The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 445

Josh's smile froze completely, a vein throbbing faintly on his temple. "Piper, do you still care about your final grade in my class?"

Piper stuck her tongue out at him, aggressively tugging Sloane toward the doors. But before she could take another step, her eyes lit up, and she began waving wildly toward the bottom of the stairs.

"Mom! Dad! Over here!"

An understated black sedan pulled up to the entrance. The doors opened, and an older couple stepped out.

The man wore a charcoal cashmere coat over a lean frame. His hair was impeccably groomed, and his silver-rimmed glasses gave him the distinct, grounded aura of an academic who had spent his life in university halls.

The woman holding his arm wore a deep navy, qipao-inspired dress draped with a minimalist cashmere shawl. Her hair was pinned up elegantly, and she hadn't bothered to dye the few silver strands, which only amplified her sophisticated, gentle presence.

"Professor Prescott. Mrs. Prescott," Josh greeted, offering a slight, respectful nod. His tone was perfectly measured—clearly, this wasn't his first time meeting them.

Piper's parents were both tenured faculty at Riverdale, and her father happened to be the Vice Chairman of the university board.

This was exactly why Josh hadn't actually tanked Piper's GPA yet.

Professor Prescott evaluated Josh from head to toe. Behind the silver frames, his gaze carried the sharp, calculating assessment of a lifelong scholar, though a polite smile touched his lips.

Sloane blushed deeply, dipping her head in polite humility. "You're too kind, Mrs. Prescott. Piper has brought so much joy into my life, too. When I got out of the hospital, I had a hard time readjusting to everything. Piper is the one who helped me find my rhythm again."

Professor Prescott nodded approvingly beside his wife. He didn't speak much, but the look behind his glasses conveyed a deep, silent respect.

He had dealt with countless young adults in his life, and this girl possessed an incredibly rare trait—she was quiet, but not timid; polite, but never sycophantic.

The group exchanged a few more pleasantries before Piper dragged her parents into the hall, securing their spots in the VIP family section near the front. Sloane and Josh followed closely behind. Just as they sat down, Piper suddenly spun around, leaned close to Sloane, and whispered.

"By the way, Sloane—do you have any family coming tonight?"