Scott Miller: "Huh?"

　　"You left something here." Ryan Grant looked at him and said, enunciating each word, "Aren't you going to look for it?"

　　"......"

　　Since Ryan Grant had already said that, Scott Miller could only unwillingly search again. This time, he miraculously found it in the lower cabinet. He breathed a sigh of relief and immediately handed it to her: "Is it this one?"

　　Evan Carter took it: "Yes, thank you."

　　Scott Miller glanced in Ryan Grant's direction and scratched the back of his head: "No need, no need. We've already taken up so much of your time, we should be the ones apologizing."

　　Ryan Grant continued drinking, saying nothing.

　　Evan Carter nodded, said goodbye, and left.

　　Outside, it was wet and cold, with few people around. Looking down the road, it was desolate and empty.

　　Evan Carter was so cold she didn't want to touch her phone. She quickly messaged Samuel Clark on WeChat, "Found the bracelet," then stuffed her hands back in her pockets. She sniffled, her mind wandering for no reason.

　　Her thoughts were gradually filled, bit by bit, by memories.

　　Because of that unpleasant yet somewhat familiar Ryan Grant just now.

　　She remembered the scene when they first met.

　　……

　　On the first day of her first year of high school, Evan Carter was late.

　　After arriving at school, she didn't even have time to go back to the dorm. She had her uncle leave her luggage with the dorm supervisor and hurried toward Building A, where the first-year classes were, climbing up to the fourth floor.

　　She walked through a corridor toward the inner area. Passing by the school's water dispenser, she saw Ryan Grant for the first time.

　　The boy stood tall and straight, wearing a blue-and-white striped school uniform, his backpack slung loosely over his shoulder. His features were handsome and refined, his expression indifferent, making him seem a bit unapproachable.

　　Completely different from her own state.

　　As if he didn't know the bell had already rung, he was there filling his bottle, looking completely at ease.

　　Evan Carter was anxious to get back to class, but only knew her class was on the fourth floor of this building, not the exact location.

　　Not wanting to waste time, she stopped and planned to ask for directions: "Excuse me, classmate."

　　Ryan Grant let go of the switch, and the sound of water stopped. He slowly screwed the cap back on and glanced over at her.

　　He looked away after just a glance, showing no intention of responding.

　　At that time, Evan Carter didn't know him yet, only thought that this person wasn't afraid of being late, and could swagger around filling his bottle during class time, without a trace of a new student's caution or anxiety.

　　More like a seasoned veteran who's roamed the world for years.

　　So she hesitated for a few seconds and changed her address: "...Senior?"

　　Ryan Grant raised his eyebrows and looked over again.

　　"Excuse me," Evan Carter said, "do you know where Class 17, Grade 1 is?"

　　This time, Ryan Grant didn't act so indifferent. He lifted his chin and, quite generously, spoke: "Go straight ahead and turn right."

　　Evan Carter nodded, waiting for him to continue.

　　But Ryan Grant said nothing more.

　　Evan Carter didn't hear any kind of "and then you'll be there" to finish.

　　Afraid he wasn't done, she cautiously asked, "And then?"

　　"And then?" Ryan Grant started walking forward, his tone lazy and a bit provoking, "Then look at the classroom numbers on the doors yourself. Or do you want your senior to read them out to you one by one—"

　　He dragged out the last syllables, biting off each word: "Junior."

　　"......"

　　Evan Carter thanked him good-naturedly.

　　Following his directions, she turned right and immediately saw the sign for Class 15. A bit further ahead, at the very end, was Class 17. Evan Carter quickened her pace, and at the door, softly called out, "Excuse me."

　　The homeroom teacher on the podium looked at her, glanced down at the roster, and asked, "Ryan Grant?"

　　Evan Carter shook her head: "Teacher, my name is Evan Carter."

　　"Yifan, huh." The homeroom teacher looked at the list again, a bit surprised, "Only you and Ryan Grant haven't arrived yet. I thought this name sounded more like a girl's, so I assumed it was you."

　　Before the teacher could let her in, a male voice sounded behind Evan Carter: "Excuse me."

　　Following the voice, she instinctively turned around.

　　She saw the "senior" who had just given her directions standing behind her. There were only two steps between them, and now that they were closer, she realized how tall he was.

　　At this distance, she had to look up to see his face.

　　His presence was cold, adding a sense of pressure, with a faint scent of sandalwood.

　　His mood was indifferent, and he said, without much sincerity, "Sorry, teacher, I'm late."

　　"You two come in, your seats are over there." The homeroom teacher pointed to the only two remaining seats in the classroom, and asked, "Why are you both late on the first day? Did you come together?"

　　The seats were in the last row of the innermost group.

　　The two seats were side by side.

　　Evan Carter answered honestly, "We didn't come together. My family had something else this morning, so we were a bit late. Plus, I don't really know my way around, so I arrived late."

　　"I see." The homeroom teacher nodded and looked at Ryan Grant, "What about you?"

　　"My dad didn't know I was in high school already," Ryan Grant walked straight to the seat by the aisle, put his backpack on the desk, and lazily said, "He dropped me off at the middle school."

　　"......"

　　The room was silent.

　　And then, in an instant, it was filled with laughter. The once quiet classroom became lively.