Martin Bennett was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh: “Oh wow, is this really my son?”

William Bennett had always been the show-off type since he was little. Only when he was a kid throwing tantrums would he say “no,” but as he grew up, he never heard that word again. Hearing this tone out of the blue, Martin Bennett felt a bit sentimental, and his voice softened: “Come on, tell Dad, what’s gotten into you?”

William Bennett let out a “heh,” just about to spill all his complaints, when he heard a muffled voice from beside Martin Bennett—a woman’s low question. Martin Bennett’s voice suddenly became muffled too, probably covering the phone to reply to her.

William Bennett froze for a second, suddenly losing all interest.

“It’s nothing, just talking nonsense. I’m hanging up now.” He spoke with a forced smile, sounding quite cheerful.

“Oh, so where are you now?” Martin Bennett asked.

William Bennett lowered his head and glanced out the window. The car was driving down Qingyang Avenue, and he could vaguely see a side road up ahead. After turning in and driving a bit further, they’d reach Baima Alley. There were a few snack carts parked at the entrance, steaming something unknown, with thin wisps of smoke drifting along the wall at the mouth of the alley.

His family’s old ancestral house was in Baima Alley. He’d only lived there until he was five before moving away. Before he turned eight, he’d occasionally come back with his mom a couple of times, but after she passed away when he was eight, he never returned.

A lot had changed here, and his childhood memories weren’t very clear. But seeing that haze of smoke, he actually felt a bit nostalgic.

When Little Brooks drove the car into the yard, Martin Bennett was already standing there waiting.

The sky was a dusky blue-gray, and some houses had already turned on their lights. William Bennett got out of the car with his head down, and heard his dad gently call his nickname: “Wangzai, this is your Aunt Jiang, and this is Aunt Jiang’s son, Edward Harris. He’s a little older than you, so call him brother.”

Jiang who???

William Bennett was stunned and jerked his head up.

Author’s note: The middle school isn’t based on any real one, I just made it up. Updates are at night, and I’ll post the Weibo link after~ I won’t jinx myself by making any more flags.

This story shouldn’t be too long, thank you for your support, mwah~

Thank you all so much for your support, I’ll keep working hard!

Chapter 3 Exam

The scattered lights in the yard cast patches of brightness and shadow. Edward Harris stood in one of those shadows, tall, with the sharp lines unique to teenagers, but not overly thin. He carried his backpack on one shoulder, thumb hooked on the black strap, head turned to look elsewhere.

It wasn’t until Martin Bennett pulled his son over that he turned his face, immediately looking like he’d just eaten something rotten.

Seeing the other so unhappy, William Bennett felt a bit better.

“My fault, I’ve really failed as an elder. I only just found out that Xiao Tian is also a sophomore at the affiliated high school, and you two are in the same class!” Martin Bennett put his arm around his son’s shoulders, dragging the reluctant William Bennett forward a step. “So, you already met at school today?”

He wasn’t satisfied just interacting with his own son—he even looked up at Edward Harris, as if Edward Harris would answer him.

Of course, Edward Harris ignored him.

In just a moment, Edward Harris had already wiped the expression from his face, returning to a cold look, regarding William Bennett as if he were a stranger.

“Xiao Tian.” Someone called softly.

Hearing the gentle female voice, William Bennett suddenly remembered that besides Edward Harris, there was actually someone even more important present—

Owen Harris was standing next to her son, dressed simply and plainly, completely different from what he’d imagined. Among women, she was considered tall, but still much shorter than Edward Harris. The contrast made her seem completely unthreatening, even giving off a gentle, delicate vibe.

She tugged her son’s arm and said softly, “Xiao Tian? Uncle Sheng is talking to you. You and Xiao Wang are classmates, so you’ve already met, right?”

Edward Harris turned his head away, his brows furrowing for a split second, his expression showing instinctive impatience and resistance. But in the end, he couldn’t withstand his mother’s gaze. After a moment’s standoff, he turned back and replied coolly, “Slept all day, didn’t notice.”

William Bennett thought, what a load of crap, you liar.

If this conversation went on, it would only get more awkward, so Martin Bennett quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

He chuckled and said, “First day as classmates, there are too many faces to remember. It’s normal. You’ll get to know each other as you spend more time together. There’s plenty of time.”

Edward Harris looked at him expressionlessly, his thumb sliding along the backpack strap, hitching it up. From the look of it, he seemed ready to leave at any moment.

Sure enough, he opened his mouth and said in a low voice, “I’ll just—”

“Stay and have dinner with Mom first, okay?” Owen Harris’s voice was gentle, with a hint of caution, almost pleading.

Edward Harris: “……”

William Bennett felt like he could see the soul inside this guy’s skin struggling fiercely for a moment, then reluctantly lying back down.

He was a bit gleeful watching the drama, but the next second he couldn’t laugh anymore, because Owen Harris had settled her son and turned to smile at him.

This was the first time William Bennett had seen this woman’s face clearly. The moment she smiled, he suddenly realized she looked about fifty percent like his own mother.

Maybe it was the lighting blurring the lines of her face, or maybe it was the faint dimple at the corner of her mouth.