Chapter 1650
Final exams lasted for three grueling days.
By the last afternoon, Kevin finished the final question on his test and let out a long sigh of relief. This week had been brutal. He'd given up all forms of entertainment, and aside from eating and sleeping, he was constantly doing practice tests. He completed five full sets of mock exams, and by the end, he was almost sick of it.
However, the effort seemed to pay off. He had compared answers with Laura for the previous subjects, and except for English Literature, where he was a bit off, he did quite well in the others. But seeing Laura's calm and collected demeanor made him feel a bit disheartened. He figured he probably wouldn't get first place this time, and his bet with Daisy was likely a lost cause.
The bell rang, and the proctor began collecting the exams. Some students were still furiously writing, including Craig, who had two major questions left unanswered. When the teacher took the paper from his hands, he slumped over his desk, looking defeated. It seemed he had bombed the test.
Kevin glanced at Craig and sighed inwardly. Craig was a member of his study group and had a great attitude towards learning, but he was genuinely slow. Even the simplest questions needed to be explained multiple times by Laura, and he still didn't get it. There was nothing more to be done.
As soon as the proctor left, the classroom erupted into chaos, resembling a bustling market. Students gathered in small groups, some discussing the exam questions, others talking about what to eat that night, and some already planning their winter break activities.
"Kevin, how do you think you did this time?" Albert came over, slinging an arm around Kevin's shoulder with a grin. "Second or third place?"
"What do you mean? Can't I get first place?" Kevin retorted, a bit annoyed.
"Come on, with Laura around, you'll never be first," Albert said, gloating. "You might as well switch classes."
At that moment, Laura walked over with a sheet of paper in her hand, neatly filled with the answers she had just written down from memory, ready for Kevin and Albert to check.
Kevin compared his answers and found he had missed two multiple-choice questions and one part of a major question. Overall, he had done quite well.
"Laura, you're definitely going to be first again this time," Albert said. "Two years in a row as the top of the grade, that's impressive."
"It's nothing, Albert. If you work hard, you can do it too," Laura said shyly. "Kevin's grades weren't great before, but look at him now. Keep it up!"
"Forget it. You guys are the geniuses. I'll just stay in my lane," Albert said, shaking his head. He knew his limits. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach the level of Laura and Kevin. Sometimes, the gap between people couldn't be closed by effort alone.
His goal was to be in the top thirty of the class, to make his mom proud, and to earn Audrey's mysterious reward.
Suddenly, Carl and Samuel came over, insisting that Kevin treat all the class officers to a meal.
Kevin thought about how supportive the class officers had been since he became Class President and decided he should show his appreciation. "Sure, where do you guys want to go?"
Some suggested KFC for a family bucket, others wanted pizza, and some said barbecue. Finally, Carl suggested with a grin, "I heard the buffet at Celestial Haven is great, with a nice environment and live performances. How about we go there?"
"Yeah, let's go to Celestial Haven," the others chimed in.
Samuel adjusted his glasses and hesitated. "That buffet is pretty expensive, like $98 per person. With so many of us, it'll cost a fortune. Maybe we should just get fried chicken."
"It's fine, we'll go to Celestial Haven," Kevin decided. Although he had lent Jason a large sum of money and his savings were nearly depleted, Celestial Haven was owned by Natalie, so he could eat for free.
A large group of them headed straight to Celestial Haven. Kevin was about to call Natalie, but the restaurant's manager on duty recognized him and immediately arranged a large private room for them.
Everyone was stunned by the room. It was enormous, about the size of four classrooms, with leather sofas around the perimeter, a large round table in the center, a crystal chandelier above, and opulent decor. The walls were adorned with large oil paintings of egrets playing in the water, clearly the work of a master artist.
The manager explained that this was Celestial Haven's VIP room, reserved for special guests and usually impossible to book.
Everyone was in awe. Such a luxurious room was rare even in big cities, let alone in Harmony County.
Even Albert, who had seen a lot, was impressed. He turned to Kevin and said, "Man, Natalie is something else. This place must be worth a fortune. Is she the richest person in Harmony County now?"
"How would I know? I don't own the place," Kevin replied casually. In truth, Natalie had explained the company's situation to him in detail. She was the chairwoman and held a controlling stake, but there were seven other shareholders who didn't participate in daily operations and only received dividends at the end of the year. They also had their own trusted people in the company. Celestial Haven had an investment of over $50 million, with another $30 million spent on interior decoration. Half of the funds came from shareholders, and the other half was a bank loan. The business included dining, lodging, and spa services, and it was doing so well that they expected to recoup the investment within three years.
Everyone took their seats around the large round table, which was almost full with twenty people. Kevin naturally took the head seat, with Laura, Albert, Lucy, Carl, Vice President Samuel, and other class officers around him.
The waitress brought drinks, with yogurt or soft drinks for the girls and beer for Kevin and the others. Carl raised his glass and said boldly, "Let me say a few words. Thanks to Kevin for treating us. From now on, we class officers must firmly support Kevin's work. Anyone who causes trouble is a jerk. Cheers!" He downed his drink in one go.
Everyone echoed his sentiments, raising their glasses and drinking heartily. The atmosphere became lively. Albert, however, looked a bit down. Everyone present was either a class officer or a teacher's assistant, and Kevin held multiple positions. Albert felt like a tag-along.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his hand. Albert turned to see Lucy looking at him with concern. His heart warmed, and he held her hand tightly. At least he had a thoughtful girlfriend.
The buffet spread was impressive, with roast meats, salmon, lobster, crab, scallops, sushi, steak, bacon, and a variety of snacks, fruits, and desserts. Everyone ate to their heart's content.
Suddenly, the door to the private room opened, and a tall, long-haired woman walked in. She looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a sparkling silver dress that showed off her long legs and ample chest. She held a golden saxophone.
Everyone was stunned, especially Kevin, who couldn't take his eyes off her chest. Albert was also mesmerized. This woman's chest was quite something, almost rivaling Elodie's.
The woman smiled and bowed slightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Moira Kelly. Thank you for dining at Celestial Haven. I'll be playing a piece called 'Home' for you. I hope you enjoy it." She began to play, and the room filled with a melodious tune.
The girls were entranced, and Laura listened intently, resting her chin in her hands. She turned to Kevin and said, "She's really good. Must be a professional."
"Yeah, very professional," Kevin agreed absentmindedly, his eyes still on Moira's chest. Though her size couldn't compare to Audrey's, she was probably a D-cup, and her silver dress highlighted her figure perfectly.
Moira was also very tall, even taller than Grace by half a head, probably close to six feet.
When Moira finished her performance, the room erupted in applause. Carl and Albert clapped so hard their hands turned red. This meal was worth it just for the view, even if they couldn't touch.
Kevin was also impressed, thinking that Natalie really understood consumer psychology. Few people were there for the performance; they were there for the view. It added a touch of class, no wonder the business was booming.
Just as Kevin was about to look away, Moira approached him with a charming smile. "Are you Mr. Smith?"
"Uh, yes, I am," Kevin replied, standing up, wondering if she was going to ask for a tip. But standing up, he realized just how tall she was. Even without heels, she was probably over 5'8".
"Mr. Smith, thank you and your friends for dining with us. With the new year approaching, I wish you all the best and great success," Moira said warmly, extending her hand for a handshake.
Kevin, used to dealing with female teachers at school and only knowing Natalie in the business world, felt a bit awkward. He shook her hand, which was soft and smooth but also strong.
Up close, Moira's chest was even more impressive, with the flesh almost spilling out of her dress. Kevin felt his mouth go dry, and his heart raced.
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