Justus was deeply engrossed in his book, carefully underlining specific passages with his pen as he followed the dialogues. However melodramatic the book might have been, it served as his guiding light. With his lack of romantic experience, these books became his way of compensating for the absence of real-life practice. He continued reading for another half hour until his phone suddenly rang, startling Justus. Glancing at the screen, he saw an unfamiliar number displayed. Mentally reciting the number, Justus immediately recognized it as Azaria's. His heart skipped a beat with excitement. He had expected Azaria to call and inquire about his health in a few days, not on the very first night. Feeling a surge of happiness, he took a deep breath and calmly picked up the phone, softly saying, "Hello." His voice sounded weak and subdued, a deliberate act to create an illusion of illness and evoke Azaria's sympathy. On the other end, upon hearing the greeting, Azaria seemed momentarily s
"I'm sorry, their sudden cancellation of the business trip means I have to return home and cook," Justus apologized. At that moment, he felt an urge to kick his neighbor's aunt's family, but he managed to restrain himself. "It's alright, just come over whenever you can." He softened his voice, but the disappointment in Justus's expression was evident. Such disappointment was only natural, and as the call concluded, Justus felt even more aggrieved. Staring at his immaculate home, prepared in anticipation of Azaria coming over to cook, Justus couldn't shake the feeling that his efforts had been in vain due to the actions of the family across the way. "Butler, please investigate the background of the family living opposite me," Justus instructed his butler to find out what his neighbor's aunt's family had been up to recently, hoping to avoid another disappointment. The butler promptly complied, immediately relaying the gathered information to Justus. Azaria's uncle worked overseas an
Justus: Hey, everything okay? Azaria: ??? Azaria's reply consisted of three question marks, but it left Justus feeling oddly uncomfortable, especially since it was in the middle of class. Justus: Lilyana mentioned that your neighbor might be dangerous. I'm genuinely concerned for your safety. Justus hoped to directly understand Azaria's thoughts about her neighbor. However, he didn't receive a response until noon. Azaria: I'm fine, I can handle it. Thanks for caring. Azaria's reply was firm, in line with her character. But for Justus, it was torment. What was supposed to be a friendly gesture for his neighbor had turned into a strange misunderstanding. Frantically, he searched online for solutions, typing queries like "how to deal with a neighbor thinking you're weird." Unfortunately, Justus found no helpful suggestions. Instead, the group chat buzzed with lively discussions, leaving him both amused and frustrated. Eventually, someone with the username "GoldenMoon" privately m
Witnessing his inclusion in Azaria's three-person group chat, Justus felt a surge of satisfaction. Finally, he had successfully taken the initial step. Lunchtime passed quickly. Justus called the butler, inquiring about Azaria's aunt's work schedule and seeking advice on hacker-proof software. "Young master, has your phone been hacked? Should I report it to the authorities?" "No, someone just changed a few nicknames on my Snapchat." Reflecting on Daisy Bradford's actions, Justus found himself both amused and frustrated. He felt the urgency to find a solution. In a few years, Daisy Bradford's hacking skills would likely advance, making it difficult for Justus to protect his secrets. While talking to the butler, Justus's Snapchat buzzed once more. Instinctively, he opened the app, finding that Daisy Bradford had sent some old photographs. They seemed strangely familiar, and upon closer inspection, the child in the pictures appeared to be him. Senior Daisy: You were adorable as a chi
After waiting for about half an hour, Azaria finally arrived, carrying a bag as if she intended to study with Justus. With a swift motion, Justus locked the door, a smile breaking free despite his attempts to control it. In the past, if Azaria had been confined in such a situation, Justus might have harbored dark thoughts, considering drastic measures. But now, everything had changed. Justus was filled with joy; his plan, meticulously crafted over half a month, had finally succeeded. He had secured this moment alone with Azaria. "Your smile is a bit unnerving, Justus," Azaria remarked, undisturbed by Justus's peculiar laughter. She had grown accustomed to Justus's shifting moods: moments of contemplation, seriousness, and now, an oddly foolish grin. Despite its peculiarity, Azaria felt no sense of danger. Instead, in this space, she strangely found a sense of security. She was accepting this somewhat peculiar friend before her, who harbored no ill intentions toward her. Witnessing
Relaxed on the plush couch, Justus felt sleepiness creeping in after a satisfying meal. His attention drifted to Azaria, immersed in an ancient-looking book she had taken from her bag. Intrigued, he tried to read the book's title, perplexed by Azaria's seemingly old-fashioned choice. It puzzled him that Azaria, a modern high school student, was engrossed in such archaic literature. In a typical scenario, she would have followed the conventional high school routine — attending classes, developing crushes, and so forth. "What? Curious?" Azaria caught Justus' gaze and playfully waved the book, prompting her question. Justus shook his head, stifling a yawn. "No, just looking at the book's title makes me sleepy. I'd doze off if I tried reading it." With that, he subtly shifted closer to Azaria, hoping to lessen the distance between them. Sensing Justus getting nearer, Azaria hesitated but refrained from moving away. Despite her instincts urging her to retreat, she allowed Justus to dra
The chaos continued unabated. Azaria's composure remained serene as she scanned the crowd, her eyes eventually finding Justus in the audience. A faint smile played on her lips, as if silently communicating a message. Then, Kason Savage gracefully positioned himself at the piano, filling the air with enchanting melodies. Azaria's voice, pure and ethereal, blended seamlessly with the elegant tune. "But all you want is not my heart..." Listening, Justus felt a wave of confusion wash over him. The melody and lyrics were not unfamiliar, but what astounded him was that the song Emmett Rutledge couldn't sing was now beautifully performed by Azaria. Despite lingering questions about Kason Savage, Azaria's singing held every ear captive. The audience fell silent, enveloped in the cheerful love song, intensifying the atmosphere. Beside him, Lilyana asked eagerly, "Justus, who do you think Azaria likes?" Justus found the topic uncomfortable. "What are you talking about? Azaria can't possibl
Justus abandoned the idea of seeking help in the simplest way. If the butler had no intention of perishing with him, Justus believed he could find a way out using his skills. He pretended to continue dozing off, and the butler visibly relaxed, gripping the steering wheel and driving further into the outskirts. It was already midnight, and beyond the suburbs were only undeveloped, abandoned factories. When Justus pretended to open his eyes, he saw thugs approaching the car from outside. Leading them was Raiden Dominguez, his once handsome face now marred with various scars, giving him a menacing appearance. He spotted Justus and smirked cruelly, as if he had been waiting for him there for a long time. "Justus, long time no see." "Raiden, it has indeed been a while." Justus remained casual, displaying no signs of being the kidnapped victim. Several others beside him brandished machetes, putting him in a vulnerable position. Raiden Dominguez continued, "Don't worry, I'm not here to