Keston First Municipal Hospital
To not let his sister's lovingly prepared breakfast go to waste, Chester Sawyer forced himself to finish the side dishes. When the doctor came for their rounds, they were informed that he could be discharged.
"We can finally leave," Chester Sawyer said, overjoyed.
"The college entrance exams are coming up. Your admission ticket and books are all at school. I'll take you back to get them when I have a moment." As soon as Sydney Sawyer finished speaking, Chester fell silent.
A sharp kid like him got the hint immediately.
'No wonder the family hasn't been trying to find me,' he thought. 'So they were all in on it from the start?'
"Are you angry?" Sydney Sawyer asked.
Chester Sawyer pursed his lips. "No, I'm quite happy."
"…"
"You didn't tell me because you were afraid I'd be upset, which means you care about my feelings." Chester grinned at her. "Sis, you must really like me, huh?"
Sydney Sawyer had been worried he would be angry, but she hadn't expected him to be so resilient.
Before leaving the hospital, the two wanted to say goodbye to Sebastian Lockwood and Donovan Sheridan. However, they learned the doctors were in a meeting that likely wouldn't end anytime soon, so they left a message with someone and went home to pack.
***
To avoid disturbing the other students studying for their exams, Sydney Sawyer deliberately chose to take him back to school before the evening self-study session.
Municipal No. 4 Middle School was located in the city center, and with many students coming out for dinner, the entrance was crowded.
Sydney dropped him off at the gate. Since cell phones were forbidden on campus, the security guard on duty smiled and greeted Chester as he handed his phone to her.
"Well, if it isn't Chester Sawyer."
"Hello, sir."
After Chester went into the school, the guard smiled at Sydney. "That kid's a smart one."
"You know him well?"
"Sure do. He's always whistling a little tune, strolling in just as the bell rings. But when school lets out, he's always in the first batch of students to run out with their electric scooters. Doesn't act like a high school senior at all."
The guard seemed to have a lot to say about Chester:
"He even sneaks off to internet cafes. His dad came to the school to check the security footage once."
"Oh, right. I forget which year it was, but I think he even got into a fight over a girl."
Sydney paused, her face full of doubt.
"Don't look so doubtful. If we hadn't found them in time, something bad would've definitely happened that night."
Sydney smiled and nodded. Her gaze caught on a few optometrist shops near the school, and she thought of Sebastian Lockwood's glasses with the broken temple from last night. "I'm going to look around nearby. If Chester comes out, could you please ask him to wait here for me?"
***
「Meanwhile」
When Chester Sawyer arrived at the school gate with a stack of books, the security guard told him to wait. But with his restless nature, he couldn't stay put and started wandering around the entrance, books in tow.
The pork belly buns from the stall by the school gate were legendary, and Chester wanted to buy some for Sydney to try.
He had just ordered two when he realized he had no phone and no cash on him. The owner, who recognized him, saw his predicament. "It's on the house."
"I have money! I'll pay you when my sister gets here…"
Before he could finish, someone suddenly laid a hand on his arm.
Before Chester could turn his head, he heard the person say with a snicker, "Well, look who it is. The early admission student came to school?"
"What are you guys doing here?" Chester frowned.
"Where's that pretty sister of yours from last time?" another one chimed in with a grin.
There were five of them in the group, all reeking of a thuggish attitude.
"We didn't get a chance to talk properly last time. Come on, we'll treat you to some milk tea."
Chester was holding a heavy stack of books, making it difficult to move. He couldn't break free and was forcibly dragged toward a nearby alley.
Many of the students nearby saw what was happening, but most didn't want to get involved and were too afraid to help.
***
The evening sun was dim, and the light in the alley was faint. The passage was narrow. The group held him as they twisted and turned, finally finding a hidden spot at the very back.
The ground was littered with trash and dried sewage, making the place look filthy and chaotic.
"Ethan Bauer, what do you want!" Chester demanded, his brow furrowed.
The guy named Ethan Bauer smirked. "That girl with you last time we had crayfish was pretty cute. Heard she's your sister, huh?"
"What are you getting at?"
"I want to get to know her."
Chester didn't say a word.
"She's not your biological sister anyway, so you don't need to be so protective of her."
Chester knew exactly what kind of scum these guys were. He was just curious why they had suddenly targeted his sister.
"Seriously, you have no idea what your sister is capable of."
"Do you even know why she came back this time?"
Chester pursed his lips. "You do?"
"I heard that as soon as she came back, she stole someone's boyfriend and even made Mindy suffer a loss. Now she's cozying up to you to scheme for the Sawyer family's company and fortune. Don't let her fool you."
Their circle wasn't that big. The moment he mentioned Mindy, Chester knew who he was talking about.
Mindy Caldwell, of course.
They had met last time they were eating crayfish. From the way she spoke to Sydney, he could tell they had some history, but he hadn't asked about it.
"Chester, all you have to do is help us get your sister to come out. There's no downside for you in this, what do you say?" Ethan Bauer said, draping an arm over his shoulder.
Chester glanced at him. "Did Mindy Caldwell send you?"
"Why are you bringing her up! We're just trying to right a wrong. How about it? Give your sister a call?"
Chester chuckled and looked at them.
"Do I really look like that much of an idiot?"
The guys froze. "What do you mean?"
"Only idiots are easy to fool."
"…"
"You hear a few words and decide to stick up for someone? Seriously, every time I see you guys, I start to wonder if the country's nine-year compulsory education system is really reaching everyone."
'Otherwise, how could there be such brain-dead morons?'
Ethan Bauer didn't seem to process it at first, stunned for two seconds.
But Chester just smiled. "Or maybe what you're lacking isn't nine years of compulsory education, but… a brain!"
?!
"Holy shit, Chester Sawyer, what the fuck did you just say!"
The group was instantly enraged. They rolled up their sleeves, ready to jump him.
"What's this? Five against one? You guys are really something else, huh?"
Ethan Bauer laughed, stopping his restless cronies. "Then let's make it a one-on-one. The fight we scheduled two years ago never happened. This is a good time to settle it."
"Fine by me. Move aside, let me put my books down."
The guys holding his shoulders let go. Chester found a clean spot to put down his books, then cracked his neck and stretched his limbs.
"Can you hurry the hell up!" Ethan Bauer said, growing impatient.
"My gym teacher always said you have to warm up before exercising, or you might pull a muscle."
"…"
The group gritted their teeth.
'So slow to fight, but number one in trash-talking.'
***
「Meanwhile」
Sydney had picked out a pair of glasses and sent a message to Sebastian Lockwood to ask for his prescription, but she hadn't received a reply yet. Worried that Chester would get impatient waiting, she hurried back to the school gate.
The guard said Chester had gone to buy pork belly buns, but then she heard from other students that he had been dragged away by some delinquents.
Sydney's expression changed slightly. A few students pointed her in the right direction.
Back in the alley, the five guys were patiently waiting for Chester.
They were starting to get antsy when Chester cleared his throat. "Alright, I'm ready."
Ethan Bauer had already taken off his jacket, and the others were watching with excitement, just waiting to rough up the good student. But then, Chester turned his head…
And fucking ran!
The guys were dumbfounded.
'That son of a bitch has no honor!'
Sydney had just entered the alley.
But it wasn't a straight path; it was a winding maze of twists and turns. It was her first time here, and just as she was wondering where they could have taken Chester, she heard the chaotic sound of frantic running…
And someone shouting:
"Chester Sawyer, are you a fucking man or not!"
"I'm not an adult yet, so I'm not a man! I'm just a kid!"
"You get back here!"
"I'm not an idiot! If you've got the guts, then catch me and hit me, you short-legged loser!"
His tone was arrogant and utterly punchable.
"…"