Claire hummed in acknowledgment, keeping it to herself that she was actually running her experiments independently.
Afraid she might misunderstand, Zane Harrison quickly added, "It's good that you're learning under the guidance of other professors."
"But your coursework is just as crucial. Don't get your priorities mixed up."
Claire didn't bother explaining that she wasn't actually shadowing any professor.
There was no need.
She simply assured Zane that her final grades wouldn't suffer.
Zane believed her, of course, but he still couldn't hide his concern. "Look at those dark circles under your eyes. Can your body really handle this?"
"Don't just rely on your youth and run yourself into the ground."
"As medical students, we have to take care of our own health first to earn our patients' trust."
"If you look sick yourself, they're going to doubt your competence."
"I don't doubt you, but you need to stay healthy to actually treat and save people, right?"
"Your major is clinical medicine. You're going to be in the operating room in the future."
"If you neglect your health and collapse during surgery, it won't just ruin your career -it could cost a patient their life!"
He was merely reminding her to prioritize her well-being.
Zane only pushed the issue because he truly cared about Claire as his own student.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have bothered wasting his breath.
Claire, naturally, understood his good intentions.
"Don't worry. Things will settle down once I get through this busy patch."
"Winter break is right around the corner. I'll have plenty of time to rest then."
Seeing that she had it handled, Zane didn't want to nag.
"Alright. If you run into any trouble, you know where to find me."
He reached out to pat her shoulder, then caught himself, remembering the professional boundaries between a male professor and a female student.
Especially with a girl as beautiful as Claire. Even the slightest misunderstanding could severely damage her reputation.
Instead, he just gave her a small wave. "Go on."
Claire headed back to her dorm.
Her exams for the day were finally over.
Since her roommates were all in different majors, their exam schedules varied wildly.
When Claire stepped into the room, Lex Grant was the only one there.
Lex looked deeply troubled, sitting absolutely motionless and staring off into space.
She didn't even notice Claire walking in.
"Lex?"
Claire called out to her.
Lex finally snapped out of it. "Claire."
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Lex hesitated for a moment. "My family called. They want me to come home for winter break."
"I thought you already lined up a part-time job and weren't planning on going back?"
Students weren't allowed to stay in
the dorms over the break, so Lex had already arranged to split the rept on a basement apartment with an upperclassman who was in @ similar financial bind.
Even for just one month in a cramped basement, it was still going to cost them each about seventy bucks.
It wasn't cheap for them, but it would at least give her a place to crash.
It was still better than going home.
"Did they say why they need you back?"
"I thought they already agreed to let you stay in Cabinda to work and earn your
living expenses?"
Her family never offered her any
financial support and only ever drained her dry. What could possibly be so urgent that they needed her back now?
nt
"They said they want me to go on a blind date," Lex said, a bitter,
self-deprecating laugh escapined net
lips.
FindNovel.net
swm
She was only a freshman. Barely nineteen. What kind of blind date was that?
Were they really in that much of a rush to marry her off?
Would they even let her finish college?
Claire opened her mouth, struggling to even form a coherent sentence.
It was completely absurd.
Dragging a young girl away from her studies just to set her up with a man?