CHAPTER 446: CHAPTER 446: LATE AGAIN

The students from the school council left, and those from the college student council came over.

There were even more people wanting to join the college student council than before, but Evelyn Vaughn didn’t sign up.

If she wanted to join, she’d go for the highest.

The school council is a step above the college student council.

She wouldn’t do something half-hearted like this. In her previous school, she was also part of the student council, and even the president. So she always adhered to one belief: either do nothing or do the best.

That applies to being a class representative too.

At first, she really didn’t want to be a class monitor, but since she’s already one, she aims to do her best.

She even regretted not raising her hand when running for class president. Now there’s Ashley Shaw above her, which just feels uncomfortable.

After the college student council people left, waves of club representatives came over.

Ashley Shaw and her two friends sat firmly in place, engrossed in their phones.

Lynn Redding was playing a competitive mobile game while Jocelyn Hayes was discussing food with Ariana Grant.

Ashley sent a message to Assistant Lowell.

"Is everything ready over there?"

The message was sent, but there was no response.

Ashley felt inexplicably anxious—restless.

The cruise ship would be docking tomorrow, yet she could do nothing.

Powerlessness mixed with worry, an unspeakable irritation.

Just then, the PA system announced that the president and vice president of their college should gather in the lecture theater of the comprehensive building.

Ashley felt overwhelmed, got up with a stern face, and walked out.

Leo Bell called out to her at this time.

"Ashley!"

Ashley turned back to see Leo catching up, saying, "The announcement said to bring the vice president too, but our class doesn’t have a vice president. What should we do?"

Ashley hadn’t listened carefully to the announcement and only realized it now.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing towards Evelyn Vaughn.

Evelyn happened to be looking her way too but, for some reason, withdrew her gaze as soon as Ashley looked over.

"Should we have Classmate Vaughn go with me? Or could you go with me?"

Leo said, "It’s better to have Classmate Vaughn, our homeroom teacher just sent me a message asking me to go to the academic office to get the textbooks. It’s easier if I take the boys with me."

Ashley agreed, walked over to Evelyn, and explained the situation to her.

Evelyn simply replied "Okay," got up, and went out with her.

Along the way, Evelyn hardly looked at her.

Ashley assumed that Evelyn was naturally reserved, so she initiated the conversation: "The comprehensive building is west of the teaching building, right?"

Evelyn said, "The few people in front of us are probably heading to the comprehensive building too, I saw them coming from the next class, we just need to follow them."

"Oh right, you’re smart."

"No, not really."

"Where are you from?"

"Eastwood."

"Ah, you’re from the north? You must have visited Aethelgard before, right?"

"Yes."

"And you..."

"Let’s speed up, so we’re not late again. I don’t have a habit of being late."

The way she said "again" felt subtle, immediately implying to Ashley that Evelyn bore some animosity towards her.

Maybe not animosity, but at least she didn’t quite like her.

Ashley wasn’t the type to impose on others. Since Evelyn clearly didn’t like her, she stopped talking, and the two of them silently followed the group ahead.

Who would have thought that by following them, they’d end up at the club building instead?

After asking around, they found out that those people weren’t new class presidents at all, but there to recruit for clubs.

Ashley immediately asked, "Where’s the comprehensive building? Is it far from here?"

Someone replied, "It’s quite far, about a fifteen-minute walk."

As Ashley was about to ask for more specific directions, Evelyn said, "You go by yourself; I just remembered I have something to discuss with the homeroom teacher."

Ashley’s eyes widened.

"You’re not coming?"

"I’m not the vice president anyway."

Evelyn lightly tossed out this sentence and turned to leave.

Ashley called after her, but Evelyn didn’t even turn back.

There was no helping it; Evelyn indeed wasn’t the vice president.

Ashley couldn’t bother calling her again, realizing she wouldn’t come along. She quickly asked for directions and ran towards the comprehensive building.

But by the time she arrived at the comprehensive building, she was already late. Everyone was neatly seated in the lecture theater.

When she ran to the door, everyone turned to look at her.

There were at least fifty or sixty people. Ashley instinctively avoided their gaze and looked towards the few teachers on the podium.

"Excuse me..."

The teachers here weren’t as approachable as Wilson Wallace, one with a stern face asked her, "Why are you so late? Which class are you from?"

If it had been the Ashley Shaw of her past life, she might have been scared to tears. But having experienced society, she calmly apologized, "Sorry, teacher, I got lost and headed to the wrong place."

Her reasoning was reliable, and it wasn’t intentional.

The teacher’s face softened slightly, asking, "Are you the president or vice president?"

"President."

"Then where’s your vice president?"

"Our vice president hasn’t been decided yet..."

The teacher’s face darkened again.

"What’s wrong with your class? Even if undecided, you could have temporarily appointed someone for this."

Ashley repeated, "Sorry, teacher."

The teacher took a deep breath and finally waved it off, "Forget it! Just take a seat."

Ashley gratefully scurried to the last row of the lecture theater and sat down.

As she walked past, the students’ gazes felt like nails pinned to her, tracking her movements.

Ashley knew she had unintentionally drawn attention to herself again.

But she really didn’t need this kind of attention!

Feeling a bit uneasy, she maintained a calm expression as she sat down.

The teacher on the podium first introduced themselves, then explained why everyone was gathered there.

First was about military training, detailing which class was in which venue and approximately how many days it would last.

Then they gave some reminders according to the major.

They also mentioned the new student orientation.

It’s scheduled for tomorrow night.

Each class has its own designated seats and needs to enter in an orderly manner.

They also talked about collecting some miscellaneous fees; basically, it was a mess of things.

Ashley took out her phone and noted everything down, feeling utterly irritated.

As the meeting was about to end, the teacher speaking suddenly asked, "Which one of you is Ashley Shaw? Is Ashley Shaw here?"

Ashley was puzzled but raised her hand.

The teacher looked over at her, and upon seeing her face, furrowed their brows.

"Please stay behind for a moment."

Ashley nodded, "Okay..."

Finally, the teacher handed down a form to everyone, which was a school credit and attendance sheet.

Once the meeting finally concluded, everyone else could leave directly, but Ashley had to stay behind.

When the students had all left, the teacher got straight to the point, "You’re the newly elected student representative, so you have to give a speech on stage during the orientation. Prepare your speech, and go to the auditorium with the student council people tomorrow in advance."