“Teacher, it’s time to fulfill your promise.” Ethan Scott was thinking longingly about his game.

Ethan Scott immediately turned on the Switch and projected the screen. He handed a controller to Samuel Clark, then picked up the remote and asked, “Teacher, what game do you want to play?”

“Smash Bros.,” Samuel Clark spoke weakly, her mouth dry from teaching, “Can you pour your teacher a glass of water?”

As a little boy, Ethan Scott was extremely considerate and brought in a whole basket of snacks. Samuel Clark picked a bag of milk and a serving of sea salt cheese bread to fill her stomach.

The two of them sat on the soft carpet and began their gaming journey. Just ten minutes into the game, Samuel Clark led him through the maze adventure with ease. Ethan Scott put down a single word: “Impressive.”

In the middle of the game, Samuel Clark held the controller and looked at the screen, asking seemingly casually, “Why haven’t I seen your brother?”

Ethan Scott turned his head warily and asked, “Which brother are you asking about?”

Samuel Clark’s heart skipped a beat. She pretended to be calm and looked straight ahead: “Just asking.”

“Oh, I don’t know about them. My real brother comes back often, but Brother Jason not so much. If he’s dating, he rarely comes home. When he’s single, he comes back more often,” Ethan Scott replied.

Samuel Clark sighed inwardly.

Samuel Clark was really good, leading Ethan Scott to clear the adventure all the way. Ethan Scott loved to team up with strong players in games, and when the victory screen appeared, he excitedly high-fived Samuel Clark.

She was starving and quickly took a bite of bread.

Ethan Scott was about to start the next round with the remote when there was a knock at the door. Without turning his head, he called out, “Come in.”

Nathan Scott pushed the door open and entered, with Jason Harris standing beside him, hands in his pockets.

“Bro!” Ethan Scott threw down the game controller and walked toward the door.

Samuel Clark turned around in shock. At that moment, she was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, a bag of milk in her mouth, bread crumbs all over her lips, completely losing her image.

Nathan Scott opened his arms, but Ethan Scott rushed toward Jason Harris instead. The former sneered, “You should change your last name.”

“Bro, you have no idea how amazing Teacher Xiao Xu is at games—she’s the king of Smash Bros.,” Ethan Scott started sharing their achievements.

Nathan Scott looked surprised: “Sis, I never would’ve guessed. You’re such a good kid, and you play games too?”

Jason Harris glanced over lazily, his tone as casual as ever: “You like playing games?”

From the moment he entered, Samuel Clark had looked a bit flustered. She wiped her mouth messily with the back of her hand. The piece of bread she’d been gnawing on at the table—she couldn’t just throw it away, so she clutched it tightly and hid it behind her back.

“Just when the study pressure gets too much, playing games helps me relax,” Samuel Clark tried her best to appear calm, her eyelashes naturally curling upward, “If you guys want to play, you can ask me.”

As soon as she said it, Samuel Clark regretted it. What was she saying?

“Teacher, you’re playing favorites!” Ethan Scott protested.

Nathan Scott gave Ethan Scott a slap: “What did you expect? In this whole room, you’re the only one with exam pressure.”

Ethan Scott was left speechless. Samuel Clark’s face turned a bit red, feeling she’d lost too much face here, and she hurriedly packed up her things to leave.

Samuel Clark hugged her textbooks and rushed downstairs. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw Aunt Scott and said, “Aunt Scott, class is over. I’ll be leaving now.” Samuel Clark greeted her.

Aunt Scott smiled warmly, “Stay and have dinner here.”

“No, I—” Samuel Clark instinctively refused.

But Aunt Scott, though thin, was surprisingly strong and directly pushed Samuel Clark back into the yard, her enthusiasm leaving Samuel Clark no room to resist.

So Samuel Clark ended up staying for dinner. Mr. Scott was still at the company working overtime and didn’t come home for dinner. At the table, besides Jason Harris, there were the two lively brothers of the 盛 family.

After dinner, it was already past eight. Samuel Clark thanked Aunt Scott again and got ready to leave. Aunt Scott glanced at the pitch-black sky outside and said, “It’s already this late after dinner. I’d worry if you went back alone. Nathan, you take Teacher Xiao Xu back.”

Nathan Scott scratched his head: “But my car is in for repairs.”

Samuel Clark looked uneasy. She was just about to say “No need,” when Jason Harris bent down, picked up the car keys from the table, and glanced up: “Let’s go, I’ll take you.”

“Oh, my memory! I forgot you two and Teacher Xiao Xu go to neighboring schools. From now on, when you come home on weekends, give her a ride too,” Aunt Scott slapped her forehead and reminded them, “You make sure to get her safely to school, got it?”

Jason Harris walked out with his hands in his pockets, not even turning his head, and made an OK gesture with one hand. Who knows which promise he was agreeing to.

Samuel Clark hugged her books and followed closely behind him. She discovered that Jason Harris’s house was right next to Nathan Scott’s—No. 80, Amber Lane.

Compared to the brightly lit 盛 family home, Jason Harris’s grand and spacious villa didn’t have a single light on. It was eerily quiet, exuding a sense of desolation and loneliness.

A black motorcycle was parked at his door. Jason Harris walked over and tossed her a blue helmet. Samuel Clark caught it with both hands, almost getting knocked over.