【Grace Carter: What kind of explanation do you think I want? Suddenly transferring to Jing City, without even a reason?—What’s wrong with A City? I’ve lived there for so many years, so comfortable, and now I feel miserable just leaving the province.】

　　【William Carter: Tsk.】

　　【Grace Carter: Say it!!】

　　【William Carter: The reason? The world is so big, I want to go see it for you.】

　　【Grace Carter: ...】These siblings just can’t get along.

Chapter 3: By the Water

　　The The Foster Family in Jing City is one of the most prominent families in the area. Although in recent generations most have gone into politics or business, the scholarly air of the family is still deeply ingrained.

　　William Carter’s maternal grandmother was a classic Jiangnan beauty in her youth. Even in old age, her delicate gentleness hasn’t faded a bit. Her white hair is neatly combed, and at this moment she stands at the ornate iron gate, tiptoeing, nervously and expectantly watching the end of the road.

　　William Carter gets out of the car.

　　The warm light illuminates the boy’s delicate, pale face.

　　When Grandma Foster sees him, her eyes redden slightly, and she rubs the corner of her eye with her hand: “Yuyu has grown up, Grandma almost didn’t recognize you for a moment.”

　　William Carter smiles and supports her: “Sorry to keep you waiting, Grandma. It’s windy outside, let’s go in.”

　　Grandma Foster smiles through her tears, patting his hand gently, her voice soft: “Not long at all, I’m just glad you’re here.”

　　Going inside, William Carter sees many people, all from the The Foster Family, mostly the younger generation, cousins gathered together.

　　When they see him come in, they all stand up and greet him warmly, but their eyes flicker with something more than simple friendliness.

　　William Carter knows exactly what they’re after. They’ve probably been told by the adults to get close to him because of the reputation of the The Carter Family in A City.

　　“These are all your cousins, family. From now on, if there’s anywhere you want to go in Jing City, you can ask them. They know this city much better than you do.”

　　Grandma Foster introduces them one by one. Her intention is simple: she’s afraid William Carter will feel lonely coming to Jing City for the first time, so she wants him to get to know more people his age.

　　But William Carter isn’t interested in any of them.

　　William Carter was never lacking in social skills in his previous world, and he handles this kind of situation with ease. He smiles politely and obediently, but his attitude is cold.

　　After sitting down, the family eats quietly.

　　Grandma Foster is a lady of a great family, raised with strict family traditions, and still keeps the rule of not speaking at the table. Since she doesn’t talk, the younger ones naturally don’t dare to act out, and although their gazes are so anxious they could almost bore holes into William Carter, no one dares to start a conversation.

　　This is actually a good thing for William Carter.

　　After eating, he uses the excuse of being tired from the long car ride to go upstairs, shower, and sleep.

　　He leaves behind a group of people at the table, all with complicated and frustrated expressions, wanting to say something but holding back.

　　After showering and drying his hair, William Carter lets himself lie on the bed.

　　The quilt and pillow still faintly smell of jasmine. The air in Jing City is fresher than in A City, and Grandma Foster has planted many flowers in the garden. The evening breeze is gentle, making everything feel especially peaceful.

　　William Carter stares at the ceiling, thinking about what to do next.

　　If he suddenly goes to find Ethan Brooks, he’ll definitely be seen as a lunatic.

　　Should he wait until school starts?

　　They’ll be in the same class anyway.

　　No, that won’t do.

　　William Carter covers his eyes with his hand, thinking, Ethan Brooks’s finger will be broken this summer, leaving a lifelong injury—he should save him.

　　“But, where does he live again?”

　　Right, he forgot the most crucial point—

　　Where does Ethan Brooks live!

　　Thinking of this, William Carter suddenly sits up, eyes wide.

　　Damn, this won’t do!

　　“008! 008!”

　　William Carter starts frantically calling for 008.

　　After a moment, 008’s weak and complicated voice sounds in his mind: “I’m here, what do you need?”

　　William Carter sits up straight: “Do you have Ethan Brooks’s current address?”

　　008 instinctively says: “Of course I do.” But quickly realizes, and asks Ethan Brooks in alarm and suspicion: “Why do you want that?!”

　　William Carter smiles: “Obviously to go find him.”

　　008: “???!!!”

　　008, both anxious and angry, appears in its original form in front of William Carter. After glancing around at the surroundings, it’s utterly disheartened. Suppressing its anger, it says, “Host, what are you doing, why are you in Jing City!!!”

　　William Carter replies, “Didn’t you say I could do whatever I wanted for these five years?”

　　008 spins around in panic: “But my premise was that you wouldn’t affect the plot! You can’t be in Jing City right now, you can’t meet the protagonist, it’s not your time to appear yet, you need to go back.”

　　William Carter raises an eyebrow.

　　It’s a little afraid of William Carter in its heart, and can only try to persuade him earnestly: “Host, go back! Go back to A City, you can’t appear in front of Ethan Brooks as William Carter. That would break the plot.”

　　William Carter sits cross-legged on the bed, smiling with utter indifference: “That’s easy, I just won’t use the identity of William Carter. I remember in the original book, Ethan Brooks always called William Carter by his English name, and he’s so young now, there’s no way he’d remember me. I’ll just make up an identity and show up around him.”

　　008’s tone is anxious: “That’s not how it works!”

　　William Carter snaps his fingers: “That’s exactly how it works. I don’t see a problem. Just tell me Ethan Brooks’s address.”

　　008 is left speechless, so angry it’s practically steaming.