Chapter 778

Cynthia mentioned that her best friend was also looking for a place to eat and asked if Jack wouldn't mind her joining. After getting his approval, she hung up.

They soon arrived at the agreed-upon location. Before long, Cynthia showed up with an equally stunning woman in tow.

The moment Jack saw her, he and the beautiful woman both released a soft, surprised gasp.

What were the odds? The woman Cynthia had brought was none other than the sharp-tongued beauty who had criticized him earlier at the bulletin board.

A wry smile crept onto Jack's face as he said, "Hello... I never thought I'd run into you again here."

Cynthia looked at them in surprise. "You two... know each other?"

The woman, no longer as harsh as before, flashed Jack a smile. "What a coincidence. I didn't expect Cynthia's classmate to be you." She then briefly explained the earlier encounter to Cynthia.

After hearing the story, Cynthia chuckled. "Jack, I never would've guessed! You said you didn't care about Bella, but you've been thinking about her all along."

Feeling a bit awkward, Jack joined them, and the three of them walked and talked together.

From their chat, Jack learned the woman was Magdalene Wachs-Cynthia's classmate and roommate. She had a straightforward personality, which explained why she'd called him out earlier for scraping the glass.

When he offered to treat them, Magdalene smirked mischievously. "Jack, since you're so invested in Bella, how about this—if you're willing to splurge today, I might just share some inside info about her."

This was exactly what he had been hoping for. Without hesitation, he replied, "No problem. Money's no issue."

He wasn't short on money-what he lacked were leads on Bella.

However, Cynthia had always assumed Jack wasn't well-off, so she scolded Magdalene. "Mag, don't take advantage of him. You know how high the prices are in Alnewgo."

Magdalene giggled. "Come on, it's not your money, why are you so bothered? Or maybe... you're already counting his money as yours? Well, you'd have to become his girlfriend for that to happen!"

With a mischievous glint in her eye, she started blurting out whatever came to mind, making Cynthia blush. She chased after Magdalene, swatting at her playfully, then turned to Jack with a flustered smile. "Jack, don't mind her-she just loves to joke around."

Magdalene giggled as she dodged away.

Although she had joked about making Jack treat them to an expensive meal, she didn't go overboard. In the end, she picked a slightly nicer restaurant on campus and ordered modestly. When Jack suggested ordering more dishes, Magdalene shook her head. She insisted it would be a waste to order too much.

During the meal, she said, "Jack, Cynthia told me on the way here that you were the top scholar in your state. Is that true?"

Jack nodded, and Magdalene replied, "Oh, so you really are a genius! I didn't believe Cynthia when she said it before, but after your answer, I do. So, why didn't you apply to Fullerton University?"

"I enjoy the thoughtful, humanistic vibe at Alnewgo," he answered. Read complete version only at Find1Novel.net

She nodded in understanding, then added, "Well, that explains why you're pursuing Bella. But let me warn you-her standards are high. Just being a top scholar won't be enough to win her over."

Magdalene wasn't exaggerating. Since Bella transferred from Alnewgo to The Montclair, her artistic talents flourished. She was preparing for an international performance, and her beauty grew, attracting admirers from other universities.

Magdalene spoke with great admiration for her.

Besides the heartthrob from The Montclair, plenty of smart, rich, and good-looking young men from Fullerton were chasing her, too. Someone like Jack, coming from a small town, seemed too ordinary in their eyes.

Even if he was one in a million, in a population of fourteen billion, there were still a staggering fourteen thousand just like him.

That top scholar title might turn heads in some quiet little town. But here in the capital, in the shadow of power? It meant nothing. At the elite universities, top students were everywhere. Every department, every class had its share of so- called provincial prodigies.

Magdalene didn't even need to think hard to predict that Jack's pursuit of Bella would end in failure.

Because this wasn't just about academics-it was about character, ability, family background, and more. To win over a goddess like Bella, all of these were essential.