Chapter 101

Sophia returned with Henry. 

When she reached the outside of the dormitory, she heard Logan talking to Henry outside the boys' dorm. As she entered her own room, she only half-closed the door, holding the door frame and listening intently.

She suddenly heard Logan's words, and her heart trembled. Her grip on the door frame tightened instinctively.

Henry, hearing this, also felt a sinking feeling in his chest, his face wrinkling with concern. He looked at Logan and lowered his voice, "Have you been following me?"

Logan smiled at him but didn't answer. Of course, he hadn't been following him. He didn't have the time or the interest. He had simply seen the packet hidden under Henry's mattress. 

Birth control supplies could be collected for free. They weren't available at the local health office, and even if they were, they wouldn't dare to get them there. The town was too far away, so they had to go to the community clinic to get them. 

If one person went, they would inevitably face questioning. If their story didn't hold up, it would cause trouble. So, it was easy to deduce that they must have pretended to be a couple to get the supplies. 

He wasn't going to tell Henry how he knew. He wanted them to figure it out themselves, to feel the pressure more keenly. 

Logan stepped closer to Henry and said, "You know, I'm a highly conscientious and progressive young man. I can't tolerate such things. Whether I report it or not depends on my mood, so you'd better remember this: don't beg at my door or Summer's."

***

Morning light awakened the world. 

The hens clucked after shaking their wings. A chipped enamel basin landed in the chicken coop, and several chickens rushed over, pecking at the food. 

Summer and Logan finished feeding the chickens together. The alarm clock in the boys' dorm hadn't gone off yet, but Henry and the others were getting up one by one, unlike their usual routine. None of them looked spirited.

Henry and his group were different today. Summer and Logan went about their usual tasks. Normally, once the alarm rang, Henry and his friends would be noisy and boisterous. But today, the ten of them got up in silence, all wearing sullen expressions.

They didn't have the usual coarse bread for breakfast. Instead, they made porridge with cornmeal and added some sweet potato pieces. Each person had a bowl of porridge with a few pieces of sweet potato. Previously, someone would always complain about the coarse bread. Today, faced with this bland meal, no one said a word. 

It wasn't that they had resigned themselves to this hardship. They were just too bitter to complain, knowing that speaking up would lead to arguments. If they started arguing, the frustration that had built up over the past six months would explode, and they feared they wouldn't be able to stop.

Summer and Logan finished their breakfast early and left the youth point. 

After walking a short distance from the yard, Summer turned back and then looked at Logan, asking, "Did you hear them arguing last night about running out of food?"

Logan nodded, "I heard it."

Summer matched his pace and suggested, "Maybe we should move our food to the school at noon?"

They had enough steamed bread and milled flour to last until their house was finished. Logan, knowing what Summer was worried about, agreed without asking further questions, "Sure."

Summer felt relieved and added, "Just a few more days, and once the house is done, we can move out and cut ties with them. No more being affected by their actions."

Logan glanced at her, then relaxed his tone, "I didn't expect you to be so ruthless."

Summer gave him a bright smile, "I've learned a few things from being around you for so long."

Logan: "..."

***

Summer and Logan attended their morning classes as usual. 

After school, they didn't return directly to the youth point for lunch but went to the village storage room and brought back a cart. After lunch, they loaded their remaining unmilled grain onto the cart and hauled it to the school.

When Henry and his friends returned at noon, they looked even worse than in the morning. The light breakfast had left them hungry quickly, making the physical labor at the work site even more grueling. 

Returning at noon, they had the same meal as in the morning. Facing this bland food and knowing they would have to work hungry in the afternoon, their moods were even more frustrated.

They were all holding back from losing their tempers. Just then, they saw Summer and Logan moving their food away. Grace was the first to lose her temper, saying, "What does this mean? Are they guarding against us? What do they take us for?"

Their actions felt like a slap in the face, making them feel humiliated. Gabe took a big gulp of porridge and slammed his bowl on the table, saying, "I can't believe Summer has become so cold-hearted and indifferent..." He laughed bitterly, "I guess she's been influenced by Logan."

He had thought, if all else failed, he could shamelessly ask Summer for help. After all, they had been childhood friends for over a decade, and Summer had always been kind and righteous. He believed she wouldn't turn a blind eye to their plight. But now, they hadn't even asked for help, and Summer was already guarding against them.

She seemed even more ruthless and indifferent than Logan. They hadn't done anything to her. Yet, she had distanced herself from them over some steamed bread, and now she was completely ignoring their suffering. She clearly had the ability to help but chose not to.

Seeing them move their food at this critical moment was not only a clear statement but also a humiliation. 

Henry, still reeling from the events of the previous night, didn't want to hear any more about Summer and Logan. He quickly finished his porridge and sweet potato, and left the room.

In the tense atmosphere, Charlie and Gabe didn't stay long either. They quickly finished eating and left together.

Sophia finished her meal and followed them out. 

As soon as she stepped into the yard, Grace called out, "Are you all just going to leave without cleaning up?"

Sophia pretended not to hear and walked away. Grace, frustrated, threw her chopsticks onto the table.