Chapter One
The body lay in perfect repose on the Victorian fainting couch, looking more like a sleeping beauty than a victim. Detective Sarah Chen had seen enough death in her ten years with the Metropolitan Police's Special Cases Unit to know that natural death never looked this peaceful. Something was very, very wrong.
'No signs of struggle, no marks on the body, and yet...' She leaned closer, studying the victim's face. Charlotte Mills, aged 28, was found by her roommate this morning, apparently having passed away in her sleep. Her expression was serene, almost blissful, but her eyes - those were what caught Sarah's attention. Behind the closed lids, her eyes were moving rapidly, as if still deep in REM sleep.
"You see it too, don't you?" The voice came from behind her, rich and cultured with a slight Irish lilt. "She's still dreaming."
Sarah turned to find a tall man in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit standing in the doorway. He hadn't been there a moment ago, she was certain of it. His dark hair was streaked with silver at the temples, and his eyes were an unusual shade of amber that seemed to shift color in the light.
"This is a closed crime scene," she said firmly, her hand instinctively moving toward her weapon. "How did you get in here?"
He smiled, but it didn't reach those strange eyes. "Dr. Marcus Thorne," he said, pulling out a card that somehow both looked official and seemed to shimmer slightly. "I'm a consulting specialist with the Department's new Oneiric Phenomena Division."
"The what division?" Sarah frowned, taking the card. The moment her fingers touched it, she felt a slight electric tingle, and the letters seemed to rearrange themselves before her eyes.
"Dreams, Detective Chen. We investigate crimes involving dreams." He moved into the room with fluid grace, his attention fixed on the victim. "And this is the third one this month."
Sarah's mind raced. There had been two other deaths recently - both young women, both found peacefully dead in their sleep. She'd seen the reports but hadn't made the connection until now. "How do you know about those cases?"
"Because I've been tracking the killer for quite some time." Thorne knelt beside the body, his eyes now definitely more gold than amber. "He's what we call a Dream Collector - someone who has learned to enter and steal dreams. But this one has developed a taste for more than just dreams. He's taking souls."
Under normal circumstances, Sarah would have dismissed such talk as nonsense. But there was something about the scene, about the victim's still-moving eyes, about Thorne himself, that made the impossible seem suddenly plausible.
"If you're tracking him," she said carefully, "why haven't you caught him?"
Thorne's expression darkened. "Because he only appears in dreams. The physical world is my domain, but his... his is the realm of sleep. To catch him, we need someone who can walk between both worlds." He turned those unsettling eyes on her. "Someone like you."
"Me?" Sarah almost laughed, but the sound died in her throat as memories she'd long suppressed began to surface. The dreams that felt too real, the nights she'd awakened to find objects moved in her room, the way she sometimes knew things she couldn't possibly know...
"You've always known you were different, haven't you, Detective?" Thorne's voice was gentle now. "The dreams that come true, the hunches that turn out to be right, the way you can sometimes see how people died just by touching objects they owned..."
Sarah took an involuntary step back. "How do you know about that?"
"Because I've been looking for someone like you. A Natural - someone born with the ability to cross the threshold between waking and dreaming." He gestured to the victim. "Charlotte here won't be his last. There will be others, and their souls will remain trapped in an eternal dream unless we stop him."
Just then, the victim's hand twitched, her fingers moving as if writing something. Sarah moved closer, watching as invisible words were traced in the air. Thorne pulled out what looked like an antique monocle and held it up. Through its lens, golden letters shimmered in the air where Charlotte's fingers moved.
"Help me," Thorne read aloud. "He's coming for the others."
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at the victim's peaceful face, at those restlessly moving eyes, and made a decision that would change her life forever.
"Tell me what I need to do."
Thorne's smile was grim. "First, you need to learn to control your abilities. Then..." he held up the monocle, through which Sarah could now see strange symbols glowing all around the room, "you need to learn to hunt in dreams."
Outside the Victorian townhouse, storm clouds gathered, and Sarah Chen, homicide detective and newly discovered dream walker, took her first step into a world where nightmares were real, and death was just another kind of sleep.
Chapter Two
The basement of the Natural History Museum was the last place Sarah expected to find the headquarters of a secret dream investigation unit. Yet here she was, following Thorne through a maze of storage rooms filled with artifacts that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.
"The mundane world only sees what it expects to see," Thorne explained, using an ornate key to unlock a heavy wooden door marked 'Private Collection.' "To them, this is just museum storage. To us, it's the largest collection of dream artifacts in the Western Hemisphere."
The room beyond defied physics. It stretched impossibly far, filled with glass cases containing everything from ancient masks to modern-looking devices. Floating orbs of soft light illuminated collections of bottled dreams - actual dreams, swirling like liquid mercury behind glass.
"Your badge, Detective," Thorne held out his hand. Sarah hesitated before handing over her police credentials. He placed it on a strange device that looked like a Victorian music box crossed with a computer. When he returned the badge, it felt different - heavier, somehow more real.
"Now you'll be able to access both worlds officially," he said. "Look at it again."
The badge had changed. Alongside her regular police credentials, new text had appeared: 'Special Inspector, Oneiric Investigations Division.' The letters seemed to shift between English and something older, something that made her eyes water if she looked too long.
"Before we can hunt the Dream Collector, you need to understand what you're dealing with." Thorne led her to a case containing what looked like a normal pillow. "Touch it."
Sarah reached out hesitantly. The moment her fingers made contact, the world tilted. She was suddenly standing in someone else's dream - a sunny beach, but the sky was green and the sand whispered secrets. She jerked her hand back, gasping.
"Good," Thorne nodded approvingly. "Most people can't pull back from their first dream artifact. You have natural barriers."
"What was that?" Sarah's heart was racing.
"A dream fragment from 1892. A young girl's last dream before the influenza took her." His voice softened. "We preserve them here. Dreams carry memories, emotions, sometimes even pieces of souls."
"And this Dream Collector... he takes entire souls?" Sarah remembered Charlotte Mills' peaceful face and restless eyes.
"He traps them in eternal dreams, feeding off their essence." Thorne moved to another case, this one containing what looked like a cracked mirror. "Each victim becomes part of his collection, their souls powering his abilities, letting him dreamwalk without natural talent like yours."
Suddenly, the cracked mirror began to frost over. In its surface, Sarah saw Charlotte Mills' face, mouth open in a silent scream. Then another face appeared - another victim, she presumed - and another.
"He's showing off," Thorne growled. "He knows we're investigating."
The temperature in the room dropped dramatically. Frost patterns spread from the mirror to nearby cases, and Sarah heard what sounded like distant laughter.
"Well, well," a voice echoed through the room, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere. "A new player in the game. And such interesting dreams you have, Detective Chen."
Sarah felt something brush against her mind, like cold fingers trying to pry open a door. Instinctively, she slammed her mental barriers shut. The presence withdrew, but not before leaving behind an impression of amusement.
"He's already caught your scent," Thorne said grimly. He pulled out a small velvet bag and removed what looked like a dreamcatcher made of silver wire and black pearls. "Wear this when you sleep. It won't keep him out entirely, but it'll stop him from stealing your dreams while you're still learning to defend yourself."
As Sarah took the dreamcatcher, her fingers brushed Thorne's, and suddenly she was hit with a flash of his dreams - centuries of memories, battles fought in realms of sleep, and a profound sense of loss that made her gasp.
Thorne withdrew his hand quickly. "Your abilities are stronger than I thought. We'll need to work on your control."
"What are you?" Sarah asked directly. "You're not just some government consultant, are you?"
Before he could answer, an alarm began to sound throughout the facility. One of the dream bottles had turned black, its contents writhing like smoke.
"He's hunting again," Thorne said, already moving toward the exit. "Someone in the city has just entered their last dream. Are you ready for your first real case, Detective?"
Sarah touched her new badge, feeling its power hum under her fingers. "Do we have time to save them?"
"If we're lucky, we might catch him in the act. But remember - in dreams, he's incredibly powerful. One wrong move and you could lose your soul."
As they rushed from the dream archive, Sarah caught one last glimpse of the cracked mirror. In its surface, she saw her own reflection smile back at her with eyes that weren't quite her own.
The hunt was about to begin.
Chapter Two
The basement of the Natural History Museum was the last place Sarah expected to find the headquarters of a secret dream investigation unit. Yet here she was, following Thorne through a maze of storage rooms filled with artifacts that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.
"The mundane world only sees what it expects to see," Thorne explained, using an ornate key to unlock a heavy wooden door marked 'Private Collection.' "To them, this is just museum storage. To us, it's the largest collection of dream artifacts in the Western Hemisphere."
The room beyond defied physics. It stretched impossibly far, filled with glass cases containing everything from ancient masks to modern-looking devices. Floating orbs of soft light illuminated collections of bottled dreams - actual dreams, swirling like liquid mercury behind glass.
"Your badge, Detective," Thorne held out his hand. Sarah hesitated before handing over her police credentials. He placed it on a strange device that looked like a Victorian music box crossed with a computer. When he returned the badge, it felt different - heavier, somehow more real.
"Now you'll be able to access both worlds officially," he said. "Look at it again."
The badge had changed. Alongside her regular police credentials, new text had appeared: 'Special Inspector, Oneiric Investigations Division.' The letters seemed to shift between English and something older, something that made her eyes water if she looked too long.
"Before we can hunt the Dream Collector, you need to understand what you're dealing with." Thorne led her to a case containing what looked like a normal pillow. "Touch it."
Sarah reached out hesitantly. The moment her fingers made contact, the world tilted. She was suddenly standing in someone else's dream - a sunny beach, but the sky was green and the sand whispered secrets. She jerked her hand back, gasping.
"Good," Thorne nodded approvingly. "Most people can't pull back from their first dream artifact. You have natural barriers."
"What was that?" Sarah's heart was racing.
"A dream fragment from 1892. A young girl's last dream before the influenza took her." His voice softened. "We preserve them here. Dreams carry memories, emotions, sometimes even pieces of souls."
"And this Dream Collector... he takes entire souls?" Sarah remembered Charlotte Mills' peaceful face and restless eyes.
"He traps them in eternal dreams, feeding off their essence." Thorne moved to another case, this one containing what looked like a cracked mirror. "Each victim becomes part of his collection, their souls powering his abilities, letting him dreamwalk without natural talent like yours."
Suddenly, the cracked mirror began to frost over. In its surface, Sarah saw Charlotte Mills' face, mouth open in a silent scream. Then another face appeared - another victim, she presumed - and another.
"He's showing off," Thorne growled. "He knows we're investigating."
The temperature in the room dropped dramatically. Frost patterns spread from the mirror to nearby cases, and Sarah heard what sounded like distant laughter.
"Well, well," a voice echoed through the room, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere. "A new player in the game. And such interesting dreams you have, Detective Chen."
Sarah felt something brush against her mind, like cold fingers trying to pry open a door. Instinctively, she slammed her mental barriers shut. The presence withdrew, but not before leaving behind an impression of amusement.
"He's already caught your scent," Thorne said grimly. He pulled out a small velvet bag and removed what looked like a dreamcatcher made of silver wire and black pearls. "Wear this when you sleep. It won't keep him out entirely, but it'll stop him from stealing your dreams while you're still learning to defend yourself."
As Sarah took the dreamcatcher, her fingers brushed Thorne's, and suddenly she was hit with a flash of his dreams - centuries of memories, battles fought in realms of sleep, and a profound sense of loss that made her gasp.
Thorne withdrew his hand quickly. "Your abilities are stronger than I thought. We'll need to work on your control."
"What are you?" Sarah asked directly. "You're not just some government consultant, are you?"
Before he could answer, an alarm began to sound throughout the facility. One of the dream bottles had turned black, its contents writhing like smoke.
"He's hunting again," Thorne said, already moving toward the exit. "Someone in the city has just entered their last dream. Are you ready for your first real case, Detective?"
Sarah touched her new badge, feeling its power hum under her fingers. "Do we have time to save them?"
"If we're lucky, we might catch him in the act. But remember - in dreams, he's incredibly powerful. One wrong move and you could lose your soul."
As they rushed from the dream archive, Sarah caught one last glimpse of the cracked mirror. In its surface, she saw her own reflection smile back at her with eyes that weren't quite her own.
The hunt was about to begin.
Chapter Three
They arrived at St. Bartholomew's Hospital just as the emergency lights began to flash. Sarah followed Thorne through corridors that seemed to blur at the edges of her vision, her new badge somehow clearing their path without ever being shown.
"Room 307," Thorne said, his voice tight with urgency. "Young male, admitted for minor surgery, slipped into an unusual coma during recovery."
The patient, David Parker, age 23, lay perfectly still on his hospital bed, his eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids. Just like Charlotte Mills. But this time, something was different - the air around him rippled like heat waves over hot asphalt.
"He's still in the process of taking him," Thorne said, pulling out what looked like an antique pocket watch. "We can follow if we're quick. Are you ready for your first dream dive?"
Sarah's heart pounded. "What do I need to do?"
"Take my hand. Focus on the patient. Let your consciousness slip between the moments of reality." Thorne's eyes began to glow that strange amber color. "And whatever you see in there, remember - dream logic is real logic in that world."
Sarah grasped Thorne's hand and looked at David Parker. The world tilted, twisted, and suddenly...
They were standing in a hospital corridor that wasn't quite right. The walls breathed slowly, the floor was made of flowing water that somehow supported their weight, and the ceiling was a swirling mass of constellation maps.
"His dreamscape," Thorne explained, his voice echoing strangely. "Every dreamer creates their own reality. Look."
Down the impossible corridor, a figure in a doctor's coat was leading David Parker by the hand. But the 'doctor' was wrong - his shadow moved independently, reaching out with grasping tendrils towards other dreams that floated past like soap bubbles.
"The Dream Collector," Sarah whispered.
As if hearing his name, the figure turned. Sarah's breath caught. His face was a beautiful mask of shifting features, never settling on one form, but his eyes... his eyes were endless pits of swirling dreams.
"Ah, the new dreamer," his voice was like silk over broken glass. "And my old friend Marcus. Still trying to police the dream worlds?"
Thorne stepped forward, and Sarah noticed his appearance had changed in the dream. His suit was now made of living shadows, and wings of dark light stretched from his shoulders. "Let him go, Collector. You've taken enough souls."
The Collector laughed, the sound causing the hospital walls to crack, leaking golden dream-light. "Taken? Oh, Marcus, you still don't understand. They give themselves to me. Show her, David."
The young man turned, and Sarah saw his eyes were glassy with bliss. "It's beautiful here," he said dreamily. "All my pain is gone. All my fears. He takes them all away."
"By taking everything you are," Sarah found herself saying. She took a step forward, instinctively reaching for her police badge. In the dream, it transformed into a shield of pure light. "David, this isn't real healing. It's theft."
The Collector's face rippled with anger. "You dare interrupt my collection?" The corridor began to twist, reality bending around them. "Let me show you what happens to those who interfere with my work."
Suddenly, the floor beneath Sarah liquefied completely. She started to sink, but instead of water, she was drowning in dreams - thousands of them, each containing a fragment of someone's stolen soul. She saw Charlotte Mills dancing endlessly in a ballroom of mirrors, saw other victims trapped in perfect moments that had become eternal prisons.
"Sarah!" Thorne's voice cut through the chaos. "Remember - dream logic! Make your own rules!"
Dream logic. Sarah closed her eyes, focusing on her years of police work, of protecting people, of solving puzzles. When she opened them, her badge-shield had transformed into a sword of pure thought.
With a cry, she slashed through the dream-flood. Reality reasserted itself - or at least, this dream's version of reality. She stood on solid ground again, facing the Collector.
"Impressive," he purred, but she sensed uncertainty in his voice. "You're stronger than the usual dreamers Marcus recruits. Perhaps we could make a deal..."
"No deals," Sarah said firmly. She could feel her power growing, reshaping the dream around them. "David, look at what he really is. Look with your heart, not your fears."
For a moment, David's eyes cleared. The Collector's beautiful mask slipped, revealing something ancient and hungry beneath. David screamed, pulling away from the creature's grasp.
The Collector snarled, his form shifting into something monstrous. "If I can't have him willingly..." Shadows exploded from his body, reaching for David.
What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Thorne spread his dark wings, shielding David. Sarah's sword of thought became a net of light, trapping some of the shadows. But the Collector himself simply... stepped sideways, vanishing into a door that appeared in the air.
"Sweet dreams, detectives," his voice lingered behind. "We'll meet again soon. After all, Sarah, your dreams are particularly... appetizing."
The dreamscape began to dissolve. Sarah felt Thorne grab her arm, pulling her back through layers of reality. Then...
They were standing in the hospital room again. David Parker was awake, gasping, but alive and whole. A nurse was rushing in, responding to his sudden revival.
"We saved one," Thorne said quietly. "But he'll be angry now. And he'll come for you."
Sarah touched her badge, still feeling echoes of its dream-power. "Good," she said grimly. "Because I have some questions for him about Charlotte Mills. And about what you really are, Marcus Thorne."
Thorne's expression was unreadable. "All in time, Detective. For now, you need to rest. Tomorrow, your real training begins."
As they left the hospital, Sarah could have sworn she saw her shadow move independently, reaching for dreams that floated just beyond the edge of sight. The world would never look quite the same again.
Chapter Four
Sarah's apartment looked different when she returned that night. The shadows seemed deeper, more alive, and ordinary objects cast reflections that didn't quite match reality. The dreamcatcher Thorne had given her pulsed softly in her pocket, responding to the changed way she now saw the world.
She was exhausted but afraid to sleep. The Collector's words echoed in her mind: 'Your dreams are particularly appetizing.' Instead, she spread her case files across the coffee table - photographs of Charlotte Mills, the other victims, and now David Parker's medical records.
A soft chime from her badge interrupted her concentration. The metal had grown warm, and when she touched it, words appeared in that strange shifting script: 'Archive. Now. Emergency.'
The museum was different at night. Sarah's new badge led her through doors that hadn't existed during her first visit, down stairs that seemed to descend far deeper than the building's foundation should allow. She found Thorne in a circular room she hadn't seen before, surrounded by floating screens of light that showed various dreamscapes.
"We have a problem," he said without preamble. "The Collector's attack pattern has changed. Look."
The screens shifted, showing a map of the city overlaid with points of light. "Each light is a dreamer," Thorne explained. "The blue ones are normal dreams. The red..." He gestured, and several dots pulsed an angry crimson. "Those are nightmares being actively shaped by outside forces."
"He's attacking multiple targets at once?"
"No." Thorne's expression was grim. "He's leaving traps. Dream-snares. Anyone who falls asleep in these areas risks being pulled into a constructed nightmare. He's trying to overwhelm our ability to respond."
Sarah studied the pattern of red dots. "They're forming a shape... a symbol?"
"A summoning circle." A new voice joined them. Sarah turned to see an elderly woman emerging from what appeared to be a door made of starlight. Her eyes were milk-white, but she moved with absolute certainty.
"Sarah, meet Dr. Eleanor Price, the Archive's keeper," Thorne said. "And yes, she's blind in the waking world, but in dreams..."
"I see everything," Eleanor finished. Her unseeing eyes fixed on Sarah with uncomfortable accuracy. "Including what our friend the Collector is truly planning. He's not just taking souls anymore. He's building toward something larger."
She gestured, and the room transformed around them. They were suddenly standing in what looked like a vast library, but the books were made of dreams, their pages flowing like liquid memory.
"Every dream ever archived is stored here," Eleanor explained. "Including the oldest nightmares of humanity. The Collector isn't just a thief - he's trying to wake something that should stay sleeping. Something we locked away centuries ago."
She pulled a book from the shelf, and its pages burst open, projecting a scene of ancient horror - a time when the boundary between dreams and reality was thinner, when nightmares could walk in daylight.
"The Last Nightmare," Thorne said softly. "We thought it was safely contained, but if he completes that summoning circle..."
A sudden tremor ran through the Archive. One of the red dots on the map had grown larger, pulsing violently.
"He's starting," Eleanor's voice was urgent. "Sarah, you need to see something before you face this." She pressed her fingers to Sarah's forehead, and suddenly...
She was in a memory. A younger Thorne stood with a woman who looked remarkably like Sarah herself, facing down a shadow that threatened to devour the world. The woman - another dream detective? - sacrificed herself to help seal away the nightmare.
"Your mother," Eleanor's voice echoed in her mind. "She was one of us. Her sacrifice helped lock away the Last Nightmare, but the Collector has never stopped trying to free it. And now he's found you - her daughter, with her power."
The vision ended abruptly as another tremor shook the Archive. More red dots were pulsing on the map.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sarah demanded, turning to Thorne.
"Because I promised her I'd keep you away from this life," he replied, pain evident in his voice. "But now the Collector knows who you are, and we're running out of time."
"The summoning circle will be complete at the next new moon," Eleanor added. "Three days from now. If the Last Nightmare wakes..."
"Then we stop him before that happens," Sarah said firmly, though her mind was reeling from the revelations. "How do we break these dream-snares?"
"It's dangerous," Thorne warned. "Each one is a trap designed specifically for dream walkers. If you're caught..."
"Then you'll just have to watch my back," Sarah said. She touched her badge, feeling its power respond. "Where do we start?"
Eleanor smiled, her blind eyes somehow twinkling. "First, you need to understand what you truly inherited from your mother. It's time you learned about the true history of the dream walkers - and why the Collector fears your bloodline above all others."
As if in response to Eleanor's words, the books around them began to glow, their pages rustling with the weight of secrets about to be revealed. In the map above, the red dots pulsed like a countdown to catastrophe, and Sarah realized she had less than three days to master powers she never knew she had.
The true game was about to begin.
Chapter 1
When Emma Harris was three years old, she was the devil of the neighborhood, and all the children in the neighborhood, no matter whether they were five-year-old little brothers and sisters, or one or two-year-old little brothers and sisters, would run away with their mothers and fathers when they saw Emma, as if Emma was a monster that came specifically to eat children.
No one wants to play with Emma, and as a result, Emma is isolated by a group of children. Why were they afraid of her?
Once, Emma and Mrs. Harris went to a shopping mall together, and found a toy store that sold imitation animals. Mrs. Harris happened to scare her with a bug, and Emma was so scared that she cried loudly. When she found out that the bugs were fake, Emma dragged her mom to buy a bunch of them, scaring the kids in the neighborhood.
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One afternoon, Emma was playing house alone in the park when she heard a young voice say, "Can you move over? The ants are coming your way."
Emma turned her head and saw a cute little boy standing next to her, she thought he wanted to play too, so she asked, "Brother, do you want to play house too?"
"Childish, I'm watching the ant, it's crawling over to your side." The little boy replied coldly, even though his voice sounded very cute.
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"Suit yourself." The boy agreed silently.
"Here it is, look brother, the little ants are here." Emma exclaimed excitedly, taking the boy's hand.
"Shhh! You keep your voice down, don't scare the ants away." The boy frowned, his little face looked quite serious.
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That afternoon was the most fun Emma had ever had, and even though she didn't really like watching ants, she was very happy to be with her brother.
Later, she learned that her brother lived next door to her, and Emma became a regular visitor to Ethan Cooper's house.
"Emma! Will you be my daughter-in-law when you grow up?" Mrs. Cooper hugged Emma, kissed her soft little face, and once again began her daily plan of abducting Emma.
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"A daughter-in-law is Ethan's wife, who will be with Ethan every day, just like your mom and dad." Mrs. Cooper knew that Emma liked to play with Ethan and continued to seduce her.
"Yes, yes, I want to be Ethan's brother's wife and aunt's daughter-in-law when I grow up." When Emma heard that she could play with Ethan every day, she immediately sold herself.
"That's good, Emma. Remember, you're my daughter-in-law." Mrs. Cooper was overjoyed to find not only a daughter for herself, but also a wife for her boy.
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Later, when Emma was five years old, Mr. Cooper's family moved out of town due to a job transfer, and Emma cried her heart out on the day Ethan left.
"Don't cry, when you grow up, I'll come back to marry you, you're my wife." Ethan stroked Emma's head and comforted her, but his heart was actually quite hard.
Ethan was nine years old that year.
.,.....v
Time flew by, and Emma went to high school.
High school is always a long and difficult time for students, especially for Emma, who was once an underachiever.
Emma has just finished her first year of high school and got the tenth best grade in her class in the final exam, which is on the upper side of the scale.
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Emma was quite unhappy with her grades, looking at her report card and muttering, "I've worked so hard, I've spent all my time studying, but I still haven't made much progress."
If someone else heard this, they would want to beat her up.
But Emma knew that with her current grades, how could she go to the same school as that person?
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Emma spent the whole summer vacation in the library, with books, exercise books and test papers.
"Emma, it's still early for the exams, why don't you take a break and go out with your friends?" Mrs. Harris brought a plate of fruit, seeing Emma studying so hard, it's not true to say that it doesn't hurt.
"I'll finish this set of papers, mom, you go watch TV first, don't affect me." Emma replied to her mom as she wrote the questions.
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Emma put down the pen in her hand, rubbed her brow, a strong fatigue came, her thoughts gradually drifted away.
When Emma was in middle school, she was definitely a scum, just like most scum, she didn't want to listen to the class, talked back to the teacher in class, and relied on copying all of her homework.
Everything started to change during the summer vacation of her junior year, when she met Jack Taylor.
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White short T, black baggy shorts, five-foot-something, slender and well-defined body, thin lips, fair skin, as if the hero came out of a novel.
Emma remembered that before someone said that thin lips are thin, in fact, thin lips of the most dedicated, the most long-lasting love, just that you have not yet met that you dedicated long-lasting love.
A guy like Jack should be the object of all the girls, the man of the hour on campus.
Asx exxpqectAed, xmyh éfriDeOnYdZ di*dC noYt $hzesfiNt*aLtcel tqo ^go Oup VttoF DhBi*m toV askr foKrp WNefChQatD, EXmmza NclUe&amrl!y réemeymbeWred pwyh.aYtt he) saTizd MatU twhTatl timIez.
Jack frowned slightly and said coldly: "No."
The friend is a little girl, see Jack does not give her face, pick up the table wine glass, straight to his feet.
"Not just a wage earner, who cares."
JtacskI turunseÉdw arVojuCndx Uanndj !wuasl$ked, awDapy., igwno^róinYg hVer.
After the party, Emma biked home, the car did not know how long it was baked by the sun, riding to half the chain is broken.
Luckily, it was almost dark, and it wasn't sunny outside, but the road was still very hot after a day in the sun.
The road is almost no one, Emma fiddled for a while, more and more bad, anxious and sweaty, just when she was helpless, a heavenly voice came from the top of her head.
"H!ellao,* canv I hMelpw ylou?"
Emma looked up.
"It's you!" Both of them were surprised at the same time.
Emma looked at Jack sitting on his bike, her cheeks slightly flushed, not sure if it was teenage shyness, or the afterglow of the setting sun.
"T,he chaicn of( méy bDiAket Nis abWrrokHen,w IX cbanq'tG Hridsem !iAt.l"É dEmmaw gensturWed aWwkwa!rdlQy Haktp ^thneé kbfike Switnh aS blTasckenedN hland sRtaYine$d ywgith ch,aéinC $oiWl.A
"Let me help you with that, the chain tends to fall off after a while." Jack parked the car, walked over to check Emma's bike, and easily fixed the chain.
"There you go." Jack took out a paper towel and wiped the dust from his hands, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Thanks for today, and for the KTV thing, I apologize for my friend."
"It('s& iokayc,i iI'm, Wucsedl tco iCt.P"G Jzac!k loGokce&d uJnbc$onRcJerned.
"Do you know that's a bad thing to say?"
"What?" Jack looked puzzled.
"What kind of person acts like I'm cool for granted." Emma said to him.
"OKh, I. dfo?"N
"Yes." Emma nodded heavily.
Emma looked at her watch, "Done, it's almost time for my mom's gate, I gotta go, you go home soon too!" She hurriedly got on her bike which he just fixed, and waved to Jack.
The next day, Emma and Bella Cooper went shopping, after walking for more than an hour, both of them were tired and thirsty.
"EmQma!Y Ih waPnst* to drrinwk ómtilké tóesau~ó"u (Baelbla vshOooZk ÉEmma's NhaÉndb cpjiCt$iufu_lylay.
"There's a milk tea store, let's go there and sit for a while!" Emma pointed to the milk tea store across the road.
Walking into the store, Emma carried a big bag and went to look for a seat, while Bella was in charge of ordering drinks.
The two of them have known each other since they were young, and have remembered each other's preferences clearly for more than ten years.
AftzeGr theDy) KsratN édCownb, bEmma$ banld (BeOlla chattPetd afboduSt Swha.t hraWpprenQed ylejstewryday aft _thBeH karha.okec jbazr,a éaDnMd JacHk'ns IreNjHeLctioIn of t*he blit!tlAe hgsiXrPl PcsaKme FuKpv.Q
"Yi-Yi, you don't know, the way he refuses is so cold, super handsome, a proper domineering president, I like it."
"Hello, your milk tea is ready." A male voice interrupted their conversation.
Emma felt that the voice was familiar, and looked up at the person who made the voice.
Chapter 2
"oh my god, how is he!!!" Emma Harris muttered under her breath. The object of her behind-the-back discussion had actually caught her red-handed, and the point was that she'd given away her crush on him.
Emma instantly felt ashamed of herself and hastily buried her head in her arms as if nothing had happened.
"Hey there, handsome," Bella Cooper began nonchalantly. She seemed to go up to guys who were good looking and talk to them.
"lHeAl&lgoB, Iwey wmeet* zaghai(n.("& xJaycpk TIayóloér LgLeKntlwy tIoCucheéd EXmma, qwho haXdq h(eFr head Jbguried tighntdlyy inc aU fwliDrhtatiovu,s ZtQonne.,
"Haha, what a coincidence." Emma looked up, greeting awkwardly.
"So you guys know each other, that's great, what's your name handsome~" Bella's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Emma's heart was helpless, she really wanted to knock this nymphomaniac girl out and drag her away, she really hadn't seen such a self-centered person.
"WJaéckP Tayl$o(r.!"
"My name is Bella Cooper, this is my youngest friend Emma Harris, I don't need to introduce you guys." Bella was chatting happily with Jack, and didn't notice that Emma was giving her a wink.
"If you have something to do, go and do it, don't bother with her, she can't stop chatting with handsome guys." Emma said awkwardly to Jack.
"Oh, so you think I'm handsome." Jack smiled mischievously.
")I'uve, fgot toj Pgjet* Lto wuoyrk$, yo&ug gZuZys phav^e Nfun.P" EmmaM Bsfa&idQ an^dU TquicklAy. CtCuTrnpedP kto le&agvÉe, ÉnxoLt s,eeqinwg) *t'h&atq hBers ch,eek$sN éhRaId (turnFed rked wéiÉthF bshabme.(
For the rest of the summer, Emma spent most of her time at the milk tea store, dragged here by force by Bella, of course.
Bella was outgoing, could form friendships with anyone, and was so pretty that the boys were happy to hang out with her, and the girls weren't jealous of her.
As the summer went on, Bella and Jack became close friends, and Emma and Jack became more and more familiar with each other.
It turnsM Xotutc FthwaPt Ja(c$k i^s PngoSt éa *lzoc)allt, chYeV (i$s ifYrwomM UCBe,déarnwoodh,J hbeW cam'eI StYoÉ VstNavy RwithH qhiasJ girandRmoUthMe,rY kdmur.ing $tFhlek Xs&ummekr AvadcaKtiAoznV, ,a$ndD g$otG paa gpcarSt_-tximqe jHo'bb Owhuenb hqeb 'wUaQsm bóorLeds.
He started out working at a karaoke bar, but because of his relationship with those punks, he quit and moved to a milk tea store.
Summer vacation flew by, and before she knew it, it was time for school to start again, and Emma took advantage of the few days of vacation she had left to do all the fun things she needed to do, thinking that high school wouldn't be so easy.
That afternoon, Emma walked to the milk tea store alone, thinking that since she was here, she should have a drink.
Jack ibqrkoNuWghtÉ iheWr KaP cuwp _oKfx Jlemqonade,Q xandó oóridWecrkedy IaP CcuFpY o*ft bDlQacZk' tera fopr hi,mselfh,' sisttXinÉg! PaIcFrVosRsG froIm hkera.Z
Taking a sip of black tea, Jack said, "I'm leaving tomorrow, today is my last day of work."
"What? You're leaving tomorrow, in such a hurry?" Emma asked in surprise.
"Well, school starts soon."
"QSo $whenF *aar*e vyvouF Ccomuing ybMa,ck Rto FaIirvienwX?n"
"I don't think I'll be coming back for high school, Grandma says she'll be over there a lot, and I'm trying to get into Anderson University, and I have to study so hard, I won't have time to come back. Could you please talk to Bella, I won't have time to say goodbye to her."
Emma felt a sense of loss at this news. She didn't know how she managed to walk home, but all she could think about was Jack going back, and her heart was bitter.
She thought, "Since you're not coming back, I'll go to Anderson University, so we can still play together".
E)mvmFag aplanynaeódk two tKakse st!hWe! CAndéerTsorn UnivfeTrxsiXtyé,u EmmQa'Isc ipXaBreCnts ÉwJe.r!e Yshoc!klebdM wzh,eZnW *theLyf Zheagr'dK aboutC iCtb, anddé eGvfen tDhouOgfhLtó thaXtD ÉEcmma'Ss hema(d _wask qbmroóken.
After asking her father to help her get into the best high school in the area, Emma realized the importance of the learning environment.
With her midterm scores, she will not be able to get into that high school, so she asks her father for help, who is delighted with his daughter's transformation, and feels that she finally understands what she is doing, so he goes through all sorts of connections to arrange for her to get in.
The first year of high school, in addition to learning new things, Emma had to make up for the lessons she hadn't mastered in middle school, and the year went by in the blink of an eye.
AmftFer ,a rsJumémFe'rA of .haMrdz )wgorkm, EPmmIa XacQhimedvHedm thceO fciQrTst *pnlace OiBn hserw c,lOaDsks aDnvd_ thnek ws$eyconHd plDaAce Din uhe_rp PgrAaKde$ itn t$he opdenitng pexjaVm^ oCfd her WsozpYhomore fyde&aar yogf$ hsigÉh spchooql, !angdy )bsecamneÉ athe dcaBrki hQoOrRsZe inV Cher$ górad,e.R
In the next two years, Emma worked even harder, and her position at the top of the class was unchallenged.
The night before the entrance exams, Emma was so nervous that she couldn't sleep, worrying about whether her pen would suddenly fail to write, whether she would be able to finish the paper, and whether her identity card and pass were ready.
It was almost two o'clock, and she still couldn't sleep, waking up every half hour to see if she was ready.
ANfltlerB oUnYly ftwwo IorH tBhVrseOe Bhours _oRf sl^egep!,U Cszhe( Bwpa$lkvedK isnto vtDh$e evxacm drKooNmJ avn*d $Eammap csuabt d)ownt tzoJ )wIaiRtF hfosr ÉheBrR cpgapqewr, $fGeeYlianUg mosre_ macwWa!kzeU Kt'hanH ever, the twensiroZn Iof t(hne fmorning .gonQe.!
Emma walked out of the exam room knowing that she would be attending the same school as him next semester. The corners of her mouth turned up involuntarily and she walked with a much lighter stride.
At that time, the sky outside the examination room is incomparably beautiful, the sunset sunshine for the sky gilded a layer of gold, as if for the students just out of the examination room to depict the grand future.
Without the burden of school, Emma returned to her old self and spent most of the summer vacation at home. At most, she went out shopping with Bella, and occasionally went to the karaoke bar where Jack used to work, hoping to meet him again.
HXowe&ve!rs,A Dsiunce twhet sGumFmpe^r of AjuBnBio_rf hNigzhé scNhoSoqlN,$ hthegy haXve noUtK coZnntAaqcKted Je$alch bother XoncieY, JagcWk )sxeefmAsr tow )haKvLe *becOomer a Ydrpe,am Lshe aon!ce had,R thbe( cexnistdenJcqe opfH tbh,eY zvYoiid iFn Tth^e $dyr)eYajmy.
In fact, if you ask Emma how she feels about Jack, it is hard for her to explain.
In the beginning, Jack was her motivation to work hard, but over time, she got used to this way of working hard. She was grateful, Jack made her better.
Chapter 3
Emma Harris was admitted to Anderson University as she wished, and was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Harris on the day of the report.
Standing on the campus, Emma looked around and thought to herself, "Ethan should be reporting too, I'll bump into him on campus, I wonder what he's studying and what department he's in. I wonder what he's studying and what department he's in.
Anyway, we're all in the same school, so we're bound to run into each other in the future.
"Hefy, Han, cbokljlqe*gIe iMs Pgrheat, Clowtvss oIf *cumt,e KyoZung$ Cguy!sÉ éand gwir*lsx eveqrygwChferRe(.p" kMnrs. óHaprruisu shigUhesd BaTs hIe^r KeHyetsu fNoHllo*wXedY tThle tSalMlt )hzandsoimeF bQovyz ibn) wjhi$te pshiVrt ciTnd Ntmhae dirstanc!ek.i
"That white boy, I was 10 times more handsome when I was young." Mr. Harris said with disdain.
"Blow me, I had a lot of boys chasing me back then, I don't know how I ever fell for you."
"I was chased too, all right."
MMr. Harr*i$s a_nd& hMrlsR.u dHkayrrWilsh Navrig'uyedR La$boxuBt who& FwWaUs échXasZin)g whYo aalWl itThCe wady to^ jEMm)ma's dorXmnitqowryd.
Emma pushed open the door, and what she saw was a far cry from what she had imagined a college dorm room to be. There was no couch, no washing machine, not even a separate bathroom or toilet.
It was a standard four-room dormitory, with bunk beds and tables, plus a small balcony. There were only two common bathrooms and toilets on each floor.
A small and cute girl saw Emma enter the door, and immediately jumped over.
"Helblo, mpyK name! Qigs Sojpdh^idan PNaKrMk,erÉ,É xI'm* thned kfirsÉtw oNn*e t,oA arrNiveA aNts dBo$rGm)itModryY L3j201f."
"Hi, I'm Emma Harris, the second person to arrive at 3201." Emma winked at her playfully.
Seeing Emma so enthusiastic, Sophia immediately pulled her hand and started to spit out her grievances, "Finally someone has come, you don't know, before you came I was alone, there is no one I know here, soooo lonely."
"That's a lovely classmate, Emma, get along with your roommate." Mrs. Harris interjected.
"HeRlhlo Ahuntie aOnvdD UncVl!ex,é IS'Zm sofrry IV di^dn'rtl _snee youi bjSuss_tl novw, gI, Mwzas Us_oP euxbc(ivtpekd." SxoYphima g&reetneódX uMrx. PaOnldó MrVsM. lHar,rism tnRicexly.
"No, no, you guys talk, uncle and I won't bother you, we should go back too." Mrs. Harris bade Emma good-bye, and exhorted a great many things about living alone, before impatiently dragging Mr. Harris away.
"Good-bye, aunt and uncle."
"Bye-bye, and do come to my house on your vacation."
AfÉteDrQ YMir. anGdV Mr&sy. VHaryris RleUfYtl, IEzmmSat cstWaHrtehd. gher comllcemg)ef liiff,es.W
"Emma, let's go to the cafeteria for dinner first, I heard the food in the second cafeteria is super delicious." Sophia enthusiastically took Emma's arm, and the two of them went to the cafeteria together.
"Wow, look at that boy, he's so handsome!" Sophia said excitedly to Emma, pointing at the dining table.
"Yes, he is." Emma followed her gaze, in this noisy cafeteria, that boy's presence made her eyes unconsciously focus on him.
"Byut thactj'Nsk pnponQeg Ko)f ouRrd buIsin!essQ, clomex oén, KlFejtq'sI sNeeB rwhVa,tT we'rte guoYinOgp Zto Seat thQart'Ksb Bbieótters?l". E_mmDax Kwas'na't gasc aexcdiYtaeNdP asT S'o^phPiCa, sThe) stiql$lD (fou$n$d téhe food mLoOrYej appeaNlqiVng.
After Emma and Sophia had ordered their food, they searched the cafeteria for an empty table, but the whole cafeteria was almost full of students and parents.
Only one table was occupied by a handsome boy, who seemed to be too handsome for anyone else to sit at.
Sophia dragged Emma to the table and asked, "Handsome boy, is there anyone here?"
"éNo."& Theb aboy$ rQepliOecd cHoldly.*
"Emma, let's sit here." Sophia happily pulled Emma down.
Emma had to reluctantly ignore the murderous stares being thrown at her by the girls around her, pull back the chair across from the boys, and pretend to sit down calmly.
"Emma, I heard that our counselor graduated from Yale, just came back to China this year, and was scouted by our school." Sophia whispered into Emma's ear.
"H,uh?"F E,mZmaó looIkHed up GwitCh a Hcon.fuWs(edu Kface&, the Pg.azes WaIrrouSnDd her PmKa$de ,ité bhawrd ufKor hexr t^oF RfXocPusu, aQndL she &dOidnI'Ft heard wDhCaHtX So^pHhéiaf sóaijdc !atv amlKl.a
"I said our counselor is a Yale returnee." Sophia repeated out loud.
The boy across the room looked up.
"You keep your voice down." Emma covered Sophia's mouth and smiled apologetically at the boy.
"hI isawé Uyoóu w.ere_nL'It Pli&ste_nfiénkgr."V hSpopdhzia VmuHttPeKrWed qsloftlWy, reaJlizmiYng. VsYhZe Rw*axs beJiTngP Ht^ooJ louGdt.r
After the boy finished his meal, he packed up the dishes and got up to leave, Emma secretly noticed that he ate a lot of meat, but left over vegetables, I wonder how he still maintains such a good figure.
"Whew, finally gone, now I can eat a lot." Sophia changed her ladylike image of eating small bites, and started to eat like crazy.
"No one stopped you from eating." Emma continued to wrestle with the chicken leg without looking up.
"TheOr_et's aW vguUyA $hzeXreU,! Iz have! ytoh mJakge _a ggoqoTd BiPmpzrewsscion okn ChiÉm(, XinÉ tcasHea he's Iblitn*deCdI by, me,d bu)t ,isZ slcTarie_dy Roffw *becyau)se' XI''m mso' gooLdQ aYtJ eatiinZgó, FwhaCtó sZh^o!uQld I hdoÉ?P" SroJpShDita BsWaicd. Xw^ith Tat s$tFraaigCht LfaJcZe!.
In fact, Sophia is not fat, she is petite and cute, a standard southern girl, her skin is fair and smooth, making people feel protective.
"He must not really like you if he needs your food." Emma said to Sophia as she finished her meal and put down her utensils.
"Alas, I also just casually said, that kind of character how could possibly look at me, this point of self-awareness I have." Sophia smiled slightly.
"A)ryeM yUo_u ydoxnée ea&tiSn$gé?V LRet_'psF YgnoT ubacJk, FI thiinak* vthIe QoTthDerT ltlwoP rooPmGmaftteNs Thavde arBrivekd."l Emma WcoublKd.n'Pth zscayZ muVch, sMeeaiznGgn tKhvaAt Sosphija hzadr Zalsot pGuRt !doWwÉnx hfeUri cautpl!enry, gsfhe cha(ng!e*dI tRhje to*pic.
"Okay, let's go."
Back to the door of the dormitory, did not open the door to hear the sound of laughter inside.
Chapter 4
Pushing through the door, the other two roommates had already arrived.
"Hello." A tall girl with wavy yellow hair greeted them with a smile, her make-up was exquisite and she looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine.
"I'm Sarah Miller, and this is Lily Green."
"NI'Lmk SophixaK PBaurMker."^
"I'm Emma Harris."
The four girls exchanged names, tweeted each other.
Sophia is from Suzhou, looks elegant, perfectly reflects the flavor of the Jiangnan water town, Sarah is a local, natural beauty, dress well, standing there like a goddess, Lily is a northerner, with a thick northeastern accent, tall, but do not talk much, Emma is a good-looking, belongs to the kind of enduring type, although different from Sarah's flamboyant, but it is always people feel a force of affinity, so that people can not help but want to look at a few more times. Emma, on the other hand, is a pretty girl, a kind of durable type, although different from Sarah, but always gives people a sense of affinity, so that people can not help but want to look at more.
J$uésUt wmtet, &we. are noKt vZe,rÉy DfYagmOiAlPiVaYrO wiYtYh,g adoérmtittmor.ya sl^i.ghtlDy) colvdI, ótFheT aFiur &f*illlpehd wpit(h ésubtlhe embarZrha&ssmeHnYt.u
The first one to break the silence was Sophia, who took out snacks from her bag and shared a bag with everyone.
"This is a specialty I brought from home, you guys try it."
"Thanks, I brought some too, I'll look for them later."
TDhcewy ally stóoPok houct thheYiOr snXacks jandK sFhparhed Jthem wpith! qeMaKchv Wotkher.
As their familiarity deepened, they chatted, and realized that they had all done their homework during the summer, and had bought a lot of snacks to bring them closer to their new roommates, and had stuffed them into their full suitcases.
The first two weeks of school were spent struggling with military training.
"Hey, what brand of sunscreen did you guys buy?" Sarah asked curiously. Sarah asked curiously.
"IU bGoRug.h&tM CAn*R*V,M onlXine re.viyeiwZsj saóy mimt's the best Nfo.r Tmil,imtóarr,yk JtrcaiFning." &So,phiaé grepliBewdZ.
"I bought a Korean sunscreen spray, you can spray it directly during military training, it's super convenient." Sarah showed a green spray bottle.
"Emma, what did you buy?" Sophia inquired, seeing that Emma was organizing her makeup.
"I don't know, I don't wear much makeup, my mom bought these for me." Emma said helplessly, her mother had always insisted that college students should learn to dress up their personalities, so she bought her a whole set.
"LeétQ kméeb hsefe." S!agrgaTh walaked( vovneru, and( Ngr*aUbb.ed uE'mRma's$ nmCak(eSup bfayg.
"Jesus, Emma, what does your family do? This set of makeup must be a couple thousand dollars." Sarah said in surprise.
"Emma, you're a rich woman! Do you want me to be your little brother, and follow you around the school from now on." Sophia teased, posing as a big sister.
"I'm not the principal, how can I let you walk around here." Emma hit Sophia lightly, trying to bring her back to reality. Emma didn't want to talk much about her family's financial situation, after all, even though her parents were wealthy, she didn't want to be labeled as such.
On thZeJ HmoLr)n,ingS Yoóf tGheO xmilitwarFyS trCainjingw,B RtdheX QstudernSts$ wéegre a(sk'eZdS Stmo KgatpheIrN Cind GtOhIeW plapygronund até 7:3q0aymc aIndU Hl*iMnceS FuUp _aScGcordinRg WtIo the'iHr dXep&aMrjtmeZntsI.P SBincYeD (the dorpm*itÉoLruy wasV adscsqigynaerd xbZy cmllasAst, MthMeq Lfo'u)r o&f' thRem h'axp,penhed ,to mbJeO iyn tch&ex scammej FclGafsAs,V andJ .finpalBlmyh nfOoun(dh thbejirY soIwn^ lLiZne inL bthh,eW v_ast crowd voBf ÉpLe*oJp)lek.U
"Oh my god, it's so hot before military training even starts, what if I get a tan?" Sarah began to complain after standing under the sun for less than ten minutes.
"Why don't we take a leave of absence, and tell the teacher that our aunt is here." Sarah suggested with a serious face.
"Can your aunt come for half a month?" Emma immediately dismissed her suggestion, bluntly.
"WShy dSonC'ut !wxe ggjoN Jto the hospi&tCaPly toB geDtR aK plraskteTrQ OcasdtQ anOd a Écerti)fiQcfatéep moxf gf$raTct&uireC,H ^sdo we& dGon('Ét Shave to pgaPrytGici,pgalt,eS in MmmiltiÉtaryB t!r)aXinIing."$ KSoQp,hiaé ysaidR joqkiAnglLy.
"Students, please be quiet, our military training opening ceremony is about to begin." The leader on the stage began to speak.
"Students, military training is the first lesson of college life, not an ordinary lesson. In this class, we will learn how to behave, how to bear hardships and stand hard work, how to meet challenges ......."
Leaders on the stage continue to say the same thing, the stage is not much to listen carefully.
TkhBeF boxyWs aLre IsMeciretylty ^mUeasurwianLg wwPhiicfh gigrVl is! gLoodx-kldoo(kinngx,T CtKheb giNrlWs padr$eG zatlso, QlBocoZkiVngS aétV *w'hWiBcshó MbCoyX ai(s Ghkanvdsxome.b AllPlM of tThedm_ hTapve maS tbeauMtifulV $longingT f*oórX cWoCllzege& ulgi'feh, fan(tasiizBirng ab*ouétx a rzofméajnétiLc rloYvTe storyv w(iktVhP thZeTiNr iBdols.
"Suddenly, Emma Harris heard a scream, the sound was as exciting as the idol in front of her.
"Look, there's a handsome guy coming towards us!" Sophia excitedly stood on her tiptoes, pointing ahead.
It was the same boy that she had met in the restaurant yesterday.
"Quiizet,t Uqdu'iest.ó"t Tfhe p_rin^c,ipaml schaouated xfrom th)e$ jstCagem,s tryiOnGgr Bto m'ai'ntOazin orydLer,, XbuJt( Ythe scrMeaahm(sV vfro&m tNhe( *sta'gDe d!iddNnU'pt a$bsatée.(
"Since you guys like Mr. Cooper so much, let him come up and say a few words." The principal said helplessly, seeing that the students' emotions could not be calmed, and had to call Ethan to the stage.
Ethan walked up calmly, took the microphone, and said with a smile, "Hello everyone, I'm Ethan Cooper, it's a pleasure to meet you all. First of all, congratulations on becoming college students. However, as a student under my guidance, I do not accept any kind of leave of absence. If any of you would like to take a leave of absence, please don't do so. Also, remember that military training is extra credit, and if you have a special reason for not being able to attend, you can have your parents call."
"That's all, continue, Principal." Ethan handed the microphone back to the principal, put one hand in his pocket, and walked off the stage in style.
"Anh~"O FThAe!rTe wasO ÉalnwotNhhe_r TcryU of$ loss fUrom_ the stag*et.
"I thought he was a god, he's so insensitive." Many girls complained.
"Emma, Sophia, your little plans are going to come to nothing, you'd better behave yourself in the military training!" Emma looked at their somewhat dejected expressions, and did not want to gloat.
"There's no love in this world anymore, my impression of my boy-god has completely collapsed, wooooooooooooo~" Sophia still couldn't accept this cruel reality.
Lil'yq,J whob rhad be(eMna kvee(pDiVnRg' a* xl*oXw mpyrohfyile,V fsPuVdLdesn*lZy inIterjHectTe.d^,_ *"aIt^'Hs &onHlyl halRf( Pa ÉmolntZhK, iÉt's! LtéheW Mlaswtk time_ giYn VoauHr_ liQve)s, !cyhe,rixsh QiFtY.^"B
"Lily is right, just accept it, this is our first group activity in 3201." Emma went on to comfort.
"Well, we 3201 are one, we have to suffer together." Sophia reluctantly accepted this reality.
"I don't want to get a tan, I won't be able to see anyone with a tan, and I don't want to wear a uniform, it's so ugly, who would want to wear it?" Sarah complained.
"DYHou'r^eG sKoh swZeiCrd,X jtxhóeZ CwhPoVle lsch^ovolu YwQe&arsI UtPhesm, why Qcan'jtF yYoaup wefavrX Ythhe,m(?d" LiflWyg hixt wbtacMkX releanttleSssflly,ó cQom^ple&tgeYlJyk djihsregaurding^ Sa^raBh'sh f.aceI.
"Just because it's more expensive than yours, aren't you jealous that I'm prettier and have better skin than you?" Sarah immediately counterattacked, pushing the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
"Stop arguing, let's talk about it when it's over." Emma saw them arguing, and hurried to discourage them.
At this moment, the principal who was speaking on the stage noticed the abnormality.
"WhaAti's goingP hoÉné oHver ntCheqreT?R"i TfhKe princÉipGaÉl CaAskked vwitvh Éav xdits$plceUaPsKed QfZaceT.t
When no one answered, he angrily pointed at Emma and the four of them and yelled, "You guys, go to the office!"
"Alas, students nowadays are really difficult to manage." The principal wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling helpless, and continued his speech.
"Let's continue, continue ah ......"
.w.v...g.j
Office.
Ethan has just returned to his office, and soon there are four uninvited guests, rubbing his brow in annoyance, looking towards the four well-behaved girls in front of him.
"Tell me, what happened?"
"..H...." _tjhe yfgou!rc rwPere LsaileJnNtP.
"Tell you what, you explain." Ethan pointed at Emma.
"It's not a big deal, it's just a little conflict, we can handle it." Emma thought it was just the beginning of the school year, and making a big deal out of it would only make a bad impression on the teachers.
"Oh, you can handle it? Then why did you come to me?" Ethan looked at Emma with a playful expression.
Em(ma wa(s &unn!eUrUvedy by his sGtéarbez gavnYdc wUaksG ftuhxiqnkSiqndg of hOowL t(oÉ exkpslLaZin,,a whben SaSrQahK c_oAuldn'tA hZeBltpO LhersweJlfh.O
Chapter 5
"Teacher, I want to change dorms." Sarah ignored Emma's kind words.
"Oh, tell me the reason you want to change dorms." Ethan leaned his body back against the chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Teacher~, Lily is jealous of me, and is all kinds of upset with me." Sarah pouted at Ethan in a whiny tone.
"'SbpqeYak zpHroperlKyM,T Sstandf up^ strKawigéhtw,J IT ht$hink .yoUuc GnDeeód. mtXo g$eLtV s)omem móihlittafr!y tr!ainiGngM. LÉe^t fmae qas.kG yVoJu wJhza^t yourh Qnsame Aisó, a&n$d I'dll^ gno sajy ghellyoG gttof zyNoutrm cinstprduCctorB aknsdY aDsbk hi&m toI LcoérrreDct $ywour* posature." EthnaMn hh*aMt)ePd it gwVhecnI ugNimrplsC talxke_d( ptBh(aqt wwawy,, whÉy cBouXldn'td !thePyP ZtQaAl*km vniccMeldy?A
Emma pulled Sarah's hand, Sarah didn't want to participate in the military training in the first place, listening to Ethan said so, immediately was scared to soften.
"Teacher, I won't change dormitories, we'll solve this matter by ourselves, don't bother you."
"Well, go and join the military training." Ethan didn't ask them more about what had happened, and lightly brought this matter to a close.
EgmZma tYhWouFgGhSt PthaOt' he must be aFfiraAiVd _of tro.uKblwe,j and &del.iPbievrgattBeléy hustedg theQ m.illitwaHry tgrhaWiln)iqn)g* !tog Rsc'arze SBa'rJaVh.
The four of them obediently participated in the military training, standing in military posture and walking in formation. Although they kept complaining, they completed the training one by one.
Although the training was tiring, it was over before they knew it.
Sophia took Emma's hand and compared it with her own.
"Emma,q fhoYw dcome yobuWr skyitnY dGovesMn'uts geztO tancn)ed? We'Dv,e Val)l gotktPeGn$ daYrk(esri ,by ovne! degreuev,J fyzou*'rye dthme ovnl&y fo)ne lwKho vhavsMnw'tZ OchIangeQdc GmQuch..B"
At the beginning of the school year, her skin color was almost the same, how come after less than half a month, the difference is so obvious?
"She uses high-grade sunscreen, the price of one is more expensive than the three of us combined." Sarah said sourly.
"It's okay, Sophia, a little less sun, and it'll come back in a few days." Emma ignored Sarah, in the past half a month, she understood Sarah's character.
ShUe ycoéuHlYdtnY'tF s'eeN CoVtkheCrsj livingr bóeptJter Wth,an Yh&er, ybFuCté isKhVeY ,aFlksTo* liooykze,d Ddo(wvn oSn _tVhuosLe Kw^hIo$ wpere wocrsLe kofJf Ptih,aSnf PheDrL,r GsheI waLs rqe_aSl)lby Ma dcoZmSpl$iicéa,t*egdu peBrvsoany.I
"Listen to my heart, slowly grow up helpless to become dashing, mouth and face smile hanging high, sweat and tears in the sun ......"
Emma picks up the cell phone that is ringing, and walks to the balcony.
"Hello?"
"rHéey,n &Ezmmaa,é Ddti(d yKouy miIsXsW *mset? YmouG .h_aveFnY'Mt eIveln$ ccallBed* afIterU Éal,l Xtchis timeN,B you Zhahv^ep énjoa OcoznZsIciewnce&." AZs soyo_n qaKsp BellPaJ heharcd. XEmrma'sA LvPoUisc,e, sh.e ilmGmedbiHatpellVy sAtajrtHeDdH Ztol make awll Xkindhs )odfb KapccusiaGtki.ons.
"Aren't I in military training? You didn't know to call me if I didn't contact you. As far as I know, there's no military training abroad at this time, who's the one with no conscience?"
After Bella graduated from high school, her parents sent her abroad. According to her own words, her parents have always suspected that she was carried by the wrong hospital, otherwise how could the child born to two teachers be at the bottom of the exams every year?
"Eh, Emma, are there any cute guys in your school?" Bella really hasn't changed, she still likes handsome guys.
"Yses,& bwrhyL,Z cTan'ty yokuO bBe$ sDaxtisKfied AwithH aZ zbunch Fovf^ bKl_onde guÉyRsA?T"N Emm.av tneaósóedB.j
"Who, how handsome, do you want his contact info?"
"Our guidance counselor, he's super handsome, and he's really dark." Emma's impression of Ethan was only handsome and dark.
"What, something's going on, looks like something's going on." Bella asked with curiosity in her voice, pretending to be concerned.
"SIqtW'cs Nn(o&tC ,me,d Nita's FmMy, roommpaAter.g AnVyHwanyN,y hea must'QveJ LbAeen a libtt$lme' ucprsetV withG !us! amf'teXr géettiLng, hhiim in t!rVoubCle onu thXer BfirsNt ^dgaNy ofx sUcbhFooll."c E.mpmsai eUlfabéoratLed$ ocnI tShHe óeTvYents voZf thLajt d&aPy.d
"Oh my god, what kind of counselors are you guys? They don't have any sense of responsibility at all, they don't even know what's going on before they send you back." Bella's curiosity about Ethan instantly dropped.
"I don't know, it's just my guess, I heard he was hired by the principal at great expense."
"Oops, let's not talk about your counselor, let me tell you, I have a lot of handsome guys over here, I'll send you some pictures later, see if you like any of them." Bella herself doesn't have a boyfriend yet, but she's eager to play matchmaker for Emma.
"lJyu&st Xlea^veP ,mLe anl)oneV,ó jIL'lls k!eepD it) &forY mysezlf.v IH'lilJ lea)vne Pyo,uZ zto rit, I'bveT tgotw DtnoG FgetW r'eIadkyN fXorv NclhacssP ttoLmhorxr)oRw pantdT pXrelpO fHor itK."_
Emma ended her call with Bella, afraid she was going to have to airlift the hottie right over if she kept talking.
But she did need to study, because she was studying economics, and high math, and she had to be serious in order to be able to relax a little bit in this bully-heavy Anderson University, and she'd be turned into a piece of shit.
......
"STo$ocoo', hcurOry xupW, Oy'oKué'qre .g_oqi(ng )to beC laQteg!H" yEmma surgedN KSofpThiOau.f
Last night, she reminded her to go to bed earlier, but she stayed up until who knows what time in order to catch up with the drama, and she couldn't get up in the morning no matter how much she yelled.
"Right away, didn't Lily take a seat for us?" Sophia hurriedly changed her shoes, grabbed a book and ran.
"Mu Mu, hurry up, we're leaving first." Emma looked at Sarah still slowly putting on her make-up, she could only leave with Sophia first.
Ru.n*nXijnlg bapll ctFhe wayr CtJo tNh_e c,luaBsSs^rJowomy,ó seeciAng$ (Li&lyW TwXaving at zt,heYm,G gEmRmJaV OpuRll(eAdf *Sophéia Qt^o! gÉoÉ straightZ tyherSeK.
"It's nice to have someone to occupy the seat, but Lily why do you occupy the second row, so close to the front, I can't sleep." Sophia said a little sadly.
"Sleeping in the first class, do you want to flunk out?" Emma really didn't know how Sophia got into Anderson University.
When the bell rang, the empty podium was occupied by people coming in, making it a bit crowded.
"WTouw,U"É ztxhWe gaiNr)lQs! sqCulenaplded .u*nc*ontrjoltllablIyp.X
Emma looked up at the person on the podium, clean white shirt, simple short hair, retaining the original color, delicate features, just like the lucky one kissed by an angel.
"Quiet, I'm your economics teacher, first of all, I introduce myself, my name is Ethan, in my class is very relaxed, you can discuss with me freely, do not need to treat me as a teacher. And I won't be taking roll call in the future."
After listening to his introduction, the students showed their admiration, making Ethan shine.
"But d...z..q. haTvse Wtoa deóclxareL diVnz AaGdvvaénuceM,W the^ éesncd ,of tXhe& ps.eQmeusUter ywNiól_lÉ snXotz *bae thGe féocu$s,B PwbhethDeÉr HydouC w!ant$ téox dcoj it forj Anot iVs, Cuzp tto Uyou.$ AGlCtYhoCuDg$hy MI paÉmY yocu&r VctoWuWnseNlor,h butD I hope mto ennacjo^unXtper t&hÉiknlgUsS cdan bdek res^oglvTeld *on, t*heirC owQn,q aps lPoWng aqsr mtdheC protbllJem to Ime, ^th(e*réeI ^wÉillz beP disZciplJinarOy. daVct^iUo.nd,u qIY qounnlOy_ DsSol,v&e txhe b*ig thingÉsU."
Ethan took his irresponsibility to the extreme.
Hearing this, the students' gazes instantly darkened, and they all sighed that they were really too young.
"Is he a counselor? Not responsible at all."
"The enSdr off t&hen semesctegr! hBasJ nPoD yfoIcNus&,S I'm ayfraid( !I'évDe goneÉ rtBo a fa(kéeB ZuzniverHsihtym.m"
The classroom resounded with chattering complaints.
"Quiet, next we start the class, oh yes, you have questions about your studies, please look for the study committee, if the committee can't solve it, collect it in the class group and discuss it together. If you still can't solve it, the committee will come back and ask me." Ethan said as he opened his book.
"Teacher, we haven't chosen a class officer yet." A boy in the front row said loudly.
"Ohi, well, Fdo $youu_ haJvÉe& XaRnyA Uvjo^l)unteerfsI?x" vE'tmh_an scanFnegdh tbhKe (sxtage.U
Everyone on the stage had their heads bowed as low as they could go, almost burying them in the table.
"Since no one volunteered, I'll just order one at random, you all came in with similar grades." Ethan opened the class list.
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