Shakira''s face turned bright red as she quickly stuffed her clothes into the corner of her suitcase, then grabbed her pajamas and darted into the bathroom. Walter paused for a moment, feeling an unusual warmth rising in his cheeks. Just the thought of Shakira''s tearful, frustrated look made him smile tenderly, filled with longing


    This camping trip was organized by the ss leader. The next morning, everyone met at the school gate at 8:30 AM to catch a bus together. Shakira arrived ten minutes early, and as she settled her luggage, Xanthe showed up just in time, and they hopped on the bus together.


    Most of their ssmates were already there, filling up the front and middle seats, leaving just thest two rows empty. As they got on, Yvette and Berry were blocking the aisle in the first row.


    "With those cheap skincare products you use, the exhaust fumes at the back won''t matter. Get to the back and give up seats," Berry ordered, her face stern. Then she met Shakira''s gaze and instinctively took a step back p your


    Yvette, who got bumped by Berry, frowned but stayed quiet, clearly on Berry''s side and already losing patience. The two girls felt a mix of anger and frustration, hesitating to stand up but ultimately doing so reluctantly.


    "Stay put!" Xanthe interjected, pushing the two girls back into their seats, Xanthe turned to Berry, unleashing her frustration "With a face like yours, no fancy skincare will help. They got here first; how dare you take their seats!" Berry''s expression darkened instantly, "What''s it to you, Xanthe? I wasn''t talking to you."


    can''t just stand by while you bully others. If you''re brave enough,e and hit me, Xanthe shot back, rallying the two girls. "You don''t have to be scared; her family''s wealth won''t stop you from thriving in Crescentville," Berry thought to herself, ''Ah,N?velDrama.Org content.


    this crazy woman Xanther


    Seeing things escte, Yvette quickly tugged at Berry''s arm. "Just let it go, Berry."


    Berry''s eyes burned with fury. "How can we let this slide?"


    "it''s fine, we can ride with Joe instead, Yvette said, her voiceced with regret as she turned to the two girls.


    "I was hoping to offer you two year passes to the beauty salon. We don''t have to take the bus; we just thought it would be nice tick together. If it''s a hassle, forget it!"


    The two girls watched as Berry and Yvette haughtily left the bus, their faces sad. They began to whisper to each other. "The beauty salon''s year passes must be worth at least ten thousand...


    "It''s just a one-and-a-half-hour journey. How bad can the fumes be for that long?" They exchanged nces at Xanthe, seemingly ming her for their loss of the passes.


    Xanthe feltpletely speechless, caught between disliking Berry and Yvette and feeling annoyed with the two girls.


    Shakira tugged at Xanthe, whispering, "Let''s move to the back. They headed to thest row, just as Joe''s sports car pulled up next to the bus. Yvette and Berry got in gracefully, casting a triumphant nce at everyone on the bus. Frustrated, Xanthe ripped open a bag of chips, crunching loudly This is infuriating!",


    Shakira stayed calm "If you''re angry, they''ve won."


    "What do you mean?" Xanthe asked, confused.


    Shakira exined leisurely, "Yvette knows she can''t argue with you, so she pretends to offer the passes, hoping those girls will regret it and shift their anger onto you. Do you think she''d actually give away twenty thousand?" 1/2


    I


    8%94%


    Having known Yvette for awhile, Xanthe realized her stinginess "Of course not!" With this realization, Xanthe felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    Her eyes lit up as she hugged Shakira, eximing. "It''s so good to have you, Shakira! I feel way less angry now!" Shakira didn''t reply.


    The ss leader was counting heads when Joe spotted Shakira sitting at the back of the bus, his expression changing. He turned off the engine, got out of the car, and walked over to the bus.


    Yvette''s eyes widened, her expression darkening as she clenched her fists.


    "It''s Joe!" the students on the bus whispered. In front of everyone, Jor walked up to.


    to Shakira.


    ''Shakira, there''s room for one more in my car; how about...?" Joe began, but before he could finish, Shakira cut him off, "Not interested."


    Being rejected so firmly in front of everyone embarrassed Joe. He hade to invite her, yet she remained indifferent.


    With aplicated look, he nced at Shakira but said nothing more, turning to leave with a hint of resentment in his stride.


    Yvette gasped, "Joe!"


    Joe stayed expressionless. "Let''s go."


    Yvette sighed in relief, restoring her smile. "Alright."


    As ssmates murmured in envy, Joe revved his engine and zoomed away like an arrow, disappearing in moments. The bus followed closely behind.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the school gate, Sean quietly trailed in a battered old car he had painstakingly acquired from a used car lot.


    Is that... Sean from Yonder Digital? Nearby, a convoy of six vehicles watched the scene from a distance.


    Walter squinted beneath his sunsses, watching the bumpy linle car in front of him. "Let''s set off."


    Brian nodded. "Yes"


    fier about an hour of driving, they crossed from Crescentville into the neighboring city. Rseyda Mountain, located at the order between Crescentville and the neighboring city, had been developed into a camping resort a few years ago,plete with a dedicated road up the mountain.


    After a night of heavy rain, the sun was just starting to shine that morning, leaving the ground slick, so the bus driver slowed down carefully. Still, the muddy roads caused the bus to jolt uncontrobly, making the students grip their seatbelts, their hearts racing in silence. As the bus swayed continuously, it suddenly lurched, prompting a collective scream as the engine stalled, cutting offpletely.


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