Chapter 297 School Anniversary

During her year abroad, Lacey had passed by this university countless times,

occasionally pausing at its gates to gaze at the campus. She'd always known Jason had studied here, which gave her a peculiar feeling each time she walked by.

She would imagine that he had once walked these same paths. Perhaps a leaf from one of these trees had once fallen on him.

Today was the university's centennial celebration, and the campus was elaborately decorated. The gates stood wide open, welcoming a diverse stream of visitors from various countries.

Under the guidance of her two new acquaintances, Lacey entered the campus without difficulty. The girls pointed out the auditorium where the celebration would take place before bidding her farewell to prepare for their performances.

After watching them leave, Lacey wandered aimlessly through the campus. Despite passing by so many times before, this was her first time actually setting foot inside.

The campus buzzed with excitement as people gathered for the special occasion. Along the tree-lined entrance path, display boards showcased photographs and biographies of distinguished alumni.

Scanning the photos one by one, Lacey immediately spotted Jason's. In the picture, he smiled broadly, revealing perfectly aligned white teeth his face youthful and radiant. Beyond the tree-lined path, crowds were moving toward the auditorium. Lacey caught sight of Jason among them, and her heart skipped a beat.

He was walking alongside several international friends, smiling as they conversed about something apparently amusing. Yet his smile now lacked the radiance from that old photograph, as if something weighed on him that he couldn't shake off.

She thought perhaps it was the accumulation of life's burdens-unrequited feelings, perhaps, or the gradual buildup of loneliness. These things, though invisible, carried substantial weight.

Lacey was soon directed to a different entrance by the crowd. Jason glanced around briefly, thinking he'd glimpsed a familiar figure, but in the blink of an eye, it vanished. He dismissed it as his imagination-how could Lacey possibly be here when she was back in Harmonia?

The auditorium was spacious, reportedly hosting major concerts regularly. Lacey found arseat tirutler ulimy with lan, pronuniger athéniorsportáson, rettsren ernanier can' knowing she would see him soon during his scheduled speech.

The ceremony began with the dean's address, followed by several artistic performances. Lacey spotted her two new friends in both the choir and a dance. ensemble. Despite being student productions, the performances were impressively professional.

Lacey sat up straighter, eyes fixed on the stage. Jason was the fifth speaker-she later learned he was the only international

stage, Jason carried himself with elegance and confidence, delivering his speech in flawless English. He had clearly

questions. Jason

student introduced himself as a local before sharing his experience visiting Harmonia. What seemed like an expression of appreciation for Jason's homeland

audience grew restless as the student became more emboldened, eventually declaring that being a doctor from Harmonia was pitiful,

lengthy diatribe, university officials didn't intervene,

that he had been a doctor in Harmonia before becoming an educator, and considered it an honor

response was met with brief silence before the audience erupted again. Some supported the student's mockery of Harmonia, while Harmonian international students

momentarily diverting everyone's attention and quieting the hall. People looked around until they spotted a

The figure he'd glimpsed earlier

through the sound system. With ironic praise,

brief nod and smile before facing

Harmonia," she began. "As a Harmonian, I believe in reciprocity, so allow

her. Her few sentences and self-assured demeanor seemed to captivate everyone present, instantly calming the previously

the world in many fields," she continued. "I'd like to

statement earned applause, including from the student who had spoken earlier,

according to Unityland's own media, they

The student's self-satisfied expression twisted uncomfortably, as if the applause he'd just given had slapped him in the face.

university officials prepared to intervene,

finest systems have flaws. These challenges exist in every society, not just one country. Individual cases shouldn't be mistaken for the complete

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