All the students in Crestfall taking the college entrance exam were assigned to testing centers in the city, so the students from the countryside had all co into town today to prepare.
The mont Vera Xavier stepped out of the school gates, she saw many plainly dressed students from the countryside. They were here to check out their exam locations ahead of ti.
The college entrance exam officially began tomorrow. This was the first ti—across two lifetis—that Vera was taking it. ’Honestly,’ she thought, ’this is a pretty novel experience.’
Nathaniel Nathan’s bearing and appearance were so outstanding that she spotted him from afar before she had even left the school grounds.
Because of what had happened yesterday, she felt a little embarrassed seeing him today. He, however, looked completely at ease, as if yesterday’s incident had never even occurred.
Vera figured, ’Well, if he’s going to be like that, what do I have to feel awkward for?’ So she, too, acted as if nothing had happened.
As usual, Nathaniel took her to their regular restaurant for a al. As they were heading in, they ran into Quentin Sterling and his family of three.
The mont Lana Sterling saw her, she called out happily, "Auntie Vera!"
Vera had saved her life, so Lana felt an instinctual affinity for her.
Hearing this, Vera nearly jumped out of her skin. ’When did I get promoted to "Auntie"?’
It was Nathaniel who clarified from her side, "That’s Lana Sterling."
Only then did Vera recognize the adorable girl before her as Lana Sterling—the sa girl who had fallen in the water and nearly died. Quentin Sterling had told her to call him ’Brother,’ so based on their respective generations, Lana really was supposed to call her ’Auntie.’
But Lana was only a few years younger than her; this sudden feeling of being an elder was bizarre.
Nathaniel, however, didn’t seem too pleased to see Lana. The reason was simple: Vera had "kissed" her to save her life, and it just occurred to him that he hadn’t yet gotten that kiss back from Vera.
Quentin Sterling said with a smile, "Last ti, it was all thanks to you for saving Lana’s life. We’ve been wanting to thank you properly, but we never found the right chance. Tomorrow, Vera will be taking her college entrance exam, so Corinne and I talked it over and decided to treat you to dinner tonight. We want to wish you the best of luck on your tests!"
Vera quickly replied, "You’re being too kind! It was really no trouble at all."
Corinne Walsh smiled and said, "We’re all family here, so why stand on ceremony? Once your exams are over, we’ll throw you a party to celebrate!"
Vera’s heart ward at their words, so she didn’t refuse their offer.
Nathaniel ordered a bowl of pig brain soup. He was a man of his word. For the past few days, soone from the restaurant had delivered the soup to her school at noon. While the restaurant’s soup was quite good, she couldn’t stand having it every single day.
She imdiately protested in a low voice, "Can I skip it today?"
"With that tiny brain capacity of yours, if you don’t get so nourishnt from this, you’ll soon have the brain of an actual pig," Nathaniel said coolly, giving her no chance to refuse as he ladled a full bowl for her.
Vera stared at the soup, getting the distinct feeling he was ssing with her on purpose. Of all the different kinds of soup, the one she hated most—aside from papaya soup—was pig brain soup!
She pouted, her displeasure written all over her face.
Seeing her expression, he remarked nonchalantly, "If you don’t drink it, I’ll feed it to you."
His voice wasn’t loud, but the private room was small, and the three mbers of the Sterling family heard every word clearly.
Quentin Sterling and Corinne Walsh managed to maintain their composure, but Lana Sterling had already burst out laughing. "Uncle Nathaniel and Auntie are so perfect for each other! When I grow up, I want a boyfriend just like Uncle Nathaniel!"
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