CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 87: THE SHADOWY OBSERVER

Poppy Hale looked at Mia Quinn, feeling both a sense of unfamiliarity and familiarity.

Mia, candid and composed, said, "Poppy, do you still remember the Redwood Grove at Arvum University’s West River Campus?"

Arvum University, as one of Arvum’s older, prestigious universities, ranks high in the world.

Many places in the school are like tourist spots.

Every year during winter and summer breaks, parents bring their children from all over the country to check in and take photos, just to let them experience the atmosphere of a prestigious school for inspiration.

The Redwood Grove is just like the Unnamed Lake.

Many students who didn’t graduate from Arvum University still know about it.

But Mia mentioning the Redwood Grove now was evidently not because of that.

Poppy’s heart stirred.

"So it’s you. You’ve changed... not quite the same as before."

Back then, the girl who was bullied under Poppy Hale’s name by Stella Hollis was Mia Quinn.

At that time in the Redwood Grove at Arvum University, she met Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale wanted to explain, but Mia watched her from a distance, said she knew the truth, and hurried away.

Back then, Mia was silent, introverted, and timid.

Quite the opposite of the cheerful, confident woman in front of her now.

It’s normal for Poppy not to recognize her immediately.

Mia also laughed along, "You’ve changed as well. Didn’t expect to meet you here."

"It’s normal you don’t recognize me. I’ve changed my name."

Poppy realized.

In the past, Mia Quinn was not called by this name.

Since changing her name, she started her life anew, separating from her past self.

Amber Yates exclaimed, "You two know each other? Wasn’t Poppy different before?"

Ever since she knew Poppy Hale, she had a low-key, restrained personality.

Not much talk, not much action. When everyone was gossiping, she didn’t participate, and initially had no presence in the company.

Working hard, some people found her annoying, thinking she was a scab.

Over time, they realized Poppy’s inherent purity wasn’t an act; it was genuinely pure.

Mia glanced at Poppy Hale.

"In the past, Poppy and Amber had quite similar personalities, didn’t they?"

Amber Yates and Janine both looked at Poppy Hale in surprise.

Amber exaggeratedly put her hand on Poppy’s face, closed her eyes, and said, "I don’t care who you are, get out of Poppy’s body!"

Poppy reached out and knocked her hand away.

Pretended to sigh, "A hungry ghost possessed me, said it would leave only if we have steak. Amber, are you treating?"

Amber immediately withdrew her hand and sat back down.

As if nothing had happened.

Janine laughed heartily.

"I really can’t imagine you once having the same personality as Amber."

Poppy’s lips held a slight smile, her gaze resting on the computer screen, her tone calm and relaxed.

"There was a bit of trouble at home, both my grandmother and father passed away, and ended up breaking up, and I’ve grown up."

Casually mentioned the breakup.

Also to avoid Mia suddenly asking about her and Declan Hawthorne.

No one at the company knows that she and Declan Hawthorne used to be a couple.

Mia was a bit surprised upon hearing Poppy mention the breakup.

"You broke up? You liked him so much back then..."

Poppy took a sip of water.

"What if he dumped me? Relationships aren’t one-sided."

Mia shook her head.

Impossible.

At that time, she really liked Declan Hawthorne.

But because of her inferiority and cowardice, and frequently being warned by someone claiming to be Declan’s girlfriend, Mia only dared to watch Declan Hawthorne from afar.

She would follow him in her own way.

Library, cafeteria, teaching building, even the coffee shop where he worked part-time outside of school.

As long as he was there, Mia would be watching from a dark corner.

Once, at the coffee shop.

The girl at the counter saw Declan’s keychain, which was a cute plaster doll, and asked him for a link.

He took a glance at it, shook his head, "My girlfriend made it, there’s no link."

The girl was undeterred, then pleaded with Declan to sell it to her.

Declan declined again.

As he was leaving, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the girl bumped into Declan, the keychain fell, and the plaster doll broke in half.

The girl didn’t apologize and turned away.

Mia watched Declan crouch down, pick up the broken plaster doll, borrow glue from someone, and carefully mend it back together.

Someone laughed at him, "It’s just a plaster doll. Isn’t your girlfriend an art student? Have her make you another one."

Declan just stared intently at the item in his hand.

As if treating it like a delicate piece of art.

"She’ll secretly be upset."

The co-worker didn’t understand what Declan meant, peered over for a look.

"What’s the matter if she’s secretly upset? It’s not directed at you, is it?"

Declan shook his head.

Used tweezers to fix the details as well.

"It’s better if she gets upset with me; not getting upset with me is not okay."

The guys wouldn’t comprehend. Declan’s words carried a strong impact.

But Mia understood at that moment.

Declan Hawthorne really liked Poppy Hale.

She had previously wondered, how could someone like Declan be with Poppy? Even if it was for money, with his annual scholarship, earnings from part-time jobs, plus competition prizes.

He had enough to live well.

When the part-time shift ended, Declan changed clothes and came out, holding a box in his hand.

The coffee shop manager noticed.

"That necklace must be expensive, huh? You’ve been working hard lately, just to buy this?"

Declan nodded.

"My girlfriend is having a birthday soon."

The manager laughed along, "You’ve been talking about your girlfriend every day for months now. Bring her around next time, will you?"

"Sure."

It was still raining outside, Declan had no umbrella.

While Mia hesitated whether to lend him her umbrella, she saw him tuck the box in his coat and dash into the rain.

Raindrops mingled with mist.

Mia walked into the school with her umbrella, seeing Declan standing by a flower bed, a girl in a pink short skirt stood before him.

Wiping his face with a tissue.

Her tone was chiding, with a playful, coquettish manner.

"Why didn’t you let me pick you up when it was raining? What if you catch a cold?!"

Declan let her speak without responding.

A student on an electric bike nearly ran into Poppy Hale, Declan’s hand swiftly reached out and pulled Poppy in.

But the keys flew out.

Poppy quickly checked Declan’s hand for injuries, pulling his hand into her embrace, rubbing it repeatedly, tears almost welling up.

Mia thought it was quite exaggerated.

How could there be such a woman in the world?

But Declan favored just such a woman.

Poppy Hale hunted everywhere for Declan’s keys, finally spotting them, hopped over thrice and picked them up.

"Oh, the keychain’s not attached."

Declan glanced down, "I’ll go find it."

"No need! I’ll make you a different one! It’s so late, I don’t want you out feeding mosquitoes."

When she started acting cute, Declan seemed unable to resist, being dragged away by Poppy.

Once they were gone.

Mia moved to a corner and picked up the plaster doll.

Saved it for herself.

Until now, that plaster doll remained at Mia’s home.

Every time she saw that ornament, she would recall that day’s events.

With the tender affection between Declan’s expressions and the sunset outside the window blending together.

As he looked at the plaster doll, what was in his heart and eyes was the girl he loved.

She, as a shadowy observer.

Witnessed a grand yet concealed love.