Chapter 814 A Gathering
“We’re here. Let’s get out!” After Amelia called out, Catherine and Isabella followed her out of the ride- sharing car.
“Amelia, how did we end up here?”
Isabella looked at the brightly lit signs of the club, feeling a bit bashful.
Catherine stood calmly on the side, almost like an outsider. But she could tell this club was quite upscale. Just having money wasn’t enough to get in.
Hearing Isabella’s confusion, Amelia explained, “Don’t worry. A senior’s dad owns this place, and tonight’s get- together was arranged by him. It’s safe.
“Bella, if you don’t like it later, we’ll leave early!” Amelia said. After that, she turned to Catherine, asking, “Super Catherine, is it okay?”
Catherine nodded quietly. Since she promised to come out, the location didn’t matter much. As Amelia said, if they didn’t like it, they could leave.
“Amelia, over here!” As they approached the main entrance, someone loudly called out Amelia’s name.
After exchanging greetings, Amelia led Catherine and Isabella over. She was outgoing and had a great rapport with her classmates. The one calling her was a senior from their department. Seeing him glance around, Amelia quickly introduced everyone. She said, “Alfie, let me introduce my roommates. This is Isabella, and this is Catherine.”
Alfie Dixon’s eyes lit up as he heard Catherine’s name. In their school and the whole university town, everyone knew Catherine. She was low-key, rarely seen around the lecture halls.
She spent most of her time in the lab. Despite her absence in class, she aced everything, leaving no room for criticism from the teachers.
Knowing that Amelia and Catherine were roommates, Alfie suggested they all come together. He hadn’t expected to actually invite the revered Catherine. “Super Catherine, it’s an honor to meet you!”
Catherine politely smiled without saying much. Alfie didn’t mind, thinking she might be a bit shy. Having her here was already a big surprise. What astonished him further was Catherine’s appearance. He had seen her during live broadcasts of matches and found her stunning, but seeing her in person exceeded the television’s portrayal. She was extremely beautiful.
“Let’s not stand around. Let’s head into the private room to chat. Many classmates are waiting inside. Let’s go! “Alfie ushered everyone into the room.
Once Catherine entered, she greeted everyone and found a corner to sit in. Then she enjoyed the fruit plate Amelia had arranged for her.
Though Catherine seemed aloof, the others didn’t pay much heed. Her reserved nature was already a topic of various rumors. Her presence at this gathering was a pleasant surprise.
Unlike other social events centered around drinking and boasting, this group consisted of academic achievers who discussed scholarly topics while enjoying their meal and conversation. Overall, the atmosphere was pretty decent.
Isabella soon joined in and got involved in the discussions.
As the discussion heated up around an academic question, someone suggested asking Catherine for the answer. Everyone stared at Amelia and silently urged her forward.
Amelia had initially called Catherine out to lighten the atmosphere and make Catherine feel more comfortable. As she approached Catherine, she intended to ask her to answer. However, before Amelia could speak, Catherine offered an answer.
Everyone paused, momentarily taken aback by Catherine’s unexpected response. Her answer didn’t align with the two debated options. It was beyond everyone’s understanding.
Sensing the confusion, Catherine grabbed a nearby pen, and Amelia quickly fetched paper. “Super Catherine, here!”
“Thank you!” Catherine swiftly wrote down the solution steps on the paper, wasting no time. After finishing, she handed the paper to the crowd. “This is one of my approaches. You can take a look.”
Alfie took it and studied it carefully. After a while, he exclaimed, “So there’s this method too. That’s incredible!”
They had all been considering conventional methods for solving the problem, but Catherine used a simpler, more powerful approach. Everyone was amazed, and they thought Catherine was impressive. Seeing Catherine willing to speak up, people gathered the courage to approach her.
Catherine responded politely to those who asked, nearly entertaining every question. As more people saw her willingness to engage, the questions kept pouring in. Catherine’s insights were exceptional. Even outside her current research, she offered innovative solutions, which elevated the admiration for her even more.
“I’m going to the restroom!” Catherine announced her departure, and everyone quickly stepped aside to let her pass.
As Catherine left, whispers filled the room. One of them said, “I thought Catherine would be aloof, but she’s so approachable. I asked her a question twice, and she wasn’t annoyed. I felt bad.”
Someone replied, “Exactly. She is beautiful and intelligent. She’s like the pinnacle of humanity!”
Paxton stepped out of the private room, aiming to get some fresh air to clear his head after the drinks. Normally, Branden disliked attending social gatherings and rarely found himself in such situations. But due to a recent argument with Catherine, Branden, in a foul mood, had agreed to dine with business partners.
As Branden sat there, he had a stern, brooding expression and exuded an intimidating aura. No one dared to approach him for toasts. Approaching him seemed like asking for trouble. So, everyone turned to Paxton.
After a few rounds of drinks, even with his high tolerance, Paxton couldn’t handle this much alcohol. He excused himself to the restroom for some air. After taking a breath of fresh air, Paxton felt slightly more comfortable.
As he planned to return to the private room where Branden was still present, while exiting the men’s restroom, he caught sight of a familiar figure entering the women’s restroom across the hall. He thought inwardly, “What is she doing here?”
Paxton shook his head vigorously and doubted if the alcohol had triggered hallucinations. There was no spinning sensation, and he hadn’t drunk excessively. He thought inwardly, Could it really be her?” With the thought lingering, Paxton hastened his steps back to the private room. He needed to report this to Branden.
