"Do you know where you want to go to college?"Final year students in St. Catherine were all talking about their college choices. After the odd semester had pa.s.sed, they must start preparing their applications to enter university and get ready for all the tests.Emma, who was the top in her cla.s.s and got the scholars.h.i.+p facility from the government, could apply to any university she wanted. The government will pay for her to study in America or Europe as long as her applications were approved by the school of her choice.
"Don"t you want to go to MIT or Harvard... or Oxford?" Nadya asked in amazement when Emma mentioned that she would study engineering at NTU. "Why go to a local university?"
Actually, Emma"s consideration was Haoran. The young man was her closest friend, and she did not want to move to a foreign country to start a new life without him.
Even though Haoran could study wherever he wanted with his intelligence and family money, he chose to remain in Singapore so he could continue to take care of his family"s business and slowly take over from his father.
If he chose to study abroad, it would be difficult for him to quickly gain his foothold in the Lee Industries group. He would be forced to postpone all his plans for three to four years.
"That"s right ... I chose to study in Singapore," Emma said.
"Haoran too?" Nadya asked, turning her head to Haoran. The young man just smiled and did not answer. He will not reveal his personal plans to just anyone.
"Haoran always tries to look mysterious," Nadya commented finally. "I know you always want to go wherever Emma goes."
"Is that really obvious?" Haoran asked with a chuckle, but he still did not answer Nadya"s question.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the cla.s.s, Bianca, Sandra, and Maura were discussing their own college plans.
"I want to be a lawyer. My father told me to go to Harvard, but I insisted I want to study in Singapore to stay close to Allan."
"You will sacrifice your future for Allan?" asked Sandra. "Why not just have a long-distance relations.h.i.+p?"
"I don"t want to," Bianca answered. "Allan has to study in Singapore because all his brothers have moved abroad. He has to live close to his parents. I think education in Singapore is good too. Even Emma decided to study here."
"I don"t understand Emma. Why doesn"t she go to a more prestigious campus?" Maura asked in surprise. "I"m sure it will be easy for her to enter Harvard or Oxford."
"Maybe she"s also like Bianca? She wants to be close to Haoran?" asked Sandra. "It could be."
Bianca"s voice clicked while glancing at Haoran, who was chattering and laughing with David.
"Please don"t compare us to them... Allan and I are not the same as them. I will study in Singapore because Allan and I have a special relations.h.i.+p. Besides, Allan has a bright future as a doctor. Haoran... not so much. In my opinion, Haoran only uses Emma. Yeah, he did improve his grades and moved to cla.s.s A, but that is not enough. He must also be able to enter a good university and get a good career. If not, he will only latch on Emma forever," Bianca said, shaking her head. "A capable woman shouldn"t be dragged down by a less capable man."
Maura and Sandra nodded in agreement. Bianca"s last words made them think she was really wise.
***
"Good day, Young Master!" the receptionist bowed respectfully when he saw Haoran enter with a gorgeous girl. Both of them were wearing the same school uniform, so he could guess that the girl must be the big boss" son"s schoolmate.
"Good day, John," Haoran replied, nodding lightly. He took Emma"s hand and led her to the elevator. With an access card in hand, he pressed the b.u.t.ton to the highest floor in the Lee Industries building. As soon as the door closed, they immediately disappear from view.
The receptionist only looked at them disappear behind the elevator with a smile on his face. Since Haoran began his interns.h.i.+p in his father"s office seven months ago, he had left a good impression among all employees who have met or interacted with him. He even remembered them by names.
His att.i.tude was always friendly and down to earth, and they liked him very much. Now, when he came with a very beautiful girl wearing the same school uniform, the staff all speculated that Haoran was bringing his girlfriend to the office. They were amazed because the girl was extraordinarily beautiful and had an unusual appearance.
"Good afternoon, Suzette," Haoran said, smiling broadly at his father"s secretary, who was sitting in her own room enjoying a gla.s.s of iced coffee. The secretary"s office looked neat with all-gla.s.s walls and a large window decorated with several potted plants.
"Hey ... good afternoon, Young Master." Suzette raised her gla.s.s and smiled back. Haoran waved and resumed his journey. He invited Emma to keep walking, pa.s.sing through so many cubicles and office rooms, and stop in front of the room at the end of the corridor. He opened the door with his access card.
"Welcome to my office," Haoran said, inviting Emma to sit. The girl chose to sit on a comfy little sofa and look around the room.
"Is this your room?" Emma asked in surprise. She knew Haoran had been working as an intern for seven months in his father"s office, but she did not expect the young man had his own room. "I thought you were seated with other staff in a cubicle or something."
Haoran laughed and shook his head. "Of course not. I got my privacy by getting my own room. Please sit down and do whatever you like. My father still has a meeting outside. We will meet him in an hour. You can get drinks and cakes in the refrigerator. Make yourself at home."
"Hmm .. okay." Emma nodded. She pulled out her laptop and began fiddling with some programs she was making while Haoran sat in his chair and studied several doc.u.ments.
Both of them were immediately immersed in their own works.
KNOCK
KNOCK
One hour later, a double knock was heard from the door.
"Come in," Haoran said, inviting the door knocker to enter, without looking up from his doc.u.ments.
"Young Master, Mr. Lee has arrived in his office. You are asked to see him immediately." Suzette opened the door and poked her head into Haoran"s room.
"Hmm ... okay, we"ll be there soon." Haoran nodded and rose from his chair. He then looked at Emma with an excited expression. "The time has come."