Ethan Carter knew that if she couldn’t get Chad Sullivan to let her go today, she probably wouldn’t even make it home.

She walked over slowly and sat down beside him.

Chad Sullivan caught that scent again.

The pure, delicate fragrance after rain on gardenias.

She was a little uneasy, her voice turning soft and gentle as it passed through the outside noise: “My eyes aren’t good, can I keep my sunglasses on?”

He replied, almost involuntarily, “Okay.”

Then he met a pair of misty eyes behind the dark lenses. With the glasses so close, he could see the shape of her eyes.

How to describe that feeling in that moment?

Like the blue-green of distant mountains, mist after the rain. Just a glimpse of the shape, and you could see a hazy beauty.

Ten seconds felt very long for Ethan Carter; she was facing the light, and her eyes, stinging a little, began to well up.

When the ten seconds were up, Ethan Carter walked away awkwardly, and Emma Clark was already on the verge of tears.

Brian Foster, who was nearby, clearly realized they shouldn’t push the two girls from No. 7 High any further, and quietly asked Chad Sullivan, “Ning-ge, how did it feel? Was it scary?”

Chad Sullivan suddenly felt a bit irritated and pushed him away: “Get lost.”

He stood up and walked over in a few strides: “Get up, I’ll take you home.”

Don’t cry, damn it, I didn’t even yell at you.

Author’s note: 【Tentatively updating daily at 22:00.】

My fragile, precarious friendship with you all—

In the past...

Reader: Zhizhi, this is a sweet story, right? Don’t write any angst, doesn’t your heart hurt?

Me (pretending to be serious): I’ve never written angst, don’t accuse me, I haven’t, I’m not, don’t talk nonsense.

Reader (angelically cute): Okay, I believe you.

Later—

Reader: This one isn’t angsty, right?

Me (actually serious this time): Really not, look at my tags—sweet story, feel-good, comeback...

Reader (coldly): Don’t believe you, go away. But what can I do, I’ll still read it.

Me (smile gradually fading.jpg)

Someone please believe me, I really haven’t. What are you all so afraid of (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

————

Thanks to the following girls for the landmine tips, mwah, love you all:

☆ No puppy love

Ethan Carter actually didn’t cry, but when her eyes hurt, she would tear up reflexively.

Chad Sullivan agreeing to let them go really made Ethan Carter breathe a sigh of relief.

Alan Bennett saw things were getting out of hand, and Emma Clark was already quietly sobbing, so he quickly went over and said, “Ning-ge and I will drive you home.” He motioned for Emma Clark to follow him.

Emma Clark was already scared of them and refused to move no matter what. Ethan Carter gently patted the back of her hand, and only then did she get up, still uneasy. After all, she and Ethan Carter didn’t live in the same direction.

Chad Sullivan’s car keys were in his jacket. He got dressed and said to Ethan Carter, “Come out.”

Ethan Carter followed him outside.

The night wind carried a hint of autumn. Coming out from the warm private room, the sudden chill outside made her shiver.

He was tall with long legs, and walked with big strides. Ethan Carter stumbled along behind him, not saying a word.

In the small harbor city, Grace Turner had gone pale.

All night, Chad Sullivan hadn’t looked at her once. People said they were boyfriend and girlfriend, but really, they weren’t—it was her who had chased after Chad Sullivan. He had never really responded from start to finish.

A girl from their class nudged her with her elbow, snapping Grace Turner back to reality. She didn’t even bother to put on her jacket and ran outside.

The night was misty.

When she ran out, Chad Sullivan was just turning to look at Ethan Carter.

Ethan Carter was being so careful, testing every step. Chad Sullivan watched her intently. Grace Turner didn’t know what kind of look Chad Sullivan was giving Ethan Carter, but a sudden, inexplicable sense of crisis welled up in her heart.

Naturally, she walked faster than Ethan Carter, whose eyes weren’t convenient.

Grace Turner passed through the side door, ran up to Chad Sullivan, and wrapped her arms around his waist: “Chad Sullivan, come back early, okay?”

The air went quiet for a moment. Chad Sullivan didn’t look at her instinctively, but instead looked at Ethan Carter.

Ethan Carter stopped in her tracks.

The warm light of the small harbor city made her look especially gentle.

She gripped her white cane and quietly turned her face away. The light shone on her exposed cheek, and only then did he realize how fair her skin was.

Ethan Carter felt a little awkward.

She uneasily turned toward the aquarium wall in the small harbor city, where many goldfish were kept.

She had only ever heard about Chad Sullivan and Grace Turner from others before; by then, they had already broken up.

Suddenly, Chad Sullivan pushed Grace Turner away and said to Ethan Carter, “Get in the car.”

Grace Turner’s face was pale, but in the end she didn’t dare say anything. She shot Ethan Carter a look before going back inside. Ethan Carter got into his car; it was only a little after eight, and the buses hadn’t stopped running yet.

Chad Sullivan had her sit in the front passenger seat.

Ethan Carter buckled her seatbelt herself.

Whenever she was with him, she never felt safe, gripping her cane tightly. Chad Sullivan asked her, “Your address?”

Ethan Carter stiffened for a moment.

She didn’t want to get involved with Chad Sullivan: “Any bus stop is fine, just let me off there, thank you.”

Chad Sullivan sneered, “Don’t want to get involved with me, huh, good student?”

Ethan Carter quickly shook her head. He saw right through her, and her ears turned red.

“You think I care.” Chad Sullivan randomly picked a bus stop. “Get out.”