Love's Cunning Ruse novel Chapter 321

If Kieran were to start singing here right now, it was mind-boggling for Julie to even think about the level of excitement this place would soon be immersed in. She had offhandedly mentioned it, never expecting him to take it seriously. As she saw him gearing up to belt out the tune, Julie quickly tiptoed and clamped her hand over his mouth, "That was a different time. These days, it's going to take more than a song to win me over."

Back in their college days, they were quite the campus celebrities. Now, Julie's gesture of silencing Kieran was drawing eyes. Somewhere in the crowd, a young girl whispered, "Is he from our school?"

"I don't know, but I've never seen anyone that handsome around here!"

"A transfer student, maybe? Do we actually have such hotshots in our law department?" she murmured, sneakily taking out her phone for a quick snap.

Another chimed in, "All the good-looking ones are taken, but that girl with him seems so... average."

The girls swayed and gossiped, "Yeah, she's even shorter than you! Can't see her face, but she seems to have a decent vibe…"

"Cute height difference though!"

"Is he really one of our law school studs? How come I've never seen him on the forums?"

"He can't be from around here. Look at that watch he's wearing – dude's loaded!"

"And that outfit? Costs more than four grand easily! Rich and handsome... did that girl save the planet in her past life or what?"

Julie was speechless. She wanted to tell them, these gossiping girls, that she wasn't deaf and could hear every word!

Just as Julie was about to turn around, Kieran peeled her hand from his mouth and headed straight for the group of chattering girls. The one who had just boasted of her superior aura straightened her back, batting her eyelashes, sure that Kieran was coming her way.

Kieran, holding Julie's hand, stopped in front of the self-proclaimed 'aura' girl and said, "My wife didn't save the planet in her past life; she saved the universe."

It took a moment for Julie to register his words. Was Kieran praising himself? There he went, shamelessly inflating his own stock. Typical Kieran...

With a smile, Julie earnestly told the girls, "Yes, I saved the universe in my past life. Frankly, I regret making such a foolish decision to marry him."

After her declaration, she led Kieran away as if walking a dog.

The previously smug girl inhaled deeply, finally squeezing out, "Actually, that woman does have a certain presence."

"She seems so cool!"

"Definitely not from our school!"

"..."

Reaching a large oak tree, Julie tiptoed to adjust Kieran's baseball cap, then seriously pointed at his chest, "Keep your cap on. Don't draw attention. We're here to relive our youth, not to become an exhibit."

He smiled, touching his cap, "No one's here to see me. I'm a bit long in the tooth for the girls here."

Julie clicked her tongue, "You'd be surprised. Lots of girls go for the older guys these days, didn't you know?"

After a moment's thought, Kieran seemed to concede her point. He adjusted her cap in return, remarking, "Then you should wear yours too. These days, young guys have their sights set on the older ladies."

He cradled her face, caps touching, and looked down at her with adoration, making her feel cherished like a delicate porcelain doll.

A voice nearby complained, "Kids these days, I tell ya, making such a mess. Look at all this litter!"

Following the sound, they saw a scattering of colorful cards on the ground.

Looking up, they realized they were standing under the largest oak on campus, a symbol of resilience with its expansive branches. The tree was festooned with multicolored cards, resembling a wish tree. Upon closer inspection, the cards bore heartfelt messages.

But her man snagged her arm, whipped out his phone, switched it to camera mode, and handed it to the lady with a charming smile. "Would you mind taking a picture of me and my wife? This spot seems like it's got some sentimental value."

"Sentimental value my foot, let's go…" Julie tried to drag Kieran away.

But the neighbor happily took the phone and snapped a photo. In that instant, Kieran leaned over and kissed Julie's cheek, hidden under her beanie, right on her rosy lips.

The scene was frozen in time: the exquisite framing, the whimsical lighting, the grand silhouette of the oak tree, and the couple, so in love that even their profiles were brimming with affection.

Kieran had barely reclaimed his phone when Mrs. Hernandez, tiptoeing with excitement, tried to snatch it away to see if the picture turned out well. But he playfully dodged and took off with the phone in hand.

Wearing a white parka, Julie chased after him, "Hey, don't run! Let me see it! I promise I won't delete it!"

"Yeah, catch me, and I'll show you." Kieran, long-limbed and quick, easily outpaced Julie's smaller frame.

She shouted after his retreating back, "Come on, fight fair!"

Both in matching white parkas, they were a beautiful sight as they chased each other across the campus.

Knowing that Julie wasn't the athletic type, Mr. Hernandez stopped at the main entrance of the academic building, teasingly waving the phone at her.

Julie, however, didn't notice the freshmen inside the building studying late. She blurted out, "That's no way to treat your wife!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but in the silence of the classroom, it was like a bomb going off.

She had just reached Kieran, about to snatch the phone, when suddenly the door behind him swung open from the inside...