Chapter 7

After saying that, he turned to leave with the still-shaken Melinda. They abandoned Laura in the gradually chilling lake water as her strength slowly drained away. When she woke up again, all she saw was the stark white ceiling of a hospital room. Several classmates were gathered around her bed. When she woke up, they all let out sighs of relief. "Laura, you're awake! That's great! You scared us to death!" A classmate had happened to pass by the lake and saw her unconscious, washed up close to the shore. They hurried to call for help, pulled her out, and sent her to the hospital. "We tried calling your parents, but we couldn't get through… so we kind of took it upon ourselves and called Shayne…" one classmate explained awkwardly with a low voice. Another one added with a tone of indignation and disbelief, "We told him you were in the hospital and asked him to come see you. But he actually said that since you've broken up, whatever happened to you had nothing to do with him!" Laura listened quietly, maintaining a completely indifferent expression. It was only when she heard the words "nothing to do with him" that the corner of her lips lifted ever so slightly, forming a pale, self-mocking curve. This was the boy she had loved for so many years. Once the love turned cold, it was harder than anything to warm it back up. Seeing her like this, her classmates felt both awkward and heartbroken, rushing to comfort her. Laura propped herself up into a sitting position and forced a reassuring smile at them. "Shayne's right, the two of us have broken up. From now on, there probably won't be any contact at all." They all looked at each other, still unable to believe it. "How is that possible? Didn't you two agree to go to Northwell University together?" Laura lowered her gaze and replied softly, "No. He and Melinda are going to Northwell University. I applied to—" Before she could finish, the hospital room door was shoved open with a bang. Laura's parents, Ronald Lane and Juliana Hollen, rushed in with panicked looks on their faces. "Laura! Are you okay? How did you end up falling into the lake? You scared us half to death!" They surrounded Laura anxiously, asking about her condition while she gently reassured them. In a daze, she seemed to catch a glimpse of a tall, familiar figure flashing past the doorway, wearing the black windbreaker she knew so well. But when she focused her gaze, the doorway was empty, filled only with the medical staff and patients passing by. After confirming that Laura was out of danger, her parents completed the discharge procedures. Laura thanked her classmates and said goodbye. For more than a week afterward, she stayed home to recuperate. At the same time, she contacted senior students from Southerford University through the freshmen group, carefully learning about the school and booking her flight in advance. Watching her busy herself, Ronald and Juliana hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Laura, Shayne's family is holding a celebration banquet for his university admission and invited our whole family. What do you think?" Laura paused in the middle of packing, then calmly nodded. "Okay. I'll go." On the day of the banquet, Laura and her parents arrived right on time with gifts. When she saw Shayne, the two of them merely nodded slightly at each other without exchanging a single word. Upon seeing this, both sets of parents understood that the two of them had probably had another falling-out. Shayne's mother, Rosanne Smith, held Laura's hand and smiled as she tried to smooth things over. "Laura, you're here. Come, take a seat inside. Shay's just a bit stubborn. You'll be going to university together soon, so be more understanding of each other. Don't be too upset." Shayne's father, Darren Jameson, patted Shayne on the shoulder. "You're the guy here, give dear Laura a little more leeway." Shayne stood off to the side with a cold expression, saying nothing. His gaze didn't even land on Laura. Laura was about to say that she and Shayne had already broken up when a sudden commotion erupted at the entrance. Melinda walked in, holding a large bouquet of flowers. She looked radiant and carefully dressed as she greeted Darren and Rosanne politely and sweetly, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson! Shayne, I'm here to congratulate you!" The moment Shayne saw Melinda, his previously icy, indifferent expression melted. Even the look in his eyes softened. Without waiting for his parents to respond, he said to Melinda, "You're here? Come inside and sit." And just like that, he led Melinda straight into the hall, leaving Laura and her parents standing there completely ignored. The smiles on Darren and Rosanne's faces turned extremely awkward as they hurried to usher Laura's family inside. "Please, come in and take a seat…" All evening long, Laura's parents' gazes barely left Shayne and Melinda. They watched with their own eyes how carefully he served her food, how he subtly swooped in when people tried to toast her, and how the two leaned close to whisper to each other intimately. Her parents' expressions slowly shifted. They went from confused to realization and finally to deep, aching sympathy. Taking advantage of a moment on the way to the restroom, Juliana pulled Laura aside and asked softly, "Laura, tell me the truth. "What happened between you and Shayne? Is he acting like this with that girl to make you angry? You two have been childhood sweethearts for so long, so don't fall out with him over something small." Laura thought of the repeated breakups and reconciliations over the years, and how every time they reunited, it was only followed by him hurting her even more. She shook her head, saying in a weary yet resolute tone, "Mom, I'm serious about this. I really do intend to end things with him completely." She took a deep breath and finally revealed the decision that she had kept hidden for such a long time. "Actually, I changed my college application. I'm no longer going to Northwell University. I'm going to Southerford University." Her parents stared at her in shock, rendered speechless for a moment. Southerford University? It was on the complete opposite side of the country, thousands of miles apart from Northwell University. Just as Ronald and Juliana were about to say something, screams and chaotic crashing sounds suddenly erupted from the center of the banquet hall.