Chapter 9: The Campus Belle

Words : 1979 Updated : May 15th, 2025

Keanu didn't exercise at Queens Lake Park the next day. Instead, he got up early, did a round of martial arts in his courtyard, then headed out to shop. He bought a small first aid kit, a set of silver needles, and a bunch of medicinal herbs. The man planned to make some simple pills and decoctions—not even the most basic elixirs—enough for him to set up a stall. After all this, he was nearly broke again. By the time he was ready, the new semester at Ninos University had already started, and Keanu was now a senior. As expected, Keanu had failed every course and had to retake them all. But neither he nor the school really cared. For most students, failing more than three classes would probably mean serious trouble, maybe even getting kicked out. But Keanu was a special case. Even though he'd been kicked out of the Yale family, the university wasn't about to risk upsetting them over something like this. He hadn't even gotten in through the normal entrance exams- he was admitted through connections. He was way more focused on getting his night market stall ready, which didn't interfere with his routine of hitting the library during the day and working his stall at night. Every day, Keanu ran to campus to practice his Mistveil Footwork. His cultivation was stuck, so he felt he had to at least get good at regular martial arts. Luckily, he didn't have to worry about all the deadly drama from Pentar here, so he could actually relax. By the second week, even though his night market stall wasn't up and running, Keanu could already tell his Mistveil Footwork had greatly improved. All that running, nearly seventy miles a day, was paying off. That morning, Keanu slept in an extra hour. By the time he ran to campus, it was already past seven. The man stopped at a spot off campus for some milk and a few breads, and by the time he finished, it was almost eight. "Do you want to buy a flower?" a little girl asked shyly, clutching a handful of fresh flowers as she approached Keanu. Keanu looked at the skinny girl. Late September mornings were still pretty chilly, and she was selling roses so early- her family must be having a rough time. He thought back to his own childhood. He'd been a street kid until an old man took him in when he was nine. The old man died less than a year later, but things finally turned around once he started following Paige. "Why aren't you in school?" Keanu wondered. Wasn't it school hours? After all, there were supposed to be nine years of compulsory education. "It's Saturday. I'm helping my sister sell flowers," the girl said in a small voice, sounding a little guilty. Keanu could tell she was nervous, but he let it go. "Alright, I'll take a few. How much for one?" He suddenly realized it was Saturday. He'd lost track of the days with all his running around. "Five bucks each, but if you buy more, it's three each," the girl replied, her voice perking up now that he was interested. "Alright, I'll take all of them," Keanu said, guessing she had about twenty roses. He handed her a hundred-dollar bill, took the flowers, and walked off. "Mister, I still need to give you change," the girl called after him, surprised he'd given her a hundred. Even at five each, she knew people usually bargained. "No need. You can't cheap out on flowers for your girlfriend. See ya," Keanu said, disappearing through the university gates. Maybe he'd have tossed the flowers to Gwen if it were after classes. But since he was already on campus, he figured he'd just ditch them in a trash can somewhere. "Hey, isn't that Keanu from our school? He's got a girlfriend now? What he said was kinda deep-'you can't cheap out on flowers for your girlfriend.' Who'd be brave enough to date him?" Two girls at the gate saw Keanu walk in with the roses. One, who knew who he was, said in surprise. "He's Keanu Yale?" the other, more beautiful girl, asked, intrigued. She had heard of him but didn't know him personally. "Paula, you're the top belle of Ninos University, so of course you wouldn't know his tragic tale. But I do. His story is a real drama. Let's follow him and see who his girlfriend is." The other girl giggled. "Mina, I feel he bought them for the little girl, not a girlfriend," Paula Scurr replied, frowning slightly. "Paula, I was just about to find you. I can't believe I ran into you at the gate. You seem free today, so let me treat you to a meal. You wouldn't say no, would you?" Mina hadn't responded before a voice reached them. A sleek BMW 7 Series had been parked at the gate, and a young man with fair but slightly unhealthy skin stepped out, beaming at Paula. "It's Robert, Ninos University's top playboy. Paula, you're so charming. The top belle with the top playboy together? I'm so envious..." Mina teased, her eyes showing her wish to be in Paula's shoes. Paula's face darkened as she turned to the young man, apologizing, "Sorry, my boyfriend's here." She quickly caught up with Keanu, linking her arm with his and sweetly said, "Ken, why are you so late? I've been waiting for ages. Are these flowers for me? They're beautiful." Keanu was bewildered as the unfamiliar beauty latched onto him, claiming the flowers he held. He wondered when he had acquired such a beautiful friend, one he didn't know. But seeing Robert Zelwenski's ominous expression near the BMW, Keanu realized he was again being used as a shield. He glanced at the smiling beauty beside him, feeling a cold disdain rise within. She assumed that her looks gave her the right to disregard others. Using him as a shield was trivial to her, and once done, she'd walk away, leaving him with the mess. She seemed to believe that being her shield was his honor. This self-righteous attitude was galling.

Chapter 9: The Campus Belle

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