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!"

glanced up, his gaze calm behind his glasses.

Anne for dinner. That guy just

carried a unique gentleness, especially when he smiled, revealing two small dimples. He had

said, "He's a grad student from another

footsteps echoing from the stairwell. Roseanne was

you two heading out? I'll leave you

interjected, "Come on, join

to the lab." His return was merely

It had been over a month since their last encounter, with Owen buried

Owen stood

step, sunlight filtering through the diamond-shaped grilles, casting mottled shadows on

ice, "I haven't had the chance to

had washed it long

the right

dress accentuating her straight, slender legs, complemented by her nude high heels, giving her an aura of