The Unveiling of Secret Queen

Chapter 729: Chapter 729: Nathalie Quinlan took half a month off_1

”Come out for some fresh air.”

She had barely finished speaking when her gaze fell upon the scrolling screen in the hotel that read, ”Warm congratulations to student Nathalie Quinlan of Class A, Senior 3, No. 1 Middle School, for her perfect score and admission to Tsinghua University.” Her smile instantly stiffened at the corners of her mouth, her face turning deathly pale.

Nathalie Quinlan, Nathalie Quinlan... why is it always Nathalie Quinlan everywhere!

Today was supposed to be her own academic celebration at the hotel, yet the scrolling marquee was congratulating Nathalie Quinlan on her admission to Tsinghua University...

Ghania clenched her palms, struggling to contain her indignation, managing only with great effort to keep her trembling shoulders still.

Zayn Fisher was oblivious to the marquee and did not notice her change in expression. He stood in front of her, offering a slight smile, his handsome face radiant: ”Congratulations, Ghania, on your successful admission to Tsinghua University.”

Coming back to her senses, Ghania looked up at him with her full, soft eyes, touched, and whispered gently, ”Thank you.”

Zayn gazed at the girl’s fair and delicate side face, unable to help himself, he reached out and playfully twisted her hair. Seeing the girl shyly lower her head, he withdrew his hand and casually brought up, ”By the way, I haven’t seen Nathalie. Isn’t she attending your celebration?”

Ghania’s cheeks were flushed, but upon hearing this, her blood ran cold. She bit her lip, lifted her head, and managed an extremely unnatural expression: ”I sent her an invitation...”

She left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear.

She had sent Nathalie Quinlan an invitation, but Nathalie didn’t show up.

Zayn’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Ghania continued slowly, ”I heard from Kelly Giovanni that she went to school to ask for leave the day before yesterday, for more than half a month. She might not be in McKinney.”

Sure enough.

Zayn’s frown deepened, incredulous: ”No. 1 Middle School allowed her to take such a long leave?”

Ha, wasn’t No. 1 Middle School infamous for its double standards?

When Wenny Taylor posted about Nathalie Quinlan, the school’s forum administrator promptly deleted the post.

When Wenny Taylor posted about her, the school’s forum administrator turned a blind eye as if they were blind, letting that post hang on the forum for three days before it was removed.

But facing Zayn’s questioning, she could not tell him about the incident with Wenny Taylor, so she dropped her eyelids and said softly, ”She ranked first in the joint entrance exam. No. 1 Middle School treats her like a treasure, of course, they don’t object. It’s just unclear where she has gone since she’s not in McKinney.”

Yet Zayn thought of a place — Beijing.

He took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the complex feelings in his heart. Seeing the girl standing before him, enduring her disappointment and speaking to him, his gaze softened again. He placed his hand on Ghania’s shoulder and comforted her in a low voice, ”Ghania, don’t be too upset. Getting into Tsinghua University is a good thing...”

Ghania, her hand clenched tight, unconvincingly replied, ”Yeah, I know, I’m not upset.”

But in her heart, she was incredibly distressed.

Yes, indeed.

Her admission to Tsinghua University should have been something to celebrate, but now all over McKinney’s streets and alleys were banners congratulating Nathalie Quinlan on her Tsinghua admission. How many people knew she, too, had been accepted?

All the limelight had been stolen by Nathalie Quinlan!

Zayn: ”Although her scores were better than yours this time, she chose the Chinese Medicine program. You know about the situation with the Chinese Medicine department at Tsinghua. Only Mr. Avalon really has a say in that field. Mr. Avalon won’t come out of retirement to teach students, so even if she goes to Tsinghua in the future, she won’t compare to you.”

Ghania forced herself to calm down, mustering a smile and giving a noncommittal grunt, not even sure if she was really listening.

Zayn patted her shoulder again, silently soothing, then changed the topic: ”By the way, the music exchange conference is in a week. How are your preparations for your performance piece?”