September, the beginning of the school season. Although autumn had officially arrived, the heat persisted unbearably.

In the capital, on Jingdu Avenue, at the end of this road stood the most prestigious institute of higher education in Huaguo—Jingdu University.

Today marked the freshman registration day for a new academic year. As far as the eye could see, the entire Jingdu Avenue was filled with cars, banners, and bustling crowds of people carrying bags and suitcases in all shapes and sizes.

Students who had traveled from faraway hometowns, accompanied by their families, wore beaming smiles that seemed to stretch to their ears as they hurried toward the university gates.

Getting admitted to Jingdu University was no small feat; in some small counties, it could be years before someone managed to achieve such an honor.

Many students brought along entire families, as though they wished to have every single member of their clan witness the monumental moment of becoming a Jingdu University student.

Of course, there were exceptions.

Evelyn Hartley was one of them.

She came alone, dragging a modest-sized suitcase and carrying a simple black shoulder bag. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a plain white T-shirt, with waist-length hair cascading down her back, she wove leisurely through the crowd.

Perhaps it was because Evelyn Hartley was strikingly beautiful; the eyes of the passersby seemed to land on her again and again as they walked past.

From time to time, fragments of whispered conversations drifted to her ears.

"Hey, did you see that girl over there? The one dragging her suitcase all by herself? She's gorgeous! And she smells amazing."

"I saw her too—what a figure, and such elegance. She's stunning, absolutely hit me right in the heart. She looks like a new freshman at Jingdu University too. How come I don't see her family with her?"

...

Evelyn Hartley caught snippets of these murmurs, but she appeared completely unfazed, as if accustomed to it. She maintained her steady, unhurried pace, heading deeper into the Jingdu University campus.

Walking into the campus of Beijing University, Evelyn Hartley was met with numerous welcome volunteers eager to lend a helping hand. Many offered to show her the way or guide her to the registration area, but she politely declined each and every one of them.

A number of students couldn't help but wonder who she was.

After all, someone with such stunning beauty paired with an aloof demeanor—walking about so solitary and self-possessed—it was the first time anyone had encountered someone like her at Beijing University.

However, not all the welcome volunteers took her rejection kindly. A senior upperclasswoman in charge of orientation, unable to hold back her annoyance, raised her voice with a hint of disdain, "Seriously? Acting this high and mighty?"

"Our campus is famously huge. Don't come crying back once you get lost and can't find your way."

"Tch, what a pretentious act!"

Her comments drew laughter from some onlookers and were clearly audible to Evelyn Hartley.

Unbothered, Evelyn continued forward, maintaining her steady pace.

The freshman registration was centralized in the grand auditorium. By the time Evelyn arrived, the place was bustling with people, as each department had its own designated area.

Many incoming students were frantically searching for their respective registration desks or asking guidance from volunteers.

Yet, Evelyn, as if she had scouted the area beforehand, strode directly to the Journalism and Communications department's registration window without any hesitation.

The line in front of the Journalism and Communications desk wasn't long. Evelyn quietly queued up at the end of the line, reaching into her bag to retrieve her admission letter.

Before long, a male voice called out, "Alright, next student!"

As the voice fell, the person ahead of Evelyn gathered their documents and walked away. Stepping forward, she handed her admission letter to the administrator.

The young man handling the registration was focused on the task at hand and lowered his head as he accepted the document from her hand. Opening the letter, he began processing the information.

The next second, he abruptly raised his head, his excitement evident to the naked eye. "You're **Evelyn Hartley**?"

His voice wasn’t quiet, drawing the attention of quite a few people on either side.

When the guy raised his head and finally saw **Evelyn Hartley**, he froze completely. Slowly standing up, his eyes revealed an unmistakable hint of awe and admiration that he couldn’t put into words.

Lowering his voice, he asked again, hesitantly, "You’re **Evelyn Hartley**? The only direct admit to Kyoto University this year?"

**Evelyn Hartley** didn’t deny it. "Yes, that's me. Is the recording done?"

Finally coming back to his senses, the guy hastily sat back down. After tapping a few keys on the keyboard, he didn’t call for the next student but instead stood up again. "Hi, I'm **Jasper Drummond**, a senior in your department, third year!

I happen to be free right now. Want me to take you to your dorm?"

**Jasper Drummond** was the president of the Student Union in the Journalism and Communications Department, someone blessed with both an excellent family background and good looks. Yet, no one had ever seen him act this enthusiastically toward anyone before. Especially given how busy he was today, "happening to be free" seemed like an excuse thinly veiling his intentions.

What he was thinking was all too transparent.

**Evelyn Hartley** glanced up and grabbed the admission letter from his hand in one swift move. "No need!"

With that, she didn’t wait for **Jasper Drummond** to reply. She turned on her heels and disappeared into the increasing stream of people pouring in.

The bystanders were struck dumb. However, with both involved parties still present, no one dared to speak up.

**Jasper Drummond** stared at her retreating figure, his face filled with confusion. This was their first meeting, so why was her gaze so inexplicably cold?

Well, no matter. He’d finish the task at hand first; everything else could wait for another day.

After glancing one more time at the back of her fading figure, **Jasper Drummond** finally sat back down, noticeably reluctant.

At the same time, watching Evelyn Hartley's figure with unwavering focus was the man leaning casually against the second-floor railing.

He had an impressive physique, wearing a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers. Due to the stifling heat, his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his wrists, revealing sturdy arms with a healthy bronze complexion.

His long, well-defined fingers held a lit cigarette, occasionally bringing it to his lips for a drag and then releasing a puff of white smoke.

His strikingly handsome features, already nearing perfection, became even more captivating under the veiled haze of smoke. It was the kind of allure that made people hesitate to approach him casually.

As Evelyn Hartley's figure disappeared from his view, he extinguished his half-burned cigarette with a flick, then turned on his heel. With an effortless motion, he tossed the stub into the trash can designated for cigarette waste nearby.

Just then, the phone in his pocket buzzed. Taking it out, the display showed a familiar name: Tristan Gale.

Once he answered, an urgent voice came from the other end, “Hey, Victor Harlow, I just turned around and, boom, you were gone! Where’d you go?”

Victor Harlow slipped one hand into his pocket and strode toward the elevators, speaking calmly as he walked, “Your sister. Is she all squared away?”

Tristan Gale replied swiftly, “Yeah, all set. Just dropped her off at the dorm. The dorm manager didn’t let me in because, you know, guys aren’t allowed. I told her to commute instead, but she insisted on staying. Well, at least you were here today—you managed to get her program switched. Going from dorm to commuter’s such a small thing. She’ll realize soon enough that a dorm is no match for the comfort of home!”

Victor Harlow clearly wasn’t interested in hearing any of this. With a brief “Hmm,” he replied, “Waiting in the car. Heading back to the company.”

Without further ado, he ended the call and stepped into the elevator.

Tristan Gale was left baffled on the other end, “???”

Well, it's good enough that he is willing to step in and help his sister change her major. After all, at a place like Beijing University, even having power and money doesn’t guarantee success.

...

After wrapping up her registration process, Evelyn Hartley left the grand auditorium. Familiar with the campus layout, she quickly arrived at the entrance of her dormitory.

Instead of stepping inside right away, she paused her steps and stood at the dormitory entrance, lifting her head to take a good look.

The red sign above the doorway that read "West District Building 3" came into view. To Evelyn Hartley, everything was so familiar. After all, in her previous life, she had spent four full years in this place.

How could it not be familiar?

This was where the dream began, and also where the dream had ended.

Yes, that's right! She had already died once before—in her previous life, she died the night after receiving her graduation certificate.

Perhaps heaven pitied her, or maybe pitied him. After her death, she was reborn, returning to the summer of her high school graduation.