Lila’s interest was immediately piqued.
They hid behind cover, watching Finn lead his team to fight monsters.
The main boss was challenging to defeat and required team coordination. By the time they were close to success, most players would be at low health.
Typically, no one dared to steal bosses from famous teams like this.
But there were exceptions.
Lila had previously studied strategies for this boss and knew exactly when to strike.
She and Dr. Sean worked together with remarkable coordination. At the last moment, they delivered the final blow.
They successfully stole the boss from Finn and Sylvia.
The world channel announced, “Congratulations to Sweet Lemonade for defeating the Peach Blossom Grove Boss.”
When Finn saw this result, he cursed furiously into his headset. “What were you all doing? How could you let someone steal our boss?”
Sylvia added fuel to the fire. “These two appear to be new accounts. Don’t they know who we are? How dare they steal our boss!”
Finn raged. “Kill them!”
But soon after, Finn’s game screen turned black and white, followed by his entire team collapsing and remaining motionless.
Finn stared at the username “Sweet Lemonade,” feeling that this player’s style seemed familiar.
It resembled Lila’s!
Could she have deliberately created a new account to steal his boss?
No, Lila couldn’t possibly be that skilled.
Meanwhile, Lila and Dr. Sean had not only claimed the boss but also received the dropped treasures.
But nothing could compare to the joy of humiliating Finn and Sylvia!
After playing for a while, their food delivery arrived.
Dr. Sean paused the game. “Let’s eat first.”
Lila noticed a small cake among the items, the same brand as the one Sylvia had received earlier that day.
She glanced at him. “Why did you buy a cake?”
“Don’t all girls like these things? Consider it a reward for your good results. You didn’t embarrass me!”
Lila suddenly felt touched.
Dr. Sean’s expression became somewhat awkward, and he added coldly, “It was just included with the delivery order anyway.”
Lila took the small cake-a cake that was exclusively for her.
She took a bite, lowering her eyelids, unable to calm her emotions.
Dr. Sean watched her, remaining silent for a while.
His throat tightened. “Is the cake not good?”
That seemed unlikely-wasn’t this supposed to be the most popular flavor?
Lila nodded. “It’s delicious. It’s been a long time since someone bought a cake specially for me.”
Since her parents’ death, she had never celebrated another birthday.
Her brothers didn’t remember that she also liked this cake; there was never a portion for her.
Dr. Sean’s gaze fell on her. “Don’t you eat cake on your birthday?”
Lila was silent for a moment. “My parents died in a car accident on my birthday, so I haven’t celebrated since then.”
Because that day was the anniversary of her parents’ death.
Every year on that day, the mood in the house was always somber.
She had no right to ask for a birthday celebration.
Dr. Sean’s heart felt as if it had been sharply stung, making it difficult to breathe.
He involuntarily turned his head away, his thin lips pressed together, his expression severe with anger and guilt.
His hand unconsciously clenched, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
Lila sensed the change in atmosphere and looked up, pretending to be indifferent. “Actually, I don’t care about celebrating birthdays. I’m not in the mood for it anyway.”
After all, that day was the anniversary of her parents’ deaths.
What right did she have to celebrate her birthday?
Dr. Sean controlled his emotions, looking at her fair and quiet face, docile like a small animal.
She remained silently in place, making no sound, with barely any presence.
Her understanding nature made him both angry and helpless.
His throat moved, his voice somewhat hoarse. “It’s getting late. You should go home. Kids shouldn’t linger outside.”
“I understand. Can I still come find you here in the future?”
Lila looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes.
Dr. Sean’s eyes were as dark as ink. “You trust me so readily. Aren’t you afraid I might deceive you?”
“Because I have nothing worth deceiving you for.”
Lila looked at him frankly. “Teacher, you’re my only friend right now.”
Dr. Sean’s gaze lingered: A friend?
He tugged at the corner of his lips, then put on a serious face. “Don’t trust people so easily in the future, especially men.”
“I understand. I’m leaving now.”
Lila waved goodbye and left the infirmary with her backpack.
After she left, Dr. Sean remained seated for a long time. He stared at the cake on the table, recalling the large cake that had been shattered at the accident scene years ago.
His head began to throb uncontrollably.
Since that accident, he had never eaten cake again.
After a long while, he received a phone call. “Young Master, Miss Landon has safely arrived home.”
Only then did Dr. Sean hang up the phone, his silhouette stretching long in the sunset.
When Lila returned to the Landon house, she saw Max sitting on the sofa, evidently waiting for her.
She displayed no emotion. “Max.”
Max looked up at his distant and stubborn sister, unsure how to proceed.
When he had heard about Lila’s dramatic grade improvement, he had also somewhat suspected she might have cheated.
But he hadn’t expected her grades to be genuine.
Yet for years, Lila’s academic performance had been merely average. How had she suddenly improved so much?
Max felt that Lila had truly changed significantly-not just being stubborn with them, but genuinely transforming.
He felt both happy and lost.
The sister who used to revolve around him seemed to have vanished!
Her good grades clearly showed she was making a genuine effort, not just being difficult.
Max began to reflect that he too had viewed Lila through a biased lens. Combined with what his sixth brother had done at school, he felt they had somewhat neglected Lila’s feelings.
Was that why she had changed so dramatically?
Max spoke with complex emotions. “Coming home so late again-were you at the public study room?”
“Yes.”
Max sighed slightly. “Isn’t the environment at home better than at public study rooms? The outside world is complex, with all sorts of people. Don’t study at public study rooms anymore-it’s not safe.”
Lila pressed her lips together. There it was again-him making decisions for her.
Max continued, “Because Sylvia’s grades have dropped severely, I’ve hired a private tutor for her. You should join the sessions too. If Sylvia doesn’t understand something, you can help her, since you’re classmates. When she’s absent, you can take detailed notes for her.”
Lila’s eyes held mockery.
So it was for Sylvia’s sake that he wanted her to study at home.
Lila straightened her back. “I refuse.”
“Lila, I know your sixth brother made a mistake at school today, and you’ve proven your abilities. But we’re ultimately a family. Sylvia’s grades dropped because she was preparing for the team competition. Since you’re not joining the team, you should make some effort to help improve Sylvia’s grades, especially since you have experience.”
Lila found it laughable. “I refuse!”
Just those three words-she didn’t even bother to explain, feeling it would be a waste of breath.
Finn burst in, pointing at her nose and shouting, “Lila, do you have any conscience? All these years you’ve eaten the Landon family’s food, used the Landon family’s resources, without making any contribution. How can you be so shameless?”
Lila found it ironic.
In her previous life, she had desperately contributed to the Landon family, training relentlessly to help the team win the championship.
And what had she received in return?
Sylvia had shed a few tears and easily replaced her, stealing her championship position.
This time, she wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake.
She responded calmly, “Fine. Starting today, I’ll move out of the Landon house and won’t use a penny of the Landon family’s money.”
The break would begin now.