Having dealt with the affairs in hospital, Alice and Emma went to school. Unexpectedly, just as they arrived at the school, Mark called in again. He screamed at the top of his voice, which startled Alice.

"You wicked girl! Where did you get so much money? You offended my partner. I won't let you get away from this. If I'm done, you're all done too! Give the diamond ring back to me at once! If you dare to sell it, I'll let your mother get out of the hospital right away! "

The phone hung up soon, not giving Alice a chance to say a word.

"Why did your dad call again?" Emma twisted her head at Alice. Her father must have said something serious on the other end of the phone. Otherwise, Alice would not look so pale in the hot summer afternoon.

"Nothing. Just asking about my mother's condition." Alice still smiled and walked to the classroom, but right now she had a churning heart.

"Why your dad acted so oddly in the past six months?! You used to be so poor that you almost could not afford the food, but he lived in a villa, drove a fancy car, and had a secret lover, completely ignoring you and your family. You had to go to school and work hard to get through these years. But half a year ago, he suddenly transferred you to this private university. You were already a junior, and he still transferred you to another school. I really can't get the point. Does he hope you can find a good company during your senior internship?” Emma shook her head and brushed this idea aside.

"Now it's much stranger! He offers to pay aunt's medical fee and arranges for her to live in such an expensive hospital. It is not a small sum of money. Is he really willing to do it? "

Alice also didn't know why her father had been acting so abnormally in the past six months.

It would be far-fetched to say that it was for the business deal yesterday. But she was drunk, went to the wrong room and gave the valuable diamond ring to the wrong person.

Thinking of these, Alice felt her head was about to blow up, a burst of tearing pain.

"Alice."

Hearing the familiar calling, Alice hurried to greet David who was standing at the door of the classroom as if she had clutched the life-saving straw.

"David."

David smiled at Alice like the warm sun and his beautiful face shone directly into others' hearts. The girls around brightened their faces and expressed their adoration to David secretly.

David had always been popular on campus since Alice met him in the primary school. Many girls were under his spell, and devoted their hearts to him secretly. Unfortunately, in David's eyes, there was only his good friend, Alice, so the others all served as a foil.

Alice stood in front of David and it aroused the jealousy of the girls around. Alice was used to it so she ignored it.

"Alice, did you have lunch?" Every time they met, David would ask, "Did you eat?"

Alice couldn't help laughing, and her bright eyes were like the clear spring water, "Yes, I did."

"Not yet." Emma hurried to tell the truth.

David smiled and handed Alice a box of milk, which aroused Emma's strong dissatisfaction.

"What about mine?" Emma clenched her fists and threatened him.

"Of course, how could I forget you?" David took out another box of milk and handed it to Emma.

"That's more like it. It's a human thing to do." Emma unclenched her fists and took over the milk.

The three of them entered the classroom together. Quite a few students lowered their heads and whispered.

Alice knew that her family was not rich enough to afford her study in this aristocratic private university. She was already an unusual existence, not to mention that she had always been spotted together with the handsome boy, David.

As soon as Alice was seated, over her head came a sharp scream from a woman.

"Alice! You're hooking up with my David again!"

Alice gritted her teeth. She already knew who it was without raising her head. She did not take a look at Emily. Ever since she came to this school, every time she saw Emily, she would remind her of the haunting ghost—Bruce.

He was the young master of Cook group, which the school belonged to. He was like a demon who always made her disquieting.

"David! Follow me!" Emily grabbed David and was about to go out.

"Emily, class is about to begin. Stop playing." David said in an indifferent tone, along with some displeasure. It was totally not the way a boyfriend should treat his girlfriend.

"David, tell me, do you like her?" Emily stamped her feet, pointed at Alice and questioned him indignantly.

"No." David answered calmly.

"If you don't like her, why were you so anxious to find her last night? You even called me to ask if I knew where she was. How anxious you were that you even asked me! You know we're enemies. How could I possibly know where she was?" Emily shouted petulantly. She didn't care whether the people in the classroom were watching her.

David didn't bother to explain more. He opened his textbook and began to read.

Emily burst into tears. She stared at Alice and shouted, "Alice! You are a tease! Like your mother!"

All of a sudden, the classroom turned into a buzz and everyone began to discuss in a low voice.

Alice slowly clenched her fists, but before she could open her mouth, Emma had stood up.

"Miss Thomas, please come out with me." Emma's eyes were sharp, and she stroked her short hair.

"Why do I have to go out with you? If I go, I will go with David!" Emily was still a little afraid of Emma. She had already suffered more than once in Emma's hands.

"Don't disturb Alice to have her class here. She still needs the exam results to find a job. Unlike us, we can go to work in our families' companies after we leave the school.'' Emma dragged Emily out in spite of her struggle.

Alice was worried that Emma would create some troubles. She was about to chase after them, but Emma raised her eyebrows at her and pouted. "You stay here and listen to the teacher."

Emily screamed angrily, "Emma! In your family's clothes factory, we Thomas Family is a major shareholder! I will ask your parents to come to my house and apologize to me in person!"

Emily's cry disappeared outside the classroom.

Everyone craned their necks and looked on. Only when they saw the professor was coming did they look down at the textbooks.

David took Alice's arm and made her sit down, saying, “The professor is coming."

"Don't you worry? She's your girlfriend." Being disturbed like this, Alice was annoyed. How could she still have the mind to attend class?

"Emily won't let herself suffer." David answered carelessly. His attention was totally focused on the textbook.

Alice was distracted. She was playing the pen in her hand. The picture of what happened at the hotel last night appeared before her again. She didn't know what the old professor was saying on the stage.

If she really failed to find the diamond ring, Mark would definitely drive her mother out of the hospital.

After class, David put his class notes in front of Alice.

"There's only a month before the exam. I don't think you want to mess up the test, right?"

"I will prepare for it." Alice answered.

"Alice, I've always admired you. You're a girl with a strong heart. This school is full of famous and rich kids. They don't need to consider their future. The grade for them, is nothing but a piece of waste paper, but for you, it is your life.'' David did not know what happened to Alice last night, nor did he want to ask, but he could tell that Alice was very upset.

He was comforting her as well as encouraging her.

Alice looked up at David. He still smiled warmly like the sun. Alice's heart ached.

David was right. No matter what happened, it should not slow down her pace.

"Come on, I'll treat you to dinner. I haven't seen you for just a day, and you look so haggard now. You must be so busy that you forgot to eat again." David laughed. He did not want Alice to feel sad anymore.

"I won't go. If Emily sees me, she will hunt me down again. I will stay here, reading some books and waiting for Emma by the way." Alice waved the class notes in her hand.

After reviewing her lessons, she still had to find the diamond ring.

"There is only friendship between us.” David suddenly became serious. "If she wants to smother my friendship, she should not be my girlfriend."

"What a nonsense theory!"

"I don't take love more seriously than friendship." David raised his eyebrows, and it amused Alice.

"Come on, I'm hungry." David grabbed Alice's wrist and was about to go out.

Alice had no choice but to suggest, "Let's go to the canteen. If we go outside to eat, it is like we are dating, and it will be more difficult for us to explain. This time, it's my treat. Just don't say I am stingy.''

David didn't even turn his head back. He changed the route and went straight to the canteen.

Alice, holding her textbooks in her arms, followed David and walked in the green shade of camphor trees. The wind in the evening rustled the leaves, and the warm golden sunshine poured down, warming her body and softening her mood.