Unfortunately, the end of class coincides with the official closure of the Blackrock grant application. As soon as the professor leaves, a voice shouts from the back,
“I’m in, people!”
Laughter erupts around the hall, and soon everyone’s phones are chiming and buzzing with confirmation emails. I glance around at my classmates, their excitement buzzing in the air and my chest tightens.
I rise, shoving my notebook and pen into my bag, eager to escape the chaos. Clearly, a ton of people signed up, and I have zero energy to deal with the excitement right now.
Just then, a familiar figure stops in front of my desk. I look up and see Zhao Lan holding his phone, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
“You’re not staring at your phone like everyone else,” he observes, his tone half amused,
