Chapter 457 - 453: Don’t Get Too Carried Away

But you can’t just look at it that way when it comes to feelings. Estelle and Charles Jennings had grown up together. Sometimes, knowing each other too well was its own kind of barrier.

Blair, on the other hand, wasn’t impressed by the gesture. "Isn’t that just a typical guy’s ploy? Girls get emotional so easily. Give them one little gift, and they’re practically yours."

"Babe, don’t you think that’s a little pessimistic? It was clearly a heartfelt gesture," Estelle said. "I refuse to believe you’d be completely unmoved if a guy did something like this for you one day."

But Blair just pouted. "If I date someone, I’m doing it on the down-low. If we break up, I’ll just pretend it never happened."

Estelle: "??"

’Is that even an option?’

Cecilia Sterling couldn’t hold back a laugh. Estelle looked at her, feeling utterly defeated, and asked, "Cecilia, don’t tell me you also think what Candice said makes sense?"

"Don’t call me Candice!"

Cecilia said, "I don’t know him, so I can only stay neutral. He might be sincere, but he might also have an ulterior motive. It’s hard to say. Only you can be the judge of that."

"An ulterior motive? What kind of motive could he possibly have?"

Cecilia stared at her for a moment, searching for the right words. At last, she said, "A chum salmon will swim halfway across the world just to mate."

"Huh?" Estelle didn’t get it for a second. "What does that mean?"

Blair rolled her eyes dramatically. "It’s literal. Cecilia is warning you that he might just be after your body."

"What?" Estelle exclaimed, so startled she set her bubble tea down on the table. "N-No way, right? We’ve only held hands. He seems very respectful of my boundaries."

"Don’t be so nervous." Cecilia quickly reassured Estelle. She knew Estelle had been sheltered her whole life and lacked experience in these matters. "I’m just reminding you not to get too swept up and lose your better judgment. I’m not saying he definitely has bad intentions."

"And..." Cecilia hesitated, then looked at Estelle and asked, "This would be your first time, right?"

Estelle froze for a moment, her face instantly flushing red.

"Yes."

"That’s why Blair and I are a bit worried about you," Cecilia said sincerely.

Blair also nodded silently.

"Cecilia, then your first time was with..."

"Saul Thorne."

Cecilia didn’t hide anything. It was supposed to have been with Shawn Lane, but that good-for-nothing couldn’t get it up the entire night.

"But when it happened, I was fully mentally prepared. Plus, I liked him, and I truly accepted that’s where our relationship was going, so I had no regrets afterward. All that mental prep is really important," Cecilia explained patiently.

Estelle listened intently, and a sudden fear of physical intimacy began to creep in.

"Getting scared?" Blair saw her reaction and pointed it out bluntly.

Estelle nodded. She had never really imagined how her first intimate experience would happen, but Cecilia was right—she should be mentally prepared beforehand.

"The fact that you’re scared now means you’re not ready. So if you decide to date him, it’s best to make this clear in advance. For example, telling him that you can’t have sex until you’ve consented to it."

A girl should always prioritize her own feelings and protect herself. If he respects you, that shouldn’t be difficult.

"I understand."

Cecilia and Blair looked at each other and shared a smile.

It wasn’t that they were trying to stop Estelle from dating that coach, but rather that they hoped she would make her decisions with a clear head.

And Estelle Goodman, now calm, found that the heady rush from before had indeed dissipated quite a bit.

*

「The next day, Lorcain U.」

Freshman military training.

On the athletic field, the freshmen, dressed in camo pants, army-green short-sleeved shirts, and hats, were standing together in units of two classes.

"Thank goodness it rained yesterday. It’s pretty cool today."

"How come there are so few girls in our two classes?"

"Bro, it’s the computer science department. How many girls did you expect?"

"Give it a rest. The mechanical engineering department next door has it worse. It’s like Serenity Monastery over there."

University military training was a novel experience for the freshmen. Everyone was a little excited, gathered together and chattering endlessly.

Ethan Sterling stood in his class’s formation, his gaze subconsciously scanning the other class formations around him, trying to find Seraphina.

For the past two days, he had lingered a while after every meal in the cafeteria, but he hadn’t run into her again.

"Ethan!"

Jameson Stone suddenly ran over and, seeing the instructor wasn’t there yet, hurriedly said, "Did you bring sunscreen?"

Ethan Sterling nodded, took the sunscreen out of his pocket, and gestured for Jameson Stone to hold out his hand.

But Jameson Stone said, "It’s not for me. I’m borrowing it for a girl in my class. Let me have it, and I’ll give it back during the break."

"Oh." Ethan Sterling nodded, watching Jameson Stone run off with the sunscreen.

Soon, the instructors assembled the students. Lorcain U’s military training was very strict, and the instructors were all experienced veterans. After introductions came high-intensity physical training.

Most of them were kids who had never endured real hardship. Even if they were young and in good health, suddenly being subjected to such high intensity was too much for many of them.

During the one-kilometer jog, Ethan Sterling’s handsome face was flushed red from the exertion. His chest felt tight, but his feet kept up with the pace of the group in front of him.

Of course, even while running, he didn’t forget to search around with his eyes, but there was still no sign of Seraphina.

Lorcain U had four athletic fields, and the freshman military training was spread out across them. It was possible that Seraphina wasn’t on the same field as him.

But Owen Griffin was on the same field. As Ethan was running, Owen suddenly caught up with his class’s formation and came up beside him. "Hey man, we meet again! You’re Ethan Sterling, right?"

Ethan Sterling was startled. His already labored breathing was instantly thrown off, and a sharp pain immediately shot through his chest.

He’d gotten a side stitch!

Forced to stop, he clutched his chest with a pained expression. An instructor not far away saw this and quickly walked over. "Why’d you stop?"

Ethan Sterling’s face was beet red, and the tightness in his chest made it hard for him to speak. Owen Griffin looked at the instructor and said, "Reporting, sir! I think he got a side stitch."

The instructors were very experienced and could tell with a single glance that Ethan Sterling wasn’t faking it. He immediately said, "Go rest on the side for a bit. Rejoin the formation when you feel better."

Ethan Sterling nodded and shot a glare at Owen Griffin.

Owen Griffin gave a cheeky wave, leaving him there alone as he rejoined his own group.

"Are you okay?"

Ethan Sterling was standing in place when a concerned voice suddenly sounded by his ear. Then, a fair arm reached out in front of him, holding a bottle of water. "Want some water?"

Ethan Sterling subconsciously turned his head. The girl was standing against the light, and the early morning sun cast a halo in her hair. It took Ethan a moment to see her face clearly.

He was startled and subconsciously took two steps back, the other person’s name instinctively escaping his lips: "Seraphina?"