Chapter 3

The three of them froze.

"I only said "I'm" not going," I said smoothly. "You guys do your thing, I'll do mine. Who am I bothering?"

My logic was flawless. No one could argue with that.

Chloe opened her mouth to argue but couldn't find any words. Her face flushed red.

Lily, quick to react, immediately laughed it off:

"Alright, alright, it's a personal choice. We respect Evelyn. Everyone, pack up! Meet at the school gate in ten minutes!"

She turned and walked away. Chloe and Hailey followed, throwing one last glare at me before they left.

I watched their retreating figures, a faint smile touching my lips.

In my past life, I blocked them to save them, and they hated me for meddling.

In this life, I didn't stop them, and they still hated me just because I wouldn't join them.

So they were going to hate me either way, huh?

Let them.

The classroom emptied out.

A noisy crowd gathered at the school gate, buzzing with excitement like they were going on a field trip.

Someone had made a makeshift sign out of cardboard that read: "Shred-to-Eat Free Meal Crew". Tyler carried it at the front like a general marching into battle.

Lily walked in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by her adoring classmates, her smile brighter than the sun.

The hallway was empty now. The entire school building fell into a hollow silence.

Only the wind blew, rustling the shredded paper on the classroom floor.

Every single piece of that paper was an SAT admission ticket.

I grabbed my backpack, walked out of the classroom, down the stairs, across the empty courtyard, and reached the school gate.

A white Volkswagen pulled up by the curb, and the window rolled down to reveal a young woman.

It was my aunt, Sarah.

"Evelyn, over here!" she waved.

"Why did you decide to pick me up today?" I asked.

"The big exam is tomorrow. I wanted to take you out for a nice meal so you can relax."

She started the car and glanced at me. "Why do you look so pale?"

"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well last night."

Sarah didn't press further. She reached into the console and handed me a piece of candy.

"Oh, right," she remembered. "A new bypass opened up in the south district. It's much faster. We're eating over there today."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Where?"

"That new TikTok-famous place in the south district. What was it called... oh, 'The Nest'."

The Nest.

The exact restaurant Lily had talked about.

The candy in my mouth suddenly lost its sweetness.

"Sarah," I said, "let's go somewhere else."

"Why?"

"I heard they're running a massive promo right now. It's going to be packed."

Sarah smiled. "Don't worry, I already booked a private booth."

As she spoke, she steered the car onto the highway heading south.

I didn't say anything more.

The city blurred past the window. High-rises, overpasses, and trees were bathed in golden sunlight.

It was the day before the SAT, and the whole city seemed to be clearing a path for the students. Even the usually congested roads were completely clear.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of "The Nest."

The restaurant was larger than I expected. The exterior was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and manicured bamboo at the entrance. It definitely had that viral, trendy vibe.

But right now, a noisy crowd was packed outside the entrance.

"Evelyn, are those kids from your school?" Sarah parked the car and walked over, following my gaze.

"Yeah."

"What are they doing here? Isn't the SAT tomorrow?"

I didn't answer.

Because Lily had already spotted me.

Her gaze cut through the crowd and landed on me. She froze for a second, and then her lips slowly, very slowly, curled into a smile.

"Evelyn?"