The Chicago Langham Hotel occupied the famous Mies van der Rohe Building beside Michigan Avenue, overlooking the Chicago River from high above. It was renowned for its understated luxury and intensely artistic atmosphere.
Notably, it was not far from Chicago's Peninsula Hotel. Isabella had originally wanted to book a suite at the Peninsula, but customer service had regretfully informed her that all the upper-floor suites had been booked a week earlier.
Only then had Isabella settled for her second choice, booking the Langham.
"I've sent the itinerary to the group chat!" Isabella stood in the middle of the lobby and raised her phone.
Xia Mi lowered her head and took a look.
At nine the morning after tomorrow, they would board the CC1000 at Chicago Union Station and travel to Cassell College for a campus visit. They would have free time during the day and attend the final ball of the semester that evening.
A ball invitation was attached beneath the email.
At the center of the invitation was a petite girl with long platinum-blond hair, wearing an exquisite formal dress. Her ice-blue eyes gazed calmly at the camera.
This year's Academy Star: Zero Romanova.
Everyone headed toward their respective rooms while reading the itinerary, and people kept striking up conversations with Xia Mi along the way.
"Xia Mi, what do you think of Zero?" someone asked.
"She's pretty," Xia Mi said offhandedly.
Everyone waited a moment.
"That's it?"
"What else?" Xia Mi was baffled.
"Aren't you nervous?" another girl could not help asking.
"Why would I be nervous?"
Everyone exchanged glances.
Such composure was terrifying! Faced with Lu Mingfei's current girlfriend, Xia Mi had merely commented, "She's pretty," as though that photograph of the Academy Star did not merit another glance.
She must have learned all about Zero from