as a chore or obligation rather than an enjoyable activity. They also realized that men tended to prioritize their comfort and needs during the shopping experience.
As the day came to an end, Hayden and Lily were grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an insightful study. They had learned a lot about men's attitudes and behaviors regarding shopping.
Hayden couldn't help but reflect on William's willingness to join her on shopping outings. She realized how fortunate she was to have someone who not only supported her but also enjoyed the experience alongside her.
With a smile, Hayden made a mental note to appreciate William even more for his efforts in accompanying her on their shopping adventures.
When she arrived at the shopping center and picked up her research materials, Hayden noticed someone she wanted to approach, and Michelle suddenly appeared before her, causing her to stop.
"What do you want?" Hayden asked, slightly impatient and with an indifferent expression.
Since she didn't have any evidence of the mouse incident, she couldn't directly confront Michelle or express her anger toward her.
"Hayden, are you still angry with me?" Michelle pleaded, her face showing sincerity and a hint of submissiveness as she continued, "I'm really sorry. I now understand that William loves you and has no interest in me at all. I have some self-awareness and pride. Don't worry. I won't pursue William anymore or try to ruin your relationship with him. Can you forgive me for the sake of us being roommates?"
Hayden approached several students in the campus library, but most of them were either too occupied or simply uninterested. She sighed in frustration and kept searching.
Finally, she spotted a guy sitting alone at a table, engrossed in a book. He seemed deep in thought, which piqued Hayden's interest. She walked up to him, trying to gather her courage.
"Hi there," Hayden said, flashing her best smile. "I'm Hayden, and I'm surveying my research project. Would you mind spending a few minutes helping me out?"
The guy looked up, a bit startled by Hayden's sudden appearance. After a moment, he smiled back and nodded.
"Sure, I don't mind. What's the survey about?"
Feeling relieved, Hayden took a seat across from him and handed him a questionnaire. As the guy began answering the questions, Hayden couldn't help but notice his attractiveness. His defined jawline and piercing blue eyes caused her heart to beat a little faster.
As they chatted about random topics, Hayden's initial nervousness faded away. She found herself genuinely enjoying their conversation. There was something about him that drew her in, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
When the survey was finally done, Hayden thanked the guy and stood up to leave. She couldn't help but hope to see him again and explore their connection.
She waved goodbye before leaving, leaving the guy curious but interested.
Hayden knew that pursuing someone she liked was her right. She hadn't done anything wrong. If there was a chance for something special to happen between them, she wanted to embrace it.
Unbeknownst to her, fate had already begun to bring their paths together. As she walked away, a smile of anticipation crossed her face. The journey was just starting.
Thankfully, Hayden not only had beauty but also a charisma that caught people's attention, especially men's. Most were happy to join her research unless they were busy or with friends.
Whether in her studies or at work, Hayden was always diligent.
When Hayden's mother was alive, both of her parents were her support system.
But since her mother's suicide, Hayden no longer had that safety net.
Furthermore, she had taken on the responsibility of taking care of her younger sister Jocelyn, leaving her no choice but to be serious and determined.
"Hayden!"
As she was on the ground floor trying to get the attention of a handsome guy with blond hair and blue eyes for her survey, suddenly, a familiar voice exploded in her ear.
Hayden frowned and looked up, only to see Michelle had discarded her crutches and was hobbling over with her leg in a cast. She stumbled toward her quickly.
What is Michelle doing?
Hayden watched in confusion as Michelle approached, feeling completely puzzled.
"Be careful, move!" While speaking, Michelle lunged forward and tackled Hayden to the ground. Right after, a loud "crack" shattered a glass vase where Hayden had been standing moments earlier.
Hayden and the handsome young man helping with the investigation both looked puzzled as they stared at the broken vase.
Security and staff members quickly came over to check on Hayden and Michelle and ask if they were injured.
"Hayden, are you alright?" Michelle asked, worried, as they both lay on the ground.
Regaining his composure, Hayden glanced at Michelle, who appeared to be in pain as she tightly closed her eyes and shook her head, "How's your leg feeling any better?"
