Chapter 165
Did this kid escape from a mental hospital? Penelope wondered.
He was undeniably handsome, with flawless skin and a sweet, infectious smile. Dressed head-to-toe in pink, he looked like he’d stepped right out of a boy band. His voice was soft and melodic, but p>
“Hey, kid. Come here, I have a gift for you p>
The boy blinked, his expression pure innocence. “A gift? But we’ve only just met p>
“What can I say? You’re just that charming,” Penelope said with a grin.
Apparently not the sharpest tool in the shed, he skateboarded closer.
The next second, a pained yelp filled the air.
“Ow! That hurts p>
Penelope had his ear in a firm grip. “It’s incredibly rude to walk up to a stranger, especially an elder, and tell them they’re doomed!” she said through gritted teeth.
“You’re a monster! Let me go! Seriously, that really hurts p>
“Apologize p>
“Now p>
“I’m sorry he whimpered, his voice laced with misery.
She snorted and finally released him, but not before giving his cheek a light pinch.
It was as smooth as a baby’s skin.
“Kid, what’s your skincare routine p>
He rubbed his sore ear, looking both angry and hurt. “I was born this way. You’ll never achieve this level of perfection p>
“Looking for another lesson, are we p>
He quickly backed away. “Hmph! And here I was feeling sorry for you. Turns out you’re just as wicked as he is. You two are a perfect match p>
Penelope was completely lost. “What are you talking about p>
The boy glared at her, then his eyes widened in realization as he slapped his forehead.
“Oh, right! I came to find you for a reason p>
Five minutes later, he led her to a small second-hand electronics shop near the campus.
“Colin’s laptop is in there,” he announced.
“Here p>
Had someone stolen Colin’s laptop and sold it? No, what thief would be dumb enough to fence stolen goods right next to the scene of the crime? It would be too easy to trage.
Which meant p>
The truth dawned on Penelope.
“So, his laptop was never stolen. He sold it himself, then saw Timothy had an
identical one and tried to frame him to get it for free p>
If that was the case, this was no longer a misunderstanding or simple slander. It was attempted robbery. A criminal offense.
Penelope wasn’t about to let this slide. She immediately called the university administrators. By not calling the police, she was giving them@chance to handle it internally, but she made it clear she expected a just resolution.
After the call, she turned and grabbed the boy’s hand.
“Kid, you were a huge help. Let me buy you dinner p>
Without waiting for an answer, she dragged him to the restaurant where Timothy worked.
As they entered, a trashcan-shaped robot rolled up to them. “Dear guests, welcome to our establishment. YoYo will be at your service… bzzt bzzt p>
Penelope was marveling at the sophisticated design when the robot seemed to short-circuit, letting out a few static hisses. It recovered quickly, however, and led them to a table.
She spotted Timothy immediately, busy serving tables. He saw her too, and his brow furrowed. When his gaze fell on the boy sitting across from her, his frown deepened.
“A couple of days ago, some thugs from off-campus were giving me trouble. He stepped in and saved me,” the boy explained.
Penelope nodded. That explained why he’d gone full detective mode to clear Timothy’s name.
“But… he looks like he really, really doesn’t like you,” she observed.
The boy gave a sheepish grin. “He thought I was a girl at first p>
Penelope could see why. With his delicate features and penchant for pink and red clothing, it was an easy mistake to make.
“So I teased him a bit. I said, ‘Since you saved my life, I have no way to repay you but to offer myself in marriage p>