After two days of relaxing at home, the day to head to school finally arrived.
LAX, Ethan met up with Jack, Ashley, and Taylor.
Jack's parents looked at the kids, their faces full of reluctance and worry, especially Jack's mother Linda, who frowned: "Going all the way to New York where you don't know anyone... I'm really worried..."
Ethan's father David patted his old friend Robert on the shoulder and said reassuringly: "Rob, relax. The kids are growing up—you gotta let them fly on their own, otherwise their wings will never get strong."
Sarah added with a smile: "Don't worry, Linda, it's not like they don't know anyone at all! This kid of mine has been to New York several times already—he knows his way around!"
Ethan smiled and waved to the parents, greeting his three buddies: "Come on, let's go, or we'll miss our flight!"
The four of them walked together toward the security checkpoint.
Jack turned around three times with each step, shouting to his parents: "Mom and Dad, don't worry! I'll take care of myself!"
Ashley and Taylor also politely said goodbye to their parents. Ashley looked calm and composed, while Taylor waved with a sweet smile.
In business class, Ethan had just settled into his window seat when his eyes inadvertently swept over the row behind him. A mature young woman with a gentle presence came into view, accompanied by a little girl about three or four years old, cute as a porcelain doll.
The young woman had a beautiful face, a full figure, and exuded a charming appeal.
Ethan looked twice purely out of appreciation for beautiful things, his thoughts innocent.
Jack, sitting next to him, was like a kid in a candy store, looking around excitedly and elbowing Ethan: "Dude! Business class is completely different from economy! This is the life!"
He shouted to Ashley and Taylor across the aisle in front of him from his seat: "Yo, Brian, Taylor! Look how spacious these seats are! So comfortable!"
When Ashley heard this, he just glanced back coolly, nodded slightly, then turned back around and quietly flipped through the magazine in his hands, maintaining that aloof demeanor.
Taylor turned around with a smile, grabbing the back of her seat, and responded sweetly: "Yeah, yeah, it feels amazing!"
She touched the seat armrest curiously.
Jack was so excited he couldn't sit still, constantly fidgeting in his seat.
At that moment, a sweet little voice sounded behind him, full of confusion:
"Mommy, is this man... a Alien?"
"Huh? ...I don't think so?" The young woman responded hesitantly.
The little girl's voice was innocent and full of curiosity: "If he's not, then why is his skin so Red?"
Jack subconsciously turned his head and met the little girl's big, clear, innocent eyes looking at him curiously.
The excitement on his face instantly froze and shattered, his whole body seeming to petrify.
"Pfft..."
"Cough..."
Uncontrollable laughter erupted from the front.
Ethan couldn't help but laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly.
Even Ashley, who was always cool and composed, set down his magazine with an obvious smirk at the corner of his mouth, quickly covering the lower half of his face with the magazine.
Taylor was straight-up laughing against the back of her seat, her shoulders shaking.
The young woman's face instantly flushed red. She hurriedly covered the little girl's mouth and apologized repeatedly in embarrassment: "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! Kids say the darndest things, I'm really sorry!"
Ethan held back his smile and quickly came to the rescue of the already "critically wounded" Jack: "It's okay, ma'am. Your daughter is innocent and adorable, and what she said... is actually pretty accurate."
He deliberately emphasized the word "accurate" in exchange for Jack's grief and indignation.
The whole way, Jack slumped against his seat like a wilted plant, his neck stiff as if he'd slept wrong, refusing to acknowledge Ethan, immersing himself alone in the trauma of "being certified as a alien by a child."
Instead, Ethan chatted softly with the little girl in the back seat with great interest, making her giggle, while the young woman watched this warm scene with a comfortable smile on her face.
The less than six-hour flight ended quickly.
The plane landed smoothly at JFK International Airport.
Jack was awakened by the jolt of landing and followed the flow of people groggily, preparing to deplane.
Ethan, Ashley, and Taylor got up efficiently and grabbed their bags. Ethan winked at the two, and the three of them walked directly toward the cabin door in tacit understanding.
"Hey? Wait for me!"
Jack shouted from behind, suddenly realized something, and looked up at the empty luggage compartment above his head! Seeing the backs of the three people ahead who'd stylishly abandoned him, he instantly exploded: "Ethan! You asshole! You're just gonna leave me?!"
In reality, Ethan didn't have much luggage—just a backpack (mainly laptop and important items).
Jack only had one large checked suitcase.
The problem was Ashley and Taylor—in addition to their carry-on bags, they each had a checked 24-inch suitcase.
Jack resignedly grabbed Ethan's not-light backpack, picked up Ashley's heavy canvas bag in one hand (which seemed to contain books and materials), pulled Taylor's pink bag with the other, and walked while panting from exhaustion, gritting his teeth and muttering: "Ethan, you run so fast on your own, just wait till I smash this bag in your face..."
The three of them collected their checked luggage and pushed a luggage cart out of the arrivals hall.
Jack stretched his neck looking around, searching for Ethan's figure.
"There!" The sharp-eyed Taylor pointed not far away.
They saw Ethan driving a black Audi A4 from somewhere, parked on the curb and waving at them.
He got out of the car and opened the trunk.
"You two get in first." Ethan said to Ashley and Taylor.
Ashley nodded, handed his suitcase to Ethan efficiently, then opened the rear door and sat in quietly.
Taylor pushed her pink suitcase to Jack and smiled sweetly: "Thanks so much!"
Then she jogged to open the passenger door, sat in happily, and looked at the interior curiously: "Hey Ethan, whose car is this?"
Ethan and a disgruntled-looking Jack worked together to stuff three large suitcases into the trunk (fortunately, the A4's trunk could still fit them).
Jack opened the rear door, sat down next to Ashley, gasping from exhaustion, and asked irritably: "Ethan, explain yourself! Where'd you get this car?"
Ethan settled back into the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, and smiled mysteriously: "Guess?"
"Guess my ass! Just tell me!" Jack rolled his eyes.
"Someone dropped it off for me." Ethan started the car and shifted into drive.
"Where's that person?" Jack asked.
"Catching a flight."
Ethan checked the rearview mirror and turned on his signal to merge into traffic, "Alright, let's go. Buckle up. We'll drop you at your school first to get you settled, then the three of us will head to our campus."
This car belonged to one of his business contacts in New York.
The guy had a friend who happened to be flying out of JFK today, so he drove his car over and parked it in the airport lot.
After Ethan landed, he contacted the person and got the keys, and the friend went straight into the terminal to catch his flight.
The whole process was efficient and convenient, and also reflected Ethan's gradually expanding network in New York.
There are 120 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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