Avery politely declined offers for help with her luggage. However, others took her bags without waiting for her consent, and she didn’t bother to argue. Once in the dorm, people invited her to join them for lunch, but she pulled out a thermos and said she had brought her own food from home and would eat in her room. Everyone was surprised. They didn’t expect Avery to bring lunch to school. Someone thought, ’Could her family be struggling financially? She doesn’t seem like it.’ But Avery wasn’t wearing designer brands. Perhaps her family background was modest. Another woman felt a secret sense of superiority and thought, ’Avery isn’t so perfect after all.’ The boys, on the other hand, felt secretly pleased. If her family wasn’t well-off, it meant they had a chance to pursue her.
Avery smiled and said, "It’s almost half past twelve. You should hurry to lunch." The seniors wanted to say more, but the ladies beside them pulled them away.
As Avery ate, she curiously examined the dorm. During her high school years, the Murphy family had rented her a place right across from school, so she had never lived on-campus before. This dorm accommodated four students. Each had their own bed, lofted to allow for a wardrobe and desk below, along with a bathroom and balcony. It was quite nice.
The other three dormmates weren’t there yet. One bed had luggage on it, while the other two were empty, as the students hadn’t arrived. Avery glanced at their names: Celine Austin, Marilyn Bender, and Daphne Robbins. Generally, girls studying engineering tended to be down-to-earth. Maybe she could look forward to dorm life in college.
To be honest, Avery’s main reason for attending university was to experience the life of an "ordinary person." She wasn’t expecting to learn much that her usual teachers couldn’t teach her. "Since I’m here, I might as well enjoy it," Avery said to herself.
After finishing her meal, Avery tied her hair up, put on a mask and hat, and went downstairs to the cafeteria to pick up her bedding. She carried a plastic bucket with sheets and pillows in one hand and a large woven bag filled with blankets over her shoulder, striding back to her dorm with ease. As she passed by, everyone stared in disbelief. While there were girls who could carry that much, it was rare to see someone do it so effortlessly and gracefully.
"Look!" someone in the second-floor cafeteria called out. "Isn’t that Avery?" Students by the window leaned out, instantly spotting her. Even though Avery was wearing a mask, her figure and presence were so striking that the seemingly ordinary green dress she wore stood out as truly unique, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who saw her.
"It really is her! She’s so beautiful. Why isn’t anyone helping her with her things?"
"Do you really think she looks like she needs help?"
"Hey, look at Joy’s table," someone whispered. "She’s watching Avery too. What do you think she’s thinking? Is it admiration, or is it a rivalry?" The topic was too juicy to resist. Men and women alike were drawn to the gossip.
"From what I know about women, when two equals compete, it’s bound to get intense."
"Someone started a poll on the campus forum: ’Who’s more beautiful, Avery or Joy?’ And the voting is lively. The numbers are close, only a few votes apart."
"Wow, this is really hard to choose!" someone else exclaimed, caught up in the same dilemma. "One is breathtakingly beautiful. The other is elegantly striking. I just can’t pick."
"I vote for both of them."
At another table, Joy observed Avery below, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "So, that lady is Avery? She seems quite intriguing."
Marco Melton, the student council president sitting beside her, chimed in, "Avery is indeed impressive. Being beautiful is one thing, but what’s truly remarkable is her academic performance. She’s the first in West End history to achieve a perfect SAT score."
"However..." He hesitated before continuing, "There are some unfavorable rumors circulating about her before she even started here. She’s said to be a real ’heartbreaker.’"
Joy looked at him, puzzled. "Heartbreaker?"
Marco explained, "It means she conquers men, so to speak."
Joy nodded in understanding. "I see."
Marco continued, "A charming lady attracts many suitors—that’s normal. But if she can’t take relationships seriously and hurts others, that wouldn’t be good." He seemed eager to discuss matters of the heart, but Joy showed no interest.
She put down her fork and said politely, "It’s almost 1 PM. I’m feeling a bit tired and would like to rest." Others also set down their forks, agreeing they were full.
Marco tried to foot the bill but discovered Joy had already paid. He said, "You treated us this time. Next time, it’s my turn." Other boys wanted to say the same, but they dared not compete with Marco.
Joy smiled. "Alright, thank you."
After leaving the cafeteria, the others discreetly excused themselves, letting Marco escort Joy back to her dorm. Joy walked quickly, giving Marco no chance for idle chatter. Once in her room, she closed the door and walked into the bathroom, sending an email:
[Investigate freshman Avery Carter, an aerospace major at Rosemont University. Provide as much detail as possible, but do not alert her or those around her.]
Meanwhile, Ian received a call. "The student management office’s computer is malfunctioning, repeatedly crashing. We can’t get online. Nothing we do helps. You need to come take a look."
Ian made a victory gesture to his friends. "Just wait. I’m going to uncover Joy’s background right now."
Two hours later, Ian trudged back to the dorm, slumping into his chair with a defeated expression that showed he had taken a heavy blow. The room was packed with young men eagerly waiting for his news. Seeing his demeanor, they sensed something was off.
"What happened, Ian? Did you find nothing on Joy?"
"Is she really all style and no substance, hiding a scandalous past?"
"Did you hear some shocking rumors about her that left you in shock?"
If that were the case, it wouldn’t be surprising. After all, no one was perfect.
Ian stared up at the ceiling, sighing deeply. "She’s out of our reach."
The guys shook his shoulders excitedly. "Come on, Ian! You have to tell us. We can’t understand if you don’t share."