Fifteen-year-old Ethan Brooks had never had a single friend growing up. Even though he appeared indifferent, deep down he longed for something beautiful, and could be moved by the most trivial things. But twenty-five-year-old Ethan Brooks, after experiencing too much flattery and people approaching him with ulterior motives, had received too much false and genuine attention because of his looks and family background.

Indifference seeped into his bones; kindness and gentleness could never touch him the way they did when he was fifteen.

Ethan Brooks recalled some disgusting things from his previous life, the corners of his lips curling into a mocking smile, though it was unclear who it was aimed at.

How insecure must one be to bare their soul for a little warmth? How weak must one be to need others’ help to escape their own demons?

When William Carter came out,

Ethan Brooks was cooking noodles in the kitchen.

William Carter sat down at the table without hesitation. “Isn’t there still food here?”

He turned off the stove.

A steaming bowl of noodles was brought out by him.

Ethan Brooks’s cooking skills were still excellent. The noodles were topped with chopped scallions, a layer of minced meat and oil floating on top, making it look delicious. The aroma hit William Carter’s nose, and after not eating all day, he suddenly felt hungry.

“The rice is cold.”

Ethan Brooks sat across from him, pushed the noodles in front of him, and said, “Eat.”

He remembered that William Carter seemed to have not eaten all day—this was his way of repaying him.

William Carter was stunned. “For me?”

God, what a little pitiful housewife.

Ethan Brooks seemed a bit shy under his gaze. “Mm.”

“Thank you.”

William Carter stirred the noodles with his chopsticks, sighing inwardly. How could someone so kind and adorable be so mistreated in the book?

After he finished eating, he left and called the driver to pick him up.

Sitting in the car, the driver was puzzled. “Young master, weren’t you out to buy books? How did you end up here?”

William Carter looked out the window. “I met a very important friend and changed my mind at the last minute.”

The driver was shocked. “You’ve only been in Jingcheng for a few days, and you already have a very important friend?”

William Carter made up a reasonable-sounding explanation: “Uncle, you don’t understand. This is called hitting it off at first sight.”

Chapter 9: Living at School

William Carter went home. Grandma Foster, seeing he returned safely, asked a few questions but didn’t say much more.

After showering, he went back to his room and lay under a quilt faintly scented with jasmine.

William Carter received a reply from Mrs. Carter in City A.

[That’s good. Are you getting used to Jingcheng, Yuyu?]

William Carter typed back. [Pretty good, I actually quite like Jingcheng.]

After thinking for a while, William Carter added, [Mom, I want to live at school when the semester starts.]

There was still a month before school started, and boarding was a pretty important step.

Mrs. Carter replied quickly.

[Boarding? Why do you want to board at school?]

William Carter said, [I want to experience the lively atmosphere of high school.]

This made Mrs. Carter feel so sorry for him. [I’ll discuss it with your grandma and have her contact the principal to make arrangements.]

William Carter smiled.

[Thank you, Mom.]

Not feeling very sleepy yet, William Carter played on his phone for a bit.

He had added Jack Morgan on QQ. This yellow-skinned boy had a very rich inner world.

His username was “Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger,” and his profile picture was Sadako with long, messy hair.

William Carter was sure he’d gotten beaten up plenty for that profile picture.

His personal signature was even more cringey: I can crawl out of the TV, but not into your heart.

William Carter: “…Awesome.”

To exude such a “forever alone” vibe from username to profile picture to signature was truly impressive.

Jack Morgan had just added him and was very excited, sending a meme to test the waters.

Then, upon seeing William Carter’s username, he was shocked.

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: Damn, Bro Yu, your username is 666.]

William Carter had picked his username at random. He’d wanted something normal, but then thought, since he was now a fifteen-year-old teenager, if not now, when to be cringey? So he changed it to “Your Husband Yu Bro,” which was his old gaming name, used specifically for flirting with girls.

William Carter looked at his Sadako profile picture, expressionless.

[Your Husband Yu Bro: Not as cool as yours.]

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: [cute][cute]]

After a while, Jack Morgan sent another message.

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: No way! I still think your username is too cool, Bro Yu. If I don’t change your note, I’ll really think I’m talking to my own husband!]

William Carter burst out laughing.

[Your Husband Yu Bro: Then hurry up and change it, I beg you, don’t make it weird.]

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: ??? [pouting] Bro Yu, you dislike me.]

Luckily, Jack Morgan didn’t just contact him out of boredom.

As a native of Jingcheng, he naturally knew more about Jingcheng No. 1 High than William Carter, and enthusiastically explained a lot to him.

First, he sent over a group chat.

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: Bro Yu, this is our incoming freshmen group for No. 1 High, join it.]

Then a website link.

[Sadako Never Forgets the Well-Digger: Bro Yu, this is the campus club, the social forum for Jingcheng No. 1 High. You can check out our ecosystem there, I think it’s pretty fun.]