Chapter 42: An Unusual Charm

The man's brow furrowed slightly as he sensed Anran's resistance. He was puzzled because he could tell her words weren't a polite brush-off. Wasn't this their first meeting?

Anran quickly stood up, wincing slightly as she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. It seemed she had sprained a ligament. What bad luck! Anran thought. Was there some kind of curse between her and Rosewood Town? How had she managed to run into so much trouble in just a few days?

"Are you sure you're alright?" the man asked again. Though the girl had stood up on her own, he hadn't missed the flicker of pain that crossed her face.

"I'm fine, just twisted my ankle a little," Anran replied hurriedly. "Zhang Ning, are you okay?"

Zhang Ning had been stunned ever since she recognized the newcomer. At Anran's words, she quickly stood up and said, "I… I'm fine, thanks to you pushing me out of the way in time."

Noticing Anran's awkward gait, Zhang Ning asked nervously, "Anran, what's wrong with your foot?"

"It's nothing, just a little sprain," Anran replied, forcing a smile despite the pain.

Then, she asked with a puzzled look, "By the way, Zhang Ning, what happened back there? That bike was heading straight for me…"

She distinctly remembered the motorcycle bearing down on her, seemingly unavoidable. She had instinctively shielded her head, so she had no idea how the bike had ended up crashing to the side.

Zhang Ning shook her head. Her attention had been entirely on Anran, and it wasn't until the bike collided with the curb, sending up a loud crash, that she snapped out of the shock. Then, she saw the Student Council President appear in her line of sight, leaving her completely speechless.

Oh right, the Student Council President was still here!

Zhang Ning quickly greeted him, "Mr… Mr. President."

To be honest, she was still a bit dazed. Encountering members of the Maurice family twice in one day was overwhelming.

The man smiled like a gentle breeze or warm sunlight, nodding slightly. "I'm not sure what happened either. Perhaps the tires slipped. I'm just glad you're both okay. Are you students at Saint Mary Academy?"

His voice was melodious and soft, soothing the nerves and calming the tension.

Zhang Ning let out a quiet breath and replied, "Yes, Mr. President. We're both sophomores at Saint Mary Academy. I'm Zhang Ning, and this is my classmate, Anran. She just transferred here a few days ago."

A transfer student? No wonder she wasn't in uniform. The man's gaze shifted to Anran's face.

The girl before him was captivating. While not classically beautiful, she had an undeniable charm. Her eyes sparkled, and her teeth gleamed against her healthy ivory skin. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she had a pair of sweet dimples. She radiated vitality.

At that moment, the girl was still catching her breath, as if trying to calm her nerves. There was something undeniably special about her presence.

When the motorcyclist had shouted, the man had been nearby, standing in the shade of a tree by the roadside. He hadn't planned to intervene, assuming the girl would manage to dodge the bike. She had indeed avoided the first impact, but he hadn't expected her to risk herself again to save her friend…

So, when the girl was left with no choice but to raise her arms and brace for the impact, he couldn't hold back any longer…