Rewrite Her Thrilling Life (Lillian and Sebastian) novel Chapter 71

Carson

Solara

The final exams had just wrapped up, and Lilian and Natalie strolled leisurely across the campus grounds. The afternoon air was crisp, carrying the faint buzz of students finally free from their academic burdens.

Bubbling with excitement, Natalie bounced alongside Lilian and chirped, “We’re finally done! Let’s call Jill and head out—this calls for a celebration.”

Lilian paused thoughtfully for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Yeah, that sounds perfect.” With no plans for the evening, a night out after the stress of exams seemed like exactly what they needed.

After a quick round of calls, Natalie gathered a few friends, and they all agreed to meet at the Emperor Lounge, a popular spot known for its sleek décor and lively atmosphere.

As they stepped into the grand, marble-floored lobby, their eyes immediately found Jill and a small group already waiting. Yet, despite the usual buzz of anticipation, something about the mood felt strangely off—an undercurrent of tension that Lilian couldn’t quite place.

Jill hurried over with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Lilian! You made it. Let’s go; everyone’s been waiting for a while.”

Natalie caught the odd look on Jill’s face and was about to ask what was wrong when her attention was drawn elsewhere. “Wait, who’s that?” she asked, nodding toward a man standing a short distance away.

Lilian followed her gaze and spotted him—a striking figure, impeccably dressed in a tailored Armani suit that accentuated his sharp features and confident stance.

Carson caught their eyes and smiled warmly. “I brought Xiaoxiao out for dinner. We ran into Jill and the others by chance, and since I heard you were coming too, I thought it’d be more fun if we all ate together.”

Only then did Natalie notice the woman standing beside Carson—a tall, statuesque figure with elegant features, wearing a skirt that ended just above the knee, highlighting her graceful curves.

Her voice turned icy. “Who is she?”

Carson’s expression darkened unexpectedly at the tone in his sister’s voice. “Natalie, what’s gotten into you? Show some respect. This is Xiaoxiao—my girlfriend. You can call her ‘sister’.”

Natalie was about to retort sharply, but Lilian quickly grabbed her arm, cutting her off. “Don’t start a scene. Let’s just eat.” She turned to Carson and added quietly, “Natalie didn’t do well on her exam today, so she’s a bit out of sorts. We’ll sit separately, just to keep things simple.” With that, she gently pulled Natalie and Jill toward the restaurant entrance.

The dinner that followed was thick with awkward silence and unspoken tension.

Kelvin and the others chimed in with enthusiasm. “Exactly. We have to work on becoming stronger. Life is just beginning. One day, you’ll meet someone who truly loves you.”

One by one, they voiced their encouragement, filling the room with a hopeful energy.

Jill took a deep breath, swallowing the last of her tears. “Thank you, everyone. I’m going to try my best to improve.”

Then, lifting her glass high, she declared, “Tonight, we don’t stop until we’re drunk. To a brighter future—cheers!”

Natalie sprang up, raising her glass with newfound spirit. “To our future!”

Kelvin, Frederick, and the rest eagerly joined in, the clinking of glasses ringing out as they drank with heartfelt enthusiasm, each releasing their emotions in the warmth of the moment.

Watching her friends, Lilian felt a quiet sense of peace settle over her.

To have friends like these—standing by Jill’s side when she was at her lowest—was truly one of life’s rarest blessings.