Chapter 15

The library fell into a brief silence. As a student of the new era, Iris despised the outdated notion of arranged marriages, especially after the pain Keith had caused her. Her romantic ideals had long given way to rationality, and she wanted nothing to do with love, which, in her world, was nothing more than a question of discipline. She felt that Justin was too bold. A statement like that would have landed him in serious trouble a few years ago. In the eyes of many, he was no different from a delinquent, someone who should be sent to a reformation class for correction. Iris took a deep breath to steady herself before shaking her head and replying solemnly, "Justin, I hope you'll be mindful of the impression you're making. "We came here to study and to serve our country and its people. We're not here to date. We didn't know each other before this, so I doubt that we're engaged." Her meaning was clear. Justin had to drop the subject unless he wanted a serious talk with their inst