bIvan /bgot out of the car: “Dropped ba /bfriend off.b” /b

Ashley chatted with him for a bfew /bmoments. bJust /bthen Evan breceived /ba phone bcall/b, and bsince /bthe conference bwas /babout bto /bstart, Ashley left.

On the other side, I met up with Milo at the entrance of the conference center.

Milo leaned close to my ear and whisperedb: /bb“/bbProfessor /bColton will also be attending this exhibition.”

I was stunned, my beyes /bwidening.

Milo raised an eyebrow and smiled: b“/bGood thing you found someone to help in time. If Professor Colton knew you werete, probably…”

I immediately understood what he meant.

Colton was our university professor who had always been strict and wouldn’t care about the reason for beingteb. /b

In his view, beingte meant you weren’t taking things seriously.

The professor was already angry enough about me getting married right after graduation. If he discovered I waste at our first reunion, I couldn’t imagine what kind of look he would give me.

‘So good thing you weren’tte.b” /b

I also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, I had encountered Evan on the road.

When we entered the exhibition hall after checking tickets, it was already quite crowded.

The exhibition space was spacious, with thetest intelligent navigation surgical tforms, remote–controlled robotic arms, Al–assisted diagnostic modules, and other advanced equipment disyed in front of the booths, showcasing cutting–edge technology everywhere.

Milo was quite well–known, and shortly after we arrived, people beganing over to greet him.

Milo also introduced me to some connections.

bAs /bI smiled and greeted people, I was facing the entrance direction and my gaze happened to meet Ashley and herpanions who had just entered the

xhibition hall.

Ashley also hadn’t expected to encounter me here and stopped in her tracks.

he had originally been excitedly holding Ferris’s arm, but seeing me, her expression clearly stiffened.

Ferris…” She gently tugged at his sleeve, her voice coquettish but tinged with unwillingness, “Didn’t you say this kind of academic forum only invites

rofessionalsb? /bHow is she here too?”

erris frowned but said nothing.

Ashley stared at me withplex eyes–surprise, confusion, and even some small anger.

he bit her lip and muttered quietly: “She didn’t sneak in here just to get close to you, did she?”

Ferris remained silent, his gaze thoughtfully directed toward my area.

Milo hadn’t noticed the stares from over there and was chatting with me: “After the conference ends, let’s go see the professor alone. He misses you very nuch….”

At bthis /bmoment, Ashley was walking toward me with Ferris following behind her.

Today he unusually wasn’t wearing formal attire, but had changed into a more casual light igray /iknit sweater and dark casual pants. His broad shoulders and

barrow /bwaist still cut a sharp, upright figure, but he looked less rigid than usual and more rxed and leisurely.

His eyes still carried their usual sharpness, but the gaze that fell on me now seemed ito /ihide some indescribable emotioni. /i

A man in love bwith /bhis first love bwas /bindeed different.

He had probably been with Ashley for a whole week, right?

Ashley walked up to us. She looked at Milo, then at me, blinked, and said with a smilei: /ii“/iAurora, is this iyour /iiboyfriend/ii?/ii” /i

Ferris’s gaze swept over me andnded on Milo, his eyes darkening slightly.

“Does Mr. Ellison have a girlfriend?”

Milo was stunned: “Girlfriend?”