Ryan Bennett didn’t squeeze in with them, instead curling up alone on the huge bean bag at the side, homework spread across her lap. She lifted her eyelids and said, “So much talking—are you trying to help me with my imperial burdens?”

With just that one sentence, everyone instantly fell silent, not daring to tease her about her homework anymore.

A few people gathered together to pick a movie.

After much deliberation, they finally settled on a gunfight film. “This one’s good, full of passion. Let’s go with this. I don’t think Mr. Summer will mind—she must be a passionate person too.”

With that, someone got up and turned off the lights.

The movie’s opening music began to play.

Ryan Bennett hurriedly finished the problem at hand, and when she looked up, she saw Brian Carter walking over with a few cans of chilled soda.

As he walked into the living room, the blue glow from the projector happened to fall across him.

His features were already strikingly sharp and aggressive, and now, with the cool-toned light washing over him, he looked even more arrogantly untouchable.

After tossing the sodas to the others, Brian Carter walked over to Ryan Bennett.

The sofa beside her sank down.

Ryan Bennett didn’t want to squeeze in with him, even though there was actually plenty of space: “Can’t you sit somewhere else?”

Brian Carter replied coolly, “Is this your house?”

“……”

Then, holding the soda in his hand, he asked, “Want one or not?”

“I do.”

Ryan Bennett was about to instinctively say “thank you,” but before she could get the word out, the hand holding the soda suddenly changed direction and pulled back. That clear but always slightly weary voice sounded again: “…Where should I sit, then?”

Ryan Bennett gritted her teeth, thinking this guy was as petty as ever.

She surrendered immediately and played along: “You can sit wherever you want. You’re sitting here now, so… it’s just right.”

Getting her answer, Brian Carter loosened his grip and handed her the soda.

Ryan Bennett didn’t plan to drink it right away.

She still had one last step left on her problem. She’d already memorized the conditions, so she fumbled in the dark, head down, continuing to work in her notebook.

After the movie started, the first scene was the protagonist trapped in a cave, and the lighting got much dimmer.

The sound effects were startling and intense. It sounded very exciting.

Not wanting to miss the opening, she quickly finished the problem and circled option “C.”

She didn’t care what movie they watched—her tastes were broad. She enjoyed the gunfight film just as much, and even started acting as a live commentator next to Brian Carter, wildly guessing at the plot: “This guy just set a flag—he’s definitely dead in ten minutes.”

“See? He died. I, Mr. Bennett, am a prophet.”

“Look at this guy’s dark forehead—he probably won’t last much longer either.”

Another ten minutes passed.

Ryan Bennett kept chattering:

“…I’ve been waiting so long, how is he still alive?”

Brian Carter didn’t talk much while watching movies, giving off a cold and focused vibe.

He wasn’t a talkative person to begin with, and even when he argued with her, it was always from a lofty, superior position.

Now, half his figure was hidden in the darkness, only a faint outline visible. He was still wearing the same black T-shirt from last night, but his legs were so long that he had to bend them awkwardly, as if there was nowhere to put them. He wore black ripped jeans, and with his knees up, his arm rested casually on top.

But Ryan Bennett didn’t need him to respond—after all, it didn’t matter if anyone replied to her commentary.

She could just keep talking on her own.

So she assumed Brian Carter was focused on the movie and didn’t want to be distracted by her.

Halfway through, she finally felt thirsty.

The soda had been sitting there for a while and wasn’t that cold anymore.

The moment she picked it up, for some reason, she suddenly remembered how Brian Carter had opened a can last night.

One-handed can opening.

It actually—

Looked pretty cool.

……

Maybe she could do it too?

Ryan Bennett imitated Brian Carter’s move from last night, trying to open the can with one hand. But she wasn’t strong enough and didn’t really know the technique, so she couldn’t get it at all.

……

She… apparently… couldn’t do it.

Only then did she realize how embarrassing this was.

Luckily, everyone was watching the movie and no one noticed what she was doing.

But just as she was about to give up and quietly pretend nothing happened, a hand suddenly reached over from the side. That hand pressed down on hers, three fingers gripping the can, then the index finger pressed against hers, guiding her finger into the right position.

That finger, with knuckles much more prominent than hers, pressed down, lending her some strength.

“Pop.”

The tab caught on her index finger joint.

She’d successfully opened the can.

The soda fizzed with a soft “pssst.”

A faint lemon scent drifted out.

“With your IQ,” Brian Carter said as he withdrew his hand, “three sets of homework might not be enough.”

Chapter 3

Ryan Bennett was a little dazed for a moment.

The can tab was still looped around her finger.

Mainly, Brian Carter’s move had caught her completely off guard, like a sneak attack.

He’d looked like he didn’t want to bother with her just a moment ago.

So by the time she reacted, she’d already missed the best chance to retort.