Chapter 14

Ethan Carter is determined. After being admitted on recommendation, even though her eyesight isn’t great, she’s always ranked first, and she’s still her class representative. Naturally, Ms. Parker likes her, but rules are rules—so when she returned to class, she scolded all the students who had broken them.

Down below, students whispered, “It’s normal for Paul Cooper and William Thompson to break the rules, but how did Ethan Carter end up costing our class points too?”

“Maybe she just forgot to bring it.”

“So does that mean she’ll have to run after school too?”

“It’s 1,500 meters. Will her eyes be okay?”

“No idea.”

Sure enough, Ms. Parker said, “After school, the three students who lost points will run 1,500 meters around the school perimeter. Class President, go supervise.”

Class President is called Lucy Grant, who also has good grades and is known for being meticulous. She quickly agreed.

After school, Ethan Carter, the two other punished boys, and Lucy Grant went to the school gate together.

Lucy Grant shouldered her backpack. “Alright, you guys can start running.”

William Thompson grinned and said, “Class President, how about letting Ethan Carter skip the run? Her eyesight isn’t great—if she falls, it wouldn’t be good. If none of us say anything, no one will know.”

Lucy Grant kept a stern face. “No way, everyone has to run. She didn’t bring her student ID.”

Paul Cooper and William Thompson both clicked their tongues.

Ethan Carter put down her white cane. “It’s fine, I can do it. Thank you, William Thompson.”

William Thompson felt a bit embarrassed. He was always the most mischievous type in class, worlds apart from the top students, whom he secretly looked down on even if he never said it.

But Ethan Carter, though she was number one, had a kind of easygoing charm.

The three of them started running.

Ethan Carter remembered this route. Since there would be basketball games on the field after school, they were assigned to run here. There was a wide path between No. 7 Middle School and the vocational school, just right for running. 1,500 meters isn’t short, and it’s tough for those not in good shape.

After 800 meters, Ethan Carter’s breathing started to sting a little.

She adjusted her breath, then turned back.

Because of her poor eyesight, her running pace was steady and unhurried. By then, William Thompson and the other boy had already finished and left.

When Chad Sullivan and Brian Foster rode over on their motorcycles, they immediately spotted Ethan Carter up ahead.

Strangely enough, she was wearing the No. 7 Middle School uniform, which should have made her blend into the crowd, but he saw her at a glance.

She was running with effort, her hair tied in a ponytail, swinging in a delicate arc.

Her fair, slender neck was exposed.

When Brian Foster saw Chad Sullivan stop his bike, he looked over too. Seeing Ethan Carter’s slow running, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Is she running or shuffling? I walk faster than that.”

Chad Sullivan couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile.

Alan Bennett thought for a moment. “People from No. 7 Middle School often run here. I heard it’s for breaking the rules.”

Now everyone was curious.

“What kind of rule could she have broken?”

Brian Foster guessed uncertainly, “Early romance?”

Chad Sullivan turned and smacked him on the head. “Early romance, my ass. You think everyone’s like you?” Brian Foster looked confused—why did he get hit? Was it wrong to guess?

Chad Sullivan, with his striking silver hair, chewed gum and casually pointed at a boy. “You, go check it out.”

The boy hurried over as ordered, and soon came back grinning. “Brother Chad, I asked that girl over there. Are people at No. 7 Middle School crazy? If you don’t wear your uniform, you have to run laps. If you forget your student ID, you have to run too. Our school is way better—what kind of stupid rules are those?”

The smile on Chad Sullivan’s face gradually faded.

His dark eyes grew cold, and suddenly he got off the bike and walked over.

This time, Brian Foster absolutely refused to take the lead, so Alan Bennett asked, “What’s up with Brother Chad?”

He didn’t seem angry, but he definitely wasn’t happy either. Wasn’t he just fine a moment ago?

By the time Ethan Carter finished running, she was completely out of breath.

Lucy Grant muttered, “Why are you so slow? I’ve been waiting forever.”

Ethan Carter panted softly. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Only then did Lucy Grant pack up and leave.

After running 1,500 meters, Ethan Carter was exhausted. She didn’t mind the dirty stone nearby, and sat hugging her knees to catch her breath. She knew that after three years without exercise, her once good physical condition had declined.

Back when she practiced dance, even running 2,000 meters wasn’t this hard.

Finally, when her breathing eased, a shadow fell over her, and something was draped around her neck—it was her student ID.

Ethan Carter looked up and saw Chad Sullivan.

Chad Sullivan had one hand in his pocket, looking down at her. His face was expressionless, and he seemed irritable.

“Ethan Carter.”

She scrambled to her feet, a bit confused. “Hm?”

“Do I owe you or something? Why are you so stupid?”

Ethan Carter didn’t know what to say. He was someone who never passed a single subject, yet he was calling her stupid. She held back for a while, then, sensing his bad mood, replied softly, “Sorry.”

She knew Chad Sullivan was domineering and unreasonable. She didn’t know why he was angry, but it was best not to provoke him.

His frustration had nowhere to go, and for some reason, he just couldn’t calm down.