Chapter 167 - Adice from a Senpai

Everything was finally in place and tomorrow was the first day of Scarlet's bridging program. Alex's school term didn't start until next month so the model was currently still residing in the mansion with her mother. Claire and Scarlet had moved into the apartment for a while now to get familiarised with the neighbourhood.

Apart from reading up on the books she purchased, Scarlet also took some time to visit the gym and supermarkets in the area. Claire and Scarlet decided that they would learn how to prepare healthy and affordable college meals. Alex found a youtube channel that taught broke college kids how to cook simple but nutritious and filling meals. The main purpose of cooking might be to save money but Scarlet thought that it looked rather simple for beginners even if they weren't in need of money.

Now that they weren't working and were simple university students, it would help to be able to relate to the way of life for ordinary folks. Scarlet didn't want anyone to find out that she hailed from a rich household or is a celebrity. Alex didn't mind the celebrity status but Scarlet decided to lie low for various reasons.

In fact, there was more than one reason why Scarlet wanted to remain unknown. The main reason why Scarlet was so determined to keep her identity under wraps was because of an online friend. After exchanging numbers with Jedd77 and coming clean, Scarlet revealed that she was simply an ordinary person who worked in some shitty internship company for a while. She was now going to attend university in New York.

Jedd also revealed that he wasn't exactly a NEET although he might be considered one with his low attendance record in school. They shared the same time zone and after chatting for a bit more, both online friends revealed that they lived in New York City. The coincidence became a little too much when Scarlet found out that she was going to attend the same university that Jedd did. Her heart pounded and she wondered if it would be appropriate to meet up with the boy. Still, she didn't bring the subject up. She wanted to settle down on the campus first and ascertain a few things before she proposed an offline meeting with Jedd.

This was one thing she kept from Claire and her sister. Scarlet didn't want them to worry. She knew that meeting an online friend offline was a dangerous thing especially when they have never seen each other on video calls or heard each other's voices. Still, Jedd didn't give off the vibe of some paedophile on the internet. In fact, the boy had been nothing but comfortable to talk to. In Scarlet's eyes, he was understanding, non-pretentious, brutally honest and savage, had a lame sense of humour and slightly darker thoughts about the world and its inhabitants. However, Jedd was similar to Scarlet in many ways that made the writer think she might be able to treat him as a confidant if he proves himself to be trustworthy.

Claire was out and Scarlet was alone in the apartment. The writer was tired of reading so she decided to bug her friend.

Frost: You there?

The reply didn't take long even if they weren't in the chatroom. Scarlet flopped onto her bed and grinned when Jedd replied.

Jedd: Always. What are you up to? Are you ready for classes tomorrow? I heard that the bridging program for all applicants start tomorrow.

Frost: Wow… for someone who hardly attends lectures or pays attention, you sure know your stuff.

Jedd: Is that sarcasm there? I'll have you know that while I don't have the best attendance record, I have one of the widest social networks!

Scarlet snorted. For a NEET, Jedd's social networks must include forum gossip and stalking various groups for hot topics. She didn't think that the teen would actually have any real friends that he hung out with like all the other cool kids.

Jedd: I know that silence, stop judging me!

Frost: I didn't say anything!

Jedd: You don't have to. I know you well enough by now. In any case, I would suggest you try and exchange as many numbers as you can with the students in your bridging class. I don't know which school you attended in the past but this university works rather differently. You're going to be sixty percent reliant on your group mates for projects that contribute to your semester's grades. Some projects can be inter school based so the more contacts you have, the easier your campus life.

Scarlet blinked. She didn't know that.

Frost: But I'm not the popular kind of person… Am I going to fail?

Jedd didn't reply immediately and Scarlet waited. A minute passed then two but still, there was no reply.

Frost: You still there?

On the other end of the conversation, Edward frowned. Was Scarlet serious? She didn't think she was a popular kid? According to Elfie, it was Scarlet who initiated the bridging of the gap between the E.C. Class and the Special Class. If it wasn't for her, the special friendship that Elfie treasured wouldn't exist.

Could it be that Scarlet was just being humble instead? It was odd for her to be completely unaware of her charms, right? Even when Edward was researching Scarlet's background to find anything about her suspicious activities, he only came across many positive articles and rumours about the hardworking actress and singer. It was very difficult for anyone to hate the petite teen and almost everybody got along with her easily.

What's the reason for Scarlet's low self-esteem? Edward was now curious to pry into the mind of his oblivious friend. When he heard that Scarlet told him more of the truth about herself and about her acceptance into his university, he was nervous. Should he try to convince her for a meet-up and win her over so that he could keep a better eye on the girl to ensure that she didn't try anything suspicious and get herself deeper into the abyss? Or should he simply go along with the flow and pretend not to be interested in an offline meeting until she proposed it.

Scarlet's new message snapped him out of his thoughts and Edward quickly apologised. For now, he would decide to play dumb and follow the flow. If Scarlet wanted to meet with him offline, he would go along with it.

Jedd: Sorry, distracted for a moment. I don't think you'll fail. You did say you graduated early so it would mean you're quite smart. Even if you don't have friends to group up with, I'm sure you'll be able to single-handedly complete a project assigned to you if you really have to although it's going to be extremely tiring for a single person to do it.

Scarlet thought about it. The bridging program only had simple high school revision courses on it and Scarlet knew she could breeze through those. However, she wasn't sure about what would happen after the three months of bridging courses. Her first impression of group projects was getting a stack of cardboard boxes to create pinball machines but she highly doubted that the philosophy major would require that kind of group project. That was a project back when she attended school in Malaysia.

Frost: What kind of projects will there be? I've never really had to do any group projects with my class back in school. How long is the project deadline? Is it very difficult?

Jedd smiled. Now that Scarlet wasn't living up to a personality she created, she was starting to sound more adorable. Edward couldn't help but like the writer more when she revealed more of her n.a.k.e.d soul. Indeed, Elfie was right. No wonder the hacker was so protective of the teen.

With the patience of a saint that Edward normally didn't possess, he answered all the writer's curious questions about university life. It didn't take a genius to figure out how the girl must be feeling. The teen spy found Scarlet adorable when Scarlet confessed that she didn't know how to make friends on the campus.

Frost: I'm actually not the stylish kind. If anything, I might be a nerd.

Edward laughed aloud at this. If he didn't know that Frost was Scarlet who was also Liu Xiu Wen, he might have sympathised with the writer. Then again, maybe her real self was a bookish girl more than the social butterfly persona that she portrayed to the public. Edward didn't really know what to believe. Still, as a good friend, he offered words of comfort.

Jedd: You should just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. There isn't a strict dress code for attending lectures as long as it is decent. I've seen students dressed up like models and students who just come in their pyjamas. It doesn't really matter… I don't think people are going to judge you.

Scarlet didn't seem to believe him because she started asking him about what he normally wore. Edward looked over to his messy pile of clothes and decided to take advantage of not texting through the chatroom. He took a picture and sent it to her.

The writer wasn't expecting to see any pictures so seeing Edward's undone laundry made her blush a little. Thank goodness Claire was out! This could be easily misunderstood on so many levels if the head maid found out.

Frost: I'm deleting that picture. Next time a little heads up would be nice. Also, thanks for the reference although I think you should start doing your laundry. Letting it pile isn't good.

Jedd: HAHAHA! Don't start sounding like a mom now or I might just start to call you that. Also, you're welcome. Just don't spend too much time worrying about stuff like that and enjoy university life. It can be more fun than you imagine it to be. Also, if you need anything, you can always text me. Seeing as we're going to the same university and I'm your senior there, I can recommend a lot of good quiet studying spots or cheap cafeterias.

Scarlet smiled and thanked her friend once more before making an excuse to leave. For now, she had to coordinate her outfit so that people wouldn't associate her with her celebrity image.