"What's wrong with you?" Jack Harris looked at the running-away Ethan Clark, completely baffled. After searching around, he finally saw Ethan Clark coming out of the restroom, lips pressed tightly together, refusing to say a word no matter what was asked. The class bell was about to ring, so the two of them dashed to the playground, making it to the assembly just in time and thankfully avoiding a scolding from the PE teacher.

During the group warm-up run, Ethan Clark kept his mouth shut the entire time. After being dismissed, he covered his mouth with his hand and told Jack Harris he needed to use the restroom. Jack Harris thought he really had a stomachache and didn't ask further, heading off to play basketball with the other boys.

The girls in their class walked together across the playground toward the snack shop in the cafeteria. When they saw the formation from another class, they started shouting and laughing. Ethan Clark couldn't care less about anyone else; he just felt utterly embarrassed and wanted to find a place to hide and clean the red ink from his mouth.

Maybe he should find a way to go home.

But asking for leave meant he had to speak...

Otherwise, he could go to the restroom in the cafeteria and wash up again, plus there was a mirror.

Having made up his mind, Ethan Clark pressed his lips together and lowered his head, trailing behind the group of girls as he crossed the playground. The artificial turf flattened under his feet, and as he lifted his foot, he stubbornly raised his head again, the grass rustling.

As he walked, he wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. It was a hard bump, and he quickly apologized, "Sorry."

"Isn't this Lele?"

A familiar voice. Ethan Clark looked up. The speaker was Ryan Cooper's childhood classmate Lucas Reed, who was also basically his only friend.

Lucas Reed glanced at Ryan Cooper, "Your little brother's big eyes really are just for decoration, huh? He can't bear to use them."

Ethan Clark wanted to retort, but couldn't open his mouth, so he just shook his head in silence.

"I saw you from far away, watched you walk step by step over here, and then bam, you ran right into your brother like a little magnet. Good thing you didn't bump into sickly me, or I'd have fallen over for you to see." Lucas Reed joked nasally, nudging the expressionless Ryan Cooper with his elbow, "Right?"

Ryan Cooper lazily replied, "If you're sick, go get treated."

"No way, even with a bad cold I have to be our Yuyu's most loyal cheerleader."

Ryan Cooper was holding a basketball. Ethan Clark guessed he was going to play. If it were before, he would have wanted to stick close to Ryan Cooper, but now he was too embarrassed and just wanted to run away. He kept his head down and spoke quickly, "Sorry, I bumped into you by accident. I have to go now, bye."

He tried to slip past them, but suddenly his arm was grabbed.

Acting out of character would give him away.

Turning back, Ethan Clark saw Ryan Cooper's gaze drop to his mouth, scrutinizing him for a while. Then Ryan Cooper tossed the basketball into Lucas Reed's arms, said nothing, and pulled Ethan Clark off in another direction.

"Hey?" Ethan Clark's steps faltered. He tried to resist being dragged away, but couldn't shake free. With his mouth closed, he mumbled and hummed, gripping Ryan Cooper's hand with both of his, leaning back as if in a tug-of-war, refusing to go.

Seeing this, Ryan Cooper stopped as well. The blazing sun made Ethan Clark squint, and a few girls walking by turned to look.

Suddenly, Ryan Cooper let go, and Ethan Clark fell backward, landing on the ground with a thud, looking completely bewildered.

Ryan Cooper crouched down in front of him, his thumb and forefinger pinching Ethan Clark's chin and cheeks. His lips were forced open, revealing the front teeth stained red inside.

"I knew it."

Ethan Clark quickly covered his mouth, scooting back on the grass.

So embarrassing.

"What are you hiding for?" Ryan Cooper examined his face carefully, then pulled him up. "Are you going to go to class like this?"

Now that he'd been found out, Ethan Clark gave up and followed Ryan Cooper in defeat, like a soulless balloon doll being led along.

"Can you slow down? My butt hurts."

Ryan Cooper didn't reply, but he did slow down a bit.

Back to the infirmary again.

Ethan Clark whispered that he wasn't sick, but Ryan Cooper didn't respond. He just led Ethan Clark inside. The doctor on duty was out chatting, so the room was empty. Ryan Cooper had Ethan Clark sit on a chair, then went next door to find someone, finally returning with a bottle of medical alcohol and a box of cotton swabs.

"What's this?" Ethan Clark watched him walk over and pull up a chair to sit in front of him.

Ryan Cooper pinched his face and ordered expressionlessly, "Open your mouth."

Ethan Clark obediently opened his mouth. His lips were fine, but his teeth and tongue were covered in red ink from a pen refill, which looked rather ridiculous.

Ryan Cooper dipped a cotton swab in alcohol and carefully wiped the stained areas. Ethan Clark felt uneasy, worried that it wouldn't come off cleanly. He still had a whole day of classes left, and keeping his mouth shut all day was just too uncomfortable.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of the cotton candy with red dragon fruit he snuck last night, and couldn't help but sigh. They really were a perfect match—owner and puppy.

The next moment, Ryan Cooper suddenly smiled, so softly that Ethan Clark wondered if he imagined it.

"You're really a handful."

Chapter 8: Childhood and You

He actually said the same thing he told Cotton Candy last night.

Ethan Clark felt complicated. Was he being mocked? He must be being mocked.