“What fate or not! Don’t think about those unhappy things anymore, let’s talk about something else… I’m really interested in your experience playing soccer in the Song Dynasty. I once watched a TV drama about how you guys helped the Song emperor resist the Jin people on the soccer field. Is that really true?” Brian Ford knew that William Reed was feeling down at this moment. No matter how much he said he didn’t mind, he couldn’t really not mind at all. At times like this, it wasn’t right to keep dwelling on these issues. Changing the topic and steering the atmosphere in a better direction was the right thing to do. He remembered a TV drama he had watched before, “A Kick to Set the Rivers and Mountains,” which was about cuju in the Song Dynasty. This was also his only knowledge of cuju as a total sports idiot. If he wanted to successfully distract William Reed, this was the only angle he could use.

William Reed shook his head and said, “I do not know. Qiyun Club is the largest soccer club, but I have never heard of any soccer match against the Jin people.”

Brian Ford was not satisfied with William Reed’s honest and rigid answer. His eyes rolled, and he thought of a new point of interest: “Aha, I knew that couldn’t be true. TV dramas are all made up anyway. Then tell me about your stories playing soccer at that Qiyun Club? I want to hear them, they must be interesting, right?”

“If you really want to hear it, I’ll tell you slowly…”

“Aiya! Enough with the nonsense, let’s get back to the main story!”

※※※

The next day, the last day before the National Day Golden Week holiday, September 30th, Friday.

What surprised Brian Ford was that when he hurriedly ran to the classroom door, he happened to see Emily Carter standing at the door calling out to report.

What puzzled the homeroom teacher of Class 3, Grade 1, Teacher Zhai Guishun, was that Emily Carter was actually late together with Brian Ford again…

Chapter 005: A Thief and Two Fools

Tomorrow is National Day, and William Reed was very happy about being able to go out and have fun. After all, he was only sixteen, and still very playful. But there was another issue between the other two: about what William Reed should wear when they went out tomorrow, Brian Ford and Emily Carter had a very serious disagreement…

“Just wear my clothes.” Brian Ford held his own T-shirt and jeans, which William Reed usually wore at home.

“No way!” Emily Carter glared at Brian Ford, “Wear this!” She was holding a COSPLAY costume borrowed from a friend—a white swordsman’s outfit.

“You want him to be treated like a lunatic?” Brian Ford refused to give in.

“This is COSPLAY! COSPLAY! How many times have I told you, everyone’s used to it now. It’s the perfect way to hide A Jian’s real identity. I spent the whole day coming up with this idea!” Emily Carter’s forehead veins popped.

“You spent a whole day and this is what you came up with?” Brian Ford mocked, “I don’t want to go out and embarrass myself.”

“You…” Emily Carter was at a loss with Brian Ford. He usually seemed careless and easygoing, but once he got stubborn, not even eight horses—no, eight heavy trucks—could drag him back. She glanced at William Reed standing nearby. How could she forget him? “Right, it doesn’t matter what we say. William Reed, what do you want to wear? After all, you’re the one who has to wear these clothes.” She deliberately handed her clothes to William Reed so he could see them.

William Reed looked at the two of them: “Do you really want to hear my opinion?”

Brian Ford said nothing, Emily Carter nodded vigorously.

“Then… I still hope to wear Brother Brian’s clothes…”

“Hahahaha!” Brian Ford jumped up and started wiggling his butt in front of Emily Carter. “Xishuashua! Xishuashua! Mm! Mm!” He celebrated his victory in the clothing battle with Emily Carter in this silly way—no wonder he was called “loser” Brian Ford.

Emily Carter pouted, her face looking very unpleasant. The clever William Reed noticed this and quickly stood up to bow and apologize to Emily Carter: “If Miss Emily Carter would like me to wear those clothes, I can wear them here. But please forgive me, I can’t wear them outside, I’m afraid it would cause trouble for both of you.” As he spoke, he was about to kneel down again.

Emily Carter hurriedly stopped him, then glanced at Brian Ford who was still wiggling his butt on the side, and snorted, “Forget it, I have to return this costume the day after tomorrow anyway.”

William Reed stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to say or do. Only then did Emily Carter realize she had spoken a bit harshly just now, and quickly smiled at William Reed: “Don’t take it to heart, I was just interested for a moment.”

“Yeah, yeah! Just a girl, don’t mind her!” Brian Ford fanned the flames from the side.

Emily Carter’s mouth curled, her brows furrowed: “Yeah, yeah, just a girl, so don’t even think about copying my homework anymore.”

“Hmph, threatening me? Let me tell you: a gentleman can be killed but not humiliated! I won’t copy, who cares?” Brian Ford made a face.

Emily Carter reached for her homework notebook, but Brian Ford was faster and snatched it first.

“Give it to me!”

“No, no, I won’t give it!”

“Shameless! Not keeping your word!” Emily Carter teased Brian Ford by pretending to scratch his face.

Brian Ford answered her with another silly face.