Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200% Rebate System

On the other hand, Adriana was busy preparing for the fashion competition. She had recently submitted a few of her designs, and now she was hoping that they would get selected so she could advance to the semi-finals.

To say that she was excited was an understatement.

Her mind was filled with a mix of nervousness and hope.

She knew that if she won the competition, her future would look much brighter.

It would be a big step toward achieving her dream of opening her own fashion brand someday.

With that thought in her heart, she focused all her energy on perfecting the designs.

Every sketch, every pattern mattered. She carefully adjusted the lines, made sure the colors matched perfectly, and thought about how each piece would look on the runway.

After the lectures were over, Adriana packed her bag slowly, still thinking about the competition.

She wanted everything to be perfect. As she was about to leave, she saw Peter standing there again.

Just the sight of him made her heart skip a beat. She thought to herself, Why is he always here? Her face turned a soft shade of pink.

When Peter saw her coming out, he smiled and reached out his hand toward her. It was a simple gesture, but it made Adriana feel nervous and happy at the same time.

She blushed and said softly, "I don't need you to hold my hand." Her voice was gentle.

Peter chuckled softly. Then, without saying much, he took the bag from her hand.

Adriana felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, but she couldn't help smiling a little.

She thought about how silly she had become lately.

She looked at Peter, who had now slung her bag on his arm, and he said quietly, "Let's go eat something now."

Adriana frowned a little,

"For the past few weeks, you have been coming to my class and leading me to the cafeteria like I am some kind of pig that needs to be fed every single afternoon."

"You always skip breakfast. If I don't take you to eat lunch, you will become as thin as a stick." Peter chuckled.

Adriana rolled her eyes but smiled.

She liked the way Peter always made fun of her in a gentle way.

She replied teasingly, "With the speed you feed me, it would be a miracle if I didn't turn into a pig."

Peter chuckled.

"I'm indeed trying my best to make you a bit chubbier so that when it's time for a meal, I could have a good one," he said softly.

Adriana's cheeks turned bright red, and she glared at Peter, "You are thinking too far."

Peter shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world and said casually, "It's just a matter of time after we get married."

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked away quickly, trying not to let him see the blush spreading across her face.

She was only twenty-one.

Yet, the word marriage seemed to hold a special meaning now.

It wasn't something she had thought of seriously before.

But Peter's words made her picture a future.

A future where they could be together, where he would always stand by her. A future where she wouldn't feel so broken and alone.

Despite that warm thought, she didn't dare to take the step forward.

Her mind was full of doubts. What if this happiness were temporary? What if it was too good to last?

Still, after a while, they arrived at the cafeteria. Peter went ahead and ordered Adriana's favorite dishes without her needing to say a word.

It was his way of caring, always knowing what she liked. Once the order was complete, he led her to a quiet table where they could sit comfortably.

Peter looked at her with soft eyes and asked, "How was your day?"

Adriana frowned slightly,

"Recently, another girl has been transferred to our classroom. She keeps bugging me, trying to look at my designs. Later, I got to know that she is participating in the competition just like me."

Peter chuckled lightly. He was always relaxed and never worried too much.

"That's the case, huh? Then just tell me her name. I will make sure to take care of it for you."

Adriana shook her head gently, "I have already defended myself. I made sure none of my designs were copied."

Peter nodded, clearly impressed. "You are truly the smartest," he said. Then, just like he always did, he pinched her cheeks playfully.

Adriana frowned but did not push away his hand. She had grown used to his gentle teasing and realized that this was how he showed his love.

They continued talking. Adriana shared some department gossip, and Peter listened intently. His fingers slowly interlaced with hers across the table.

At first, Adriana didn't notice how intimate his gestures were. She was focused on the conversation, but soon, she felt his hand softly playing with her hair.

Her face gradually turned red, and she glared at Peter. "You should maintain some distance," she said, trying to sound firm.

Peter paused for a moment.

Then he chuckled and said, "If I kept more distance, I would be destined to become a monk for my entire life."

Adriana felt her heart flutter at his words.

As they ate their food, the atmosphere between them grew more comfortable.

The cafeteria's noise faded into the background. It felt like they were in their own small world. A world where nothing else mattered but their laughter, their words, and the small touches that connected them.

Adriana thought about how Peter never pressured her. He never demanded anything from her. He simply stood beside her, offering his support and kindness without asking for much in return.

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel hopeful.

Peter, on the other hand, felt a quiet pride.

Watching Adriana smile, hearing her laugh, and seeing the sparkle in her eyes made him feel lucky.

A huge progress has been made, and if everything goes well, both of them will be in a relationship soon.

The meal ended, but neither of them rushed to leave. They stayed at the table, holding hands, talking about small dreams and future plans.

The way they looked at each other now was different from before.

After a while, Adriana reluctantly stood up from the table. She glanced at Peter with a small smile and said softly, "I'm getting late for my next classes."

Peter looked at her and sighed. His voice sounded a little playful but also a bit disappointed. "You really value your classes more than me, huh?"

Adriana frowned and replied firmly, "My classes are very important. I want to become the best fashion designer out there. This is my dream, Peter."

Peter chuckled and reached over to pinch her cheek gently. His eyes were warm as he said, "You will definitely become one of the most well-known fashion designers."

With a soft wave, Adriana turned toward her classroom.

When she arrived at the door of her classroom, just as she was about to step in, a hand suddenly stopped her. She looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the girl who had stopped her.

It was Nexi.

Adriana frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Nexi looked at her calmly, her tone casual but carrying a sharp edge. "I never thought you knew Peter, too."

Adriana's eyes became alert. She asked carefully, "How do you know Peter?"

Nexi smiled as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Of course, I know Peter better. I know him in his personal life, too. We are very close."

Adriana frowned deeper. Her voice was firm and suspicious. "So?"

Nexi chuckled lightly, as if enjoying Adriana's confusion. She stepped closer, her words low and confident. "If you want to get married to Peter, you would definitely need my permission."

Adriana's frown deepened. Her voice was cold as she asked, "What do you mean?"

Nexi's tone remained calm. "I happen to be in charge of whom Peter could marry and whom he couldn't. I am his younger sister, and in our whole family, everyone listens to me a lot."

The words hit Adriana like a lightning strike. She was stunned. Nexi, the girl who always seemed curious about her designs, the same girl who always tried to look at her work during the competition, was Peter's younger sister.

She never expected that.

Adriana looked at Nexi straight in the eyes and said firmly, "Even if that is true, you should at least tell me what you want."

Nexi chuckled again, as if she was dealing with a smart opponent. "You are truly smart," she said softly. "I want nothing much. Just two or three of your designs that I can submit as my own to qualify for the semi-finals."

Adriana's eyes widened in disbelief. Her face hardened into a frown. "I won't sell or give my designs to anyone, not even if that person is Peter's sister."