Brian Walker reached out to stop him, patted his shoulder, and said sincerely, "Edward Harris, don't make things hard for yourself. We're all classmates. How about I help you out with this suffering today?"

Edward Harris Sr.: ...Damn it, so he was eyeing my skewers all along!

Edward Harris Sr. stuffed the skewers into Brian Walker's hand, playing along, "I think the food from that stall isn't that tasty anyway. Brian Walker, why don't you give it a try?"

"Really? Selling food that doesn't taste good, that's not right."

"Why not let Brian Walker help all the students solve this problem?"

"Of course, self-sacrifice for others has always been my principle."

Edward Harris Sr.: What a load of Italian crap!

"Heh, Brian Walker really is on a different level from us ordinary folks."

As they spoke, Brian Walker and Edward Harris Sr. walked off together like good buddies toward the next stall.

Author's note: Hahahahahaha, reposting a comment from the little angel under the Yellow Millet Dream Pillow. Brian Walker: As long as your fists are hard enough, your stomach can toughen up too ^_^

Chapter 7

The final exam rankings were arranged in the order they came out. Although Brian Walker was delayed a bit, she was still the first to finish. When the shimu found out, she made a big meal to reward her.

"I worked hard for so long too," Peter Thompson said, not without jealousy.

"You're not a kid anymore." The shimu glared at Peter Thompson, then turned to Brian Walker with a gentle smile, "Eat more, Xiao Wei, you're still growing."

Brian Walker nodded, "Thank you, shimu."

After dinner, Brian Walker transferred some money to Peter Thompson, saying it was for living expenses.

Peter Thompson didn't refuse, "Even during the holidays, you can't slack off. Next semester is the most crucial time."

"I know."

With a two-month break, aside from finishing the homework assigned by Peter Thompson, Brian Walker spent the rest of her time doing house calls for repairs. Peter Thompson knew she needed to earn money and didn't stop her. Sometimes, he even introduced her to business—if a colleague's family needed something fixed, he'd recommend Brian Walker.

Whatever others could or couldn't fix, Brian Walker could handle it all. As word spread, more and more people came to her. In just a month, she had already earned over 6,000 star coins.

"Fixed it so quickly?" a teacher's family member asked, looking at their household appliance.

"Yes, please check it," Brian Walker said, taking off her gloves.

The other person tested all the functions and exclaimed in surprise, "Why does it feel even better than when it was new?"

"I made a few adjustments."

"If only you could fix mechas too," the teacher's family member muttered to herself.

Brian Walker's heart stirred, "I know a bit about mecha repair too."

"Really? I have a friend whose mecha is broken and she needs it urgently. The shop said it has to be sent to the main star for repairs, but there's not enough time for that. The teachers who can fix it are all away on exchange at the main star. She's been so worried these days."

Brian Walker nodded, "I can give it a try."

The teacher's family member immediately contacted her friend and explained the situation. The other party clearly didn't care who came to fix it and agreed right away.

"This is her address."

Brian Walker glanced at it—it wasn't unfamiliar. Emma Carter used to live there, in the wealthy district of Star 3212.

She took a ride over, found the house number, stopped at the door, and rang the bell.

"Coming."

As soon as the door opened, both people inside and outside were stunned. Then, with a "bang," the person inside slammed the door shut.

Brian Walker: "...Edward Harris, is it your family that needs the mecha repaired?"

Edward Harris Sr., feeling confident at home, "What's it to you!"

Brian Walker: "I'm here to fix the mecha."

Edward Harris Sr.: "Bullshit!"

Brian Walker: "If you won't open the door, I'll just leave."

Edward Harris Sr. hesitated for a moment, then called for his mom from inside, asking her to contact the aunt from earlier and confirm the name of the repair person.

"Your aunt said her name is Brian Walker." Edward Harris Sr.'s mom's voice came faintly through the door.

Edward Harris Sr.: He doesn't believe it!!! Brian Walker must be here to beat him up!!!

Brian Walker knocked on the door, "Hey, are you opening up or not? If not, I'm really leaving."

Edward Harris Sr. shouted through the door, "How could a mecha single-soldier trainee like you possibly know how to repair mechas? There aren't many people on all of Star 3212 who can."

Brian Walker sighed, "Life is tough, so I have many skills."

Edward Harris Sr. hesitated, "You really know how to fix it?"

Brian Walker: "I do."

In the end, Edward Harris Sr. opened the door a crack, "You're really not here to beat me up?"

"Why would I go out of my way to beat up someone I've already defeated?"

Edward Harris Sr.: That makes sense. He actually couldn't argue back.

"Come in, then."

Brian Walker followed Edward Harris Sr. to his training room, where a mecha stood in the center.

"So your family bought that mecha," Brian Walker raised an eyebrow. There used to be a shop selling mechas at the materials market, and in seven years, they'd only sold one.

Edward Harris Sr. said proudly, "I'm going to one of the five top military academies in the future, so of course I need to use a mecha first."

Brian Walker climbed onto the mecha and entered the cockpit, feeling a bit awed—this was her first time seeing the inside of a real mecha, even if it was just a display model.

"Brian Walker, can you really do it?" Edward Harris Sr. called from below.

"It's my first time repairing a mecha, give me a little time," Brian Walker poked her head out and said.

Edward Harris Sr.: "!!!"