Two pigtails, a timid little face, head lowered, a pair of dark eyes darting around from time to time, sizing up the surroundings and the people.

There was curiosity, but even more confusion.

That day, Ryan Clark had originally planned to compete with his friends, but unexpectedly was forced by his dad to stay in his bedroom and do practice questions, feeling extremely annoyed.

When the bedroom door was opened, he immediately looked over impatiently, only to meet a slightly panicked little face.

The little girl froze for a moment, then hurriedly took out a bag of bear-shaped cookies from her small backpack, her eyes showing some reluctance, but still offering them up in a fawning manner.

“Bro... brother, have some cookies.”

What did she call me back then? Seemed like she called me brother, right?

Thinking of this, and then looking at the present.

That cute little elementary school girl had now blossomed into a budding middle schooler, but his own “treatment” had done a complete 180-degree turn.

Damn, this really feels awful!

Ryan Clark looked up at the sky in speechless frustration for a while.

At this moment, he was clearly choosing to forget certain details.

For example, not only did he not accept the kind gesture that day, but he had rather rudely pushed her out the door, then slammed it shut with a “bang.”

He had no idea that after being pushed out in a fluster, the little girl had stood in front of the closed door, her eyes turning red as she stared at it for a long time.

If he knew all this, Ryan Clark would probably understand what “what goes around comes around” really means.

……

Just as Ryan Clark was standing at the door, awkwardly lost in bittersweet memories, the ringtone in his baggy shorts pocket rang again.

Ryan Clark took out his phone and saw it was his recently acquainted college roommate, Henry Cooper.

“Langzi, what are you up to?”

As soon as the call connected, a thick Northeastern accent came through.

“Nothing, just at home.”

As Ryan Clark spoke, he kicked the base of the wall by the door a couple of times.

He’d just been embarrassed by that girl and was considering whether or not to go back in.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the guy on the other end heard this, he immediately shouted, “Damn! Then come to school! You know Ao Xiang, right? The guys are all waiting for you!”

“Waiting for me for what?” Ryan Clark asked, a bit puzzled.

“To play games! The guys just found a super fun game, the whole internet café is playing it.”

After some things he’d been through, Ryan Clark wasn’t as passionate about games as before.

Hearing this, he lost interest and said, “No! I’m not playing LOL. Last time you and Mantou almost beat me to death.”

“Come on! It’s not LOL!” On the other end, Henry Cooper was interrupted by someone calling him.

He turned to say something to them, then spoke into the phone again, “Hurry up! We’re one short for a four-man team, I’m hanging up now.”

Before Ryan Clark could ask what game it was, the call was already disconnected.

Ryan Clark stared at his phone in a daze.

He figured if he went back in now, that girl probably wouldn’t give him a good look.

If it were just him at home, it’d be fine, but now there was also the “glasses loli” around—he couldn’t let his heroic image be ruined just like that.

Thinking this, he simply didn’t go home, but went out and caught a cab to school.

……

Not long after Ryan Clark left, the door to Grace Bolton’s room opened.

She took two bottles of juice from the fridge in the living room, casually glanced at Ryan Clark’s half-open bedroom door, and started walking back.

But after a few steps, she suddenly stopped, her delicate ears perking up as she listened for any sounds from Ryan Clark’s room.

Everything was quiet.

Grace Bolton hesitated for a moment, but in the end couldn’t resist tiptoeing over to the door, sneaking a guilty peek inside.

A messy room, clothes thrown everywhere, an unmade bed...

But no sign of anyone.

Hmph!

Seeing this, Grace Bolton snorted softly and bit her lip.

Just then, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

Ah!

Grace Bolton jumped in fright, turning to see it was her classmate.

“Xiaotong, what are you doing here?” The glasses loli curiously glanced in the direction Grace Bolton had just been peeking.

“N-nothing.” Grace Bolton hurriedly waved her hand, then pretended nothing was wrong and gestured with the juice in her hand, “I brought you something to drink, let’s go! Don’t stay here, we need to record the dance and upload it today.”

“Oh, right.” The glasses loli nodded blankly, then suddenly turned and asked curiously, “By the way, Xiaotong, who was that just now? Was that your brother?”

“No!” Before the words were even out, Grace Bolton answered firmly.

Then she glanced at Ryan Clark’s room and frowned, “Just an annoying person, don’t mention him.”

Achoo!

In the taxi, Ryan Clark rubbed his nose.

He thought to himself, are those bastards talking about me?

Am I going to die later?