The bookshelves in the store were arranged by category, with the literature section facing the boys’ love manga section across the aisle.

Matthew Clark stood on the literature side, pretending to flip through a book while watching the customers buying boys’ love manga on the other side from a distance.

As he was observing, a familiar color suddenly appeared in his line of sight: a tuft of blond hair poked around the bookshelf, looking sneaky and very conspicuous.

Matthew Clark: ……

Wait, isn’t that Benjamin Wright?

Could he be here to buy boys’ love manga too? But this sneaky behavior is just too suspicious—

The nearby staff were already starting to look a bit wary.

Matthew Clark really couldn’t stand it anymore, so he walked over and called out, “Little Benjamin.” He wanted to say there was no need to be so furtive, just act natural…

“Ah!!!” Benjamin Wright was startled, turned around, and shouted.

All eyes in the area instantly focused on them.

“……” Matthew Clark paused in his steps and closed his eyes gently.

Benjamin Wright reflexively finished shouting, then realized something was off, covered his mouth, and peeked out, “Brother Matthew?”

Matthew Clark patted him lightly, “Keep your voice down.”

“Oh, oh.” Benjamin Wright was still holding a boys’ love manga, and his face flushed as he hurried to explain, “Don’t get the wrong idea, this isn’t for me! I’m buying it for my sister…”

Afraid he wouldn’t be believed, he pulled up his chat history, “Look!”

Matthew Clark glanced at it—it really was a request from his sister.

He felt a bit disappointed: he thought he’d found another fellow fan.

But why wasn’t Samuel Harris with him today? “Getting caught secretly buying boys’ love manga behind your best friend’s back” actually sounds like a pretty fun scenario…

“Brother Matthew?” came a tentative call from in front of him.

Matthew Clark snapped back to reality, “Hm? What is it?”

Benjamin Wright looked at him cautiously, “Just now, for a moment, your gaze seemed bottomless…”

Matthew Clark replied gently, “You were seeing things.”

“…Oh.”

After this interruption, and with someone he knew by his side, Benjamin Wright felt much more at ease and started searching for manga according to the list on his phone.

Matthew Clark glanced over: he even picked up Teacher Xue Ying’s new book—not bad.

He chatted idly, “Samuel Harris didn’t come with you today?”

“No, he said he had extra practice today. Oh, right!” Benjamin Wright suddenly pulled out his phone again, excitedly sending a message, “I have to tell him I ran into Brother Matthew, haha~”

“You two are really close.”

“Yeah, we’re best friends!”

Matthew Clark suppressed the smile tugging at his lips, “Oh.”

After sending the message, Benjamin Wright looked up and met the slight movement in Matthew Clark’s eyes, and his words stalled for a moment—

Why did it feel like Brother Matthew was even happier than they were about their good relationship?

“Have you picked out your books?”

“Oh, not yet. Brother Matthew, can you stay with me a bit longer?”

-

At the gate of F University, Samuel Harris was leaving campus with James Bennett.

It was three in the afternoon, and extra practice had just ended.

Samuel Harris had said he’d go find Benjamin Wright after practice, so James Bennett said goodbye, “I’ll head back first, then.”

“Yeah, he’s messaging me right now… Hey!”

Samuel Harris suddenly called out to James Bennett, “Wait, he says he’s at the bookstore with your Little Uncle.”

James Bennett stopped and turned around: ?

“…At Corner Bookstore, I’m going to find him. Want to come along?” Samuel Harris scrolled through his phone.

There was a two-second pause beside him, “Sure.”

So the two of them headed that way together.

The afternoon sunlight fell from above, casting sharply defined shadows at their feet.

Samuel Harris lowered his head to reply to some messages, then suddenly realized something and turned to glance at James Bennett beside him. The latter’s profile was clear and calm, his gaze fixed in the distance, betraying no real emotion.

Thinking of the time they added each other on WeChat, and now going to the bookstore together…

Samuel Harris hesitated, “Uh… James Bennett, do you mind if your Little Uncle gets along better with other friends?” As soon as he finished, he had a fleeting vision:

gie gie~ Your Little Uncle is having fun with Benjamin Wright, aren’t you upset~

“Mind what?” came a laugh from beside him.

James Bennett still looked indifferent, and said lightly, “It’s not like we’re real uncle and nephew.”

Samuel Harris shook off the déjà vu, “True.”

…

Inside Corner Bookstore, Benjamin Wright finally finished picking out his books.

“I’ll go pay first. Samuel Harris is coming to find me in a bit.”

Matthew Clark looked over, “What about this pile of books…”

Benjamin Wright grinned, “Perfect, I’ll have him help me carry some.”

Matthew Clark: …You’re really shameless!

After buying about a dozen manga, Benjamin Wright was checking through them when suddenly two familiar covers caught his eye.

Matthew Clark took a look—weren’t those from their publishing house?

“Wait, you picked up the wrong one.”

He pointed at the two manga with the same title, “These aren’t volume one and two, they’re the collector’s edition and the new edition.”

Benjamin Wright flipped to the back and suddenly understood, “Wow, thanks! Brother Matthew, you really know your stuff—”

His words cut off abruptly as he looked up: ?

“……”

Both of them held their breath.

In the long, silent stare that followed, the silence was deafening.

Chapter 9: Waiting for Him to Come Home

The truth spoken unintentionally is often the most fatal.