CHAPTER 458: CHAPTER 458: THE FEMALE TEACHER

An Internet café.

"Go go go! Number Six, get him!"

"Wait! Wait! Let me switch my gear!"

"Ray, Ray, save me quick!"

In the eyes of peers, they are eSports experts, but for the older generation, they’re just internet-addicted teenagers, each one wearing headphones immersed in the gaming world.

Then came a wail: "Damn! Lost again! So frustrating!"

The man took off his headphones from his neck, turned to look at Julian Yardley sitting next to him: "Ray, what’s been up with you these days? You’ve finally come back, but why do you seem so distracted all the time?"

Julian didn’t say a word, just picked up a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the table, lit a cigarette and put it to his mouth.

Another man teased with a smile: "Probably because his little girlfriend is breaking up with him again."

"That’s why I don’t like those kids, so temperamental, if it were up to me, I’d choose that lady teacher, gentle and considerate."

"Hey! Speak of the devil." The man stood up happily and waved to a woman standing at the entrance of the café looking around, "Miya, over here."

Jamie Miller smiled, walked over in her high heels, put the bag she was holding on the table, and said with a smile, "Got coffee for everyone, drink it while it’s hot."

"I just love Miya, she’s not only beautiful, but also so thoughtful."

The group of gaming buddies quickly each took a cup of coffee, leaving the one meant for Julian Yardley untouched by him.

He didn’t even glance at Jamie Miller the whole time, just took another puff of his cigarette, then held the cigarette in his mouth, stood up, picked up the leather jacket from the back of his chair, and said expressionlessly as he put it on: "You guys keep playing, I have something to do."

"Don’t go, Ray, you played just one round and now you’re leaving?"

"Yeah, Ray, it’s the weekend, no school today, right?"

Julian didn’t respond, just walked straight towards the exit of the internet café.

Jamie Miller smiled at the guys, then quickly turned and ran after him.

When she got outside, Julian Yardley was already on his motorcycle, gloves and helmet on, ready to leave.

"Julian!" Jamie Miller called out to him while running over.

"I got you a coffee specifically, it’s still hot, have a taste."

Julian looked at her through the helmet and said, "I don’t like coffee."

Jamie Miller laughed and pulled back her extended hand, then said, "What do you like to drink? There’s a beverage shop across the street, how about going in and sitting for a bit?"

"No time."

Seeing him start the bike, about to leave, Jamie Miller finally said what she came to say: "Claire Wilde’s study abroad application has been submitted, seems you really couldn’t keep her."

"So does that make you happy?"

Jamie Miller chuckled, "I didn’t even do anything, and she’s leaving already, it just shows she didn’t care for you that much."

Julian scoffed, teasingly said, "Don’t be so modest, you’ve sure put in a lot of effort behind the scenes for this."

"I just provided options, the choice was yours."

"Thanks a lot for that." Julian said, revved up the engine, and sped away.

Jamie Miller watched his back, frowning in displeasure, her sweet smile vanished, and she turned to throw the unused coffee into a trash can.

Julian Yardley rode fast, leaving loud noise in his wake wherever he went.

Suddenly, he noticed someone on the side of the road trying to flag him down; he didn’t see clearly who it was, and though he hit the brakes to slow down, it took him quite a distance to stop.

He pivoted the bike around with one foot on the ground and rode back, seeing Shannon Quinn standing by the road wrapped tightly in a down coat and scarf, only her eyes visible.

"I could tell from that noise it was definitely you, what are you doing buzzing around with your beloved motorbike in this cold weather?"

Julian took off his helmet, slightly impatient, asking her, "What’s up?"

Shannon looked around, found a tea restaurant, and while walking towards it said, "Park your bike somewhere, we need to have a good talk."

Julian wasn’t really in the mood but didn’t have anything else to do.

After all, she’s his sister; if he just drove off, she would go home and talk to their mom, and his ears would be in for no peace.

Inside the restaurant, Shannon took off her coat and scarf. Just thinking about him wearing a thin leather jacket and riding a motorbike made her shiver.

As soon as Julian sat down, Shannon said, "I was just about to look for you, and as fate would have it, I bumped into you on the way."

"What do you want?"

Shannon didn’t answer, just ordered two hot drinks from the menu.

"Spit it out if you’ve got something to say, I’ve got things to do."

Shannon, quite unceremoniously, mocked him: "What could you possibly have to do? Claire’s left because you pissed her off, besides riding your motorbike and gaming, what serious business do you have?"

At the mention of Claire Wilde, Julian’s expression changed, realizing it was about her that Shannon came.

He composed himself, though too proud to ask for advice, still hoped Shannon could bring some breakthrough.

"Tell me, what jerk move did you pull on Claire?"

Julian looked at her puzzled, "Claire didn’t tell you?"

Shannon: "She just said she’s going abroad to study, and that going far away helps her forget."

Julian drew in a breath, when he was about to light a cigarette, he asked Shannon, "You’re not pregnant, right?"

Shannon shook her head, "No, but you still can’t smoke."

Unhappily, he put the cigarette pack back and while taking off his leather gloves said, "I don’t know how to put this, there’re things even I haven’t figured out."

"Just say whatever you know, women understand women’s thoughts best, let’s analyze it, unless it’s infidelity, I believe there’s still a chance."

Julian sighed, looking a bit helpless, "I didn’t cheat, but Claire thinks I did, she doesn’t trust me anymore."

"Then you must’ve done something to lose her trust."

Julian hesitated a few seconds before revealing the truth: "The first argument was because I lied to her; I said I was going gaming with friends, but actually went out for dinner with a female teacher from school, and got busted when she saw us."

"A female teacher? So you’re actually... two-timing?"

Julian gave her a look, "Do you think I’m that kind of person?"

"If you and that female teacher are innocent, why lie to Claire?"

"You wouldn’t get it."

Seeing his aggrieved expression, Shannon said, "What, were you forced to have dinner with her?"

"I actually was!"

"You better have a convincing reason, or I’m setting Claire up on a date; your brother-in-law’s family has a cousin who just came back from studying abroad, I think..."

Julian cut her off sharply, "Date your sister!"