The Moment I Stepped Into His World as the Fake Girlfriend, I Became the Real Prize novel Chapter 28

He already had a crush! How could he let himself get so easily bewitched by the pretty face of a tainted woman?

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Kingsley University was the most prestigious elite college in the city.

True to its reputation, the vast majority of its students came from wealth and power, with only a tiny fraction admitted strictly on academic merit.

The prime example of the latter was the reigning School Belle, Lydia Lansbury.

Although she came from a disadvantaged background, her grades had always been stellar, earning her the title of a golden phoenix rising from the ashes.

Right now, inside the finance department's lecture hall, the classroom was buzzing with activity.

"Guess who I ran into at The Midnight Lounge last night?"

Leon Lester, sitting in the front row, suddenly shouted, instantly drawing a crowd's attention.

Everyone knew The Midnight Lounge was situated in the heart of the city—a notorious, ultra-exclusive playground for the obscenely rich.

After dropping the bait, Leon Lester exchanged a pointed look with Lin Zhe in the seat behind him.

Lin Zhe coughed lightly, instantly playing along. "Who?"

"Who else? Our very own Sterling Hawthorne, of course!"

Leon Lester raised his voice dramatically, his eyes casually drifting toward a desk near the window.

Sitting there was a quiet girl, a fountain pen in hand as she diligently took notes.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, while the strands framing her face were neatly tucked behind her ear, revealing a serene, elegant, and perfectly gentle profile.

At the mention of Sterling's name, the hand gripping her pen pressed down too hard, bleeding a tiny drop of ink over the word she had just written.

"No way! Sterls never goes to sketchy places like that! Hao, are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

Lin Zhe feigned complete shock, continuing his flawless routine with Leon Lester.

Leon Lester drawled lazily, his tone radiating absolute certainty.

Amidst the heated gossip, a girl sitting near the front glared at Lydia and let out a vicious scoff.

"I don't know why you're all so shocked. Isn't this completely normal? Sterling confessed to a certain someone ninety-nine times, and that someone just loves playing hard to get. She won't say yes, but she won't give him a firm no either, stringing him along like a lapdog! Who wouldn't lose their mind over that?"

Lydia's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she remained completely silent, simply continuing to write.

It was as if the chaos around her didn't exist, and the vicious words weren't aimed at her.

But her best friend, Sasha Sheridan, couldn't tolerate it for another second and instantly snapped back, "Wow, the sheer jealousy in the air is suffocating! I can smell the sour grapes from here!"

"Even if Sterling is a lapdog, he's willingly begging for Lydia's attention! Unlike some people who practically strip naked and throw themselves at him, only to be completely ignored! Keep crying about it!"

After ripping into her, Sasha whirled on Leon Lester. "You definitely saw the wrong guy! Sterling knows Lydia hates filthy places like that. He would never go behind her back!"

Keeping in mind that Sasha was Lydia's best friend, Leon Lester didn't push back too aggressively. "Well, let me ask you this. What exactly is the relationship between the School Belle and Sterls? Why should he have to answer to her?"