章 10: Chapter 10: The Rivalry Begins
Chapter 10: The Rivalry Begins
A silver convertible roared up behind her, its booming hip-hop music catching Lydia Moore's attention. She glanced back and immediately recognized the car's owner—none other than the notorious "Golden Prince" Aaron King, a major figure in Sakura Academy's elite circles. He was leaning casually against the edge of the car with his left hand, while his right hand rested effortlessly on the steering wheel. His smirk was a blend of charm and arrogance, reminiscent of a bad-boy hero from a romance novel. Next to him, Tina, wearing black sunglasses, was chatting animatedly, her face glowing with happiness.
Recently, Lydia Moore had often seen Tina waiting for Aaron King at school. Tina always appeared in immaculate makeup and glamorous dresses, striking a graceful pose in front of the National Gold Academy building, drawing everyone's gaze. Occasionally, Lydia would overhear boys on the street discussing Tina, envying Aaron King for dating such a princess-like girlfriend.
Since the LEV advertisement aired, Tina's popularity among models had soared, and her visibility continued to rise. She and Aaron King were hailed by the media as the perfect couple. But how long could this relationship last? Lydia Moore wondered if this would end badly too.
The bus slowly arrived and came to a halt in front of her.
Shaking off her thoughts, Lydia picked up her bag and boarded the bus. The vehicle was nearly empty, making the air conditioning feel especially refreshing, unlike the cramped and sweltering buses she often struggled to board. Perhaps few people chose to travel at noon, Lydia mused as she sighed and took a seat by the window in the back row.
The southern suburbs were beautiful, and Lydia gazed out the window. Wild roses dotted the fields by the ditches, their delicate red flowers standing out against the surrounding deep green. The endless layers of green were lush and soothing, making the scenery look almost like a living painting.
The flat fields, tender rice seedlings, and verdant banana leaves swaying in the breeze created a vibrant, lively scene.
Enjoying the view from the bus was a real treat. Lydia stared out the window, mesmerized. She couldn't resist opening the window a crack to get a closer feel of nature's beauty as the wind rushed in.
A piece of white paper, with subtle patterns, fluttered up from the ground and landed at her feet.
"What's this?" Lydia picked up the paper that had unexpectedly fallen beside her.
It featured black musical notes and a finely drawn staff, with the name "Julian Reed" written neatly in the lower right corner. The piece was a familiar tune: "Dream of Love." Lydia turned around and noticed a boy in the back row of the bus, bent over a piece of white paper on his lap, with earbuds in, swaying slightly to the music. This paper must belong to him. She thought for a moment and held up the paper, calling out, "Excuse me, excuse me."
After several attempts, the boy finally responded. He looked up with slightly confused eyes, removed his earbuds, and asked, "Me?" His features were soft, his eyes glowing with warmth, and his smile seemed ever-present. Dressed in a white shirt, soft khaki pants, and simple black-and-white sneakers, he exuded a bright, calm, and elegant demeanor akin to a prince.
He was almost impeccably perfect. Although Lydia generally wasn't interested in handsome guys, his aura was genuinely captivating. For a moment, she forgot what she intended to say and just handed the paper to him slowly, saying, "This is yours." If she guessed right, he must play the piano, and his noble demeanor seemed destined for music, much like Ethan Knight, suggesting he was born for music and excelled because of it.
"Oh, thank you." Julian Reed accepted the paper gratefully and carefully tucked it into his book. His fingers were clean, pale, and gracefully long, making his hands a work of art in themselves.
"You're also a student at Sakura Academy, right?" Lydia pointed to the Sakura emblem on his shirt's left pocket. Since he was a music student too, why had she never seen him around school or heard of him? To Lydia's eye, Julian Reed seemed to surpass Aaron King in every way. Could it be that nowadays, girls preferred rich, fickle boys who changed girlfriends like clothes?
"Yeah." Julian nodded, smiled at her, and then put his earbuds back in, immersing himself in the cheerful melody of "Dream of Love."
The bus fell back into its usual quiet, while Lydia continued to enjoy the summer scenery outside, and Julian Reed remained absorbed in his music. Soon, the bus entered the city.
The midday sun was scorching, turning the leaves pale and the asphalt soft. The locust trees along the road drooped, and the wild chrysanthemums curled their petals, wilting beneath the grass.
Lydia Moore got off at a small road junction. The pebbles on the road made a "crunching" sound underfoot, and the heat from the ground scorched her feet. Near her, a small cake shop was surrounded by a low fence, with drooping orchids and tipsy red roses planted in front. The wisteria hidden among the foliage bloomed abundantly. The green vines climbed the wall up to a wooden sign that read "Elf Cake Shop," adorned with colorful lights, giving it a magical, forest-hidden charm.
"Elf Cake Shop," Lydia looked up at the sign and thought for a moment before nodding, "This must be the place." Although she had only been here once three years ago, the name had left a lasting impression on her. Why name it "Elf Cake Shop"? Elves… might symbolize happiness and love. As her father said, elves, though not as pure as angels, perhaps because of their slight imperfections, bring happiness closer to humanity. The cakes made here would surely make every bite feel like a taste of happiness.
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