Chapter 22 Unwanted Kindness

Sierra had always hated noodles.

She had eaten more than enough of them in the Coleman family. She was sick of them.

Finished

Eleanor’s face stiffened at her words, a flicker of embarrassment shing across her features. Even Evan’s expression shifted slightly. They both remembered those years when their entire world had revolved around Denny. Who had cared about a child brought back halfway through?

“…I’m sorry, Sierra. I forgot.”

“Tell me what you like, and this time, I’ll remember.”

Eleanor’s voice was anxious, like she was finally realizing how little attention they had ever given Sierra.

“There’s no need. I’m not hungry.”

With that, Sierra walked away.

Some things, once broken, could never be put back together.

She had a short ss that morning. Grabbing two buns from the cafeteria, she went straight to the lecture hall.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt it.

The stares. The scrutiny. The whispersb. /b

People were watching her–assessing, probing, wary, cautious.

She paused for a brief second, then walked straight to the front row.

Few people sat at the front. She was the first to take a seat.

As soon as she sat down, the murmuring around her grew louder.

“That’s her. She’s the oldest in our ss. I heard she’s already twenty–one.”

“Seriously? Starting college thatte?”

“She used to study here before, but she got in trouble and was locked up for three years.”

“No way. The school still let her in? That’s way too generous.”

“It’s true. She was in the literature department before. Upperssmen still remember her.”

“Oh yeah, I heard about that. Wasn’t she some pathetic simp? Always chasing after Yaron? He was bso /bannoyed but didn’t know how to reject her.”

“Yaron? You mean Dr. Tan? Oh god, she really aimed high. Everyone knows he’s into the campus belle.”

“They say she switched majors just to get close to him.”

“She really thinks school is a joke, huh? And this program? Good luck surviving the finals.”

Chapter 22 Unwanted Kindness

Sierra heard everything.

She didn’t even blink.

Finished

Three years in prison had given her thicker skin than that. These petty rumors meant nothing to her. They barely registered.

But when the professor walked in, she couldn’t stay indifferent anymore.

The whole ss erupted.

“Holy crap! Am I seeing things? That’s Mr. Yeager!”

“No way! His sses are impossible to get into! He only teaches PhD students! How did we get this lucky?”

The handful of girls in the ss had already lost their minds. But even the guys weren’t any calmer.

“Mr. Yeager is so hot. I think I just turned.”

“If it’s Mr. Yeager, I’d consider it.”

Sierra stared at the man on the podium, equally surprised.

iJonathan? /i

iWhy /iiwas /iihe /iiteaching /iian /iiundergrad /ibicourse/i/b? iWasn’t /iithis /ia biwaste /i/biof /iihis /iitime/ii? /i

Besidesb, /bshe had checked the sybus. The instructor listed wasn’t him.

Sensing her gaze, Jonathan nced in her direction. The corners of his lips curled slightly.

Behind her, someone gasped.

“Oh my god, he looked at me!”

“Shut up. He was looking at me.”

Sierra chuckled.

She had always known Jonathan was popr, but she hadn’t expected ithis /ilevel of obsession.

It was honestly ridiculous.

Once the initial excitement died down, Jonathan finally spoke. “Good morning, everyone. I’ll be teaching this course for the semester. I only have one rule–don’t fail.”

“Mr. Yeager, don’t worry! No one’s failing!” someone shouted eagerly.

Jonathan simply smiled.

But once he began teaching, all those excited students quickly sobered up.

Jonathan didn’t follow the textbook.

He exined concepts in depth, linking them to broader theories, making connections most people struggled to ora、n. Whether or not students understood denended entirely on their own ability

Chapter 22 Unwanted Kindness

Many were low

Finister

bBut /bthey knew this was a rare opportunity, so they scribbled notes furiously, hoping to make sense of itter.

Sierra, on the other hand, followed along effortleuty,

The ideas he presented sparked something in her. The roadblock the had hit in her reach pesertay he suddenly saw a new way to approach bis/b. She couldn’t wait to try it in theb.

The lecture flew by

Jonathan left, but the ss was bstill /bbuzzing, everyone wanting more. Even Sierra found herself looking forward to the next lessonb. /b

She had to admit–Jonathan’s teaching was leagues better than bEvan’s/bb, /b

That afternoon, after ss, Sierra went to the hospital

“Grandma.”

Her voice was soft.

Her grandmother was on the phoneb. /bThe moment she saw Sierra, she quickly ended the call

W

When the me of Love Fades