Chapter 379: Clara Whitmore Met Maya Torres and Noah Kessler at the Campus Gate

Clara Whitmore met Maya Torres and Noah Kessler at the campus gate, and the trio headed straight to the newly opened trendy restaurant.

It was peak lunch hour, and a long line snaked outside. They waited twenty minutes before getting a table.

The moment they sat down, Maya leaned in eagerly. "Clara, who was that handsome guy giving you flowers earlier? That bouquet had at least ninety-nine yellow roses!"

Clara took a sip of water. "My ex."

"What?" Maya nearly choked on her own saliva and quickly buried her face in the menu.

Noah gave Clara a thoughtful glance.

After lunch, they went to Professor Miriam Caldwell's office.

Maya's eyes widened when she heard they'd be entering the lab that afternoon. "Already? We're just freshmen!"

Though Noah appeared calm, his grip on his pen tightened slightly.

Clara stayed silent. She knew better than anyone how long their advisor's research had stalled—every minute counted now.

By the time they left the lab, night had long since fallen.

Exhausted, Clara dragged herself home. Too tired to even turn on the lights, she collapsed onto the sofa.

Knock, knock, knock—sudden rapping at the door.

She forced herself up and opened it to find Elias Mercer standing outside, his briefcase in hand. He looked like he'd just gotten off work too.

"I heard Miriam took you into the lab today?"

"Yeah."

"Worked until now?"

"Yeah."

"Did you eat?"

Clara shook her head weakly.

Elias chuckled. "Wait here."

He disappeared into his apartment across the hall and returned moments later with a thermal lunchbox.

"Eat while it's hot."

Clara hesitated. "This is...?"

"From my family. I already ate."

Only then did she accept it. When she lifted the lid, the aroma hit her instantly.

The top layer held glistening white rice. Beneath it lay neatly arranged sweet-and-sour ribs, braised pork, and steamed fish. The bottom compartment contained seasonal vegetables and mushroom soup.

Back at the Mercer family estate, Lenora Voss paced restlessly in the living room.

Walter Mercer set down his newspaper. "What's got you so worked up this late?"

"Your son, that's what!" Lenora huffed, sitting only to stand again. "Made me prepare dinner for two, then packed it all up without taking a single bite!"