At this moment, another shiny, gleaming Crown sedan slowly drove over. A chubby guy with slicked-back hair shouted loudly, “Brother Bennett, what’s going on? Did your car break down?”

The passenger side door opened and another familiar face got out—it was David Harris.

These days are when incoming college students report in, and Jianye is the city with the most universities in Sudong Province, so it’s pretty normal to run into people on the road.

David Harris put on a show, circling the broken-down Santana once, then looked up at Chris Brooks and Brian Foster on the bus, and said reproachfully, “You two, seriously. We’re all classmates, and we’re all studying in Jianye. You could have just taken our car together.”

“The bus is crowded, and the air isn’t good. Next time you’re going back and forth to Jianye, remember to let us know in advance.”

After putting on this act, David Harris started to reveal his real purpose.

“Uncle Bennett, Julia and I were high school classmates. I got into Jianye University of Aeronautics and Astronautics this year. Why not let her come with me? I guarantee she’ll get there safely.”

Julia Bennett’s dad and David Harris’s dad actually know each other too. The port city is small, and they’re both prominent people.

But because of that, Mr. Bennett was even more hesitant. He’s a police officer, while David Harris’s dad is a real estate developer.

Real estate developers don’t have the best reputations, so Mr. Bennett wasn’t too keen to get involved.

On the other hand, Mark Brooks’s character and integrity are very trustworthy. His son, Chris Brooks, might look a bit roguish, but the family background is well known.

“Do you want to take the bus, or ride in Boss Harris’s car?” Mr. Bennett wanted to hear his daughter’s opinion.

“Julia…”

David Harris was almost pleading, but Chris Brooks was the opposite—he turned his head, wanting to distance himself.

“I want to take the bus!”

Seeing Chris Brooks’s attitude now, and remembering how friendly and outgoing he used to be, Julia Bennett spoke out of spite.

“Sigh~”

Chris Brooks sighed inwardly and said to Brian Foster, “There aren’t any other empty seats on the bus. In a bit, you should sit in the very front.”

That’s the seat next to the driver, but because of the angle, you get a lot of sun.

Brian Foster wasn’t stupid—he refused right away: “I’m not going!”

“Nice one.”

Chris Brooks was straightforward too: “Once Julia Bennett gets on, let her take that seat.”

Brian Foster was stunned for a moment. Julia Bennett’s dad was still watching from outside, and was he really going to let the “Little Carp Goddess” get her fair skin sunburned?

“Why don’t you sit there?” Brian Foster finally caught on.

“I get carsick in the sun. If I get too much sun, I feel like throwing up,” Chris Brooks said with a grin.

By this time, Julia Bennett had already boarded the bus. Chris Brooks didn’t even plan to move, and Brian Foster, being a bit thin-skinned, hesitated for a while but finally picked up his luggage and stood up, muttering under his breath, “Damn you, Chris Brooks, you’re always bossing me around!”

Brian Foster gave up his seat, which kind of “fulfilled” Chris Brooks and Julia Bennett. Chris Brooks went down to help with the luggage, and Mr. Bennett was still a bit uneasy: “Little Brooks, Little Julia said your school is right across the street. Make sure you look after her on the way.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Bennett, I’ll definitely take good care of our Julia.”

Chris Brooks deliberately teased him a bit.

Mr. Bennett’s eyelid twitched—he suddenly regretted his decision a little.

……

The bus finally started up again. The difference was that the “big, dark, and burly” Brian Foster next to Chris Brooks had been replaced by the charming and beautiful Julia Bennett.

Chris Brooks couldn’t bear to let his good friend get sunburned for too long. When the ticket collector came around, Chris Brooks pointed at Brian Foster in the front and said, “Ma’am, could you get him a sunshade?”

The ticket collector was a menopausal woman. She raised her head blankly, glanced over, and said expressionlessly, “Got it.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Chris Brooks thanked her politely, then, breathing in the fresh scent from the girl beside him, turned his head to see Julia Bennett staring at him. Her long eyelashes fluttered like two little fans, and her beautiful eyes were bright and lively.

“That morning, why did you say those things?”

Julia Bennett started off with a question.

“What things? I don’t remember.”

Chris Brooks yawned. “I’ve been working on the farm in the countryside these days, and I got up really early today. I’m going to sleep for a bit.”

Julia Bennett thought Chris Brooks was just making excuses, but after a while, she actually heard him snoring.

She was stunned for a moment, not expecting a guy to really fall asleep sitting next to her.

“What a jerk.”

Julia Bennett felt her gums itch, and she really wanted to pinch Chris Brooks’s sleeping, annoying face.

……

Chapter 9: You promised my dad you’d take care of me!

Julia Bennett could sense that Chris Brooks had changed toward her, just a little, but it was there.

Before, Chris Brooks was always a gentleman around her, even if he wasn’t as fawning as David Harris. But now, it seemed like he didn’t care about her at all.

“After turning me down that night, does that mean we can’t even be friends anymore?”

Julia Bennett thought to herself, feeling a bit angry. Some guys had been rejected by her a dozen times, but their attitude toward her never changed.