Chapter 329 - 327: A Fleeting Stirring of the Heart

"You have two older sisters?" Renee Reid looked at Ethan Sterling, a little surprised.

Ethan Sterling nodded. "Yep, two older sisters. They’re both in Lorcain. One’s at Lorcain Tech, and the other’s at The Film Academy."

"So, which university are you planning to apply to?" Renee Reid asked suddenly.

Without a second thought, Ethan Sterling blurted out, "Lorcain U!"

It was the goal his sister had set for him, and one he wanted for himself as well.

"Lorcain U?" Upon hearing this, Jameson Stone sat up straight. "You’re applying to Lorcain U, too?"

"Yeah, I thought I told you, didn’t I?"

"No, you definitely didn’t!" Jameson Stone looked at Ethan Sterling, then at Renee Reid. "Wait, you’re both applying to Lorcain U? What is this, ganging up on me ’cause I can’t get in?"

Renee Reid laughed. "You make it sound like the only reason you can’t get in is because we’re picking on you."

"Besides, Renee and I definitely won’t have the same major. Even if we both get into Lorcain U, we probably won’t be classmates, just schoolmates," Ethan Sterling said softly.

Renee Reid nodded, thinking Ethan had a point.

’Lorcain U is huge. If they were in different programs, their chances of running into each other wouldn’t be very high.’

"I’m gonna apply to Lorcain U too! There are still two or three months left. If I really work hard, it’s not impossible!" Jameson Stone was suddenly fired up, as if he’d been provoked.

He had expected Renee Reid to shoot him down, but instead, she said seriously, "If you’re really determined to make a final sprint, then I support you!"

After all, Jameson Stone’s grades weren’t terrible. He was ranked 101st in their year. While not exactly top of the class, it was a huge improvement over his previous ranking.

In other words, as long as he was willing to work, his rank was sure to climb. Even if he didn’t get into Lorcain U in the end, the motivation itself was a good thing.

That was why Renee Reid didn’t tease him like she usually did.

Ethan Sterling nodded in agreement. "Renee’s right. If you really want to apply, you should give it your all. It’s not too late."

"So, will you two tutor me?" Jameson Stone didn’t seem to be joking, looking at them with a serious expression.

Renee Reid looked troubled. "Technically, since I don’t have to take the college entrance exam, I should have time to tutor you. But I still have my part-time job... I’m not completely booked, though. I can help you out when I’m free."

Jameson Stone knew Renee Reid’s situation well. Besides, his own family wasn’t particularly wealthy, and even if he could afford to pay her, she probably wouldn’t accept the money anyway.

"I can," Ethan Sterling said. "And my house is really close to school and it’s quiet. I can tutor you."

"Really, Ethan? But I don’t have money to pay you for tutoring!"

"Of course I won’t charge you. We’re friends. I genuinely hope you can get a better score, and I’m happy to help."

"Deal! You’re a real one!" Ethan Sterling’s willingness to help was like a shot in the arm for Jameson Stone, who was instantly energized. "It’s just for a few months anyway. If I actually get in, I swear I’ll kowtow to you!"

Ethan Sterling nodded. "I’ll hold you to that!"

The words had barely left his mouth when new customers sat down at the just-vacated table next to them. The two tables were right next to each other, and Ethan Sterling instinctively glanced over.

He saw a girl in a white sweater sit down beside him. Her companion seemed to have said something funny, because she laughed out loud, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She was exceptionally cute and approachable.

Ethan Sterling was slightly mesmerized by her smile when the girl suddenly turned to look at him. "Excuse me, could we borrow your napkins? It looks like they didn’t wipe our table very well."

Ethan Sterling nodded quickly and passed the napkins from their table over to her. The girl gave him a sweet smile. "Thanks!"

’A distinct flutter rose in his heart. It was the first time he’d ever felt this way about a girl.’

Luckily, no one else noticed anything was amiss. Renee Reid and Jameson Stone were happily engrossed in their food, completely oblivious that Ethan Sterling’s heart had just skipped a beat.

After they finished eating, paid the bill, and left, the cool night air instantly sobered him up a bit.

"We really ate a ton today. How much was it?" Jameson Stone asked, leaning in.

"Not much. All that matters is that you guys enjoyed it."

"We can’t let you pay all the time. My treat next time. I know a ton of cheap and delicious places."

Ethan Sterling smiled and nodded. As usual, the two of them walked Renee Reid to the bus stop before heading home their separate ways.

On the way back, however, the girl’s smiling face kept popping into Ethan’s mind. Her smile was truly beautiful.

Too bad he was too shy to go talk to her—or rather, he simply didn’t dare.

When he got home, his mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner as usual. Ethan habitually tossed his backpack onto the sofa, and a flash of white suddenly leaped up, startling him.

When he took a closer look, he saw it was a puppy!

A surprised and delighted Ethan shouted, "A dog! A puppy!"

He rushed over and scooped the puppy up. The soft, fluffy feeling was incredibly soothing!

Hearing his shout, Jasmine Sterling peeked her head out of the kitchen. Seeing her son’s excitement, she smiled and reminded him, "Be gentle! Don’t hurt it!"

"Mom!" Ethan Sterling rushed into the kitchen, still holding the dog, and asked excitedly, "Where did this dog come from? Did you buy it?"

Jasmine Sterling nodded.

"How much was it?"

"Two bucks!"

"So expensive!"

Ethan Sterling’s eyes widened. He held the puppy up in front of him. Looking at its adorable little face, he decided those two bucks were money well spent.

’So cute!’

"It’s a fancy breed, a ’Maltese’," his mother said. "I don’t know anything about them, I just thought it was cute, so I bought it."

Ethan found that strange, too. "I’ve never heard of that. I’ve heard of a malted, though."

Remembering the pet park in their residential complex, Jasmine Sterling instructed her son, "Why don’t you put on its leash and take it to the pet park out back for a bit? You already ate out, didn’t you?"

Ethan Sterling nodded excitedly. "Okay, I’ll take it for a walk. Mom, did you give it a name?"

"It’s Yoda!"

"Stroll? What kind of name is that?"

"Not ’stroll,’ Yoda. It’s an English name."

"Oh, Yoda! Wow, Mom, you’re so fancy, giving the dog an English name. It’s a good name, though!"

With that, Ethan Sterling put the leash on the puppy and eagerly headed out the door.

Jasmine Sterling walked to the living room and looked out the glass window. She saw little Yoda hopping along cheerfully behind her son as they went out the main gate, and a fond smile spread across her face.

’When she had first brought him home that afternoon, Yoda had been listless, lying motionless on the sofa, probably because of the new environment. She hadn’t expected her son’s return to liven him up so much.’

Just then, the phone on the table rang. Jasmine Sterling went over, picked it up, and saw it was a WhatsApp video call from Wendy Duncan.

"Jasmine, what’re you up to?"

"Making dinner. Just whipping something up for myself."

"A friend of mine is hosting a private party at their house tomorrow night. My husband can’t make it. Want to go with me?"