Sloane was speechless.

Internally, she panicked. “Oh God, I might just have signed my own death warrant.”

In that moment, Sloane seemed to move as though she were a character in a slow-motion sequence from an animated movie, each action meticulously detailed for the audience.

Her gaze slowly shifted towards Clement, where she was met with his unchanging, stoic face. There he was, reclined in his chair, attention fixed on the computer screen, his distinctively sharp features casting him in a perpetually earnest light.

His appearance suggested a restless night; he looked noticeably tired, his mouth downturned slightly, adding to his weary expression. A single hair defiantly stood out against the rest, untouched by the weight of his headphones.

Without thinking, Sloane hurried over to Fernanda’s side.

Clement appeared just like any typical teenager—always smiling, always gentle—only when in the company of Fernanda.

Silence enveloped the room. Both Levi and Alex mimicked each other’s movements, their eyes darting between Sloane and Clement. Wendy struggled to suppress her laughter, her lips quivering as she bowed her head, her shoulders shaking with contained mirth. Neal, however, openly grinned, casually popping gum into his mouth.

“Fernanda,” Sloane murmured, gripping Fernanda’s arm. “You can’t just stand there and do nothing!”

Fernanda was taken aback by Clement’s unexpected appearance and the ensuing confusion. Nonetheless, she dismissed it with a light laugh.

“It’s all a misunderstanding, no worries.”

“As you say,” Clement said, pulling off his headphones.

Turning toward Sloane, he remarked, “Next time, bring your dog, Snowy. I’m curious if it really can outperform me.”

Sloane found herself at a loss for words.

“Was he serious? There’s no need to get worked up. Does he really want to compete with a dog?” she mused internally.

Just then, Clement lifted his hand abruptly, prompting Sloane to instinctively shield her head and let out a shriek, believing he was actually going to hit her.

“Please, don’t hit me, I admit my mistake—I won’t do it again!” Sloane blurted, her eyes tightly shut. “No more careless words, I swear this is…”

Clement shot Sloane a dismissive glance, as if she had said something utterly ridiculous, before leaning over her to remove a certificate from the wall.

Handing it over to Fernanda with a broad smile, he exclaimed, “Take a look, Fernanda! This is our first-place certificate from the college league’s group stage. It just got here today!”

Sloane, unharmed yet cautious, slowly opened her eyes to find Clement casually chatting with Fernanda, showing no signs of aggression.

With a hand over her heart, she sighed in relief.

“Not bad at all.” Fernanda examined the certificate and nodded with approval. “This is for the group stage, and next, we aim for the trophy. Let’s put in the effort to make sure it comes home with us.”

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