Chapter 280: Chapter 280: You Don’t Want Me to Stay?
This discomfort is indescribable, but it’s much like when people face continuous rainy days, their mood becomes inexplicably agitated.
But Ashley Shaw is really heartless.
The call he just took was from the airport asking if he found Ashley Shaw yet.
Turns out, Ashley Shaw didn’t have him in her eyes at all.
Annoying.
Warren Prescott stepped forward, seemingly unintentionally blocking Ashley Shaw to ask Xavier Quincy.
"Where’s my gift?"
Xavier Quincy shrugged helplessly, "You won’t be left out, it’s been shipped. Just wait to sign for it in a couple of days."
Warren Prescott slightly raised his eyebrow.
"As long as you haven’t forgotten your buddy, it’s not like I didn’t help you during this time."
Ashley Shaw gave Warren Prescott a surprised look.
What did he help Leo with?
But neither of them continued the topic, and she found it inappropriate to ask since it didn’t concern her anyway.
"Let’s go, everyone’s waiting for you."
Most of Xavier Quincy’s luggage has already been sent over, and a security guard is carrying a small suitcase for him, so there’s no need to pick up luggage.
The three of them walked towards the exit together, Ashley Shaw on the far right, Warren Prescott in the middle, Xavier Quincy on Warren Prescott’s left.
The two security guards followed at an appropriate distance.
This line-up attracted frequent glances from passersby.
Some even raised their phones to take pictures, quickly stopped by the security guards.
After a brief exchange, the two girls who were photographing turned pale and hurried away after deleting the photos in front of the guards.
Warren Prescott glanced at Xavier Quincy.
"You’re quite the star now, eh."
Xavier Quincy replied, "Still a bit behind compared to you, Mr. Prescott Jr."
Warren Prescott’s expression stiffened, "Don’t call me that."
It’s awkward.
When colleagues call him that in the company, it’s nothing, but hearing it from friends feels weird.
Xavier Quincy chuckled.
"Spectator Live is doing quite well; even some colleagues at the institute are watching your show."
"It’s mostly done by the people below; I’m just the figurehead."
But in truth, from planning to execution, it was all done by him.
And this had been in the works since his sophomore year of high school.
"Will these two be following you everywhere?" Warren Prescott asked.
Xavier Quincy shook his head, "Nope, once we’re out of the airport, take me to Westcroft Observatory. I have a document to deliver, and I’ll dismiss these two then."
Compared to overseas, the domestic environment is considerably safer, so these two security guards aren’t needed.
Warren Prescott nodded, "Alright."
Ashley Shaw, blocked by Warren Prescott, craned her neck to ask Xavier Quincy, "Leo, how long are you staying this time?"
"I won’t be returning overseas anytime soon; how long I stay depends on the situation."
"Ah? Oh..."
Ashley Shaw’s heart raced.
Might she have... caused a butterfly effect?
"What’s wrong?"
Xavier Quincy laughed, "Don’t want me to stay?"
"No way! I’m thrilled."
"By the way, I haven’t asked you yet, how did you do in the college entrance exams? I only know Warren was the top scorer in the province, but I’ve no idea about your results."
"Not bad."
"You say not bad, which definitely means excellent."
Ashley Shaw felt warm inside.
"Not too much, just made it into the TOP10."
"Ashley is that impressive?"
Ashley Shaw smiled, about to respond, when Warren Prescott interjected coldly, "She’s more than just impressive, she switched from humanities to sciences right before the college exams."
Xavier Quincy paused slightly, something flickered quickly in his eyes, but he soon returned to normal.
"Why the sudden switch to sciences, especially just before the college exams?"
Their conversation was hindered with Warren Prescott between them.
Ashley Shaw moved past Warren Prescott, joining Xavier Quincy on his left side.
"No particular reason, just suddenly wanted to study sciences."
"Then you must be really smart, switching to sciences and scoring so well."
"It’s all luck. Though, switching from humanities to sciences was beneficial; had I done it the other way around, I’d have passed out from memorizing."
Xavier Quincy laughed, "I recall this year’s policy relaxing the humanities-sciences split, allowing your switch. Otherwise, once registered for the exams, changing wouldn’t have been possible according to last year’s rules."
"That’s why I didn’t do well last year; I wasn’t meant for humanities."
"Why didn’t you switch earlier in the semester then?"
"At that time, I hadn’t changed my mind yet."
"Anyway, as long as the result is good."
"Yeah."
Ashley Shaw nodded, asking Xavier Quincy, "Leo, what’s the reason for your return this time?"
Xavier Quincy apologized with a smile, "I can’t tell you, signed a confidentiality agreement."
Ashley Shaw "Oh"-ed twice and didn’t press further.
Since an agreement was signed, asking more would only make things difficult for Leo.
Plus, what should be known, will eventually be known.
Suddenly sensing someone beside her, she looked aside and realized Warren Prescott had somehow also moved over, standing on her left side.
Thus, their formation changed, with her in the middle and Warren Prescott and Xavier Quincy on either side.
Passersby, especially the girls, cast envious glances.
But Ashley Shaw knew walking in the middle wasn’t as free; slightly deviating would result in bumping into either side, requiring careful attention.
From the moment the security stopped the two girls from taking photos, she realized she shouldn’t touch Xavier Quincy carelessly; who knows what the guards might do.
She cherished her life.
As for Warren Prescott, she’d rather not get involved.
Once in the car, Xavier Quincy took the back seat, and Ashley Shaw was about to join him when Warren Prescott stretched his hand to stop her.
"Didn’t notice there’re two more people? If you want to squeeze with them, I don’t mind."
Ashley Shaw then remembered Xavier Quincy had brought two security guards, quickly stepping back to give them space.
Those two looked at her much more kindly than before, thanking her as they moved in.
"No need, no need, it’s only right."
Ashley Shaw always held respect for soldiers.
But now she had to sit with Warren Prescott.
Fortunately, with Xavier Quincy around, time passed quickly.
Xavier Quincy shared some amusing stories from the institute, intriguing and funny, making Ashley Shaw laugh almost the whole way, her face nearly stiff from smiling.
Warren Prescott, meanwhile, remained expressionless throughout, as if someone owed him a fortune.
Xavier Quincy, keenly observant, soon noticed something amiss with Warren Prescott’s mood and glanced at Ashley Shaw, saying, "There are plenty more funny stories for another time. I need to reply to a few messages; my phone has just been turned on, so there’s quite a few. You should rest too; tonight, they’re likely to party till late."
"Okay."
Ashley Shaw indeed felt a bit tired from laughing; she nodded promptly and settled quietly.
Just then, Xavier Quincy’s phone chimed continuously with notifications as he turned it on.