Grace looked at Eric with a faint, ambiguous smile, seemingly enjoying the spectacular array of expressions currently playing across his face.

  After all, someone like him rarely showed such a "provincial" look.

  Not long after, the Department Head hurried over, accompanied by Ethan.

  When the Department Head first got the news, he thought it was a student prank. It wasn't until he saw the large crowd of students gathered at the cafeteria entrance that he was jolted into shock.

  Seeing the teacher arrive, everyone instinctively made way.

  The Department Head's half-bald head gleamed under the lights. He circled the four crates several times before looking up wide-eyed at Ethan and asking, "You said who donated these?"

  Advisor Lee was also a bit dazed. If Grace hadn't sent him the message himself, he wouldn't have believed it either. But the evidence was right before his eyes; this was the reality.

  He quickly pulled Grace to his side. "Head, it was student Grace who donated them."

  The Department Head turned to Grace. The muscles in his cheeks twitched uncontrollably, unclear whether he was about to laugh or cry, but the excitement in his eyes was unmistakable.

  He grasped Grace's hand firmly, his voice trembling with emotion. "Student Grace, you've truly done a great deed for our department!"

  Every department at UST had a Department Head. While they appeared to be of equal rank, in reality, they were not.

  Heads of the university's stronger departments naturally held more sway, speaking with greater authority before the school leadership.

  For a department like UST's Astronomy Department, which required large investments but yielded relatively small returns, the Department Head usually operated very low-key, even feeling somewhat embarrassed when applying to the school for equipment approvals.

  But now, things were different. With these four top-tier Harper astronomical telescopes, UST's Astronomy Department had achieved a qualitative leap in equipment. Not to say they had completely surpassed other universities' astronomy departments, but they were at least ninety percent of the way there.

  Even the most prestigious Astronomy Department in the country, at the Aerospace University, might not possess four such pieces of equipment.

  Both excited and moved, the Department Head held Grace's hand, speaking earnestly, "On behalf of all the teachers and students of UST's Astronomy Department, I thank you!"

  A faint smile lingered at the corner of Grace's lips. "As a student of UST's Astronomy Department, I'm honored to be able to contribute to the department's education within my capabilities."

  "Good! Good child!" The Department Head nodded vigorously with appreciation, then turned to Ethan. "Ethan, quickly have some students move this equipment to the department. I need to report this to the President."

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  "Student Grace, you come with me too."

  Such a significant matter had to be reported to the President immediately. He had been feeling down lately because of the Dylan Investment Group's cancelled donation. Now, the problem was solved.

  Ethan immediately picked out a few familiar male students from the crowd. "Handle everything gently. Be careful not to bump or damage anything."

  After greeting Scarlett, Grace followed the Department Head to the President's office. Before leaving, she didn't forget to go up to Clara and remind her, "This evening, as agreed. I hope you honor the bet."

  Clara flushed crimson, seething with anger, her eyes glaring at Grace's face as if she wished she could tear it to pieces on the spot.

  Once Grace left, Clara immediately switched to a pitiful expression, clinging to Eric and whining, "Eric, why didn't you say anything to help me? How could you let Grace bully me like this?"

  Eric was staring blankly at Grace's retreating figure, slow to regain his focus, completely tuning out Clara's words.

  Seeing this, Clara stamped her foot in anger. "Eric! I'm talking to you!"

  "Don't bother me!" Eric pushed her away with a wave of his hand, causing Clara to stagger back several steps, almost losing her balance.

  His mind was in complete chaos. Grace's donation of over a thousand dollars far exceeded his understanding and knowledge of her.

  Even he couldn't get that much money from his parents in one go.

  So how did Grace have it? And why did she donate it?

  "Donations" were typically the pastime of the wealthy. Given Grace's family background, she shouldn't even qualify to participate.

  Eric felt his head was about to explode. Many bizarre, illogical things kept surfacing in his mind, all related to the recent Grace.

  But he couldn't sort them out. Those strange thoughts piled up chaotically in his head, driving him to the brink of collapse.

  At this moment, he suddenly realized he seemed to not understand Grace at all.

  Because the current Grace made him feel so unfamiliar!

  Clara's crying and shouting gave him a headache. Distraught, he pushed his way out of the crowd and fled hastily under everyone's astonished gaze.

  Principal's Office

  After hearing the Department Head's account, the Principal didn't share his initial excitement. Instead, his eyebrows knitted tightly together.

  He looked at Grace hesitantly, probing, "Student Grace, are you truly donating these astronomical telescopes to the school?"

  Grace smiled at this. "How could it be false? Principal, the items are already at the school. I'm willing to cooperate with any paperwork you need completed."

  She knew that formal, non-reimbursable donations usually required signed documents.

  But the principal still had doubts. After all, it was equipment worth over a thousand dollars. For Grace to donate it to the school in her personal name was highly unusual.

  While it was undoubtedly good for the school, the principal was concerned about Grace.

  "Student Grace, I am aware of your family situation. You shouldn't have the means to do this," the principal stated his concerns calmly. "If donating equipment to the school would subject you to any... unfavorable circumstances, then the school cannot accept this donation."

  Though not explicitly stated, the implication was clear. The principal was worried her money came from dubious, possibly illegal, or unsavory sources.

  Grace understood this, but she was prepared.

  She unlocked her phone, opened her stock trading app, and showed her portfolio page to Principal. "Principal, I earned the money through stock trading."

  The total value of the stocks held in her app exceeded two thousand dollars—real, tangible funds.

  In fact, on the very first day she returned to being twenty, Grace had invested money in the stock market and bought some promising funds. Profit or loss was irrelevant to her; her sole purpose was to establish a legitimate source for the money she spent in the eyes of others.

  And now, it came in handy.

  Grace remained composed and self-assured. "I started dabbling in some investments after the college entrance exams. Stocks and funds are just part of it. Over the past year or so, I've indeed earned a fair amount, but I didn't want to draw too much attention, so not many people know."

  "Donating telescopes to the department is a proper cause. Moreover, I am aware that the school lost the Dylan Investment Group's donation because of me. So, I felt I should step up and use my own money to do something for the school."