Chapter 91 Lines in the Sand

Eliza instinctively turned around to nce at Nn, wondering what he was doing–only for thenguage teacher to frown at her mid–lecture.

“Eliza, what are you looking at?”

Snapping back to reality, she stood up without thinking. “I…”

“She dropped her pen,” Nn interrupted coolly.

He picked a pen off the ground and tossed it back to her.

Once the teacher let her sit down, Eliza spent the rest of ss trying to find the right moment to ask Nn if he was upset.

Finally, the bell rang.

Nn stood up the instant it did and headed straight for the door.

“What’s with him? Is he in a bad mood?” Henry asked, puzzled. He patted Eliza on the shoulder. “I’ll go check. You wait here.”

“It’s not-”

Eliza started to follow him… until she realized Henry had walked straight into the boys‘ bathroom.

Left standing at the door awkwardly, she returned to her seat.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

She nced at the screen and found a friend request- From Tyson.

The note read simply. iNn’s /iiuncle/ii. /i

Just a few words.

Eliza was still hesitating when Nn suddenly reappeared, took her phone, and deleted the request without a second thought.

She looked up. He tossed her phone back.

“He’s not a good person. Stay away from him,” he said quietly.

Then he went back to his seat.

Henry, reappearing at just the right moment, offered a bright grin. “Don’t worry–he’s just sulking! I’ve rarely seen Nn like this. He must really see you as a friend. Otherwise, he wouldn’t warn you about Tyson.”

If Henry had known earlier that Eliza had gone off with Tyson, he would’ve stopped her himself.

Chapter 91 Lines in the Sand

“You two know him well?” Eliza asked.

b+8 /bPearls

“Not exactly. But Tyson’s known for being ruthless. He goes straight for people’s weak spots. And since the two of them are both heirs to the Hayes family fortune… let’s just say, things are tense.”

Henry paused before adding, “Nn bowed his head to Tyson for you. That should tell you how much he values you.”

Hearing that, Eliza felt a pang of guilt.

If Tyson and Nn were at odds, then as Nn’s friend, she really shouldn’t have agreed so quickly to go have lunch with his uncle.

She turned around in her seat. “Um… I only went to lunch with him because I thought you two were rtives. And he did help me with the study abroad stuff, so I felt like I owed him a thank–you. But if you two ever fall out, I’m with you. No hesitation.”

She spoke sincerely, eyes clear and firm.

Henry nudged Nn. “Hey. She said all that–don’t you think you should say something?”

Most people wouldn’t have noticed, but Henry–Nn’s best friend–could tell he’d already softened.

At least, he wasn’t mad anymore.

Nn replied tly, “Mm. Got it.”

“That’s it? Just ‘mm‘? You can’t say anything nicer?”

Henry was practically jumping in frustration.

But Eliza genuinely looked relieved. “As long as you’re not mad, that’s all I care about.”

“You were that worried I’d be mad?” Nn asked.

“Of course. We’re ssmates. You guys have helped me so much—I don’t want something like this to ruin our friendship.”

A perfect answer.

Still, Nn didn’t seem pleased.

“Finals areing. You should focus.”

With that, heid his head down on his desk to nap.

Eliza had already been grinding through practice tests every day.

After the New Year’s G and the short holiday, finals arrived right on schedule,

This time, the exams weren’t particrly difficult.

When it was all over, Eliza slung her backpack over her shoulder, ready to head out.

Chapter 91 Lines in the Sand

Around herb, /bthe other students were packing up too.

Henry asked, “Didn’t you cut ties with your family? School’s on break–do you have a ce to stay?”

b“/bYeah, don’t worry. I found one.”

She’d rented a small ce near the storage warehouse–a 70–square–meter bungalow out in the suburbs. Affordable, quiet, and far enough from the city to avoid trouble.

She had paid the entire year upfront, in case another flu outbreak made housing unstable.

She used the funds Nn had loaned her.

“Where exactly?”

This time, it wasn’t Henry asking–it was Nn.

“…Out in the suburbs,” she replied.

88

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