Chapter 7 Impure Thoughts

Tristan Edwards glanced at her and lightly patted her palm. "I sent it to the education bureau's leadership mailbox, and the newspaper got a copy too."

"Wait, what?" Elinor Fernan was taken aback. "I thought you were going to print the photos for me to see first."

Getting Joshua Scott caught in the act was just the first step; it was merely to teach Bridget Foster a lesson. The real key player in the turning point of her life-the upcoming college entrance exam-was Gethin.

So she had a second plan: to have Tristan Edwards capture evidence of Bridget Foster and Gethin's affair. As long as she held those photos, Gethin would think twice before making any rash moves. After all, if word got out that he was involved with a married woman, his job would be on the line.

"What do you want to see those things for? Aren't you afraid of ruining your eyes?" Tristan Edwards said casually while sipping his soda.

Those images were truly disturbing; even he, as a man, felt embarrassed looking at them. Elinor was still a student-how could she handle such filthy stuff?

Elinor let out a small "oh" and rubbed her forehead. She had originally planned to use those photos to blackmail Gethin, but Tristan's approach was clearly more ruthless. By exposing Gethin to the leaders and the newspaper, he was effectively ruining Gethin's future and eliminating any future threats.

"Not a single one left?" Elinor Fernan asked.

"Nothing left," Tristan Edwards said.

The man in his early twenties had a face that wasn't yet as sharply defined as it would later become; instead, he exuded a lazy, casual vibe.

"Okay then."

Noticing that Elinor Fernan didn't show disappointment at the lack of photos, he playfully flicked her forehead. "Why do you look so disappointed? If you like this kind of stuff, how about I take you to see something another day?"

His suggestion had a teasing lilt to it, and Elinor's mind immediately flashed to all sorts of inappropriate thoughts, causing her cheeks to flush bright red.

"Whoa, you're blushing," Tristan said with a smirk, eyeing her. "I just meant I could take you to a movie. Where did your mind go?"Elinor's face turned even hotter at his words. This guy was just too mischievous. It was clear he was being vague on purpose to lead her thoughts astray, yet somehow, it felt like she was the one with the impure thoughts.

Tristan looked down at the girl before him. At eighteen, she was as delicate as a budding flower, and when she blushed, her ears turned a lovely shade of red as well.

She was different from other girls. The day she seriously suggested borrowing a camera to capture evidence of Bridget Foster and Gethin's affair, Tristan felt completely thrown off.

"This won't take long; soon enough, Gethin will be humiliated, and he'll lose his job," Tristan Edwards said as he finished off his soda. "I've never seen anyone go to such lengths to catch their mother cheating, even involving their father in the sting."

Not only had he never seen it, but he couldn't even imagine it.

Elinor Fernan leaned against the wall, the setting sun casting a warm glow over them, a gentle warmth that lacked the harshness of daytime. Her voice was soft as she spoke, "They're not my biological parents; they're just my adoptive ones."

Tristan turned to look at her. The sunlight illuminated her face, giving it an almost ethereal quality.

In that moment, he finally understood why he felt she was different from other girls since the first time they met. There was a weariness about her that seemed beyond her years, a loneliness that suggested she was the only one left in a world that had forgotten her.

Her adoptive parents must treat her poorly, Tristan thought; otherwise, she wouldn't harbor such hatred toward them.

Elinor set her half-empty soda bottle down on a nearby rock and turned to Tristan, a small smile forming on her lips. "Tristan Edwards, thank you for helping me."

Tristan Edwards looked at her smile and said, "Elinor Fernan, how about I take you to a movie after your finals?"

In the blink of an eye, June arrived, and the annual college entrance exams were upon them.

Sylvia Fernan had no idea that Bridget Foster and Gethin had been caught red-handed by Joshua Scott, nor did she know that Gethin had been dismissed from his position because of it. She was still daydreaming about replacing Elinor Fernan and going to college.

Elinor Fernan had no intention of shattering her dreams at this moment; the more beautiful the dream, the more painful it would be when it shattered.

With Gethin out of the picture and Bridget Foster under Joshua Scott's watchful eye, Elinor felt like the air had become fresher.

The results of the entrance exams came in without any surprises. Elinor Fernan successfully got accepted into college. On the day she received her acceptance letter, she looked at her name on it and nearly burst into tears.

In this life, she had finally avoided the same path she took in her previous life and achieved her dream of going to college.

In stark contrast to her joy, Sylvia Fernan's mood had plummeted to rock bottom. Everything had been going according to plan; she was supposed to replace Elinor Fernan and attend college. But no one had expected Gethin to suddenly lose his job.

Gethin's situation ended with his dismissal, but it didn't cause much of a stir. After all, such a scandal was embarrassing, and the higher-ups kept it under wraps.

Without Gethin's help, Sylvia Fernan had no chance of getting into college and, unsurprisingly, received her rejection letter. Watching Elinor Fernan hold her acceptance letter, jealousy threatened to consume her.

After dreaming for so long, she had even prepared her outfits for college, only to realize at the last moment that it was all just a fantasy.

This blow was undoubtedly devastating.

To make matters worse, Joshua Scott's attitude was harsh. "Since you can't get into college, why not learn a trade and get married early?" he said dismissively.

Sylvia couldn't take it anymore and ended up in a heated argument with Joshua, who slapped her. Covering her face, she ran out in tears.

Elinor Fernan watched coldly, realizing that at last, they could no longer control her life.

The movie she had planned to see with Tristan Edwards never happened. He left suddenly before the college entrance exams, without even a proper goodbye.

Elinor heard about his departure by chance while working at an electronics store during the holiday after the exams. She felt nothing special about it; after all, they had only just met and weren't even close enough to feel the sadness of parting.

Sylvia Fernan occasionally bought a bottle of orange soda when passing by the Red Cloud store, but as summer gradually faded, the taste of that soda also dulled.

After being away for three days, Sylvia returned home with a gloomy expression, heading straight upstairs without saying a word.

Bridget Foster wanted to check on her, but when Joshua Scott shouted for dinner, she flinched and dared not say anything, quickly heading to the kitchen.

Elinor Fernan was too busy to pay them any mind. Taking advantage of the holiday, she set up a small repair stall in the electronics market,specializing in fixing appliances. Thanks to her skills and fair prices, she quickly gained a reputation.

In those days, household appliances weren't as common, and there were very few people who could repair them. Many families had to send their broken items to the city for repairs, which was not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also made them vulnerable to being overcharged.

So, when word spread that a young girl in the electronics market could fix appliances, many people came seeking her out. Elinor spent nearly her entire holiday immersed in the bustling market.

This skill was a result of her previous life when she lost her university spot and had to work to make a living. Back then, she worked in the electronics market, doing all sorts of tasks.

She watched the skilled workers repair appliances the most. Being diligent and charming, she got along well with them, and during their downtime, they would teach her a thing or two. Over time, she learned the trade.

She was a whiz at fixing small appliances.

The entire summer flew by quickly, and by the end of August, only the tail end of the season remained. Elinor Fernan wrapped up her work early and, passing by the Red Haze shop, bought a bottle of orange soda, gulping down a couple of refreshing sips.

As she walked from the electronics market toward the Su family's place, she had to pass by an old, abandoned repair shop. Ever since it had been shut down, it had become a hangout spot for the local troublemakers.

As she passed by, she looked up and spotted a familiar figure.