Chapter 82: The Awaited Rankings

Julian returned to the classroom and took his seat.

Natasha sat down nearby. Because she hadn’t eaten breakfast, and because she hadn’t eaten much the night before due to her terrible mood, her stomach was aching with painful hunger pangs.

Clutching her stomach, Natasha lay face down on her desk, a cold sweat breaking out across her forehead.

Because Sean paid extra attention to Natasha’s condition due to the previous rumors surrounding her and Julian , He quickly noticed her sickly state.

Sean frowned and leaned over to whisper, "Is Natasha feeling unwell?"

Julian glanced casually at Natasha, then quickly looked away without a second thought. "Probably," he replied casually, picking up a textbook.

Sean couldn’t help but ask, "Julian, do you really not like Natasha anymore, and are you genuinely planning to let her go for good?"

He had read all about his stock Market Guru’s past deeds on the university forums. In the past, Julian’s behavior toward Natasha had been that of an extraordinarily devoted and obsequious sycophant, a fact known to literally everyone across Capital University. He was still obsessively pursuing her even during the final exams last semester!

Sean had harbored some lingering doubts. Could it be that, as those people on the online forum speculated, Julian was merely playing a clever game of hard-to-get with Natasha?

"I have a real girlfriend now," Julian said, casting a calm glance at Sean. "Tell me, have I really let go of Natasha or not?"

The person who had liked Natasha was the original owner of this body. He himself would never be interested in an ordinary,narcissistic

woman like Natasha.

Sean stared at Julian, "Really?"

Julian replied firmly, "More real than solid gold."

"That’s great!" Sean breathed a massive sigh of relief. "Julian, I honestly think Natasha is completely unworthy of you."

"Although she has a pretty face and a decent figure, her personality is utterly disgusting. If you were actually with her, you’d definitely end up serving her like a servant for the rest of your life."

To be completely honest, Sean felt that his best friend was exceptionally outstanding, and he believed that almost no ordinary woman in the world was truly worthy of him.

"Mhm," Julian nodded in agreement. "Don’t worry, I will never fall in love with Natasha in this lifetime."

With a mind-blowing, top-tier woman like Victoria Sterling by his side, his standards for women were now astronomically high. He found it completely impossible to be interested in other women.

Well... Victoria did have one single flaw. The downside was that Victoria loved to seize every conceivable opportunity to do chaotic, passionate things in bed with him.

Meanwhile, Natasha kept her eyes fixed in Julian’s direction, biting her pale, dry lips.

What was wrong with Julian Vance?! He clearly saw how upset and in pain she was, yet he didn’t even bother to step over and check on her!

"Natasha, what’s wrong?" Rosy asked with deep concern, leaning over her desk.

"It’s nothing... I guess it’s just because I didn’t eat breakfast this morning, so my stomach is a little upset," Natasha muttered weakly.

Rosy glanced over at Julian.

Natasha had a chronic stomach ailment, and in the past, Julian had always kept stomach medicine on hand at all times just for her. Judging by his completely indifferent appearance now, Julian wasn’t going to give Natasha any stomach medicine at all.

If a man truly loves a woman, he can never remain indifferent when his beloved is sick. Now Rosy could assure herself 100% that Julian Vance had completely let go of Natasha.

To be honest, although Rosy used to look down on Julian, seeing that Natasha possessed a man who treated her so wholeheartedly well had still made her feel a little jealous in the past. Now, everything was resolved. Natasha had completely lost Julian Vance—the only man who had ever truly loved her with unreserved sincerity.

As a campus belle of Capital University, Natasha had many wealthy suitors, but they were all merely chasing after her physical looks. Not a single one of them would ever treat her with the absolute, selfless devotion that Julian Vance had shown.

"Natasha," Rosy said, handing her own breakfast over, "have some of my breakfast so your stomach won’t feel so painfully hungry."

"Okay..."

After eating the food, Natasha felt slightly less miserable than before, though she had only recovered a little bit.

Rosy asked with genuine concern, "Natasha, do you want me to take you to the campus infirmary to get checked out?"

Natasha glanced in Julian’s direction, bit her lip, and said stubbornly, "No need, it should get better in a little bit."

She didn’t want Julian to know that she had gone to the campus infirmary. Otherwise, Julian might mistakenly believe that he held a very important place in her heart, and that she couldn’t live without his attention!

"Okay," Rosy nodded. "Natasha, if you decide to go to the infirmary later, remember to let me know."

Despite the burning pain in her stomach, Natasha forced herself to endure through the first two lecture classes.

The next class was the big moment—it was time for the official placement exam results to be released.

Throughout the classroom, students were all talking at once in excited chatter.

"Who do you think will secure the top three spots on this exam?"

"Of course it’s Ethan Mercer, Leo Vance, and Natasha! When have those three ever not been in the top three?"

"That’s usually true, but I have a strange feeling that the rankings this time are going to change drastically, and it’s going to be a completely mind-blowing surprise!"

One male student in the third row had experienced a very bizarre dream the night before. He had actually dreamt that Julian Vance—who was constantly ranked dead last in their entire finance major—had magically taken first place on this exam!

His vivid dreams had always proven oddly accurate in the past. He had always trusted his instincts, but this time, even he was deeply uncertain. A legendary university underachiever suddenly transforming into the top academic student? That was simply unbelievable. If he dared to share that dream with the rest of the class, his classmates would definitely laugh at him and think he had completely lost his mind.

Sean clicked his tongue, turning to Julian. "Julian, do you believe I’ll be number one this time?"

Julian raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I don’t believe it."

"Why not?"

"Because I am the one who took first place."

He had studied exceptionally hard over the past weeks precisely to avoid any humiliating punishment from system. This time, the number one rank was something he was entirely determined to secure, and no one could take it from him.

"You’re number one?" Sean rolled his eyes playfully. "If you actually get first place, I’ll pay for all your lunches for a whole month!"

Julian smiled, "There’s no need for lunch; someone will bring me high-end food directly."

The private chefs at Rose Manor were constantly inventing new, exquisite recipes for him, and the manor servants would deliver the meals fresh to campus. His palate had become far too picky under Victoria’s care—he no longer found the food served in the university cafeteria appealing at all.

Sean: "..."

Right... Julian really didn’t need him to eat budget cafeteria food with him. Besides, Julian’s typical meals cost thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of doller. He couldn’t afford that kind of luxury! Man, his friend’s lifestyle was truly enviable!

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Meanwhile, as Victoria set off from Rose Manor, Secretary Evelyn placed a direct call to the university principal.

"Principal Smith, our CEO, President Sterling, has officially set off and will arrive at the campus in fifteen minutes."

"Understood! We are ready!"

Principal Smith immediately dialed another internal line, his voice urgent. "President Sterling will arrive in fifteen minutes! Everyone, assemble at the main entrance immediately!"

"President Sterling will arrive in exactly fifteen minutes! Everyone, get into position immediately!"

The entire administrative faculty of Capital University immediately sprang into high gear!

When Victoria’s fleet of luxury vehicles glided onto the campus grounds of Capital University, two neat rows of university officials dressed in formal suits stood at attention, bowing respectfully as the cars passed: "Welcome, President Sterling!"

It was an extraordinarily grand, awe-inspiring reception.

Sitting inside the back seat of the flagship vehicle, Victoria observed the grand spectacle outside with an utterly calm, unbothered expression.

Victoria was personally greeted by Principal Smith as her car pulled up to the main administrative building.

The principal had specially put on a sleek gray suit, combed his hair up neatly, and applied a thick layer of styling gel. Even though his vision didn’t strictly require glasses, he had made a deliberate point of wearing a pair of stylish, non-prescription frames today. It made him look exceptionally gentle and refined.

Stepping out of the vehicle surrounded by elite bodyguards, Victoria radiated an untouchable, majestic aura, her dark eyes focused entirely on the academic wing where her Julian was currently waiting.