A few days passed. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The initial awkwardness between Andrew and Scarlett had mostly disappeared. They had grown much more comfortable with each other.

Though their relationship was still kept secret from the college and their families, except for Catherine, who had already figured it out somehow, their private life had become sweet and intimate.

—

One day during class, Andrew was quietly reading his notes when Lucy, one of the popular girls in college (often called the "top beauty" by many students), suddenly approached him.

Lucy had secretly liked Andrew for a while. However, after he politely but clearly declined her greeting on the first day, she had never found the courage to talk to him again.

"Andrew," she said softly.

Andrew looked up, slightly surprised. "Lucy? Do you need something?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment, then asked, "I heard that the Luna app and website... are yours?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes, that’s right."

Lucy’s eyes brightened a little. "Did it earn money for you yet?"

"No, not currently," Andrew replied honestly. "It’s still in the development phase. We’re focusing on growing users first."

Lucy nodded, then gathered her courage and said, "Do you need a sponsor?"

"Sponsor?" Andrew was genuinely shocked. He never expected someone to offer sponsorship so directly.

"Yes, sponsor," Lucy confirmed, nodding earnestly. "My mom has seen your Luna app on my phone. She really liked it. She said the concept is unique and has a lot of potential. She even asked me to tell you that if you ever need funding, resources, or any kind of support, you can come to her."

Andrew blinked, still finding it hard to believe. A rich family offering sponsorship out of nowhere? It sounded too good to be true.

"Your mom... really said that?" he asked, a little skeptical.

Lucy smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes. She’s quite serious about it. She even mentioned that if the app continues to grow like this, it could become something big. She’s involved in tech investments and has helped several startups before."

Andrew fell silent for a moment, processing the information. This could be a huge opportunity for Luna. Even though he was still cautious, he didn’t want to miss such a chance.

After thinking for a few seconds, he looked at Lucy and said, "Thank you for telling me this. Can you... arrange a meeting with your mom? I’d like to discuss this properly."

Lucy’s face lit up with a bright, happy smile. She had been nervous about approaching him, but his response gave her hope.

"Sure!" she replied quickly. "I’ll talk to her tonight and let you know the earliest time she’s free. I’ll message you the details."

Andrew nodded with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Lucy. I really appreciate it."

"No problem," she said softly, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "I’ll message you soon."

She gave him one last shy smile before turning and walking back to her seat, her heart beating faster than usual.

Andrew sat there for a while, staring at his notebook but not really seeing the words. A sponsor... This could change everything for Luna. But at the same time, he couldn’t shake off a strange feeling in his chest.

He had no idea that this meeting would bring new complications, especially with Scarlett.

—

That evening, after returning to the apartment, Andrew found Scarlett grading papers at the dining table. The moment he walked in, he couldn’t hide his excitement.

"Scarlett!" he called out, quickly taking off his shoes. "You won’t believe what happened today."

Scarlett looked up from her papers, her sharp eyes softening the moment they landed on him. "What is it?"

Andrew sat down across from her, leaning forward eagerly.

"Lucy from my class came to talk to me today. She said her mom saw the Luna app on her phone and really liked it. She wants to offer sponsorship, actual investment support. Lucy said her mother is involved in tech investments and is serious about it. I asked Lucy to arrange a meeting with her mom."

He spoke quickly, his eyes shining with hope.

Scarlett’s pen stopped moving. For a few seconds, she simply stared at him, her expression calm on the surface. But Andrew had lived with her long enough now to notice the subtle shift, the slight narrowing of her eyes and the way her fingers tightened around the pen.

"Lucy..." she repeated the name slowly, as if tasting it. "The girl who always tries to sit near you in the cafeteria?"

Andrew nodded, not catching the dangerous undertone in her voice. "Yeah, that Lucy. She said her mom became interested after trying the app. This could be really big for Luna. If I get proper funding, I can develop it much faster."

Scarlett leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms under her chest. Her lips curved into a small, seemingly gentle smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"So... a rich mother wants to sponsor my boyfriend’s project," she said softly. "How generous of her."

Andrew finally sensed something was off. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It’s just business... I think. I haven’t met her yet. Lucy said she’ll message me with the meeting details."

Scarlett stood up slowly and walked around the table until she was standing right beside him. She placed one hand on his shoulder, her fingers gently but possessively gripping him.

"Andrew," she said in a sweet, dangerously calm voice, "you will be careful, won’t you? Some people offer help with... hidden intentions."

Her other hand came up to gently stroke his hair, but her grip on his shoulder remained firm.

"Especially when that help comes through a girl who clearly likes you."

Andrew swallowed. He could feel the yandere energy radiating off her.

"I’ll be careful," he said quickly. "I promise."

Scarlett leaned down and kissed the top of his head, lingering there for a moment.

"Good boy," she whispered. "Be careful, don’t sign anything, don’t agree to any terms, and don’t make any promises until I’ve seen the documents and met the person myself. Understood?"

Andrew nodded quickly. "Yes, I understand."

Scarlett’s gaze softened a little. She reached out and gently stroked his hair.

"But... I also believe in you," she added quietly. "You’re intelligent. You managed to fool both Mark and Catherine so easily. I know you won’t let yourself be taken advantage of."

Andrew felt a warmth in his chest at her words. Even though she was being possessive and cautious, her trust in his abilities made him happy.

"Thank you," he said with a small smile.

Scarlett stood up, walked around the table, and pulled him into a gentle hug, resting his head against her chest.

"Just remember, you’re not alone in this anymore," she whispered, stroking his hair. "Whatever decision you make, we’ll discuss it together first. Okay?"

"Okay," Andrew replied, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Scarlett kissed the top of his head, then added in a slightly lower, more possessive tone:

"And if that Lucy or her mother has any other intentions besides business... they’ll have to go through me first."

Andrew didn’t dare reply. He simply nodded against her chest, feeling both safe and slightly intimidated by her protectiveness.