Chapter 269 - 267: You’re a Strangely Nice Person

There was another knock on the door, and Paige pushed it open and walked in.

"They’ve left," she said, placing a business card on the table. "They left this and told us to think it over. They said we can name any terms we want."

Timothy Rowe picked up the business card and tossed it straight into the trash can by his feet.

Maverick and Paige just exchanged a look and didn’t say another word.

Putting the Lane Group out of his mind, Timothy Rowe looked at the two and said, "After breakfast, everyone should get back to looking for a studio. Let’s try to get it finalized as soon as possible."

Paige nodded. "Let’s keep that office from yesterday as a backup. If we can negotiate the rent down, it’s actually a pretty good spot."

"Sounds good, but I’ll have to ask everyone to keep looking around. It’s a pain, I know, but once we lock a place down, we won’t be moving again for a long time." Timothy Rowe paused to think, then continued, "Also, about this house we’re living in. Cecilia Sterling found this great place for us to make it convenient to work together. But once the studio is officially set up, all our work will be done there. We can’t keep mooching off her for a place to live. So after we finalize the studio’s location, everyone should start looking for their own apartments in the area."

Given the team’s current income, renting their own places wouldn’t be a financial strain.

"Alright, I’ll post a message in the group chat later," Maverick said. "But if we’re moving out, we should let Cecilia Sterling know, right?"

Timothy Rowe nodded. "When you tell her in the group chat, also thank her for providing us with such a great place to live."

Cecilia Sterling wasn’t too concerned about the Lane Group situation. She had great faith in Rowe and the rest of the team.

Besides, she held half of the password to the program’s "Super Key." Without her, the program’s security lock couldn’t be broken. No matter what the Lane Group tried, they would never be able to get the rights to use the software.

Breakfast was fresh pork wontons, specially prepared by Estelle’s housekeeper, served with handmade noodles. The housekeeper had thoughtfully made an authentic chicken soup with wonton noodles for Cecilia and her brother.

It was also served with two light, refreshing side dishes.

Ethan Sterling finished one bowl and immediately got another. "Sis, I’ll head to school by myself in a bit. You don’t have to pick me up tonight, either. I know the way."

"Okay," Cecilia said, looking at her brother. "When I have some time in the next day or two, I’ll buy you a bicycle. That’ll make it easier for you to get to and from school."

Ethan grinned at her words. "Alright, thanks, Sis."

With that, he lifted his large bowl and GULP GULP, drank the chicken broth down to the last drop. Then he shot up, snatched his backpack, and ran for the door. "I’m off to school, Sis! See you tonight!"

A contented smile graced Cecilia’s face as she watched her energetic brother. Her gaze followed him through the large floor-to-ceiling window as he ran out the main gate, and she only looked away to continue eating her noodles after he was long gone.

On the way to school, the biting morning wind stung his cheeks and turned them red, but Ethan amused himself by puffing out clouds of hot air as he walked.

Back in Veridia, his breath had never once turned to mist.

As he walked, something cold suddenly landed on the back of his neck. Ethan looked up in surprise to see gray-blue clouds churning overhead. A few stray ice pellets swirled as they drifted slowly down.

His eyes lit up with joy. He instinctively held out his hand and caught a perfect snowflake. The hexagonal crystal melted into a droplet in his palm, its chill seeping into his skin along the lines of his hand.

A moment later, the flurries intensified. The tiny ice crystals were replaced by fluffy flakes, falling thick and fast like goose down.

It was the first time in his entire life that Ethan had seen a proper snow, and the first time he had ever experienced a true snowstorm. He stood frozen in place, completely captivated, savoring this sudden "encounter."

His every move, right down to the expression on his face, was seen by Renee Reid, who had just stepped off the bus.

His simple, wondrous expression made Renee chuckle, the puff of white from her breath instantly dissolving into the snowy air.

He suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder from behind, followed by Renee’s pleasant voice. "Ethan, never seen snow before?"

Ethan whipped his head around, the joyous expression still on his face. Seeing it was Renee, he gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "Not like this."

He vaguely remembered it snowing once in Veridia, but compared to this, what they had back there couldn’t even be called snow.

The snowflakes in Veridia were shapeless and colorless.

Renee listened and said, "Then you’re in luck. It’s already March, so this is probably the last big snowfall of the winter."

"Really?" Ethan said with a goofy smile. "Winter here is so long. People in Veridia are already wearing short sleeves."

Chatting, the two of them walked through the school gates together.

They hadn’t gotten far past the entrance when a figure suddenly darted out from the side, blocking their path.

It was a clean-cut-looking boy whose eyes were locked on Renee, completely ignoring Ethan standing beside her.

Ethan looked between the two of them, confused. ’What’s their relationship?’ he wondered. ’Should I just leave them to it?’

He then saw Renee pout impatiently. "Jameson Stone, what do you want? You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Did I scare you?" Jameson asked hurriedly.

"If you have something to say, spit it out. The bell’s about to ring!"

Jameson then took a beautifully wrapped gift box and shoved it into Renee’s arms. "This is for you. Congrats on the early admission! I’ll get into Lorcain U too!"

Renee froze for a second. By the time she processed what was happening and tried to give it back, Jameson had already turned and bolted. With those long legs of his, he vanished in a few strides.

Ethan watched from the sidelines, completely confused. Renee looked helplessly at the gift box in her hands, unsure whether to keep it or toss it. She then glanced at Ethan and said casually, "Jameson Stone. He’s in Class Three."

"Your boyfriend?" Ethan blurted out.

Renee’s eyes went wide. "B-Boyfriend? No! We’re friends, or classmates at most. Don’t be ridiculous."

"Oh." Ethan pressed his lips together awkwardly. "My bad."

"Hey, Ethan," Renee said, suddenly looking at him with a serious expression. "Yesterday, I helped you take your paper to Mr. Sanders. Could you help me deliver something today?"

"Deliver what?"

Copying Jameson, Renee shoved the gift box into Ethan’s arms. "This. After class, take it to Class Three and give it back to Jameson. Tell him I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t accept the gift!"

With that, Renee also left. Ethan looked down at the gift in his arms, then at her retreating back, a conflicted expression crossing his face.

A second later, Renee’s voice drifted back through the snow. "You like snow, don’t you? As thanks, I can arrange for you to come sweep the schoolyard during break after it stops snowing!"

Ethan: "?"

’Wow, aren’t you just the best!’