“Hehe, actually, I really only need about 500 yuan more, just enough for travel expenses. I’m planning to go out and find some work, and also get some fresh air.” Ethan Bolton sent a cute smile, then said without any concealment.

“You, try to look on the bright side. Honestly, you really are excellent, don’t doubt yourself. If she gave up on you, she’ll definitely regret it!”

Soon, there was another reply from the other side.

“You already know all this?” Ethan Bolton asked, a bit puzzled.

“Yeah, Linda Howard mentioned it in the group. Emily Bennett was just chatting with her in the group too. Now, basically everyone in the group knows about you borrowing money.”

Grace seemed to hesitate for a moment, then sent this message.

“Thank you. I’m in a lot of groups—author groups, reader groups—I only joined them to get recommendation votes, so I mute all group messages now and didn’t see it. But it’s fine. After all, no one can guarantee they’ll always be at the top or at the bottom, right?” Ethan Bolton said with a smile. At this moment, he truly felt no pressure. Whether he was looked down on or not, he could now clearly see who would offer help in times of need and who would kick him when he was down—just as well!

“True. Send me your account info, take the whole 2000. I may be poor, but my sisters are all genuinely good people, and I rarely spend money. I’ll be able to pay them back next month, so it’s no problem. You’ll need to spend money out there anyway, and you seem used to spending freely, so suddenly being short on cash must feel really strange.”

Grace sent another gentle message.

This feeling, with no deception at all, made Ethan Bolton feel very warm.

After opening his third eye, there was no bulge at his brow, nor did an eye appear—everything looked the same as usual. But Ethan Bolton’s senses had become extremely sharp. In this chat, from the other person’s tone and so on, Ethan Bolton could easily judge the truth of their words and their state of mind. That’s why he had so decisively deleted friends and cut ties with those people.

But this time, with Grace, the feelings and attitude between the lines touched Ethan Bolton.

Because words infused with emotion carry a feeling that can be sensed but not described—a feeling that can truly be understood.

And in this feeling, Ethan Bolton understood that the other person admitted to having no money and borrowing it not to show off or to appear selfless, but simply because she didn’t want to deceive or lie! She just didn’t want to lie to a boy she had a good impression of and admired in her memory—that’s all!

This feeling, Ethan Bolton could completely understand.

Right then, he smiled calmly, thinking of that quiet girl in his mind who used to love wearing white dresses, and of the girl who, because of the twists of fate, had become silent, thin, unattractive, and self-conscious...

“Okay, send me your account first, then I’ll send you mine.” Ethan Bolton smiled and sent this message.

“You, sigh, alright. My account is with ICBC, the name is Sarah Scott, and the account number is 9558... Now can you tell me your number?”

“Okay, mine is also with ICBC, the name is Ethan Bolton, and the number is 9558...”

“Alright, wait a minute, the money will be there soon.” On the other end, Sarah Scott sent a cheerful message. This straightforwardness was so similar to how Ethan Bolton himself used to be.

“Okay, I’ll have money on the 15th this month. I’ll definitely pay you back then.” Ethan Bolton sent a cute emoji, then added this sentence.

“No need to be so polite, really. We were classmates from the first year of junior high all the way to the second year of high school—we’re old friends, so there’s no need to be so formal.” Sarah Scott also sent a cute blushing emoji, followed by this sentence.

“Where are you working now?” Ethan Bolton tried asking.

“I’m working at an electronics factory. I’m so ugly that most companies won’t hire me because of my looks, so I can only work in a factory. But being able to work every day, I don’t really have any complaints. I guess that’s life—many childhood dreams, looking back now, really do seem like illusions and bubbles: beautiful, but so easily shattered.” Sarah Scott’s words always carried a sense of helpless pain and sadness.

“It’ll get better, don’t overthink it. At least your dad, who used to be addicted to gambling, now works hard without smoking or playing cards. That’s a change. Even though your quality of life has gone down, your home is warmer now, isn’t it?”

“You’re right. If it weren’t for that, I don’t think I could have kept going... But let’s not talk about this. Big writer, why did your ‘Destined Law God’ stop updating? After the Ziwei Saint who saved the apocalypse was resurrected on the Holy Demon Continent, he was about to make a rare ring for the beautiful and lovely Xia Xiaoyan, wasn’t he? I was really looking forward to you giving her a ring.”

“Well, it’s on hold for now. I’m planning to write a new one, ‘Castle in the Sky.’ Hehe, I thought you wouldn’t like that kind of novel.” Ethan Bolton added a grinning emoji after this sentence.