Summer Lin was still going on and on with her praises.
Autumn James's lips twitched slightly. She quickly stopped her, "You're really pretty too. I'm done eating, so I'll go first. Take your time."
Without waiting for Summer's reaction, she walked straight out.
Summer propped her chin up with one hand and stared dreamily at Autumn's back.
Her face glowed with infatuation. "See? Beautiful girls really do have personality. If only she were in our class — I could see her every day."
Autumn had no idea what Summer was thinking.
After returning to the hotel, she packed up and went to sleep.
The next morning, she headed back to school.
The hotel wasn't far from campus — just a short walk away.
The first thing Autumn did after arriving was go to the office and hand her application form to the homeroom teacher.
Once all the required signatures and stamps from the school leaders were done, she'd take a science test. Her new class placement would depend on her score.
After handing in the form, Autumn returned to class.
But something was off — the normally noisy classroom was strangely quiet today.
In the back row by the window, where no one usually sat, there was a boy resting his head on the desk. He wasn't wearing the school uniform.
His hair was soft and messy, falling loosely over his forehead. He looked quiet and harmless.
Everyone seemed afraid to disturb him. Even though it was morning self-study, not a single person dared to make a sound.
Autumn didn't pay much attention. She glanced once, then looked away, resting her own head on her desk.
After all, the lessons here were as easy as eating or drinking for her.
Maybe she hadn't slept well the night before — this time, she actually fell into a deep sleep.
She didn't know how long she slept until her desk was suddenly kicked — hard. The impact jolted her awake.
Half-asleep and grumpy, Autumn lifted her head, her eyes still hazy.
Maybe because she wasn't fully awake yet, her gaze looked a bit dazed — not threatening at all.
"Hey, Autumn James, where's my breakfast?"
Autumn raised her hand and brushed her bangs back impatiently.
"Why the hell are you asking me for breakfast? Go bother the cafeteria lady. Don't annoy me — I'm sleeping."
Her voice was full of irritation.
Liam Carter froze. All these years, it was the first time Autumn had ever spoken to him like that.
"Are you insane? How dare you talk to me like that?!"
He sounded both shocked and, if you listened closely, just a little hurt.
Autumn ignored him and lay back down.
"Autumn James!! I told you to buy me breakfast! Didn't you hear me?!"
Liam grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the desk.
That did it. Autumn's temper flared, and she turned and kicked him straight in the leg.
Completely unprepared, Liam fell flat on his butt.
Unlike before, when people would scold Autumn for fighting back, this time the class broke into stifled laughter.
"Liam Carter really never changes. Always making Autumn buy his food. What a joke."
"Exactly! She's not his mom — why should she take care of him?"
"Serves him right for getting kicked. Totally deserved it!"
Anna Hawthorne had just come back from the bathroom.
When she saw Liam sitting on the floor, she rushed over — after all, this was her future golden goose.
But as soon as her wet hand touched him, Liam brushed her off harshly.
"Your hand's wet! Don't touch me, that's disgusting."
Caught off guard, Anna stumbled back and hit her waist against a desk. The pain made her hiss sharply.
Damn it. This idiot. Why do I even bother?
And right then, the system's voice echoed in her mind:
"Target Liam Carter's affection level: 54. Host must continue working hard."
Anna gritted her teeth. Liam might be the youngest of their group, but he was also the hardest one to win over.
After all this time, his affection was still only at fifty-four.
Normally, she'd go help him again — but right now her waist hurt, and she was sick of it.
Let that idiot embarrass himself.
Autumn, meanwhile, wasn't the same person she used to be.
She walked up to Liam and squatted down in front of him.
In her heart, she repeated to herself — He's just a kid. Don't fight with a kid.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself a little.
"Am I your sister?"
Liam shook his head. They weren't related.
"Does the food I buy taste better?"
He shook his head again. It was all cafeteria food — equally bad.
"Do I look like I've got nothing better to do?"
Another shake. She actually looked pretty tired.
"Then why the hell do you want me to buy your food? Don't you have hands?"
Autumn stood up, looking down at him from above.
Liam was at a loss for words.
His lips parted slightly — because you always did before…
But when he saw the cold indifference in her eyes, the words died in his throat.
Then suddenly, Autumn's tone shifted — a hint of teasing in her smile.
"If you want me to bring you food, fine. Pay up first."
At that, Liam straightened up, patting the dust off his pants. He smirked, like he'd found something to mock her with.
So it really was about money. Typical.
The James family was wealthy — and yet she acted like she was desperate for pocket change.
Autumn James really did have that cheap, small-minded look about her.
"How much do you want? Fifty bucks enough? Grab me a meat bun, some dumplings, and soy milk — keep the change as a tip."
He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer the money.
The other students exchanged glances full of envy.
Lucky girl — she just made a few bucks again.
But Autumn spoke slowly, calmly, "Hold on. You think we're just talking about this one meal? You only eat once?"
Liam froze, his smirk growing wider.
He knew it — Autumn was still Autumn.
Just more money-hungry now. Conveniently, that was something he had plenty of.
"I'll transfer you two thousand. Bring me breakfast for a month. You can keep the rest."
He sounded confident, certain she'd agree.
Autumn chuckled. "Liam, you're dreaming. Who said we were talking about the future? I meant the past."
"Since high school, I've been bringing you breakfast every day. Thirty days a month, four months a semester, plus one month this term. At fifty a day, you owe me about seventy-five hundred. I'll even be nice and skip the extra fees — like the 31st days and delivery charges."
Her tone was so casual — like she was doing him a favor — that it made his teeth grind.
"Transfer it, Liam."
She smoothly switched from her calculator to her payment QR code.
Liam just stared, completely dumbfounded.
And under the watching eyes of the whole class, he clenched his jaw and sent her eight thousand.
"Happy now?" he gritted out.
"Perfect. I'll go buy your food right now."
Autumn turned like she was about to leave.
"Forget it! I don't need it! Not ever again!" Liam shouted, his eyes slightly red, frustration rising in his chest.
She used to bring him breakfast willingly. How did things change so much?
Autumn looked pleased by his refusal. Without another word, she turned back and sat down again.