Autumn James took out today's homework and began to write.
Even if she didn't want to study liberal arts anymore, Chinese, math, and science still had to be kept up with.
She decided to start with her strongest subject—Chinese.
She pulled out a Chinese test paper and switched on the desk lamp.
Leaning on her hand, she looked at the questions lazily. To her, they were child's play; she could spot the answers at a glance.
In her past life, in order to help Ethan James as much as possible, she had forced herself to pass the Chinese proficiency exams—up to level six, and even scored 7.5 on the TOEFL.Looking back now, at least it wasn't all for nothing.
Within five minutes, Autumn had already finished two reading comprehension passages.
Just as she was about to start on the third, the sound of a doorknob turning came from the doorway.
She paused, frowning as she turned to look.
William Moore's figure appeared, backpack slung over one shoulder, wearing a washed-out school uniform. His expression was cool, his frame tall and lean. He looked like one of those aloof, impoverished seniors straight out of a movie. But Autumn knew better than anyone how rotten he was at the core.
He stepped in as if he owned the place, ready to set his bag down—when Autumn's lazy voice cut across the air.
"Didn't your mother teach you to knock before entering someone else's room?"
Her tone carried no anger, only a calm, matter-of-fact scolding, as if she were lecturing an ill-mannered child.
Which only made William feel more embarrassed.
In the past, she would have rushed over enthusiastically, tugged him to sit at her side. He'd even told her not to bother, that he could just come straight in without knocking—only to avoid unnecessary physical contact.
But now, with her words thrown back at him, it suddenly sounded like he was the one in the wrong.
His brows creased in irritation.
"I'll remember next time, okay?"
Autumn said nothing, just turned back to the test paper, lazily filling in two more answers.
Watching her indifferent attitude, William scowled, snatching the paper from her hands.
"What are you doing? Even if you don't know the answer, you can't just scribble! Do you have any idea how wasteful that is?"
Autumn lifted her lashes, voice still lazy. "Give it back."
"You're wasting resources like this. Don't be impatient—I'll teach you slowly."
Her patience ran thin.
"You'll teach me? With what—your little notebook full of Chinese words and phrases?Why shouldn't I just buy a vocabulary book? Do you think I can't afford it?"
For a moment, William froze. His cool eyes flickered with guilt. He hadn't expected her to actually look through those notes.
By her personality, he had assumed she'd never touch anything related to Chinese study after a tutoring session.
"That's because… because your foundation is too poor! If I go straight to grammar with you, it's no different from speaking nonsense! You wouldn't understand a word!"
The more he spoke, the more defensive—and louder—he became.
The commotion drew attention from downstairs.
Soon, Ethan James arrived with Anna Hawthorne in tow.
The moment Ethan saw the standoff, his brows knitted in displeasure.
"Autumn, what now? William has the best Chinese grades in the entire school. He's tutoring you—what's there to complain about?"
Anna peeked out timidly from behind him, looking innocent.
"That's right, Autumn. I even envy you—getting William to tutor you…"
Sitting back in her chair, Autumn's eyes flickered mischievously. She curved her lips into a beautiful smile, and with a casual motion, tossed a notebook across the table to Anna.
"Since you're so envious, little sister, I'll be generous and let you have it.This is William's handwritten Chinese notebook. Make good use of it."
Her tone was dripping with false reluctance, as if she were parting with a treasure she couldn't bear to lose.
But William knew better—just moments ago, she'd looked at those same notes with disdain.
The vein in his forehead throbbed. How could she! Even if they were just lists of Chinese words and phrases, he had carefully selected them for her current level, spending time and effort.
How could she just pass them off to someone else like that?
A strange, heavy feeling welled up in his chest. Irritation, discomfort.
And then, to make it worse, Autumn tilted her head and added sweetly:
"No problem, right, William? After all, Anna's our little sister too—it's only natural we look after her."
The fire inside him had nowhere to go. He clenched his teeth. "…Of course. No problem."
Anna accepted the notebook as if it were priceless treasure.
After all, this was the top student's Chinese notes!
She flipped through it eagerly—only for her smile to freeze.
What was this? Words and phrases anyone could find in a beginner's textbook.
No wonder Autumn didn't want it. She didn't want it either.
She longed to toss it aside—but couldn't.
Autumn caught the flicker of disappointment on her face, secretly amused.
"What's wrong, Anna? Don't like it?"
Anna quickly forced a laugh.
"N-no, I love it! I'll treasure it, always."
She hugged the notebook to her chest as if it were precious.
Seeing her attitude, William's mood lightened a little. At least Anna knew how to appreciate it.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he sat down beside Autumn again.
"Let's go over your test."
He spread the paper flat and focused on the first reading passage.
He glanced at Autumn's answers—perfect.
His frown deepened. He checked the next—again, perfect.
Flipping quickly to the blanks she had filled in while he was in the room, he remembered watching her scrawl them carelessly. There was no way they could be right.
Yet… they were. All of them.
He slammed the paper down on the desk.
"Autumn James! If you can't do the problems, fine—but copying? That won't ever make the knowledge yours! What's the point?"
His voice was sharp, harsh.
Ethan's face darkened—this was his sister.
"Keep your voice down, you'll scare her! You must be mistaken—my sister would never cheat."
But Anna's alarm bells were ringing. She quickly darted to Autumn's side, peeking at the paper with feigned surprise.
"Oh wow, Autumn—you've already done so much of today's test? And it was only handed out this morning! You're amazing!"
Ethan's heart lurched. This morning? Then how could Autumn possibly have finished so fast—unless she really had copied?
Autumn ignored them all.
She simply picked up the test again and, in under ten minutes, filled out the rest—two full reading passages and a cloze test—every last blank complete.