The Unveiling of Secret Queen

Chapter 1122: Chapter 1122: How Brother Naihe Isn’t Cultured, Roaming the World with a Single ”Damn

Backstage.

The students from the Chinese Medicine department already knew the final results.

First place!

Ezra Hoffman and the others were stunned into silence, especially Velnisa Irvin. Prior to knowing the results, her face had been gloomy, with her lips pulled down and brows furrowed, as if Nathalie Quinlan’s team had already lost before the competition even ended.

When the results were finally announced—Nathalie took first place, and Caryn Zachmann came second—she stood in the backstage area, frozen, without joining Ezra Hoffman and the rest in congratulating Nathalie Quinlan and Tiffany Olsen.

She just stood there, her expression rather complicated, wanting to offer congratulations but hesitating, feeling that crossing over to say something would hurt her pride.

”We got first place! Tiffany, you’re amazing!”

”I can’t believe our department actually took first place. You all are the best!”

”Tch, too bad an uneducated guy like me can only manage to say ’Holy crap!’ all day long.”

Tiffany Olsen was surrounded by a group of people. Someone handed her water, someone else patted her shoulder—everyone was overwhelmed by the surprise of their sudden victory.

Tiffany herself looked quite embarrassed, lightly touching her earlobe, her cheeks flushed. Her gaze darted around and landed on the girl sipping water in the corner: ”This first place has very little to do with me. It’s all thanks to Nathalie. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have gotten first place.”

Her words were an honest admission.

Everyone in the Chinese Medicine department knew in their hearts exactly why they had won first place this time.

As for why they surrounded Tiffany rather than Nathalie...

It mostly had to do with Nathalie’s intimidating aura. She had such a cold presence that practically radiated ”stay away.”

Even the guys wanted to congratulate her but felt too nervous to approach because her energy was so overpowering.

Ezra Hoffman was the most natural among the guys. When Tiffany mentioned Nathalie, his eyes darkened slightly. Holding his bottle of water, he walked toward her.

”Want to grab lunch together?”

The girl leaned against the edge of the makeup table, playing on her phone, her head lowered with the brim of her hat pulled low.

She raised her head slowly when she heard him speak and tucked her phone into her pocket. ”I’m not going.”

”Oh.”

Ezra Hoffman had met her twice before and had mostly figured out her personality—odds were, she wouldn’t join them for lunch. He wasn’t particularly fazed, and with his hands in his pockets, he smiled a little and asked again, ”Victory dinner tonight. You really not going?”

”Not going.” Nathalie glanced at him again, straightening one long, straight leg. With sharp brows full of rebellious attitude and strikingly dark, beautiful eyes, she paused and said in a lazy, hoarse voice, ”My dad’s planning to eat with me for lunch, and I’ve already agreed. Maybe next time.”

When Ezra Hoffman heard her mention lunch with her parents, he nodded and didn’t push any further. ”Alright then. We’ll go on our own. If you change your mind, give me a call—I’ll send you the location.”

”Okay.” Nathalie didn’t think she’d go, but since Ezra phrased it as a polite invitation, she responded back courteously.

As for whether she’d end up going to that dinner...

It really didn’t matter.

It was just basic social etiquette.

”Nathalie, you’re not joining us?” Tiffany Olsen cut loose from the crowd and walked over, her cherubic face full of disappointment.

Nathalie had already picked up her things. When she spoke to Tiffany, her tone was somewhat softer than it had been with Ezra: ”I have something to do. You all go ahead and eat.”

”Ah, I see.” Tiffany was disappointed, but like Ezra, she didn’t push Nathalie into coming along.

She noticed Nathalie had slung up her electronic keyboard bag with one hand and quickly offered to help: ”Maybe I should find one of the guys from our department to help carry it for you? That thing looks heavy. You...”

Heavy? Nathalie raised her brows—it didn’t feel that way to her. Slinging the keyboard case over her shoulder, she turned back toward Tiffany and said, ”It’s fine, it’s not too heavy.”