Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Leda said happily, "How about a celebratory dinner for passing the preliminary round? My treat."

Roseanne couldn't suppress a laugh. "Shouldn't I be the one treating you?"

Leda raised an eyebrow. "Come off it. We're best friends. That's settled. Get ready. I'll swing by to pick you up."

After hanging up, Roseanne returned to her room and opened her closet. She chose a V-neck floral sundress. Two months passed, and her hair had grown down to her collarbones. Given the sweltering weather, she opted for a headband that matched her dress to tie her hair up.

Half an hour later, Leda messaged that she was downstairs. After changing her shoes, Roseanne grabbed her purse and headed down.

Leda's car was at the end of the street. While waiting, Leda pulled out her phone. Glancing up, she saw Owen walking toward her.

A student accompanied him, backpack slung over his shoulder, sporting a buzz cut and radiating a sunny charm.

They were deep in conversation, Owen looking calm and nodding in agreement from time to time. When they finished, the boy turned to leave.

Spotting Owen, Leda quickly waved him over, "Hey, Owen!"

behind his glasses. "What brings

grab Anne for dinner. That guy just now

unique gentleness, especially when he

Owen said, "He's a grad student from another school. He just

inquire further, she heard footsteps echoing from the stairwell. Roseanne was

his glasses. "Aren't you two heading

on,

can't. Got to head back to the lab." His return was merely to pick up some

hadn't reached the ground floor when she heard Owen's voice. It had been over a month since their last encounter, with Owen buried in his lab

the stairwell, Owen stood

diamond-shaped grilles, casting mottled shadows on him. His

eyes met, and Roseanne broke the ice, "I haven't

washed it long

the right

her straight, slender legs, complemented by