The holiday passed by just like that, and in the blink of an eye, it was almost time for school to start.

At the dinner table that day.

Grace Bennett brought up the topic of the new school term: “School is about to start, so get your mind ready and adjust your state. High school is a very important stage, you know?”

Ryan Bennett listened, nodding while poking at the rice in her bowl.

“Oh right, your Uncle Harris also bought you some new notebooks.”

Ryan Bennett quickly said, “Thank you, Uncle Harris.”

Grace Bennett added, “And a new schoolbag. After dinner, take a look and see if you like it. New school year, new atmosphere.”

After dinner, Ryan Bennett sat on the sofa to open her gifts.

David Harris also came over and sat down.

When Grace Bennett wasn’t around, it was a bit awkward for her and David Harris to be alone together.

Ryan Bennett broke the silence: “Thank you, Uncle, the schoolbag looks great, I really like it. Would you... like some water? I can get you a glass.”

David Harris, wearing glasses and looking honest and refined, said, “Oh, no need, thank you. As long as you like it.”

David Harris then said, “Would you like some fruit? I can cut you an orange.”

Ryan Bennett had just finished eating and declined, “I’m good too, thank you, Uncle, no need to trouble yourself.”

After a bit of small talk, the conversation quickly ended.

Ryan Bennett lowered her head and started playing on her phone, habitually opening her chat with Brian Carter.

Bored, she sent a few messages:

- What are you doing

- School is about to start

- We’re at the same school this time! We can go to school together!

- Do you think we’ll be in the same class

Brian Carter didn’t reply.

She waited for a while, then exited the chat.

Beside her, David Harris cleared his throat softly, finally finding a topic: “School is starting soon, you’re going to a new school, are you nervous?”

Ryan Bennett thought for a moment and answered, “It’s fine, I’m not really nervous.”

She really wasn’t that nervous.

If she had to say she was nervous about anything, it wasn’t about going to a new school, but rather that her grades were a bit awkward.

Although she got into No. 2 High School, it was only because she performed above her usual level and barely made the cutoff.

Ryan Bennett had always been very self-aware.

Even though emotionally she didn’t want to do the extra assignments Grace Bennett gave her, rationally, she knew she really needed them.

She knew her grades weren’t good, so she should work harder.

So every day, she completed those twenty pages of homework with both quality and quantity.

And during this time, because Brian Carter was around—even though his way of explaining problems wasn’t very friendly, often accompanied by sarcasm and personal jabs, it was true that, thanks to him, she had mastered a lot of the first-year material in advance.

These days, under Brian Carter’s “tutoring,”

She gradually found that the little bit of nervousness brought by the start of school had already disappeared.

After she finished speaking, her phone screen lit up.

[You have received two new messages]

Chi Dog: Judging by the scores

Chi Dog: Not very likely

After a while, the screen lit up again.

- Also.

- Being able to go to the same school as me is already your privilege

- Don’t ask for too much

“……”

Looking at these messages, Ryan Bennett couldn’t help but reflect—did she eat too much at dinner tonight?

Otherwise, why would she, with nothing better to do after eating, send messages to this guy?

Chapter 4

On the first day of school.

Ryan Bennett finished breakfast early, grabbed her unfinished milk, slung her bag over her shoulder, and ran downstairs to Brian Carter’s building: “Mom, Uncle Harris, I’m off to school!”

A short walk from the neighborhood entrance was the bus stop. Eight stops on the bus would get her to No. 2 High School, and since she was going with Brian Carter, Grace Bennett and the others had nothing to worry about: “Alright, go on, listen well in class.”

She had received her textbooks and new school uniform two days in advance.

No. 2 High’s uniform was simple, mainly white, with only the collar and cuffs in a red and black color block.

—This color scheme was much more mature, and cooler, than the pink-and-white uniform from her previous school.

Wearing the new uniform, Ryan Bennett felt like she herself had become more mature.

At this age, girls are especially eager for the word “grown up.”

When she ran to Brian Carter’s door, Brian Carter happened to be coming out as well. She hopped down the steps in a few quick bounds and smiled, “Look at me.”

Brian Carter closed the door behind him.

He wasn’t startled by Ryan Bennett suddenly getting up in his face.

The main reason he wasn’t startled was—even if Ryan Bennett rushed up, the height difference meant she couldn’t really get in his face, only just reach his chin.

The girl in front of him had her hair in a simple ponytail, soft and fine.

Below that was a face with no aggressiveness, not yet fully grown. Ryan Bennett wasn’t the flashy type; she was the typical southern girl—fair and pure, with a pointed chin and slightly cool double-lidded eyes, but when she smiled, she looked like a little fox.

“What are you looking at?” Brian Carter lowered his head and said, “Looking at a shorty?”

“……”

Ryan Bennett’s good mood for the day was shattered by the word “shorty.” She gritted her teeth and said, “Look at my new uniform. It’s the first day of school, I want to be a good student, don’t make me get physical.”