Chapter 154: Are You Going to Return It or Not?
Jane Lancaster heard someone call for Professor Woods, but she tuned it out.
She had no desire to respond. After all, Luna Morgan, Julian Lanscaster, Alvin Lancaster, and even Caleb Lowell were the ones who wanted her to take on this apprenticeship.
She hadn’t wanted this for herself.
But someone tactless just had to block her path. "Jane Lancaster, hurry up and go greet Elder Woods and Miss Morgan."
Jane Lancaster looked up and saw it was a familiar face. "It’s you."
Mia Lanley frowned at her and said bluntly, "Today is your apprenticeship ceremony, a joyous occasion. Why the long face? Is that any way to behave?"
Alvin Lancaster, who was with her, immediately walked over. "That’s not it at all, Teacher Lanley. You’ve misunderstood."
"Teacher Lanley?" Jane Lancaster looked at Alvin Lancaster in confusion, then she understood.
’Oh, there was an annoying counselor in the original novel. So she’s that counselor?’
Alvin Lancaster quietly explained, "Jay, Teacher Lanley is your counselor for your four years at university. She’ll look after you from now on."
Jane Lancaster glanced at Mia Lanley, speechless.
’Look after me? Does she look like she’s willing to look after me? More like she’s looking for trouble.’
’In the original novel, though, she hated Luna Morgan more. She even pretended to try and get on my good side. But now it seems she hates me more.’
Jane Lancaster thought for a moment and understood why. ’It’s because I seriously offended them last time, isn’t it? I guess we have a history now.’
Mia Lanley frowned. What was that look? She was her counselor, after all. Was she not even willing to put on a polite act?
"Your eldest brother asked me to look after you. And while I treat all my students equally, I won’t disrespect his good intentions." Mia Lanley felt she was in a position to lecture her. "All of your brothers are very concerned about you. You shouldn’t make things difficult for your second brother. At least show a better attitude and go say hello."
"What does that have to do with you?" Jane Lancaster found this very strange. "What business is it of yours whether I say hello or not?"
"What did you say?" Mia Lanley’s expression faltered. This girl was so rude!
There were people watching. Humiliated, she snapped, "I’m your counselor! If your eldest brother hadn’t asked me to look after you, do you think I’d want to bother with you?"
Jane Lancaster said, "Since you feel so put upon, then don’t bother looking after me."
"What did you say?" Mia Lanley was stunned. How dare she speak to her like that?
Jane Lancaster offered a sincere suggestion, "If you really didn’t want to see me, couldn’t you have just skipped today’s banquet? The exit is that way."
’Since we’re both unwilling, why force yourself to come all this way? Aren’t you just making things unpleasant for yourself?’
"Jay, that was too rude! Apologize to Teacher Lanley right now!" Alvin Lancaster was angry. No matter what, she shouldn’t have said that and put Mia Lanley in such an impossible position.
Jane Lancaster stopped and looked up at him quietly. "Are you going to lecture me again, Second Brother?"
A strange panic fluttered in Alvin Lancaster’s heart. He opened his mouth to explain, but then he remembered his eldest brother’s instructions—he couldn’t let his sister act so willfully. His voice turned hard and cold. "You need to behave."
His sister was furious and probably couldn’t understand their good intentions.
If she had gotten into Stratton University and earned Professor Woods’s favor on her own merit, then it would be fine for her to be a little arrogant.
But that wasn’t the case.
Academics tend to have a bit of aloof pride. It was only natural that both Professor Woods and Teacher Lanley would be displeased.
Not everyone would happily agree just because there were benefits involved, much less provide you with excellent service.
The Lancaster Family had the money to pave her way, but money couldn’t buy everything.
Mia Lanley glanced at the siblings, then suddenly raised her voice. "So you don’t want me looking after you. What about Professor Woods? You don’t want to be his apprentice anymore either?"
She’d like to see if Jane Lancaster still dared to be so defiant!
Just as Jane Lancaster was about to speak, Alvin Lancaster grabbed her wrist, his face pleading.
Mia Lanley snorted. ’I bet she doesn’t dare push it.’ "It seems you just look down on me. In that case, you should apply to transfer to a different class."
If Jane fell into her hands, she would make sure she had a hard time.
Alvin Lancaster understood the threat, and his expression shifted subtly. "Teacher Lanley, there’s no need for that..."
Mia Lanley said, "She said it herself. If she doesn’t want to see me, she doesn’t have to be in my class or attend my lessons. No need to force it."
She threw Jane Lancaster’s own words right back at her. ’You’re so defiant, aren’t you? Well then, don’t you dare back down now.’
After saying her piece, Mia Lanley turned and walked away.
Jane Lancaster sighed, walked over, and blocked her path. "Wait a minute."
Mia Lanley’s face was full of scorn. "What, you realize you were wrong now?"
Seeing Jane Lancaster extend her hand, she sneered, "Are you trying to shake on it and make peace?"
"What are you talking about?" Jane Lancaster raised her hand slightly. "I’m telling you to give me back the ’benefits’."
’She has a grudge against me but was still willing to ’look after’ me. That means Julian Lanscaster must have given her something good enough to make it worth her while.’
’Whatever. Since she’s served herself up on a platter, I have to get it back!’
When Mia Lanley realized what she meant, her face flushed with anger. "You!"
She didn’t know what to say. Muttering something incoherent, she tried to leave.
"Hold on, are you going to return it or not?" Beverly Lynch, who had just rushed over and seen the scene, quickly blocked her other escape route.
This woman was clearly trying to back out of it. How could they let that happen?
Mia Lanley was about to faint from anger. ’Are these two crazy? How dare they demand a gift back to her face?’
"Jay, stop fooling around!" Alvin Lancaster pulled at Jane Lancaster.
In his haste, he didn’t control his strength and pulled too hard. Caught off guard, Jane Lancaster lost her balance and stumbled sideways.
Beverly Lynch quickly reached out to steady her but ended up being pulled down as well.
The people nearby all turned to look. What was going on? Were the brother and sister fighting?
Alvin Lancaster was also stunned. "Jay, I didn’t mean to..."
Mia Lanley shot Alvin Lancaster a resentful glare, then turned and walked out.
"Teacher Lanley, wait!" Steeling himself, Alvin Lancaster turned and chased after Mia Lanley.
The most important thing now was to placate Mia Lanley. He couldn’t afford to offend her too deeply; after all, his sister still had to study at Stratton University.
The nearby guests exchanged knowing glances.
It seemed the rumors about the siblings not getting along were true, as were the ones about Jane Lancaster falling out of favor.
On an occasion like this, for him to push his sister down and not even help her up, it was clear the Lancaster Family didn’t value this daughter as much as people thought.
A few people, unable to hide their gossipy nature, huddled together to whisper.
"I heard long ago that the only reason the Lancaster Family doted on this daughter was to tie down Caleb Lowell and The Lowell Group."
"Who started that rumor about Timothy Lancaster loving his daughter more than life itself? If he really doted on her that much, why didn’t he show up for her engagement party or this apprenticeship ceremony?"
"Exactly. President Lancaster at least made an appearance at the third young master’s school advancement banquet back then."
"President Lancaster is all about appearances. He must think this daughter is a disappointment, right?"
"Before, she was too successful and almost stole the eldest young master’s thunder. Now, she’s useless. She was in a coma for three years, she’s practically a lost cause."
"A daughter is raised for marriage alliances, isn’t she? Didn’t Jane Lancaster build up that ’Number One Socialite’ title just to marry into a powerful family?"
The speaker sighed. "If Young Master Lowell were still her fiancé, who would dare to look down on her?"
Caleb Lowell, who had been about to walk over, paused, a thoughtful expression on his face.