CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 52: THE ELIGIBLE BACHELOR IS TAKEN (SECOND UPDATE)

Lawrence Winters hurried to the balcony to answer the phone, "Uncle? Are all the procedures completed?"

"Yes, everything’s done. Your mom and I need to head back for some matters now. Have you finished packing?" Nick Zeller sounded a bit rushed, "I just got a call from a client, they’re coming to the Capital City, and they want to see me now."

"Oh, so both you and my mom are going?"

"Of course, your mom is also an employee of our company now." Nick Zeller was about to hang up after a few words, "Alright, I won’t keep you. If I secure this contract, we won’t need to work for the next six months."

"Then you should go quickly." Lawrence Winters was also happy. The small company he and his uncle ran wasn’t as profitable as others might think.

Because so many people were in the same business, only in the past few years did her uncle’s reputation increase, leading to clients coming through referrals.

After Nick Zeller and Gabrielle Winters left, Lawrence Winters remembered to call Kenneth Osborne.

Kenneth Osborne had been waiting for Lawrence Winters’ call all day, and it wasn’t until 4 PM that he saw her number pop up.

He quickly answered the call, "Nora, are you all settled in?"

Lawrence Winters glanced at her freshly made bed and laughed, "Yep, just finished making the bed. My mom and uncle have already left. How about you? Are you free?"

"Of course, I’m free." Kenneth Osborne felt a sudden lightness knowing that her mom and uncle had left, "It’s still early. How about I show you around the school and then grab dinner?"

"...Can we eat first?" Lawrence Winters’ stomach was indeed a bit hungry.

They had been shopping since early morning and forgot to have lunch before heading to school to register.

Though it was only 4 PM, she had only had a cup of milk and a piece of bread in the morning.

Kenneth Osborne immediately realized she hadn’t eaten lunch, "...What time did you arrive at school? How come you didn’t eat lunch?"

Lawrence Winters stubbornly replied, "Who said I didn’t? We ate outside, I’m just hungry again."

Kenneth Osborne just smiled silently.

Lawrence Winters, not getting a response, hurriedly added, "Really, I’m growing, so I get hungry fast!"

Kenneth Osborne chuckled, "...Nora, you’ve used that excuse to trick me into buying you so many meat buns over the years, haven’t you?"

Though not facing each other, Lawrence Winters dutifully widened her eyes, putting on a pure and innocent face, and complained, "You’re being so mean to someone weak, pitiful, and helpless like me. If you hadn’t kept feeding me meat buns, would I have grown so big?"

Ah, those were the days of youth and innocence, where just the sight of meat buns was enough to tempt her...

"Are you settling old scores?" Kenneth Osborne’s laughter became more intoxicating, "Alright, I’ll take you to eat first today. There’s a great Cantonese restaurant by the East Gate of the school. They cook a great nourishing soup. Since you’ve been hungry all day, start with the soup to go easy on your stomach."

"Sure, sure! I love the nourishing soup in Cantonese cuisine the most! You’re so considerate, Kenneth, let me thank you on behalf of my growling stomach!" Lawrence Winters eagerly expressed her desire to go to the restaurant immediately.

Kenneth Osborne shut his computer, put on his coat, and rushed out of the dormitory.

He rode a black Giant bicycle to the dorm building where Lawrence Winters stayed and gave her a call, "...Nora, come down."

Lawrence Winters poked her head out and saw him standing under the tree in a camel-colored short coat, his hands in his pants pockets. The bicycle next to him was left casually leaning against the tree trunk without a lock.

In just that moment she peeked out, she saw no less than three girls running up to Kenneth Osborne, chatting about who knows what.

Smiling, Lawrence Winters withdrew her head, thinking Kenneth sure had his charm; from River City all the way to the Metropolitan North University in the Capital City, he remained the top favorite.

She put on her own navy blue Moncler short down jacket, casually slung this year’s new Coach cross-body bag over her chest, and energetically bounced towards the door.

The Computer Whiz reluctantly lifted her head from the computer, surprised, asking, "Lawrence, where are you off to? The cafeteria isn’t open yet."

Lawrence Winters turned and smiled, "A buddy from my hometown is taking me out to eat!"

"Your hometown buddy?" Even Sister Million was interested, "You mean Room Leader Zhou, the generous soul, is treating you?"

Room Leader Zhou had just mentioned it voluntarily earlier.

Lawrence Winters quickly shook her head to deny, "Of course not, the hometown buddy who’s treating me is genuinely from my hometown. We went to the same elementary, middle school, and even high school! Plus, we’re next-door neighbors!"

"Oh, is it a guy or a girl?" Sister Million became curious, "Which department?"

Lawrence Winters opened the dormitory door, smiling, "A guy, from the Computer Science Department."

"Computer Science? A guy? And you’re from the same place?" The Computer Whiz seemed to realize something, her eyes widening suddenly, "Is it Kenneth Osborne from the Computer Science Department?! He’s our University’s heartthrob! He’s also from Central South Province! And the rumored romantic interest of Zhou, the generous soul!"

Lawrence Winters: "..."

She burst into laughter, "...Who knew this guy was really popular! Hahahaha... You guys don’t know how many admirers he had back in high school, potential love interests were calculated by the dozen!"

"So impressive? Envious, envious!" The Computer Whiz gave a thumbs-up to Lawrence Winters, "Sister, boldly go forward! Secure our University’s heartthrob and rile up all those besotted outside!"

Sister Million snorted derisively, speaking in a drawl, "So what if he’s handsome? He doesn’t have money... Sister, don’t say I didn’t warn you, puppy love from high school doesn’t suit university. A man without money or power isn’t worth having, no matter how good-looking he is."

The Wild Girl argued with her, "Hey, Billion Sister, usually that’s the case, but Kenneth Osborne is an exception. Just having that face is enough for him."

Billion Sister surprisingly hesitated for a moment.

"Looking better than the most popular male celebrities in the entertainment industry, yet relying on solid skills in a hard-core major like the Computer Science department at Metropolitan North University. Kenneth Osborne’s potential is no less than any second-generation rich kid!" The Wild Girl spared no effort in praising Kenneth Osborne.

Billion Sister snorted sarcastically, "Wild Girl, don’t tell me your online romance has switched to Kenneth Osborne..."

"Of course not." The Wild Girl snapped her fingers and said smugly, "...I just got myself a new online romance, one that’s both sweet and salty, totally fun!"

"Then why are you speaking so highly of Kenneth Osborne? Did he pay you, or offer you resources?" Billion Sister rolled her eyes professionally, looked at her freshly painted nails, shrugged, and continued, "Nora, when you graduate from college and face real-world challenges, you’ll realize that not listening to your big sis can cost you dearly..."

Lawrence Winters grinned and folded his hands, "Thank you for the advice, sisters! I’m so hungry I can barely speak. Let’s chat after I come back from dinner and discuss how to avoid those post-graduation challenges!"

He swiftly shut the door and dashed downstairs.

Even though Billion Sister acted indifferent on the surface, Kenneth Osborne’s charm couldn’t stop her from sneaking a peek from the balcony.

Standing under a bare tree in front of the dormitory was the handsome and debonair school heartthrob, Kenneth Osborne of Metropolitan North University.

Lawrence Winters ran out from the dormitory, standing in front of the tall and striking Kenneth Osborne, making himself look somewhat less notable.

Billion Sister clicked her tongue twice, "Nora’s face is still pretty cute, just a little chubby. Such a pity."

Seeing this, the Wild Girl finally "painstakingly" parted with her online love for a minute and also rushed to the balcony to watch the scene.

However, by the time she got there, she only saw the distant backs of Kenneth Osborne and Lawrence Winters.

Kenneth Osborne was riding a bicycle, and Lawrence Winters sat on the back seat, holding onto his waist.

His long legs dangled restlessly beside the bike.

The sunset shone behind them, enveloping their figures in an orange-red halo.

The shaded campus path was clean and wide, with the sycamore trees losing their leaves. Among the newly arrived students scattered three by three or in pairs, Kenneth Osborne rode further away with Lawrence Winters.

Meanwhile, along the shaded path, students occasionally noticed the boy taking a girl out on a bike was none other than their famous school heartthrob, Kenneth Osborne!

One by one, they all sought cover behind trees, capturing the moment on their phones, creating a scene no less frenzied than fans of celebrities.

Billion Sister watched from a distance on the dormitory balcony and clicked her tongue twice, "It’s over, our Nora is going to be famous just after arriving at school today."

The Wild Girl brushed her short hair with a smile, "I’ll go and build a tall thread for Nora on the campus forum later. Let’s consider it a New Year’s gift for Nora!"

She and Billion Sister exchanged knowing smiles and winked at each other.

Lawrence Winters and Kenneth Osborne had no idea what had happened while they went out for dinner.

As soon as they entered the Cantonese restaurant outside the East Gate, Lawrence Winters took a deep breath and said to Kenneth Osborne, "Kenneth, I’m food drunk, I mean literal food drunk."

Kenneth Osborne laughed and ruffled her hair, "Some people get drunk on oxygen, and you’re food drunk, aren’t you something."

The hostess at the door, seasoned as she was, still blushed at Kenneth Osborne’s smile and said softly, "This way, please."

She led Lawrence Winters and Kenneth Osborne to the best private room for two in the restaurant.

Kenneth Osborne skillfully ordered the food: two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a slow-cooked soup, and a dessert.

All dishes that Lawrence Winters loved to eat.

The soup came first, and Kenneth Osborne ladled a bowl for her. She drank it all in one go without even lifting her head, then held the bowl out to Kenneth Osborne for more.

Kenneth Osborne filled up her bowl again and gently said, "After this bowl, stop for now. The dishes will be ready soon."

Lawrence Winters nodded, feeling somewhat relieved from her intense hunger after the first bowl, now able to savor slowly.

They both didn’t know that by then, the Metropolitan North University campus app was already pushing "breaking news" to all faculty and students.

[Breaking: School Heartthrob Kenneth Osborne Dining with Unidentified Girl, Suspected to be Taken!]

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