Chapter 760 - 756: You Have to Make Us Proud, Okay?

Back at the hotel, Melinda Sterling had already finished packing.

One suitcase was for clothes she could wear soon and things she would need at school. The other held the rest of her belongings. Cecilia would take the second one with her for now and bring it back to her when the weather got warmer.

"Mindy, your hair is so frizzy."

The moment Estelle Goodman walked in, she immediately noticed Melinda’s dry, frizzy hair.

It was no wonder it caught her eye. Since it was her first day at the new school, Melinda had put extra thought into her outfit, choosing from the clothes Estelle had given her.

She wore a Miu Miu bottom and a Chanel top, and the similar color palettes matched quite well.

But her hair was a frizzy, eye-catching mess that instantly made the designer clothes she was wearing look much cheaper.

"Didn’t you use any conditioner to treat it?"

Melinda shook her head, a little embarrassed. She glanced in the mirror instinctively. She had her hair in its usual ponytail, and the strands near her hairline were indeed messy and dry, which wasn’t a great look.

"Here, sit down and let your hair down."

As she spoke, Estelle took a small, travel-sized bottle of hair oil from her purse. "This stuff is amazing. It works instantly. I carry it with me everywhere to treat my hair on the go."

Melinda looked at Cecilia, unsure of what to do. Cecilia smiled slightly and nodded. "We have time. Let Estelle help you with it."

Mindy might not have understood the importance of hair, but Cecilia knew exactly why Estelle was so concerned about it.

If she were wearing ordinary clothes to an ordinary school, it wouldn’t have mattered.

But Mindy was wearing designer brands to an expensive, high-end private high school. In Lorcain, these kinds of private schools were also known as schools for the nobility, and all the students came from very well-off families.

Wealthy people maintained even the ends of their hair. Melinda had certainly never experienced that lifestyle, but Estelle didn’t want her to be treated differently by her classmates at her new school.

Especially since she was wearing genuine designer clothing, the details had to be perfect. Otherwise, she’d just look like someone who was nouveau riche.

"There, that’s much better. Don’t put it in a ponytail; it looks prettier down." As Estelle spoke, she pressed the bottle of oil into Mindy’s hand. "You keep this. It may be a small bottle, but a little goes a long way. Just use two or three pumps into your palm each time, rub your hands together, and scrunch it into your hair like I just did. Your hair will be dark, shiny, and smooth in no time."

Mindy looked in the mirror. With her hair smoothed out, her entire aura had changed.

She was so moved she felt like crying again. "Thank you, Estelle."

Once they were in the car, Cecilia said to Mindy, "The school is a private high school. We had to choose it because we needed a place where you could board. The expenses are definitely much higher than a regular high school, but you don’t need to worry about the money. Your aunt will cover your tuition, miscellaneous fees, as well as your room and board."

"Your other aunt will help out some, too."

Melinda nervously wrung her hands and mumbled, "Cecilia, I know private high school is very expensive. When I start working, I promise I’ll work hard to earn money and pay my aunts back. Even if it takes me five or ten years, I’ll pay it all back."

Cecilia smiled when she heard this. "I’m not finished. Your aunt said that to motivate you to study hard this repeat year, for any exam you take, as long as you get a good score, she will give you a partial waiver on what you owe as a reward for your diligent review."

"And if you end up getting into a Tier 1 university in Lorcain, there’s an even bigger reward waiting for you."

"How could I accept that?" Melinda looked up, her tone surprisingly firm. "Cecilia, I don’t need any rewards from my aunt. Studying hard during my repeat year is what I’m supposed to do. I have to seize this hard-won opportunity."

"You’ve all already helped me so much. I can’t be greedy and ask for more. I will pay back every single cent my aunt has spent on me, and more!"

"I’m very relieved that you have this mindset, but I’ll say it again: don’t waste any mental energy on money. Money isn’t something you should be worrying about right now. And don’t think about how much you need to earn in the future or how you’re going to repay us. What’s important is the present. You need to focus all your energy on the present, understand?"

"I understand."

Cecilia had pulled some strings to get things sorted with the school. She was learning more and more that, no matter the situation, connections were the most useful asset.

The enrollment process and other related procedures went very smoothly. Since the school didn’t have a dedicated class for repeating students, they placed Melinda in Class 3 of the senior year based on her previous grades.

"Mindy, this is for you. It’s a gift to celebrate you starting school."

Estelle handed Melinda the LV "tote" she was carrying. "There are also two Parker pens inside. I hope you’ll study hard."

Melinda’s eyes widened. She might not have been an expert on luxury goods, but she still recognized the LV brand.

"Estelle, this... this bag is real, right?" Melinda asked, shocked.

"Of course it is. I wouldn’t give you a fake."

"No, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it." Melinda waved her hands, refusing. "Besides, I’ll be at school. I won’t have any opportunities to carry such an expensive bag. I probably won’t even leave the campus much."

But Estelle said, "That’s exactly why I picked this high-capacity tote for you. It’s perfect for school because it can hold so much. When you go to class or to study, you can just throw your notes, practice exercises, and everything else in here, sling it over your shoulder, and go. It’s super practical!"

"It’s also one I’ve used before, so it’s not brand new. You don’t have to feel awkward about it. I had someone bring it from my house this morning, specially prepared as your school enrollment gift."

Melinda was flustered and instinctively looked toward Cecilia.

Cecilia smiled faintly. "Your sister Estelle is a rich woman, and a beautiful, kind-hearted one at that. She’ll use a nice thing like this once or twice and then never touch it again. Since she brought it especially for you, just accept it. I noticed you don’t have a bookbag, so this will be perfect for carrying your books."

With Cecilia’s encouragement, Melinda hesitantly reached out and took it. "Thank you, Estelle. We’ve only... only met once, but you’re being so good to me..."

Her eyes started to well up again.

Estelle quickly said, "Mindy, don’t cry. I’m your sister Cecilia’s best friend, which makes her sister my sister. My heart really goes out to you. You have to make us proud, okay?"

Hearing this, Melinda nodded vigorously.

Then, Cecilia took out her gift: a new phone.

"I saw you struggling with your phone. It was so laggy. You must have had it for years, right? I got you a new one as a school enrollment gift."

Before Melinda could say anything, Cecilia tossed the box right into the LV tote Melinda was holding.

"Just focus on school and don’t overthink anything else. I’ll come visit you once a week."