Just as Lila felt she couldn’t hold back anymore, Sylvia finally arrived.
Sylvia ran while apologizing, “I’m sorry! I was discussing the competition with Finn and lost track of time.”
Easton responded calmly, “It’s fine. You’re contributing to the family, which is better than certain ungrateful people.”
The driver was accommodating. “No problem. I’ll drive faster.”
They still ended up being late, however.
As the two ran to the classroom door, they were caught by their homeroom teacher.
Sylvia, pale-faced and breathing heavily, said, “I’m sorry, teacher. It’s all my fault for wasting time and causing Lila to be late too.”
Lila stood stern-faced without speaking.
The homeroom teacher looked at both of them but spoke kindly to Sylvia, “I understand. No need to explain further. Go ahead in.”
“Thank you, teacher.”
As Lila followed, the teacher’s stern voice reached her ears, “Lila, don’t hold Sylvia back in the future. Don’t let this happen again!”
Lila turned back. “Teacher, Sylvia just explained clearly that she was the one who made me late.”
“Enough! I know what kind of person you are. Stop making excuses, or you’ll stand outside during class.”
Lila didn’t want to miss the lesson-she was already far behind.
She silently entered the classroom, her mood darkened.
She truly hoped the exams would come quickly so she could escape them all.
During the lunch break.
Sylvia was surrounded by classmates listening to her stories about the professional team, all of them envious.
Ruby looked at Lila and said, “Some people must be jealous of Sylvia, deliberately delaying to make her late.”
Sylvia’s face wore a smile, but she offered no further explanation.
Lila lay on her desk sleeping, ignoring them all.
After school, Sylvia boasted to Lila, “I’m going to the training camp again today.”
Lila silently packed her books and walked out of the classroom with her backpack.
Sylvia watched Lila’s retreating figure with a triumphant expression.
She turned to her followers, “Do my homework as usual today. Don’t let the teacher find out.”
“Don’t worry. Go chase your dreams at the training camp. We’ll cover for you.”
“Thanks! I’ll make it worth your while.”
Sylvia left happily. This time, she would step all over Lila and prove that she was the most qualified sister in the Landon family.
Lila headed straight to the infirmary with her backpack.
Dr. Sean sat in his chair, his elegant face showing a hint of amusement. “Need something?”
“Ahem, I’ve come to do my homework. Please take me in!”
Lila walked in comfortably, as if she already knew her way around. As long as he didn’t chase her out, she was fine.
Dr. Sean was surprised by her familiarity.
He had thought she was too timid and wouldn’t dare return.
But when she asked Dr. Sean questions, she was still scolded.
“Can your brain be less like a funnel, leaking as much as it holds?”
“In the future, don’t ask simple questions. Find ways to solve them yourself.”
Lila didn’t argue at all, dutifully noting everything down.
The room was quiet until her stomach growled loudly.
Lila’s face turned bright red. She had eaten a bread roll earlier, but she was still hungry.
Dr. Sean checked the time and ordered takeout. “Let’s eat first.”
Lila sat across from him and noticed the scar on his wrist again. She couldn’t help asking, “When did your car accident happen? Was it serious?”
Dr. Sean silently opened the takeout boxes and arranged them on the table.
He looked at Lila, his eyes misted over. “Many years ago.”
“Me too. My parents died in that accident, leaving me and my brothers to depend on each other.”
Lila recalled her past dependence on her brothers, self-mockery flashing in her eyes.
After their parents died, she and her brothers had gone through a difficult period, but their sibling relationship had been good.
Everything changed after Sylvia appeared.
Dr. Sean gripped his utensils tightly. “What are your plans now?”
“I plan to attend Cloudridge University, leave this city, and start a new life.”
“That’s ambitious. With your current grades, you have little hope of getting into Cloudridge.”
“There’s still time. I’ll work hard.”
Dr. Sean’s gaze rested on her before lowering. His voice was cool. “Don’t ask such simple questions in the future!”
Lila smiled. Did that mean she could still ask questions?
For several days after that, Lila lingered in the infirmary after school, leaving only after completing her homework.
Meanwhile, Sylvia’s gaming training began to affect her during school-she became distracted in class and even fell asleep.
Of course, as a teacher’s favorite, Sylvia merely claimed she wasn’t feeling well, and the teachers let it go.
Lila saw Sylvia’s social media posts showcasing photos from the training camp and videos of her fighting alongside Lila’s brothers in the game, their usernames all following a similar theme.
The names were the same as in her previous life, except Lila wasn’t part of it this time.
“Not focusing on homework but want to play games?”
Dr. Sean walked beside her and saw the game videos on her phone.
Lila shook her head. “No, I’m just looking. Studying is my priority now.”
“If you rank in the top hundred on next week’s monthly exam, I’ll allow you to play games.”
Lila looked up with a smile. “Will you play with me then, teacher?”
She knew Dr. Sean also played this game.
Dr. Sean kept his eyes lowered, his profile still handsome.
He said, “I haven’t played in a long time. Let’s talk after you rank in the top hundred.”
“It’s a promise then.”
Lila watched Dr. Sean’s back. She was determined to rank in the top hundred, especially since he seemed so skilled.
She had been excellent at gaming in her previous life.
Perhaps then she could quietly impress Dr. Sean in the game and regain some of her self-esteem.
Lila suddenly felt excited about this prospect.
After finishing her homework, she returned home, only to find her second brother Max sitting on the sofa in the hall.
Her heart skipped a beat. Why was he back early?
Hadn’t her brothers been at the training camp these past few days, usually returning late?
Max looked up, his tone serious. “Where were you? Coming home so late!”
Lila’s heart raced. She couldn’t let him discover she had been doing homework in the infirmary.
She didn’t want to lose her last bit of peace and quiet.
She looked down at the floor. “I was at a public study room. It’s crowded there, which creates a good studying atmosphere.”
“Let me see your backpack.”
Lila handed over her backpack. Max flipped through her homework notebooks, seeing the dense notes and the error correction book.
Max looked suspicious after checking.
The butler had reported that Lila hadn’t been coming home on time for several days, and they didn’t know where she went.
He hadn’t expected that she was actually studying.
Max put down the backpack. “Lila, let’s talk.”
“Max, what do you want to talk about?”
Looking at the quiet Lila before him, Max suddenly felt she had changed significantly, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.
In the past, Lila would have been crying and complaining pitiously by now.
But now she said nothing.
He felt Lila was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.
Max began, “Sylvia has made rapid progress lately. If you join the training with her, you’ll surely improve together. You have talent. You could spend a little time at the training camp without affecting your studies. Wouldn’t it be nice for our whole family to be together? Blake will be happy to see us so harmonious when he returns.”
Lila lowered her head, her eyes filled with mockery.
She answered firmly, “I don’t want to join the team.”
“Lila, Sylvia is part of our family, and so are you. We should stand together, not exclude her like you’re doing. After all, her father saved your life!”
Max couldn’t understand why Lila wouldn’t seize the opportunities he had given her.
They were so good to Sylvia only to repay her father’s kindness on Lila’s behalf!
The hall fell silent, the stagnant air seeming to suffocate Lila.
She gripped her hands tightly, barely able to contain herself.
To hell with this!
Lila spoke mockingly, “Max, would you only be satisfied if I gave my life to Sylvia?”