Chapter 3

I didn't touch a single word of Noah's graduation project.

A couple of days later, Sophia found me in the library.

She snatched the book from my hands and slammed it onto the table with a bang.

Students around us all looked over.

"Ethan, I told you to help Noah, and you're just sitting here reading leisure books?"

I looked up at her, and at Noah, who stood behind her with an innocent expression.

"I'm just researching something," I replied.

"What research is more important than Noah's graduation?" Sophia demanded, pulling Noah in front of her.

"He hasn't slept properly for days because of this project, and you? You don't care at all."

Noah, ever so timely, tugged at her sleeve and softly said, "Sophia, don't be like that. Ethan must have his own things to do. I'll just figure something out myself."

His words only made Sophia think I was being more unreasonable.

"Listen to that!" She pointed at Noah and snapped at me, "Noah is more sensible than you! Ethan, I'm telling you one last time, I want to see a complete proposal within a week."

I watched them play their little game and averted my gaze.

I nodded: "Got it."

Sophia thought I had given in, her expression softening slightly as she pulled Noah and turned to leave.

I absorbed all the strange looks from the surrounding students.

It didn't matter. This was the last time, anyway.

Sophia finally lost her patience.

Her voice on the phone was sharp: "Ethan, what exactly are you doing? It's due in a week, and you haven't done anything?"

I turned on the faucet, the rushing water serving as background noise.

"I'm so sorry, Grandpa hasn't been feeling well lately. I've been at the hospital taking care of him, so I got delayed," I lied.

"Noah's graduation project is very important to him. Put your family matters aside for now and finish his project."

Listen to that, how entitled. My Grandpa, in her eyes, was less important than Noah's assignment.

"But..." I feigned difficulty.

"No 'buts'," Sophia cut me off directly. "Ethan, stop being petty. If Noah can't graduate, I'm not done with you."

She hung up the phone with force.

I turned off the faucet and looked at my reflection in the mirror, unable to understand how I could have been so desperately infatuated with such a woman in my previous life.

Thankfully, this time, I had a chance to start over.

The agent's call came in at the perfect moment, informing me that the house had found a buyer who agreed to full payment, and we could sign the contract today.

I replied with an "Okay."

To make the house-selling act seem more genuine, I needed to move some old furniture my parents had left behind. The items were heavy, and I couldn't manage them alone.

The first person I thought of was Olivia, who had always played the role of the reliable senior.

I called her: "Olivia, are you free? I have some old furniture at my place I want to get rid of, and I was hoping you could help me out."

A few seconds of silence, then Olivia's voice came through: "Ethan, what a coincidence, I'm tied up right now."

In the background, I clearly heard Noah's delicate cough.

"Noah has a bit of a fever, I need to stay here and take care of him," Olivia explained. "You should try to figure something out yourself, or maybe find a moving company? I'll transfer you some money later."

Noah, again.

I chuckled softly: "No need, Olivia. You take good care of him. I can manage on my own."

I hung up the phone without a moment's hesitation and immediately looked for a paid moving service online.

Why beg people for things money could solve?

After hanging up, I clutched my stomach and called Olivia again, my voice weak: "Olivia, my stomach hurts terribly. I'm at the downtown hospital right now."

Olivia immediately replied: "Don't move, I'll be right there!"

I sat on a cold bench in the emergency room lobby, watching people come and go.

Half an hour later, I saw Olivia.

She ran quickly, looking hurried, but didn't even glance my way.

Olivia rushed past me and headed straight for the orthopedic clinic on the other side.

I stood up and followed her.

At the clinic door, Noah was sitting in a wheelchair, his ankle bandaged, crying.

Olivia was半蹲 (half-kneeling) in front of him, gently soothing him: "There, there, don't cry. Didn't the doctor say it's just a minor sprain? It'll heal in a few days."

"But it hurts so much..." Noah whined, pouting.

Olivia frowned, reaching out to touch his ankle, but hesitant to hurt him, her movements cautious.

Her expression was more genuine than any act she put on at my bedside in my previous life.

I stood behind them, watching.

So, the rumors I heard in the ICU in my previous life had already begun.

My appearance changed the atmosphere between the two.

Olivia whirled around and saw me, freezing completely.

"Ethan...what are you doing here?" Her eyes were panicked when she saw me.

Noah also saw me. The tears in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a defiant look.

"My stomach hurt, came to get some medicine," I said, gesturing to myself.

"Then...how are you?" Olivia stood up, looking flustered.

"It's nothing serious, just an old problem."

"Well, you should get back to what you were doing, Olivia. I'll head home after I get my medicine." I gave her no chance to explain and turned to leave.

I knew that my not looking back would only make them more convinced that I was still the jealous and helpless Ethan.