Chapter 125 - 123: The Early Bird Has Arrived
With that, Bruce Coleman angrily flung his arm and stormed out of the main hall, leaving Blair kneeling there by herself.
Theodore Coleman was both anxious and heartbroken. "Candice, you know your master. If you don’t explain this, not only will you have to keep kneeling here, but he won’t take the money either."
Blair looked at the money on the tea table. She had earned it over the past six months from underground fighting. When she started out as a rookie, she only made two dollars a match. Later, as her win rate climbed and she built a reputation, her pay rose to the current twenty dollars a match.
After more than thirty matches in total, she had earned nearly two hundred dollars!
This was by no means a small sum for an ordinary person. But her master’s wife was now in the intensive care unit, and until a kidney donor could be found, every day was like burning through cash.
So she couldn’t stop. She didn’t dare to stop.
If her master found out she was earning money from underground fighting, he would never approve.
So Blair lowered her head, not planning to explain. ’I can take the punishment. It’s not like I haven’t been made to kneel before.’
Seeing her stubborn streak flare up again, Theodore Coleman sighed in resignation. "I don’t care where you got this money or how you earned it, just don’t go back there again. The courtyard has already been listed with an agent. Once we find a buyer, our money problems will be solved."
Hearing her senior’s words, Blair’s head shot up. "Selling the courtyard? This is the Coleman family’s ancestral home! How can you sell it? Besides, if we sell the courtyard, what happens to the hall?"
"We’ll deal with it when the time comes. Just don’t worry about the rest."
Cecilia Sterling and Estelle Goodman couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation, but they’d heard enough to know Blair was being forced to kneel as punishment.
"Are we living in the dark ages? How is making someone kneel still a thing? It’s such an outdated, feudal practice," Estelle Goodman said indignantly.
Cecilia Sterling didn’t understand it either, but they were outsiders. Besides, it sounded like Blair earning money from fighting was a serious issue; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so tight-lipped about it.
’Thinking about it, she could start to understand. Families that carry on the traditions of Chinese Martial Arts were probably very traditional and held themselves to a high moral standard. Naturally, they couldn’t accept one of their own earning money from fighting matches tied to gambling.’
’If there was match-fixing involved, the whole thing was essentially illegal. That must be why Blair was afraid to say anything.’
A knock came at the door. Estelle Goodman went to open it and found Theodore Coleman standing there.
"Blair probably won’t be returning to school today," Theodore Coleman said.
Estelle Goodman was about to speak up for Blair, but Cecilia Sterling held her back. She nodded at Theodore Coleman. "Okay, we’ll head back soon then."
Theodore Coleman gave a strained, apologetic smile. ’He knew his father’s booming voice was impossible to ignore; they must have heard everything.’
But their silence was also a form of respect.
"I wanted to put in a good word for Blair," Estelle Goodman couldn’t help but whisper once Theodore Coleman was gone.
Cecilia Sterling looked at her and sighed helplessly. "It’s not our place to say anything. If pleading would have done any good, her senior would have stepped in to speak for Blair long before we could."
"So we’re just going to let Blair keep kneeling there?"
"There are national laws, and there are family rules. Can’t you see that kneeling is a house rule of Jade Forest Hall? Besides, Master Coleman is more worried about Blair than we are. He’s doing this for her own good. Earning money from fights linked to gambling isn’t a safe path. If this all comes to light one day, even if Blair doesn’t throw her matches, she’s still associated with illegal betting just by participating. That’s against the law."
Cecilia Sterling finished putting on her shoes as she spoke. "That’s why it’s not too late for Blair to get out now."
After hearing Cecilia’s explanation, Estelle Goodman slowly began to grasp the reasoning behind it. ’She’s right about one thing, you can’t get involved in anything illegal. If Blair really got into trouble, what would happen?’
As they left, the two passed by the main hall. Blair was kneeling in the center of the room, her back to them. As if hearing their footsteps, she turned her head to look.
Estelle Goodman’s face was full of pity. She pointed to a soft cushion on a chair, then pointed to her own knees, gesturing for Blair not to be so stubborn and to grab something to make herself more comfortable.
Blair just smiled and shook her head, signaling that she was fine. Then, she mouthed the words, "You guys head back first. Don’t worry about me."
’Judging by her reaction, she must be used to this kind of punishment.’ Reassured, Cecilia Sterling nodded and left Jade Forest Hall with Estelle Goodman.
That evening, Sean received a message from Cecilia Sterling and hurried over to wait for her below the women’s dormitory.
"Yannick’s been training lately. The National Collegiate League is next week," Sean said, explaining Yannick’s absence.
Cecilia Sterling didn’t mind. All that mattered was that the thank-you gift made it to Yannick.
She handed the bag she was carrying to Sean. "Then could you please give this to him for me?"
Just one look at the shopping bag was enough for Sean to recognize the shoes. They were the limited-edition collab he and Yannick had waited in line for but failed to get.
"Holy crap, Cecilia! How did you get these? Don’t tell me you bought them from a scalper at a ridiculous markup," Sean exclaimed, both shocked and thrilled for his friend.
Cecilia didn’t deny it. "Was there any other way?"
Sean grinned and nodded, happier than if he’d gotten the gift himself. Then, on a sudden impulse, he blurted out, "Shawn Lane hadn’t been back to the dorm for a while before the break started, and he hasn’t come back since it ended either."
"You don’t need to update me about him. He and I have nothing to do with each other anymore," Cecilia said calmly.
"I didn’t mean anything by it..."
Cecilia offered a small smile to show she understood. "It’s all right. I know you meant well. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head up. Thanks for giving this to him for me."
"Don’t mention it. It’s no trouble."
Cecilia nodded, said her goodbyes, and was about to leave when Sean suddenly called out again, "Cecilia..."
"Yes?"
"Do you..." Sean pursed his lips, hesitating. After a moment, he finally worked up the courage to ask, "You have feelings for Yannick, don’t you?"
The sudden question took Cecilia by surprise.
"Sorry," Sean explained hurriedly. "I’m just anxious for him. He’s the quiet type, so sometimes he’s not good at showing how he feels. But I know for a fact that he likes you."
Cecilia snapped out of her daze and smiled. She wasn’t angry, simply replying calmly, "You shouldn’t be telling me this."
With that, Cecilia turned and walked into the dormitory building.
Sean sighed in frustration, lightly tapping his own mouth with his hand. ’What’s your hurry, you idiot? Even Yannick himself isn’t this anxious. Now I wonder if I just made things worse instead of helping.’
"Did you give it to him?"
Back in their dorm room, Estelle Goodman looked at Cecilia and asked with a smile.
Cecilia nodded.
"Yannick’s a great guy. Why don’t you give him a shot? Now that you’ve given him the shoes, it might just be the push he needs to work up the courage and confess to you."
Cecilia let out a small, wry laugh and shook her head. "I’m guessing he won’t."
"You sound so sure."
Cecilia nodded. Seeing her certainty, Estelle grew even more puzzled. "He’s really playing the long game, huh? Isn’t he afraid someone else will sweep you off your feet first?"
As if on cue, the one who would beat him to it arrived.
Saul Thorne sent Cecilia a message: "Want to have dinner together tomorrow night?"