Chapter 409: Chapter 409: The Supporting Female Character from a Past Life
As the words fell, the two simultaneously looked at each other in surprise.
The next second, they both once again asked the same question in unison.
"Are you Ashley?"
"Are you Robin?"
The voices emerged, and both of them burst into laughter.
The waiter, seeing that the two really were "friends," quickly led the way.
They walked down a gravel path, turned right, and arrived at the "private room."
Though called a private room, it was actually a small courtyard with a tiny pond, and behind the pond, against the wall, grew some bamboo that was two people high.
Ashley Shaw suddenly had a thought: "Could it be that the courtyard is named after the plants grown here?"
The waiter responded a beat late: "Yes."
Ashley Shaw felt inexplicably awkward and nodded with a smile, saying, "Thank you for bringing us here. We’re not all here yet, so let’s wait before serving the dishes."
"Okay." The waiter nodded and turned to leave the courtyard.
As soon as the waiter left, Ashley Shaw was still worried about the potential awkwardness of meeting for the first time, but unexpectedly, Jocelyn Hayes suggested immediately after the waiter left: "How about we sneak out to have a look? See what other plants are in the other courtyards."
That seemed like a good way to dissolve the awkwardness.
Ashley Shaw immediately nodded: "...Sure."
As a result, when Jensen Hayes arrived after parking the car, he saw that Ashley Shaw and Jocelyn Hayes were already chatting comfortably.
The two were initially awkward, but after being discovered trespassing in a courtyard and running out together, their friendship was solidified.
Doing something mischievous together, it turned out, was the fastest way to strengthen a friendship.
Jensen Hayes looked at them, feeling a touch of warmth in his heart, but became more curious.
"How did you two get familiar so quickly?"
Jocelyn didn’t mention the incident of nearly being thrown out as weirdos, only that she was harassed by three men at the entrance, and Ashley Shaw saved her.
Jensen Hayes’s smile vanished instantly, and he asked with a serious expression, "Are you both okay? Do you know where those men are now?"
They both shook their heads simultaneously.
Jocelyn said, "They ran off immediately, but you don’t need to worry, I’m fine, they didn’t even touch a hair on me. But it was all thanks to Ashley."
Jensen Hayes stood up from the chair and solemnly apologized to Ashley Shaw.
"Thank you, Ashley."
Ashley Shaw quickly waved her hand: "It was just a small gesture, I didn’t do much, I just ran to the restaurant and got people to come help. If there’s anyone to thank, it’s those people."
"I’ll be sure to thank them."
Jensen Hayes’s way of thanking was to give a ten thousand yuan tip.
Although he was just a police academy student, he was never short of money.
But that’s another story.
After Jensen Hayes sat down again, Jocelyn Hayes sighed, "I wanted to dress fashionable today, but I ended up encountering such a group. I wouldn’t have worn a skirt if I knew..."
Ashley Shaw thought Jensen Hayes would agree with a nod, but unexpectedly, Jensen Hayes shook his head in strong disagreement.
"It doesn’t matter what you wear. To dirty people, everything is dirty. Just like now, wear whatever you want, but when you’re alone, always take the bodyguard that Mom and Dad hired for you."
Those words surprised Ashley Shaw and gave her a deeper understanding of Jensen Hayes.
Though he seemed a bit awkward and stiff, he wasn’t the kind of chauvinist.
Ashley Shaw was surprised, but Jocelyn Hayes seemed unfazed, indicating that Jensen didn’t just make such remarks today in front of her.
It’s just that Jocelyn didn’t like having bodyguards, so she protested: "I’d rather dress conservatively. If I bring bodyguards to school when it starts, what will my classmates think of me? I don’t want to be too high-profile."
"Who said the bodyguards would follow you to school? I mean when you’re alone."
Jocelyn replied with an "Oh" and quickly shifted the topic to Ashley Shaw.
"Ashley, my brother said you’re in the same major as me, how about we choose the same dorm room?"
She felt a good connection with Ashley Shaw.
Ashley Shaw had no objections, but...
"Usually, only classmates can be arranged in the same dorm, and it’s assigned by student number, so it might not be that easy."
"That’s easy, I’ll have my mom talk to the principal and ask him to arrange for us to be in the same dormitory."
Ashley Shaw didn’t have time to speak before Jensen Hayes interjected.
"Just now you said you wanted to keep a low profile, and now for something small, you’re going directly to the principal, bypassing the homeroom teacher and counselor..."
"How is this trivial? It’s a big deal for me!"
Ashley Shaw didn’t understand why it was such a big deal, but Jensen Hayes explained for her.
"Robin hasn’t had good relationships with her schoolmates before. If you’re around, I’d feel much more at ease... but it’s up to you if you’re willing..."
Ashley Shaw was a bit puzzled.
Jocelyn Hayes seemed easygoing enough. How could she not get along with other students?
Perhaps noticing her confusion, Jensen Hayes clarified.
"She’s just like me... too straightforward. Whatever someone she likes says is right, but even if someone she doesn’t like just breathes, that’s a crime."
"..."
Jocelyn Hayes shot her brother an angry look: "You’re exaggerating! Ashley, don’t listen to him; I’m just a bit... frank."
Ashley Shaw laughed: "I just like straightforward people, all that beating around the bush makes me dizzy."
Jocelyn Hayes’s eyes lit up, and she quickly started talking to Ashley about some things from her high school days.
Just some minor schemes between little girls.
Previously, Ashley Shaw would have been very excited and angry about these things, but now she felt nothing but calm.
She still cooperated well and showed agreement, not letting Jocelyn Hayes’s words fall flat.
After the meal, it was already nine in the evening.
Jensen Hayes, seeing it was late, interrupted Jocelyn Hayes’s chatter.
"Let’s call it a day, you two can plan another time, it’s too late, and girls need to get home early."
Jocelyn Hayes was still reluctant.
"We’re staying at the same hotel, what’s the worry?"
Though she said that, she obediently got up from her chair.
Jensen Hayes went off to get the car while the two waited in the restaurant lobby.
As fate would have it, a group of young, pretty girls also came out to settle their bill in the lobby.
Ashley Shaw looked up and locked eyes with one of the girls.
Noelle York.
Today her hair wasn’t loose but neatly tied up.
In that fleeting moment, a dim memory from Ashley’s past life came rushing back.
Noelle York was the scandalous supporting actress in that movie with Owen Sinclair!
Because when they met a few days ago, Noelle’s hair was down, Ashley didn’t recognize her immediately, but now she remembered it all.
Noelle’s scandals included not just having illicit relationships, but also things like "acting like a diva," "bullying peer actresses," and "taunting seniors," among a series of dirt.
She couldn’t help but worry about Owen Sinclair.
Because according to her previous life, Owen would eventually sign Noelle, leading to huge losses.