Chapter 9

The family was actually quite poor. To pay for her eye surgery, Dad Brooks ran around everywhere, borrowing money from relatives. Every weekend, relatives would show up to urge Dad Brooks to repay his debts. Chris Brooks could only keep a good temper, smiling, apologizing, and saying nice things, just to keep delaying repayment again and again.

Later, when they couldn’t delay any longer and Ethan Carter was disfigured in another accident, Dad Brooks ended up taking the most dangerous radiation job.

Emma Clark didn’t notice Ethan Carter zoning out. While packing her schoolbag, she started gossiping: “At Grace Turner’s last birthday, I heard Chad Sullivan didn’t go. But just now, for some reason, she said that tonight Chad Sullivan is inviting their whole class to hang out at Xiaogang City over the weekend. Listen, do you know Xiaogang City?”

Ethan Carter shook her head.

Emma Clark’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve never been either, but I know it costs at least tens of thousands of yuan to go there just once.” After her excitement faded, she pouted. “Everyone knows Grace Turner just wants to show off, but Chad Sullivan really is super rich, and generous too. Sigh, it’s because Grace Turner is so pretty that we don’t get these chances.”

Ethan Carter lowered her eyes, picked up the form, and carefully wrote her name.

She knew the world was very unfair. Some people could squander money at will, while others struggled just to get by.

“Tingting, are you signing up for the math olympiad?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you studied it before?”

“I learned a bit when I was little. There are still two weeks left, so if I practice more, I can give it a try.”

Emma Clark couldn’t help but think Ethan Carter was really amazing.

Ethan Carter sighed inwardly. After all, it was eight thousand yuan—she had to make it work, no matter what. She wanted to spare Dad Brooks from doing radiation experiments. First, she couldn’t let him repeat the tragedy of disfigurement and burns, and second, she had to find a way to earn more money.

But she was only seventeen, still in her second year of high school. Dad Brooks definitely wouldn’t want her to let anything interfere with her studies, but competitions were different.

Ethan Carter was stunned for a moment. She glanced at the math olympiad brochure and suddenly realized how she could make money.

She asked Emma Clark, “Besides the math olympiad, are there any other competitions?”

“There’s an English speech contest, but that’s during summer vacation.”

Ethan Carter was a little disappointed.

Emma Clark thought for a moment. “But I heard the neighboring vocational school has a lot of these kinds of events—singing, dancing, playing instruments. Their school accepts art students. But, Tingting…” Emma Clark looked at her, hesitated, and finally said, “Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Tingting’s eyes were injured—how could she possibly dance or play piano and such.

Today it was Emma Clark’s turn for classroom duty. At No. 7 High School, it was simple: after school, just wipe the blackboard and close the doors and windows.

Ethan Carter helped her out.

When the two girls went to close the windows, they realized there was a problem. Thunder rumbled, and the rain started pouring down. Emma Clark cursed under her breath.

“Tingting, did you bring an umbrella?”

Ethan Carter didn’t.

Neither did Emma Clark.

That year, No. 7 High didn’t have any umbrella-sharing service. Ethan Carter was waiting for Emma Clark, and Ryan Brooks usually left long before.

The two girls went down to the first floor and looked at the curtain of rain outside, feeling a bit worried. Their school didn’t allow cell phones, and Ethan Carter didn’t even have one that year. She glanced at her digital watch—18:32.

Dad Brooks wouldn’t get off work until nine.

Emma Clark was anxious too. “My dad should come pick me up after work, right?”

As soon as she finished speaking, several sports cars pulled up at the school gate. A flashy silver sports car made a turn and stopped in front of their teaching building.

Leading the way was a supercar.

The window rolled down, and Ethan Carter saw Chad Sullivan’s face.

He rested his hand on the steering wheel, looking over at Ethan Carter. Ethan Carter lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Emma Clark quickly pulled Ethan Carter back, thinking, what’s up with the security guard, letting these vocational school kids drive in here?

Soon, laughter and chatter came from upstairs as Grace Turner and a few girls came down.

The expensive sports cars made the girls’ eyes light up.

They all greeted eagerly, “Hello, Young Master Sullivan, Young Master Foster.”

Brian Foster raised an eyebrow. “Ladies, get in the car, don’t get wet.”

The girls split up and got into the cars. Grace Turner got into Chad Sullivan’s car.

Chad Sullivan kept his foot on the clutch, his dark eyes suddenly glancing at the quiet girl sheltering from the rain in the corner. “Over there…” He still didn’t know her name. “Get in, I’ll give you a ride to the bus stop.”

Ethan Carter looked up.

She still wasn’t used to these eyes; after using them for a while, they still hurt. But under the dim sky, she didn’t have to keep her eyes closed anymore.

Ethan Carter shook her head. “Thank you, but no need.”

“Get in. Don’t make me say it a third time.” His tone was already showing impatience.

Ethan Carter opened her mouth, but Grace Turner stuck her head out. “You’re the girl from Class 1 with the eye problem, right? Get in.” Her tone was cheerful, but her eyes said otherwise.

Behind them, Brian Foster was stunned.

When did Brother Chad get so kind—was he really caring for the disabled?

Ethan Carter knew Chad Sullivan’s personality—the more you defied him, the more persistent he got. If she didn’t get in, he’d never take his foot off the clutch.

Chad Sullivan was eighteen that year. He’d repeated a grade, so he was a year older than his peers and had already gotten his driver’s license. Everyone was watching them, so Ethan Carter and Emma Clark had no choice but to get into Chad Sullivan’s car.

Usually talkative, Emma Clark was now as timid as a little quail.