William Reed looked at the bickering Brian Ford and Emily Carter, and suddenly laughed, “You two have such a... such a good relationship, just like, just like a pair of... a couple?” Emily Carter had once explained this word to him: a man and woman who get along very well and have a close relationship can be called a “couple.” He hadn’t expected William Reed to use it here—he thought it only meant two very good friends of the opposite sex...

As soon as he said this, the room fell abruptly silent. Emily Carter and Brian Ford froze in their playful poses, staring blankly at William Reed. Then, as they processed what he’d said, both quickly sat down. Emily Carter very demurely brushed her hair aside: “Little William, don’t talk nonsense. How could I possibly like someone like him? He can’t do anything, always showing off, greedy, lazy, a pervert... I really can’t find any good qualities in him at all.” She even exaggeratedly spread her hands, shrugged her shoulders, and let out a loud sigh.

Brian Ford stuck out his tongue at Emily Carter: “Yeah, yeah, what kind of man would want a girl who acts all ladylike in public but is violent behind the scenes? Tomboy, tomboy...”

A sofa cushion hit Brian Ford right on his outstretched tongue—thrown by Emily Carter. “Yay! Bullseye!” She even made a “V” sign with her fingers.

Watching the two start bickering again, William Reed just smiled and said nothing more. He wondered, before he came to this world, were these two like this every day as well?

He was an orphan, raised by his master since childhood. His master taught him to play soccer and sent him to Qiyun Club. Before he had a chance to repay his master, the old man passed away.

Thinking about it, he didn’t have many beautiful childhood memories. He had no playmates, no toys, and spent every day under his master’s strict training. That little soccer ball was his best friend. Now, watching the happy Brian Ford and Emily Carter, William Reed thought... maybe staying in this world wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all?

To be friends with Brother Brian and Miss Emily Carter, to work hard to adapt to this world, then find his own path, and live a peaceful life with a girl who likes him.

At sixteen, William Reed was already thinking about life after sixty.

※※※

When the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, the excited William Reed couldn’t wait to get up, then hopped over to knock on Brian Ford’s bedroom door. Just thinking about going out to see this strange new world, he couldn’t keep up the humble guest act in front of Brian Ford any longer.

Brian Ford rubbed his sleepy eyes as he opened the door for William Reed: “Heh... yawn, do we really have to get up this early? It’s only...” He glanced at the clock on the wall, “It’s only six o’clock! Bro... it’s finally vacation, let me sleep a bit longer...” As he turned to go back to his dreams, the living room door opened and Emily Carter, fully dressed, stood at the entrance.

“Don’t sleep anymore! If we go out early, we won’t run into many people, and it’ll be much easier to make up stories!” Emily Carter stepped forward and dragged Brian Ford to the bathroom to wash up.

While Brian Ford was washing and getting dressed, Emily Carter and William Reed rehearsed how to respond if they ran into someone they knew. Actually, the three of them had already agreed on a story: if anyone asked, they’d say William Reed was Brian Ford’s father’s brother’s son’s cousin’s third aunt’s old uncle’s seventh brother’s second sister’s son—in short, a very, very distant relative. Then they’d say William Reed grew up in the mountains, had never seen the world, and after his family died in a disaster, he came here alone with the help of some distant relative to seek out his... his... what was Brian Ford’s father to him again? In the end, even the clever Emily Carter got confused. Outwardly, Brian Ford was the older brother, and William Reed was the younger brother.

With this story, it was pretty much perfect, and if they made it sound pitiful enough, no one would suspect a thing.

Brian Ford muttered pitifully on the side, “So early, there won’t be anyone out there...”

Looking at the two who were ready, Emily Carter happily waved her hand: “Let’s go! Big sis will take you two out on the town!”

※※※

On the way out, William Reed’s head was spinning like a wind-up toy, everything he saw was new and exciting. Although he’d seen skyscrapers, cars, ships, planes, and cannons on TV, seeing the endless stream of cars on the street with his own eyes, and standing at the base of a skyscraper so tall he couldn’t see the top, William Reed was left speechless with shock.

When he got on the bus, no matter how crowded it was, he squeezed to the window to admire the scenery flying by outside.

When the three arrived at their destination, William Reed was still marveling at what he’d just experienced: “It’s just... so, so amazing! Are those cars? And that one... and that one... they’re all different shapes! Such tall buildings! Wow! Such a big person?!”

“That’s a billboard...” Brian Ford was speechless at William Reed, and shot Emily Carter a look: I knew this would happen!

Emily Carter stuck out her tongue: We can’t keep him cooped up all the time, besides, you agreed to this too, don’t try to back out now! “That’s Riverside Park up ahead, let’s not just stand here in a daze, let’s hurry in! See, you said we’d be early, but there are already so many people!” Emily Carter pointed at the sea of people at the park entrance.