Maureen hasn't returned, yet the topics revolving around her have naturally dominated the dinner table at home.
Mrs. Smith glanced at Maureen's chair, that had been vacant for a week and a half, and placed her Spoon and bowl down with a "snap," frowning at Oliver
"Didn't you visit her at school today?"
Chris dared not chime in, he peeked cautiously at his elder brother.
Oliver, felt a throbbing headache, he obviously couldn't tell Mrs. Smith about Maureen wanting to break ties with them just yet, fearing it would result in chaos.
He nonchalantly paused for a moment, picked up some food with his spoon, and casually responded,
"I went."
"So, has she still not been coaxed back?"
Oliver: "Maureen said she currently has to prepare for the interscholastic competition and commuting back and forth from school doesn't leave her with much time, so she will continue to stay at school for the moment and will return on the day of your birthday party."
"Is she also participating?"
Mrs. Smith was surprised.
Bianca was also shocked.
She didn't understand why recently Maureen not only stopped following Richard around, but also started to focus on her studies.
Participating in the school beauty contest, she also participates in competitions.
For the former, Bianca didn't dare to compete with Maureen, but for the latter, when it comes to grades, Bianca felt confident.
Her voice was steadier than before, she said with the tone of someone in the know:
"Inter-school competition finalists can receive prize money, and the top ten after the finals can get additional points for the college entrance examination.
It's normal for Maureen to want to give it a try.
But there are few seats available, it's not easy to even be selected to participate...
considering Maureen's grades, it might be a bit challenging."
"Last year, I made the finals and Maureen didn't even get to participate, she must be upset.
Do you think we should send some gifts to Professor Logan to help Maureen?"
Oliver, frowned and said, "I know that Professor Logan you're referring to, gift-giving is useless.
It depends on participation."
Mrs. Smith had nothing to say, but she still couldn't hold back her nagging:
"Competing is just an excuse, it seems she is still angry, this child really is.
What's wrong with her phone, why can't anyone in the family reach her?"
Chris's head was almost buried in his bowl.
Oliver, hesitated for a moment, then said,
"Her phone broke because of water damage."
"Why don't you give her the money to buy a new one?"
"I bought one for her," said Oliver rubbing his forehead.
"But she is preparing for exams and isolating herself from distractions, let her stay focused on her studies for now.
She will definitely return for her birthday celebration."
This finally pleased Mrs. Smith who suddenly brought up,
"Right, I heard the Donald family is planning on returning to the country soon.
Be careful, don't let them do anything sneaky behind your back."
"Why are they returning at this time?" Oliver frowned,
"Does Maureen know?"
"Probably not," Mrs. Smith replied.
"They haven't left yet.
I heard this information while shopping with a group of wives."
The Donald used to be Maureen's neighbors in their small town. Initially poor, they suddenly struck rich just before Maureen was found by the Smith family.
There's a boy from the Donald family of a similar age to Maureen, who happens to be friends with her.
The biggest obstacle they encountered when searching for Maureen was this family.
It's uncertain what the family was thinking, they probably wanted Maureen to stay, so they unexpectedly did something like secretly moving with Maureen.
Moreover, from the first encounter, this family held a huge animosity towards Smith's family.
Their own Donald almost made Bianca stumble.
That almost ended up in a lawsuit.
Thankfully, this family went abroad during that time.
Talking about this family animosity filled Mrs. Smith's eyes:
"Now they're wealthy with a few dirty money, yet lacking a cultural foundation.
Thankfully, Maureen didn't stay with them."
The atmosphere at the dining table was quite unpleasant.
Bianca took a spoon of food and placed it in Mrs. Smith's bowl, smiling,
"Mom, don't worry, I am still here with you.
Why don't I give you a back rub after dinner?".
"How could they be the same?"
Mrs. Smith massaged her temples as she spoke casually.
Though she has a particular soft spot for Bianca, considering her well-behaved in all aspects, the blood relation is, after all, etched in genes.
This explains why they searched for several years to bring Maureen back.
Bianca's face turned stiff.
She subconsciously glanced at the other two people at the dinner table.
However, both Oliver and Chris behaved oddly today, preoccupied with their thoughts without the slightest intention to reassure her.
Bianca felt a gloom in her heart, and she had a very bad feeling.
Not many chose to live on campus.
To prevent fires on weekends, the school buildings were generally closed.
Only one classroom on the fourth floor of the library was left open for those students staying on campus to self-study.
Liam has never set foot in the school library in the three years he has been here, but the moment school ended today, his mind couldn't resist drifting towards it.
Niel also glanced towards the library, just in time to spot a familiar figure with a backpack heading in that direction.
Richard? He didn't live on campus, what was he doing in the library after school?
Was he looking for a transfer student?
"What are you looking at?"
Liam was just about to follow his gaze when Niel hurriedly stopped him,
"Your ride's here." At the school gate, a limousine slowly pulled up, successfully distracting Liam.
Liam frowned, feeling somewhat impatient, he grabbed Niel by the collar and led him in the other direction.
Niel glanced at the license plate, and his eyes widened in shock,
"Your mom is back?!" The car that usually comes to pick up Liam isn't this one.
Liam pushed him away, straightened his coat, and his brow furrowed in impatience.
"Don't bring this matter up when I'm in a good mood."
Niel had no choice but to hold his tongue.
After a moment, however, curiosity got the better of him and he leaned in, asking,
"And what about that guy Williams Demon? Is he back too?"
"Certainly not,"
Liam scoffed, a gust of wind causing his short crimson hair to flutter, the corner of his eyes a touch frosty.
"A substitute shouldn't be eagerly hanging around."
Niel felt a twinge of irritation on behalf of Liam.
Distracted, he lost sight of where he was going.
On raising his head, he discovered that he had been dragged into a shopping center by Liam.
"Liam, what are you going to buy?"
Liam ignored him, instead focusing intently on the women's clothing displayed in the shop window.
His thumb unconsciously rested against his lips in thought, wondering aloud,
"Why does she wear the same two school uniforms these days?
Had a fallout at home so she has no clothes?"
Liam's line of thought was so abrupt, Niel didn't have time to react. Thoroughly bemused, he asked,
"Who?" "That...that girl."
Liam sighed as if exasperated, raised an eyebrow and pointed to himself:
'The one who pursues Liam relentlessly.'
"She even completed my homework for me this morning, her eyes were sparkling."
Liam smugly stated, "And she has been delivering homemade desserts for almost two weeks now.
Wouldn't it be impolite of me if I didn't give her something in return?"
"Niel was momentarily at a loss for words, thinking to himself, 'Haven't there been numerous times when you were impolite?
How come you're suddenly concerned about manners now?' Niel asked,
"How do I give it to her?" He certainly couldn't do it in front of the whole class.
Liam replied nonchalantly, "She's probably studying in the library tonight.
I need to go home later, so can you take the stuff to her?
Meet me at the library."
"No way—," Niel immediately responded. Liam gave him a baffled look,
"Do you have other things to do?" Niel nodded,
"Yes."
"Oh, " Liam responded. He continued walking, his hands in his pockets.
"Then I'll go myself." Niel: "Why not give it to her in class next Monday? Why do you have to go to the library?
You don't even have a card!"
"That's easy." Liam looked at him with a 'are you kidding me, I am the school's top student' expression,
"Just grab one from anyone you meet on the way." Niel:
"Liam, very sharp, suspected,
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Niel quickly changed the subject, "No, nothing.
Let's just buy something random."
As he thought to himself, 'If it turns into a mayhem at the library later, what do I do?'
He hadn't figured out how to tell Liam about Maureen having pursued Richard for two years.
"Of course we'll just buy something random.
Do you think I'm going to make a careful selection for her?" Liam sneered.
As he spoke, he stepped into a luggage store, glanced around, and picked up the largest-sized, jumbo, black suitcase.
The entire shopping mall belonged to the Williams family.
The sales associates recognized him — or rather his red hair — and no one approached him.
They let him do as he pleased.
Liam pulled the suitcase and walked on.
Niel then saw him stride forward, tossing girls' autumn and winter clothes, shoes, backpacks, socks into the suitcase as he walked.
He littered an entire row with each toss.
Wherever he went, it was as if a swarm of locusts had passed, leaving everything bare.
Niel: "..." Do you call this casual shopping?