“What did you say? That my house is actually closer than Hannah Quinn’s, so you should take me home first?” Sarah Young’s pretty face turned slightly cold. “I’m not your good friend, of course you should prioritize your good friend first.”

Clearing his throat, David Thompson didn’t say anything more and walked back the way they came, head down. The two of them didn’t speak the whole way.

After all, it wasn’t far—just two or three minutes’ walk to the Mingyuan Community.

Standing at the entrance of the community, David Thompson stopped in his tracks. Sarah Young also paused, and the two stood in silence for a while.

In the darkness, Sarah Young bit her lip and asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, “David Thompson, do you really dislike me?”

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”

David Thompson was embarrassed. He hadn’t expected Sarah Young to ask this question. After thinking for a moment, he replied awkwardly, “How could I? You have good grades, you’re pretty, and all the classmates like you.”

“What about you?”

As soon as she asked, Sarah Young’s face turned red. Luckily, it was dark and David Thompson couldn’t see.

She didn’t even know why she blurted out that question. She regretted it as soon as she said it.

But every time she thought about David Thompson’s attitude toward her, she felt indignant. Why did he go out of his way to please Hannah Quinn, and what did she lack compared to Hannah Quinn?

That’s just how women are—if someone chases after them, they’re not interested, but if someone keeps their distance, that’s what gets their attention.

It wasn’t that David Thompson was really better than others; the key was his attitude.

David Thompson’s indifference toward her was real, not an act. No high schooler could keep up an act for three years—if he could, that would be terrifying.

David Thompson wailed inwardly. What kind of situation is this?

Could it be that Sarah Young likes me?

But thinking about it, that’s impossible. What does he, David Thompson, have? Nothing at all!

His parents were just small vendors, his grades weren’t outstanding, and though he hated to admit it, his looks weren’t anything special either—at best, he was just a bit clean-cut.

As for being reborn, he was sure no one but himself knew about that, so what did Sarah Young mean by her question?

He had to admit, facing such a beautiful girl, answering this kind of question was really tough.

Saying he didn’t like her would be lying. Although he used to find Sarah Young annoying and always felt she was putting on an act, honestly, most men have that kind of mentality when it comes to something they can’t have.

Besides, even if she was putting on an act, she had the looks for it. If an ugly girl tried to act like an ice queen, no one would pay her any attention.

But to say he liked her—those two words were a bit much.

David Thompson wasn’t the type to lose his head over a pretty face. It was normal to flirt a little with a pretty girl, but to say he liked Sarah Young—that would be strange. If he really liked her, why hadn’t he thought about her at all in all those years after graduation in his previous life?

He could only choose to stay silent. David Thompson didn’t say a word.

Sarah Young seemed to understand something. She bit her lip and didn’t ask again, quickening her pace and soon disappearing into the vast darkness.

“What a mess!”

Feeling frustrated, David Thompson kicked a stone by the roadside, only to immediately grimace in pain.

……

When he got home, the lights were already on. Only then did David Thompson finally put aside his earlier worries.

Not to mention it was just his own guess—even if Sarah Young really did like him, so what? Once the college entrance exams were over and they went to university, with Sarah Young’s looks, there would be plenty of people chasing after her. She’d probably forget all about him in a couple of days.

David Thompson knew his place. He wasn’t some kind of cash cow—why would a girl keep thinking about him all the time?

Feeling a bit lighter, he opened the door. He didn’t see his dad, but his mom was dozing on the sofa with her eyes half-closed.

He tiptoed over to his mom and saw the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, the dark circles from years of early mornings. David Thompson’s heart grew heavy again.

He needed to make money soon. His parents had only a few years left before their illnesses would be discovered—maybe they were already sick now, but the two of them never went to the hospital, so they didn’t know.

Years of poor sleep, bad food, and overwork—if they weren’t sick already, they’d get sick eventually. He had to take his parents to the hospital as soon as possible.

While David Thompson was deep in thought, Fiona Cole opened her eyes. Seeing her son sitting beside her in a daze, she complained a little, “Where did you go? You’re only just getting home, and you didn’t even tell us.”

“Hehe, Mom, I went out for barbecue with my classmates. Tomorrow’s a day off, after all.”

“Mm, next time remember to leave a note. Who paid? Don’t always let others pay for you. If you’re out of money, tell me. Treat your classmates more often—once you graduate from high school, everyone will go their separate ways. You never know when you might need their help. Get along well with your classmates and teachers…”

Listening to his mom’s nagging, David Thompson felt a warmth in his heart. He interrupted her with a smile, “Mom, I know. I still have money. You’ve been working all day—go get some sleep.”

Fiona Cole really was tired. She yawned and went to her room to sleep.

David Thompson quickly washed up, sat on the sofa in a daze for a while, then went to his room and picked up the textbook he’d been reviewing yesterday to continue studying.

Time was tight. He’d be busy with other things in the future, so he had to make the most of his evenings to review more. He didn’t expect to do exceptionally well, but at the very least, he couldn’t do worse than in his previous life.

Chapter 7: Asking About the Market

It was still dark outside, but the sound of light footsteps could already be heard in the living room.

David Thompson leapt out of bed, quickly got dressed, and hurried out the door.