Laura Bennett: "......"

Laura Bennett never expected that today's ordeal was still not over.

After a day of emotional ups and downs, things finally reached a climax as Helen Carter lifted the lid.

On the pink, creamy cake, written in dreamy Tiffany blue, it said—

Laura Bennett:

Happy birthday, youthful and beautiful, absolutely adorable!

At one corner of the cake, the base of a plastic crown was engraved with a cursive English word: Princess

"Cake shop template," Brian Clark said immediately. "I could never come up with something so tacky."

Laura Bennett sat there in a daze, feeling his soul die a little more inside.

Chapter 3: Placement Exam

Laura Bennett's bedroom was on the south side of the second floor, a suite with a private bathroom.

Helen Carter pointed to the room next door, "You're right next to Douzi. If there's anything you don't feel comfortable telling Auntie, just knock on his door directly."

Brian Clark slung his backpack over one shoulder and went straight into the next room, bending his leg to kick the door shut behind him.

"Troublemaker," Helen Carter stopped the door. "I'm talking to both of you, did you hear me?"

Only then did Brian Clark lift his eyelids, "Didn't realize you were talking to both of us."

"Don't give me that," Helen Carter raised her hand and gave his arm a slap. "If you dare cause any trouble, just watch how I deal with you."

At that, Brian Clark glanced at Laura Bennett, and very perfunctorily reminded, "Exam tomorrow, sleep early, good night mmmmmm."

"There's an exam tomorrow?" Laura Bennett turned his head abruptly.

"Yeah." Brian Clark suddenly grinned, that bright, infuriating smile that made you want to smack him.

He waved his good-looking hand, first making a six, then a one, "Six main subjects, all done in one day."

Helen Carter smacked his hand down with a "pia" sound, "Are you kidding me, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"I said there was an exam," Brian Clark looked completely innocent.

"Did you say it was tomorrow?!"

Brian Clark snorted and looked at Laura Bennett, "Chinese and math back-to-back in the morning, ten-minute bathroom break in between. Science comprehensive in the afternoon, English during evening self-study."

Laura Bennett felt suffocated.

Helen Carter gritted her teeth, "Be a decent person, will you? And someone like you actually has fans."

Laura Bennett was stunned, "What fans?"

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Brian Clark's face stiffened for a split second.

"No. I'm tired." He quickly slipped into his room and slammed the door shut from inside.

The door shook, and a hanging sign fell off, reading "Closed for business today."

Laura Bennett: "......"

Helen Carter rolled her eyes and flipped the sign over, "Ignore him. If you need anything, just knock."

On the other side, it read: "Open for business: Insert coin before knocking."

Completely baffled.

Helen Carter didn't linger, told Laura Bennett where to find clean clothes, left a domestic SIM card and a bottle of "melatonin," then left.

Laura Bennett studied the bottle for a while before realizing "melatonin" was just melatonin, to help with jet lag. But he didn't plan to take it. Rather than forcing himself to sleep, he might as well cram a bit, focusing on the Chinese terms for math and physics, so he could match them up with the knowledge in his head. Otherwise, tomorrow would really be a disaster.

But the problem was, he had no materials to study.

After the blow-up with James Bennett, he returned to China two months earlier than planned, bringing very little. The violin and camera were must-haves; besides that, just his phone, cardholder, and a few of his mom's planners.

Now his phone was a brick, and he couldn't do anything.

Just as he was sulking, someone cleared their throat outside the door.

Brian Clark's low voice came through the door, "Are you asleep?"

"No."

Laura Bennett got up and opened the door.

Brian Clark had changed into pajamas. In just a few minutes, he'd already showered, his hair still damp.

He was already very fair-skinned, and after a shower he seemed to glow. In his left hand he held a clear plastic box with two dark, crusty buns inside, and in his right, an iPhone.

He spoke lazily, "This is my old phone. I've wiped the data, you can borrow it for now. Wifi's already connected."

Just when he was worrying about a phone, one appeared.

Laura Bennett felt a bit conflicted. Accepting the phone meant owing someone a favor—and it was from the person who'd just wished him "youthful, beautiful, and absolutely adorable."

But without a phone, tomorrow's exam would be a total disaster.

"Do you want it or not?" Brian Clark drawled, "I'm speaking slow enough, is your brain having connection issues?"

Laura Bennett took the phone and said coolly, "Thanks. I'll transfer you the money for the camera."

"Mm."

The conversation should have ended there, but Brian Clark didn't leave. He still leaned against the doorframe, "Jet lag? There are textbooks in the drawer. If you're not sleeping, you can try to cram a bit."

Laura Bennett replied instinctively, "It's fine."

Brian Clark snorted, "Whatever, up to you. Just a friendly reminder, since you seem to care a lot about the exam."

He finished and turned to go, but then looked back, "The lo mein was terrible, right? Only Helen Carter likes that stuff."

Laura Bennett: "?"

He really couldn't get used to it, but if he remembered right, this guy ate three bowls.

The guy, full of nonsense, didn't even blink as he opened the plastic box.

"Dirty buns, want one?"

Laura Bennett was taken aback, "What buns?"