Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 587

"Alright, if you want to call me a goddess, go right ahead. Keep the compliments coming, I love it,"

Mira shot back with a teasing grin.

"And these two are my classmates. Elara Finn, who Harvey and I went to high school with, and Leah Monroe, my brand-new roommate."

Seeing Elara and Leah standing off to the side, staring intently at the boys, Mira quickly pulled them into the conversation.

"Nice to meet you both,"

Cedric said smoothly.

"Great, introductions are over. You guys can head back to your dorm now. We've got a campus to explore,"

Harvey announced, effectively trying to shoo them away.

"No way! We'll just tag along,"

"Yeah, we literally just got here yesterday and haven't seen anything yet. It's the perfect setup—we can all hang out together."

"You two are already a group. Why do you need to crash ours?"

Harvey was entirely unenthusiastic about the prospect.

"Because it's more fun with a big group! Plus, we're doing you a solid."

"How exactly are you doing me a solid?"

"Dude, you're one guy walking around with three girls. We're here to act as a buffer so it's not totally awkward."

"Exactly! We're falling on the sword for you."

"We're literally childhood friends. How would this possibly be awkward?"

Harvey glared at them. Their motives were so transparent it was almost painful.

But despite Harvey's protests, Wyatt and Cedric seamlessly fell into step beside the girls.

"Alright, what's next? The academic buildings or the lake?"

Harvey sighed, conceding defeat.

"We definitely need to find the academic buildings. If we don't map out our class routes today, we'll be completely lost tomorrow,"

Elara insisted. She was always wildly practical.

"But Serenity Lake is literally right there. It's just a few steps away. Why don't we check that out first, and then hit the academic halls?"

Cedric reasoned. "We were actually heading that way before we ran into you guys."

Giving in, Harvey shifted directions and led the group toward the water.

Serenity Lake served as the geographic heart of Aethelgard University. Its sprawling, meticulously landscaped shores and towering rock formations gave it the feel of a serene, private botanical garden.

Strolling down the path felt like stepping into an oil painting; ancient trees formed a lush canopy overhead, emerald grass carpeted the banks, and the air was alive with the gentle chirping of birds.

Every student in the vicinity, whether reading on the benches or strolling along the paths, spoke in hushed whispers, as if terrified of shattering the tranquil atmosphere.

Through the gaps in the weeping willows, the sunlight danced off the gently rippling surface of the water, creating a mesmerizing, golden shimmer.

Where the water was still, it cast a mirror-like reflection of the students passing by.

The slender branches of the willows brushed against the surface, swaying in the breeze like the trailing hair of a dancer.

"It's gorgeous!"

Leah whispered, completely spellbound.

"Mira, we should totally bring our books down here to study when we have free time,"

Elara suggested, her eyes sparkling.

"Definitely."

Just then, a dragonfly dipped to the surface of the lake, sending tiny, concentric ripples outward. A heron gracefully landed on a decorative stone fish near the shore, letting out a soft, rhythmic call to its flock.

The group eventually wandered onto the historic stone boat docked on the lake's eastern edge. From the deck, they had a perfect view of the university's famous thirteen-story pagoda, which stood proudly atop an adjacent hill, casting a magnificent silhouette against the skyline...

"So, are we looking for the academic buildings or what?"

Harvey's impatient voice finally snapped them out of their trance.

"Yes, let's go."

Historically, the overarching trend for Solflare's portfolios has always been highly profitable.

But because the returns are so high, the shares sell out fast. If you want in, you'll need to keep a close eye on the market drops."

"If you're this obsessed with high finance, why didn't you major in economics?"

Cedric asked, impressed.

"Because the future of the global market relies entirely on computer science.

Finance is critical, obviously. If I can swing it, I'm actually planning to double-major in both."

"Double-major? Are you insane? Those are two of the most notoriously brutal degrees on campus!"

Wyatt stared at her, horrified.

"I figure it's worth a shot."

"Don't underestimate her. The girl practically has a photographic memory,"

Harvey muttered.

"Come on, everyone who gets into Aethelgard is a certified genius."

"Maybe, but I've been breaking my back trying to catch up to you, and I'm still miles behind."

Harvey, usually radiating arrogant confidence, suddenly looked deeply frustrated.

"For an entire year, I've treated you like the absolute gold standard. Academically, professionally, financially.

I've leveraged every resource my family has just to keep pace with you. So why does it feel like the gap between us is only getting wider?"

"You're already wildly successful. You're barely eighteen, and you've achieved things most grown men wouldn't even dream of."

Setting aside the massive dividends Harvey earned from investing in Mira's ventures, his own passion project, Solflare Academic, had exploded in popularity, establishing him as a pioneer in the online education sector.

"You're eighteen too! Stop talking like you're some wise, old mentor!"

Mira simply smiled. It wasn't exactly like she could confess to being a reincarnated corporate titan in an eighteen-year-old's body.