Falling for the Goddess

Sara, Come Over!

The university anniversary celebration arrived quickly.

The front entrance of North Capital University was decorated with banners early in the morning. The campus museum had been freshly reorganized, and each department had prepared displays showcasing their history, which stood neatly along the sidewalks for visitors to see. The grand auditorium was hosting various events, inviting many outstanding alumni and important figures from North Capital. Student clubs and entrepreneurship centers had also thoughtfully designed souvenirs and keepsakes, with activities happening on the large grassy lawns.

The whole campus buzzed with an atmosphere of joy and festivity.

In the chemical engineering lab, the door creaked open as Ella Duvall poked her head in and called quietly, "Sara..."

Sara Hart turned around, surprised. "Ella, you're here so early?"

She walked over to the door, where Ella stood just outside.

"Are you sure you don’t want to take a break and check out what's happening outside? It's lively out there," Ella said, handing her a cup of coffee. "I bought this on campus. Apparently, every cup of coffee gets you a badge, which is a pretty smart idea for this event."

Sara, her hands still gloved for the experiment, didn’t take the cup. Instead, she smiled and said, "I’ll be done in about an hour. Why don’t you go check out the performances first? I’ll come find you after."

Ella nodded. "Alright, I’ll leave the coffee on your desk. Text me when you're done."

"Sure."

Once Ella left, Sara turned back to her equipment, focusing once more on her experiment. After the recent incident at the Haikun lab, the university had become much more vigilant about lab safety. There had been multiple rounds of inspections, and many of their machines had undergone adjustments. The progress of her research had already been delayed by several days.

"Good thing you're still around, Junior. If it were just me, I'd be the only one left here," Liu Xuan, one of the senior students, said while monitoring a chemical reaction in his test tube.

Everyone else had gone to enjoy the festivities, except Sara, who stayed behind, quietly dedicating herself to her experiment.

"These university celebrations are the same every year," Sara said lightly. "It’s just that this one is bigger than usual. Nothing too exciting."

"True, true. I should get back to my experiment as well. I still want to graduate on time!" Liu Xuan sighed.

Sara glanced back at him with a smile. "You’ll be fine, Senior Brother."

"Let’s hope your good wishes come true!"

—

Over at the grand auditorium, the speeches by school officials and distinguished alumni had wrapped up, and the student performances had begun. Each department had carefully prepared a range of acts, from choirs and plays to dances, showcasing their talents on stage.

Ella sat near the middle of the audience, having secured two tickets in advance. Since Sara was busy with her experiment, she had come alone. Watching the young, energetic faces on stage, Ella marveled at how much things had changed since she graduated two years ago. The atmosphere of campus life felt different now.

Most of the school officials had already left, and the atmosphere in the auditorium was getting livelier.

"Next up, please enjoy the classical dance, *Dream of the Rainbow Garment*, performed by Rachael Hall."

As soon as the host finished the announcement, the auditorium erupted in applause, cheers, and even fan chants.

Ella, confused by the intense reaction, leaned over and tapped the shoulder of a male student sitting next to her. "Who is she? Why’s everyone so excited?"

The boy turned around and, upon seeing Ella, blushed immediately. Stammering, he said, "T-That’s the daughter of Professor Hall. She’s a famous dancer, just returned from abroad. It’s her first public performance since coming back."

He pointed to the front row. "Look, there are reporters filming her too!"

Stretching her neck, Ella peered toward the front and, sure enough, spotted several cameras aimed at the stage. Taking a sip of her coffee, she watched as Rachael Hall performed. Her graceful movements, the fluid sweep of her long sleeves, and the way she embodied the music mesmerized even Ella, making her admire Rachael Hall's talent and poise.

By the time the dance ended, Ella found herself clapping along with everyone else, impressed despite herself.

—

Nearby, a group of university professors gathered and chatted among themselves.

"Hall, you must be feeling pretty proud today, huh? All the spotlight’s on you!" one professor teased.

"What are you talking about?" Michael Hall, the professor in question, waved his hand dismissively.

"Come on, your star student is back to visit, your daughter just returned from abroad, and she’s performing too! You’re basically living the dream!"

"Please, don’t say that…" Michael Hall responded, though he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips.

As the professors exchanged lighthearted banter, Adrian Blake stood nearby, his tall frame and poised demeanor making him stand out. His hands hung loosely by his sides, his expression calm. Though he appeared to be listening to the conversation, his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. Yet, when addressed, he could still respond seamlessly, keeping up with the flow of the discussion.

Beside him, Lucas Graves nudged Adrian Blake with his elbow, whispering, "Didn’t you say you weren’t going to come?"

Adrian Blake had indeed not planned to attend. However, Michael Hall, who had been his mentor, had personally called to invite him. Out of respect for his former professor, Adrian Blake had come after finishing a meeting.

"And you? Why’d you come?" Adrian Blake asked quietly.

"I’m just here to look around," Lucas Graves mumbled vaguely.

Lucas Graves had heard that there would be many beautiful women at the event, and he thought he might as well take the opportunity to enjoy the sights while taking a break.

Adrian Blake glanced at him knowingly and didn’t pursue the conversation further. His eyes drifted downward, and he stared at the ground, his mind wandering.

It was all a bit dull.

The group stood not far from the auditorium, and faint echoes of the performances inside could be heard.

"Hey, Baker, why have you been so quiet today?" someone in the group asked Professor Baker, breaking the light atmosphere.

David Baker, another professor, glanced up and forced a smile. "Oh, I’m listening."

In truth, he wasn’t one for small talk, especially when it came to flattery. He used to be more idealistic and prideful in his youth, but years of setbacks had smoothed his rough edges, leaving him with a more practical approach to life.

Adrian Blake was undoubtedly someone worth bragging about. Young, accomplished, and heir to one of the top families in North Capital, anyone connected to him had stories to tell for years. That kind of recognition didn’t come easily. However, David Baker couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness as he thought about how often he had been compared to Michael Hall over the years.

"By the way, Professor Baker, where’s that prized student of yours? I don’t see her around," someone teased.

David Baker shot the man a glare. "She’s probably holed up in the lab. That girl isn’t one for these kinds of events."

"Speaking of that," another professor from the biology department chimed in, "When are we going to have a mixer? My lab’s students are looking forward to it."

David Baker’s mustache bristled as he huffed. "There’s only one precious student in my lab, and your boys better not get any ideas. No chance!"

The group burst into laughter, teasing him good-naturedly.

Just then, David Baker’s gaze caught sight of a familiar figure walking across the garden. His eyes lit up as he raised his voice, calling out, "Sara, come over here!"