Chapter 257: Who Says Top Students Can’t Be Held Back?
Caspian Rhodes’s shameless remarks actually made Dennis Donovan laugh from sheer anger.
’This punk knows I can’t afford to get rid of him yet—not while he’s a useful shield to provide some cover for my grand-niece. He’s got me right where he wants me!’
And so, Arabella Donovan, who was admiring the moon in the courtyard with Guinevere Preston, heard a furious roar from inside the house: "Get out! You little punk, get as far away as you can and don’t ever let me see you again. From now on, I’ll beat you every time I see you, until you’re too scared to show your face in front of me!"
Startled by the sudden shout, Arabella Donovan shivered. After a moment, she turned to Guinevere Preston and asked cautiously, "Grandma, do you think Grand-uncle has some sort of prejudice against Mr. Rhodes?"
Guinevere Preston nearly lost her composure. Torn between annoyance and amusement, she pinched Arabella Donovan’s cheek, which still had a hint of baby fat.
"You little ingrate, what makes you so sure it’s prejudice? Nothing has even happened to him, and you’re already taking his side. If your grand-uncle found out, he’d be heartbroken."
"I just think Mr. Rhodes is a really nice person. He handles things so well, and he’s very kind. He helped me win the bid for those two plots of land and even found someone to audit the auction house’s affairs so I could take it over smoothly. Plus, he’s been driving me to and from work every day these past few days..."
"So you’ve been bought?"
"Grandma!"
"Alright, alright, don’t you worry about their business. That’s just how it is for the elders in a family with a young girl. They see every potential suitor as a scoundrel."
Arabella Donovan: "???"
’A scoundrel? A successful, handsome, and wealthy man like Mr. Rhodes is just a scoundrel in Grand-uncle’s eyes? Aren’t his standards a little too high?’
’Wait, if Mr. Rhodes is the scoundrel, then who’s the naive little girl he’s supposedly tricking?’
Just then, Dennis Donovan stormed out of the house, fuming. He and Arabella suddenly locked eyes, and the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
After Caspian Rhodes left, Arabella Donovan, out of caution, still gave her third older brother a call.
"Third Brother, what year of college are you in?"
"I’m a junior. Why the sudden question?"
"It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered there’s a three-year age gap between you and our fourth sister. She’s already a freshman, but you’re only a junior."
"...That’s because I repeated a year for certain special reasons."
"You were held back?" Arabella Donovan exclaimed in surprise. "Third Brother, aren’t you a genius, a top student? How could you have been held back?"
Aurora Donovan nearly scoffed. "Who says a genius can’t be held back? And who told you I *was* held back? I chose to repeat the year!"
"Is there a difference?"
"A huge one!"
Sensing her brother was on the verge of exploding, Arabella quickly decided to quit while she was ahead. She reconfirmed, "So, that means you’re still a college student, right?"
"Duh. I haven’t graduated, so of course I’m still a college student. Did that cold and fever you had recently fry your brain?"
Arabella Donovan: "..." ’You’re the one with the fried brain! Your whole family’s brains are fried! Wait, your whole family includes me!’
Left speechless and confused by her brother’s retort, Arabella almost gave up, deciding she couldn’t be bothered with this damn brother’s fate anymore.
But at the last second, reason prevailed. She asked tentatively, "So, in any of the labs you’re in... is there a doctor with the last name Donovan?"
"A doctor with the last name Donovan?" Aurora Donovan narrowed his eyes. "No. None of the doctors I know have the last name Donovan."
Only then did Arabella Donovan pat her chest and breathe a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
"Did you call me just to spout all this nonsense?"
"Of course not. I just wanted to remind you about Grand-uncle’s wedding so you can make arrangements in advance. Don’t be the one person who doesn’t show up when Mom, Dad, our first and second brothers, and our fourth sister all come, especially since you’re already here in Brynn. That would be hard to explain to Mom and Dad."
"I know, I know. You can rest a hundred and twenty percent assured, I’ll definitely be there on time."
"Then it’s a deal. I’m hanging up."
"Wait. Big Brother told me you recently inherited a crazy-rich auction house. Little Sis, when you get rich, don’t forget about me! And remember to pay me back double for that money you borrowed."
Arabella Donovan: "..." ’If nothing else, my third brother is a real piece of work! I’m absolutely never taking the initiative to call you ever again!’
After confirming that Dr. Donovan was not her third brother, Arabella felt a wave of relief, but she also began to worry about where the real Dr. Donovan was currently hiding.
Little did she know that just as she transferred the one hundred and sixty million, Aurora Donovan received an express delivery on his end.
"Dr. Donovan, Dr. Donovan."
The moment he heard that voice, Aurora Donovan put away his phone, which was still open to the balance transfer notification page.
"I’m over here."
"You have a delivery."
The package Aurora Donovan received contained the certificate of honor and trophy for winning first place in a competition he had previously attended abroad. At the time, right after he finished competing, he had a new idea for an experiment he had been working on, so he took an overnight flight back home without even collecting his award.
These two items had been entrusted to his supervising professor, who was leading the team abroad at the time. By the time the main group returned, he had already come to Brynn.
He happened to need these two items recently, and since he wasn’t planning on going back anytime soon, he’d had his professor mail them to him.
"Thanks, Mr. Young. And just calling me by my name is fine. I’m not a doctor yet. If other people in the lab hear you call me that, it could lead to a misunderstanding."
"Hah, it’s just a matter of time, isn’t it?" The security guard grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Everyone in Elder Keane’s lab knows you’re the man, Donovan. You not only deftly handle all of Elder Keane’s requests, you can even go toe-to-toe with him in a debate. And your recent paper passed, right?"
"And this certificate and trophy here... I heard you took first place in that competition you attended overseas. That’s incredible! That was a competition with people from all over the world, not just our own people. For you to still get first place, you must be a genius among geniuses."
"You’ve met the basic requirements now, and the paperwork is pretty much done. It’s just that with the New Year approaching, they won’t have time to review it. Once the person in charge is back after the holiday and your review is approved, you’ll be the youngest doctor in our university and lab. What’s the difference if I start calling you that a few days early? You’ll have to get used to it anyway."
Aurora Donovan just smiled, not wanting to argue the point with the old guard. "I still have some things to take care of in the lab, so I’ll be heading back. Thank you for going out of your way to bring this to me."
"Go on, then. If you need help with anything, just say the word. It’s no trouble."
Aurora Donovan walked toward the lab, holding the small box. As he turned down a hallway, he seemed to sense something and glanced back, but he found no one was following him.
Thinking about the questions Arabella Donovan had just asked, his brows furrowed unconsciously. He decided he had to take advantage of the upcoming wedding to pry the truth out of his youngest sister.