Chapter 47: Luxury Lunch, Demands and unexpected visitor

BOOM!

The lecture hall erupted into a frenzy of shocked gasps.

Julian. He was actually Julian Vance!

The girl who had just threatened to chop off her own head shrank into her seat, her face turning bright red. "I... I was just kidding about the soccer ball thing..."

Who could have guessed that the scruffy, miserable outcast of Capital University could transform into a refined, drop-dead gorgeous prince overnight?

Sitting near the front, Natasha stared at Julian in absolute disbelief, her mind blank. "How... how is this possible?"

Then, as the reality settled in, a wave of humiliated anger washed over her.

If he was Julian Vance, why had he dodged her so coldly at the entrance? Why had he let her hit the pavement in front of the entire student body? Why hadn’t he rushed to help her up like he used to?

When the female students in the class finally recovered from their shock, disappointed sighs echoed through the room.

"Ugh, he really is Julian Vance. That means we don’t stand a chance. Everyone knows he’s completely obsessed with Natasha."

"Natasha never even looked at him twice. I didn’t care before, but seeing how handsome and brilliant Julian is today, I feel terrible for him. What on earth did he ever see in that manipulative snob anyway?"

Julian caught snippets of their hushed chatter and couldn’t help but inwardly shake his head.

The backstory of the original host was truly a melodrama. On a freezing winter night, the Vance family had punished the young host by locking him out in the cold without food. Natasha, passing by, had casually tossed him two plain steamed buns. From that single moment of basic charity, the original host had foolishly viewed her as his white moonlight for years.

Meanwhile, sitting in the back row of a neighboring lecture hall, Leo Vance stared down at his phone. The university forum was completely flooded with photos and videos of Julian answering Professor mira’s questions.

Throughout the entire morning, Julian ignored the stares around him, completely immersed in absorbing his finance textbooks page by page.

When the noon bell rang, Sean leaned over, his face full of hero-worship. His new friend had made millions on stock investments, yet he was studying like a madman!

"Jules," Sean said cheerfully, "let’s grab some lunch. We can come back and study right after."

"Give me a minute," Julian replied softly.

Before they could leave, a woman dressed in a crisp, high-end uniform walked into the lecture hall carrying a large, insulated luxury hamper. Julian instantly recognized her as one of Rose Manor’s senior domestic staff.

"Master Vance," the staff member said respectfully, placing the heavy hamper on his desk. "Miss Sterling instructed us to prepare your lunch and deliver it personally."

"Thank you," Julian nodded.

Sean’s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as Julian unpacked the spread. Giant grilled lobsters, fresh king crab, Wagyu steak medallions, and delicate pastries—the aroma alone was intoxicating!

"Holy cow, Jules!" Sean swallowed hard. "What kind of secret multi-billionaire family do you come from?!"

"I’m actually an orphan," Julian answered casually, pushing a plate toward him. "My girlfriend had this sent over. I can’t finish all of it—help yourself."

Sean happily dug in, practically shedding tears of joy. "This is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life! Your girlfriend must be an absolute queen!"

After finishing his meal, Julian stepped out into the quiet corridor to head toward the restroom.

A figure stepped directly into his path.

Natasha stood there, her high heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Her gaze swept over his sharp jawline and tailored clothes. She had never imagined he could look this attractive simply by changing his hair and outfit.

If he apologizes properly right now, Natasha thought, raising her chin slightly, maybe I’ll give him another chance to pursue me.

She smoothed her skirt, adopting a haughty, expectant posture. "Julian... do you really think I’ll forgive you just because—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Julian walked straight past her, his expression cold and completely unbothered, as if she were made of thin air.

"What?!" Natasha spun around, her voice rising in disbelief. "Julian Vance! Stop right there!"

Julian paused, frowning slightly as he turned his head. "What do you want?"

Natasha marched up to him. "Aren’t you going to apologize to me? You hung up on me weeks ago, and today when I fell, you didn’t even pick me up! You made me look ridiculous in front of the whole school!"

She let out a cold, confident huff. "If you get down on your knees and apologize right now, I might consider forgiving you."

Julian looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "Are you sick?"

He turned to walk away.

"Julian!" Natasha hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing. "I know what you’re doing! You’re playing hard to get to draw my attention, but let me tell you, it won’t work!"

Julian put one hand in his trouser pocket, letting out a dry, indifferent chuckle. "Believe whatever you want. If you don’t want to forgive me, don’t. I couldn’t care less."

Without another word, he walked away, leaving Natasha standing alone in the hallway, her face burning with humiliation and rage.

-------

By 9:30 PM, Julian had finished a long study session in the library and returned to his quiet single dormitory room. Fresh out of the shower, he was toweling his wet hair when the balcony glass door suddenly slid open.

Before he could react, a slender, warm hand grabbed his wrist, pinning him back against the wall.

Julian blinked in complete shock. "Victoria?! How did you get in here?"

"Naturally, I climbed over the balcony wall from the adjacent ledge," Victoria murmured, standing on her tiptoes to press her body against his.

Julian’s brain stalled. Victoria Sterling... climbed a balcony wall?!

Her dark, glittering eyes locked onto his. "You haven’t seen me all day, my sweet boy. Didn’t you miss me?"

"Of course I did!" Julian nodded rapidly, sensing the subtle danger in her tone. "I thought about you all day."

"Little liar," Victoria purred, nipping sharply at his lower lip as a playful punishment. "If you missed me, why didn’t you call me once?"

Julian mentally panicked, searching for an excuse. He had spent nine straight hours absorbing textbooks and had completely forgotten to check his phone.

She leaned in until her lips brushed the shell of his ear.You’ve been ignoring my messages all evening, Julian."

Julian swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs—half from the shock of her midnight acrobatic stunt, and half from her sudden, overwhelming proximity. The faint scent of rain and night air clung to her jacket, mixing with the steam still radiating from his shower.

"I was studying," Julian managed to choke out, his back pressed flat against the cool plaster.

Victoria chuckled softly, running her free hand up his chest. "Well, your study session just ended."

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

A sudden, sharp knocking sounded on the dormitory door.

"Julian? Are you in there?" a male voice called out.

Julian’s brows pulled together tightly. It was Sean. While Sean considered himself a friend, he was nosy and loud. If he saw Victoria Sterling in Julian’s room, it would cause absolute chaos.

"Julian?" Tom’s voice called out again. "I brought those financial research notes you asked for. If you don’t answer, I’m just going to use the spare key to come in!"

Julian froze. He had forgotten that the floor supervisor had given his original host best friend Tom a spare key earlier that afternoon when Julian’s lock jammed.

"Wait a second! I’m changing!" Julian shouted toward the door.

In the dim light of the room, Victoria’s lips curved into a dark, thrilling smile. She pressed closer to Julian, her warm breath brushing his neck. " Julian... your friend is right outside, and we’re standing right here in the dark. Doesn’t this feel like a scandalous secret affair? Mmh?"

A dangerous excitement sparkled in her eyes.

Julian swallowed hard, clasping his hands together in a silent, desperate prayer. "Victoria, please... just hide in the bathroom for two minutes until I send him away, okay?"

Did he want to hide her because he was afraid his campus reputation would be ruined? Was he still trying to keep his options open for that girl outside?

I really should just drag him back to the manor right now and chain him to my bed forever...

"Am I really that embarrassing to you, Julian?" Victoria asked, her voice dropping into a dangerous, razor-thin whisper.

"No! Absolutely not!" Julian whispered frantically, his heart hammering against his ribs. "It’s just not a good time! Please, Victoria, just two minutes!"

Outside the door, Toms’s patience was wearing thin. "Julian? I’m counting to five, and then I’m unlocking the door!"

"Five..."

"Four..."