Chapter 402

Billy called Miley out of the blue late that night.

Miley, half-asleep, grabbed her phone without checking who it was. "Who is this?"

"It's me, Billy," he said.

"Billy?" she mumbled, still groggy.

"Yeah, it's me."

Miley turned on the light and saw it was just past 1 AM. "Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"

Billy sighed. "I've been thinking a lot about what you said earlier today."

Miley couldn't remember what she had said. Billy continued, "Thanks for being honest with me. I know you have someone else in your heart, but if you're okay with it, I can wait."

"Billy," Miley started.

"No matter how long it takes, I'm willing to wait," Billy said, his voice tinged with helplessness and guilt. "I missed my chance when we graduated high school. I don't want to miss it again."

"You liked me in high school?" Miley raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, ever since I transferred and became your deskmate," Billy admitted, still shy even as an adult.

"We were deskmates when we started high school?" Miley had no memory of this.

In her mind, Billy was always a good student, while she was the struggling one. Miley was popular and used to boys confessing their feelings, but Billy's confession caught her off guard.

"Don't try to fool me," Miley half-joked. "Good students usually like other good students. I remember you were with Helen Perry back then."

"That was just a rumor. I never admitted it," Billy said seriously. "Besides, a person's worth isn't just about grades. To me, you're a genuinely good person."

The term "good person" felt foreign to Miley. If she didn't know Billy better, she would've thought he was mocking her.

Miley thought for a moment. "Sorry, Billy I don't want to talk about this right now."

"I understand. I can wait, no matter how long it takes," Billy said. "I just wanted you to know that whenever you look back, I'll be here waiting."

In the end, Miley still turned him down. "Billy, you're not my type. Don't waste your time on me."

There was a long silence before Billy finally said goodnight and hung up.

A few days later, Miley took Brenda to school to handle her enrollment. Brenda had dropped out for half a year because her family, who favored boys, used their financial situation as an excuse not to send her to school.

Miley offered to cover the costs and convinced Brenda to continue her education. She told Brenda that education was her ticket to seeing the world.

Brenda's eyes sparkled. "If I study hard, will I definitely be able to see the world?"

"Of course," Miley said.

"Just like you?" Brenda asked.

Miley smiled. "Don't use me as an example. I'm always the negative example."

"But you're the one in our family who's done the best and made us proud," Brenda said, brushing off Miley's comment. "I want to be like you and get into a university in Lakina."

"Lakina?" Miley raised an eyebrow. "What's so special about Lakina? I just got back from there. Trust me, you can aim for a coastal city or even Silvercrest."

But Brenda was firm. "No! I want to go to Lakina."

"Why?" Miley asked, puzzled. "Why Lakina?"

Brenda looked down, twisting the hem of her shirt.

She couldn't come up with a reason even after a long pause.

Miley pinched her cheek. "Why are you blushing?"

"I'm not," Brenda mumbled.

As they were talking, they ran into Billy.

In the school hallway, sunlight streamed in, creating a hazy, beautiful scene.

Billy, in a suit and carrying a briefcase, looked refined and elegant with his glasses. He was walking with the principal and other school leaders.

Miley knew Billy was on official business and didn't want to bother him, so she tried to pull Brenda away.

But Billy called out, "Miley."

Miley stopped at the bottom of the steps.

In front of everyone, Billy walked over, his eyes shining as he looked at her. "What a coincidence running into you here."

They hadn't talked since that night. Miley didn't want to embarrass him. "I'm here to handle my sister's enrollment."

Billy looked at Brenda and asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"

"No need," Miley said, glancing at the people behind him. "You go ahead. We won't bother you."

With that, she pulled Brenda away.

After walking a bit, Brenda looked back. "Miley, who was that?"

"A classmate," Miley replied.

"He likes you, doesn't he?" Brenda asked.

Miley tapped her on the forehead. "At your age, do you even know what it means to like someone?"

"I do," Brenda insisted. "The way he looked at you was pure liking."

Miley was taken aback and didn't say anything.

Brenda continued, "Miley, why didn't you let him help? He seems to be a leader, and what might be hard for us could be easy for him."

Miley stopped. "Brenda, who taught you to think like that? Haven't I told you that you have to rely on yourself? You can't always think about relying on others and using connections!"

Miley's sternness scared Brenda, who nodded. "Miley, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Miley wasn't really angry but felt it was necessary to teach Brenda the right principles. In a family of dozens, Brenda was the closest to her. When their parents passed away, Miley often went hungry. It was young Brenda who stole food from home to feed her.

Miley truly cared for Brenda; part of the reason she came back was to help Brenda re-enroll in school. She didn't want to see Brenda develop wrong ideas.

Brenda clung to Miley's hand and acted cute. "Miley, don't be mad at me. I know I was wrong."

Miley couldn't stay mad. "It's good that you know."

Miley thought the matter was settled, but she didn't know that Brenda secretly went to find Billy behind her back.