Chapter 51: That’s Cool, I Want to Learn That,
Lily watched her daughter sniffling, offered a tissue, and pointed to a road syn Amy, wiping her nose, glanced out the window. What was she supposed to look w
-Welcome to WestDragon Mountain Scenic Area
A blue sign with clear white lettering.
Amy…
They weren’t going to the airport, they were visiting her brother! Ben’s training base was hallway up West Dragon Mountain Mountain. He’d initially planned a two–day marathon top te somehow ended up in a basketball training camp. That explained his prolonged abwence. Vhe why was he trying to run away?
Lily asked about Ben, and Amy confessed that she didn’t know much about his activities. They were twins, but they led mostly separate lives,
“You care about him, huh?” Amy mumbled, opening the car window to breathe in the fresh mountain air.
Lily smiled; she cared about all her children. She noticed the unruly curl at her daughter’s forehead, reminding her of her childhood cowlick,
“Andy has a school event next month; we’ll all go.”
*We’re not a family, Amy thought, but remained silent, crossing her arms defiantly
“I’m not going.”
If
you go, you don’t have to pay back the million.”
Amy lowered her arms, tempted to refuse, but remembering her drastically reduced allowance, she cleared her throat.“Did Dad agree?” She remembered his intention to teach her a lesson.
Lily looked at John, who nodded swiftly.
“Agreed.”
Amy’s eyes twinkled.“Then the allowance restrictions are also off.”
Lily raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of water.
“Fine. Don’t go.”
Seeing her attempt to increase her bargaining power fail, and the million–dollar debt looming again, Amy quickly changed her mind.“I’ll go!”
“What kind of event is it? Should I dress formally? What’s the exact time…?
Seeing her daughter’s complete change of attitude, Lily glanced at John, who flashed a charming smile. Father and daughter, equally easily manipulated.
Towering trees and lush greenery filled the air with a refreshing coolness and sweet floral fragrance. Lily stood at the base of the training center, impressed by its location for summer training. John was registering at the gate while Lily and Amy waited in the shade. Ben had enrolled himself in a twenty–day, closed–off training program, with no internet or phone access. The guard mentioned that they weren’t the first parents to visit. Previous visitors had met with a
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coach, discussed the situation, and left. The couch emphasized independence, warning against hindering the children’s growth, implying that a visit could undermine the program’s intent Most parents left, but Lily was resoline,
I’m seeing my child.
With “ordinary‘ parents, the coach’s tone was firm, and they usually complied. But this family was different. The man in the suit remained silent, but his presence commanded respect. The suit itself was clearly high–quality, not rented or cheaply bought.
After
Some
deliberation,
the
young coach
relented “Alright,
wait.”
please He left, leaving Lily, John, and Amy alone. Moments later, Ben arrived with the coach. Nearly six feet tall, he wore a black–and–white basketball vest, his short, curly hair slightly messy. As babies, his hair had been curlier than Amy’s. Lily had thought it would straighten with age, but Amy’s had straightened out, his remained stubbornly curly, His haircut had layers, framing his face, with a small earring in his left ear. The sunlight cast long shadows on his lashes, giving him the air of a handsome manga character,
He showed no reaction to seeing his family, his indifferent expression reminding Lily of John’s face when she’d suddenly reappeared from the bathtub. Lily had to admit their three children increasingly resembled John, unlike when they were younger,
“What?” Ben rubbed his
nose, his deadpan expression
“We’re here to take you home,” Lily said.
almost challenging.
Amy scratched her chin; wasn’t it just a quick visit? She looked at her father, who seemed unconcerned, When had they decided on this? She hadn’t heard anything!
Sister of Ben, our training center…”
The coach, hearing that Lily wanted to take him away, tried to dissuade them. He was interrupted.
John:“It’s not sister!”
Amy:“I’m his sister!”
The coach…
“Madam,” he quickly corrected himself. “We have a contract. Leaving early requires compensation, and it negatively impacts the training. It will…”
Ben interrupted. He sized up Lily, his tone unfriendly.“Who are you?” His father and sister were here; why was a stranger speaking? And more importantly:
“I’m not going home!”
Lily looked
the coach, smiling serenely.“Can at
The coach left.
talk we
to him privately?”
Lily instructed John.“Check his thigh and back.”
“Ben scoffed; this woman had some nerve ordering his father around. She’d probably run crying. His anticipation of a good show dwindled as John rose and approached him. He stepped back. His father actually obeyed!
“Dad, why are you listening to her? Don’t touch me! My leg’s fine!”
His loose basketball shorts were pulled up, revealing significant bruising above his knee. John, his
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Chapter 51 That’s Cool 1 Want to
face grim, lifted his son’s shirt, revealing deep scratches and extensive bruising on his back “Oh my god!” Amy gasped. Ben had always been a fighter, but he’d never been this badly injured! “His gait was off when he entered, he instinctively tensed his back whenever a breeze blew, and his gaze kept drifting towards the snacks and fruit basket, suggesting he’s not eating properly,” Lily observed.
Ben’s eyes widened. She was right about everything!
Amy, surprised by her sister’s observation skills, instinctively sat up straight, emulating Lily’s elegant posture.
*That’s cool. I want to learn that.*
