William Carter wasn't interested in the freshmen group, but since he was really bored, he clicked on the link Jack Morgan had sent, registered an account with his own QQ, and since he was just killing time, he didn't even bother to change his username—he just went in like that.

The homepage was a forum, with the top post dedicated to freshmen questions, and all sorts of upperclassmen busy answering enthusiastically.

There were tons of off-topic posts.

[The New Batch's School Beauty and Hunk Contest]

[Freshmen, report your name, height, and address. Want to meet up before school starts? Dare to play?]

[Urgent! Our five-man team for the Canyon is missing one. One pro to carry four noobs. We have four noobs now, pros come quick! Hurry!]

[Any bros from □□ University, can you tell me when the second cafeteria opens during summer break?]

William Carter scrolled through the posts, the bright moonlight outside Jingcheng shining in, the garden filled with the long, soft chirping of insects. He leaned against his pillow, eyes lowered, smiling as he browsed.

This was the real world, where high schoolers lived carefree, colorful lives.

But the book "Gentle Control" gave Ethan Brooks only the darkest, most obscure side of campus.

Class oppression, cold violence, injustice.

"You shouldn't be like this."

William Carter murmured softly.

Ethan Brooks was such a good boy. He shouldn't have to endure all that abuse and humiliation at this age.

He should be a star at school, excelling in grades and handsome in looks.

Secretly admired by many.

His name written in scented diaries by girls.

A good student in the eyes of teachers, who always looked at him with approval and a smile when asking questions in class.

The one all the underachievers tried to cozy up to, always surrounded by a crowd during exams.

Living confidently, brilliantly.

That should be his high school life.

*

Grandma Foster contacted the principal of Jingcheng No. 1 High School, first explaining William Carter's situation and accommodation needs. She had learned from Jack Morgan that William Carter loved studying, and also asked what needed to be prepared for the start of freshman year.

After receiving the principal's earnest and professional response, Grandma Foster happily bought a pile of books and practice exercises, delivered them to William Carter's room, and gently reminded him, "Yuyu, just do your best, don't tire yourself out."

William Carter sat on the bed, staring stiffly at the two stacks of books on the floor, forcing a smile: "Thank you, Grandma."

Grandma could rest assured—he definitely wouldn't wear himself out.

William Carter had already forgotten all his high school knowledge during the summer after graduating from senior year, and picking it up again was pure torture.

He didn't want to be a top student, but coming in last was really embarrassing.

Unable to focus at home, William Carter simply went to find Ethan Brooks, grabbing a book and a test paper before leaving.

Ethan Brooks worked at a milk tea shop.

The shop was pretty lively at the moment, mostly groups of two or three girls, sipping milk tea while their eyes kept drifting toward Ethan Brooks.

Probably all there to see the handsome guy. Tall, long-legged, cool and aloof—just one look in the summer heat was more refreshing than air conditioning.

William Carter ordered a glass of lemonade, sat by the window, spread out his math test, and started writing with a look of deep misery.

Stuck on a permutation and combination problem, William Carter forgot the formula and felt so down he didn't even want to look it up on his phone. He just grabbed a napkin and started scribbling six-digit permutations.

One napkin wasn't enough, so he grabbed another.

The shop quieted down.

Ethan Brooks noticed William Carter's lemonade was almost gone, so he brought over another glass.

When he came over, William Carter didn't even notice, completely absorbed in his work.

William Carter's eyelashes were curled like a baby's, and sunlight filtered through the camphor trees outside, casting a strange, well-behaved look on his face.

Seeing how focused he was, Ethan Brooks glanced at his test paper.

After reading the question, Ethan Brooks fell silent.

"Seven hundred and twenty."

A cool voice sounded above his head.

William Carter's pen paused, a bit annoyed at being interrupted: "I was just about to figure it out, and now you've thrown off my train of thought."

Ethan Brooks: "......"

With your clumsy method, you really think you had a train of thought?

Chapter 10: The Brook

Of course, William Carter quickly realized how dumb he'd just been, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and changed the subject: "Are you off work?"

"No," Ethan Brooks shook his head, sitting across from him, then asked, "Are you doing homework?"

William Carter held up his math book and said, "Yeah."

Having met twice already, things between them were no longer so awkward or stiff. William Carter complained, "I'm really just bored out of my mind, that's why I'm doing this. It's such a hassle, the more I write, the sleepier I get."

"It's actually not that hard, A66, factorial of six."

Ethan Brooks smiled, picked up a pen with his slender hand, pulled out a sheet of paper, wrote down a formula, and handed it to William Carter, "That problem from just now."

William Carter felt embarrassed, his ears turning red as he took it: "Thanks."

Luckily, more customers came into the milk tea shop just then, so Ethan Brooks went back to work.

William Carter watched his back, poked his straw into the cup, took a sip of lemonade, his mouth filled with the cool, tart taste of summer.

He felt frustrated—would the main character think he was an idiot? Even elementary schoolers wouldn't solve it like that.

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he got.

As evening approached.