Chapter 54: A Kind Advice
After finishing her exam, Chloe stepped outside to find it snowing. Realizing that taxis would be hard to come by in this weather, she decided to take the subway instead. She hadn’t walked far when someone called her name. Turning around, she saw it was Ella.
“Chloe, what are you doing here?” Ella asked, clearly surprised.
Ella hadn’t expected to run into Chloe, especially after their last somewhat tense meeting. The Chloe she remembered seemed different from the one standing before her now. Moreover, Ella had heard that Chloe and Julian had still not reconciled after their breakup, despite initial expectations that it would blow over in a few days. But as time passed, it became clear that Chloe was serious about the separation.
Ella occasionally overheard their mother, Madison, talking about Chloe. Madison had begun to wonder if the breakup was real and why Julian’s health had declined so much since their split.
For years, Madison had believed that Chloe and Julian were too different in status. While dating was acceptable, marriage was out of the question. She also felt that Chloe acted more like a maid than a girlfriend, always at Julian’s beck and call. So now that they had truly separated, Madison found it unsettling. And not just her–Ella was also having trouble adjusting.
After all, they had benefited from Chloe’s presence. They were used to seeing her soft, accommodating side. They’d never expected her to be so firm about the breakup.
Eventually, Ella learned more about the situation and realized that Julian had initiated the breakup and had indeed been at fault. In that light, Chloe’s reaction made sense. Though Ella had grown accustomed to the idea of their breakup, seeing Chloe now felt strange.
Chloe greeted her with a smile, and Ella noticed the items Chloe was holding, glancing back at the school behind them.
“Are you here for an exam? Are you planning to go to grad school?” Ella asked, genuinely curious. She hadn’t known Chloe was pursuing further studies, but it didn’t bother her either way.
Chloe paused for a moment before replying, “Yes, I’ve wanted to go to grad school for a while. I’m just hoping it’s not too late.”
Ella frowned slightly. “When did you start preparing? Right after you broke up with my brother? A few months isn’t much time to get ready. Honestly, you should be prepared for the possibility that you might not make it. Competition’s fierce, especially if you’re aiming for a top professor.”
Ella was speaking seriously and sincerely, as she was genuinely concerned for Chloe. She knew how tough it was out there, and it wouldn’t be easy for Chloe, especially with her lack of work experience.
Chloe understood Ella’s meaning and simply smiled without offering a detailed explanation. Some things didn’t need to be clarified to others.
“Anyway, which school are you applying to?” Ella asked,
“I’m applying to H University, aiming for Professor Lauren’s graduate program,” Chloe answered honestly.” She knew that if she did her best, she could get in, especially since Professor Lauren had reserved a spot for her.
Ella was taken aback, staring at Chloe for a moment. “Wait, you think doing some cleaning at the professor’s house will get you a spot in the program? Stop dreaming. Lauren has extremely high standards. There are only a couple of spots each year, and there are plenty of people competing for them. You’re just not one of them. Besides, if you’ve been trying to win her favor, she’ll like you even less.”
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It was clearly a misunderstanding, and Chloe wanted to explain, but Ella wasn’t interested in listening.
Ella continued, “It’s really hard to become her student, trust me. I’d advise you to pick another professor before you regret it.”
Chloe was surprised that Ella, Julian’s sister, would offer such advice, but she appreciated it. Ella had a point. Most people would have reconsidered after hearing what she had to say, but Chloe had no intention of changing her plans.
“Thanks for the advice, but I have to get going,” Chloe said with a smile before walking away.
Ella watched Chloe’s retreating figure, still in disbelief. She had expected Chloe to at least take her words seriously, but it seemed like she hadn’t. Ella hadn’t meant any harm–she had genuinely been looking out for Chloe. Failing to get into grad school would be humiliating, after all.
As Chloe entered the subway station, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Professor Lauren, she answered with a cheerful voice, “Hello, Professor.”
Lauren’s voice was warm and filled with joy. “How did it go?”
“It felt pretty good. I’ve done all I can, so now it’s in fate’s hands.”
Hearing Chloe’s response, the professor chuckled. She had no doubts about Chloe’s abilities, and if Chloe felt confident, it was likely she had done well.
“The weather’s been freezing lately. I hope you’re on your way home–don’t stay out in the cold too long,” Lauren said with genuine concern.
A warmth filled Chloe’s heart, knowing her professor was looking out for her. “I’m on the subway now. And, Professor, I noticed your foot pain has been acting up. I got the medicine you used to use. I’ll drop it off in a couple of days.”
Professor Lauren had injured her foot when she was younger, and it always flared up in the winter, especially when it snowed. During her time as Lauren’s student, Chloe had always gone out of her way to ease her professor’s pain, ensuring she had the right medication.
Now that Chloe had the chance, she was eager to help again.
