Jennet quickly dodged. She went to get a mop, and began to clean up the stains of soybean milk.
Elaine was holding the newspaper which Jennet had been reading. Her hands trembled and her mind rumbled.
Lucas!
What the hell are you doing?
...
Lucas checked into a hotel with this female celebrity called Avery Woods?
They stayed overnight together?
Was this true?
Yesterday ... she saw how jealous Lucas was. How could he ... sleep with another woman last night?
What's wrong with all men in this world? Were they animals that just couldn't control their desires?
Couldn't they think of anything else other than this?
They had mistresses! They had affairs with female celebrities!
'Lucas, how could you do this to Hazel?'
"Are they ... really over?"
Elaine blinked dazedly.
It was already so bad that she and Emmett didn't get along well. Why couldn't things go well between Lucas and Hazel?
Anyway, Hazel could take the police officer as another option. But she had nothing.
Oh, right, she had one too. That was Mark.
Speak of the devil....
"What are you thinking about? You seem so serious."
A pleasant and gentle voice came from above, which startled Elaine and gave her a shiver. Then she looked up.
"You dumb girl. I haven't seen you these days. You are still well-behaved. So adorable."
Franklin was still easy-going. He reached out, trying to rub Elaine's hair, but Mark forestalled him. He touched Elaine's head first and rubbed it protectively and symbolically.
Franklin raised his eyebrows as if he had discovered a new continent. He looked at Mark's hand and then at his eyes.
Mark maintained a graceful smile, but his eyes were filled with determination.
"Oh, is that so? Mark, you actually ... made a move?"
Feeling embarrassed, Franklin teased awkwardly and then turned to look at Patrick.
Patrick shrugged his shoulders, "Well, it's time to make a move. Mark has been waiting for too long."
Franklin was frustrated, "Then what should I do?"
"What should you do? Just do what you should do. There are so many nice girls. Check those piles of pink writing paper in your drawer. They can literally bury someone. Just choose one from them."
Michael smiled and patted Franklin on the shoulder.
Franklin gave a rueful grin, "But I don't even care about them."
Patrick and Michael shook their heads at the same time. "Then there's no other way. Mark is ahead of you. He was acquainted with Elaine earlier than you, and his affection for her is deeper than yours. You should stay back. There's no chance."
...
Franklin lamented and stamped his feet.
Elaine actually did not understand the words of these gifted scholars.
What on earth were they talking about? It was confusing.
A tender affection rose in Mark's heart as he saw the confused expression on Elaine's face. He walked towards her, sat down by her side, hugged around her shoulder, and said gently, "How about dining with me this evening?"
"Ah? Dining with you?"
Elaine felt embarrassed. What was her relationship to Mark? How could she dine with him? It must be awkward and strange.
"I don't think so."
"It's alright. Come with me please. There won't be any strangers. They are all my friends. Everyone has a female companion. If I go there alone, I will look like a miserable loner. Just accompany me and help me gain some prestige."
Mark's lips almost touched Elaine's face when he was talking. The warmth of his breath embarrassed her and made her entire body burning. She wanted to stay away but didn't know how to.
Unconsciously, she nodded, "Alright then."
After saying that, she stood up like a frightened deer, "Excuse me. I want to go back to the classroom now. Bye-bye."
Then she ran away in panic, ignoring Jennet who was putting the mop aside.
Mark stared at Elaine's figure from behind with an unfathomable expression on his face.
Franklin leaned over and patted Mark on the shoulder, "Hey, Mark. It seems that Elaine is afraid of you? You just sat down and she ran off."
Only then did Mark stop staring at her back and he cast a glance at the chair where she had just sat. He murmured, "Is that so?"
Seeing Mark's facial expression, Patrick immediately hustled Franklin with his elbow and smiled embarrassedly, "That's not true. Mark, don't believe Franklin's nonsense. Elaine is just shy. Mark, you should try harder."
Mark sighed slightly, almost inaudibly, "She agreed ... Fortunately, she agreed to go to dinner."
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