She'll Definitely Try Again

Early next morning, Lucas was up by seven.

In the bathroom, he styled his hair casually, letting a few bangs fall naturally across his forehead.

Paired with a white short-sleeved shirt that accentuated his refined features and sharp eyes.

Looking bright and handsome.

Enough to make that silly girl completely smitten.

Of course.

Lucas would never admit to having such thoughts.

They were just good friends, nothing more.

Sarah left a slobbery kiss on Lucas's cheek before reminding him to be careful.

Lucas silently wiped his face and went downstairs.

He saw a pretty figure waiting by the road.

Emma wore a purple floral sundress reaching her knees, her hair tied in two bundles falling over her shoulders with hair bands, her waist slim, fair long legs in semi-transparent sandals.

Young and beautiful, leaning against a pink car.

Seeing Lucas.

Emma waved, her pretty face breaking into a smile, "Little Lucas, over here."

Actually, even before last night, Emma had contacted him about Sophia's return.

As Lucas approached.

Emma smiled, "Haven't seen you in a while, feels like little Lucas has grown taller and more handsome!"

Her bright eyes showed she meant it sincerely.

Actually, boys' rapid development usually happens around junior high.

In elementary school, changes are hardly noticeable over a month or two.

But she found Lucas different.

In just under a month, this boy's aura had become more unfathomable, even carrying a subtle noble presence of someone in authority.

The type that stands out in a crowd, catching your eye immediately.

Interacting with him naturally put one in a subordinate position.

Noticing Emma's examining and curious gaze.

Lucas naturally knew the reason - his Charisma and Dragon Emperor's presence at work.

So he politely returned the compliment.

"Sister Emma is getting prettier too."

This wasn't untrue.

As a famous singer once said.

"Purple has a special charm."

They got in the car.

Willowbrook Station wasn't far from the complex, about half an hour's drive.

Morning breeze swept through the window, brushing their faces.

The car slowly parked in the lot.

They got out and walked to the station exit.

The flow of people was quite heavy, men and women dragging suitcases, some pursuing dreams far away, others earning their daily bread.

And Lucas...

Immediately spotted Sophia bouncing and struggling through the crowd.

The crowd was packed, and she was too small, like a doll being swept along through the exit.

"Oh no, oh no!"

Sophia puffed her cheeks, tensing her face, her little heart panicking as she flailed about.

"Sophia can't find the way!"

Surrounded by legs, adults' tall bodies blocked most of her view, none noticing the little pudding at their feet.

Sophia got bumped, stumbling around, only able to clutch her small backpack tightly as she tried to stretch up and push through.

But she was helplessly carried further away, her little hands flapping uselessly.

"Wuwu... this is bad, Sophia's going to get lost!"

She remembered sister saying she'd wait at the main entrance.

But now she couldn't even find where the entrance was.

Sophia's little mouth drooped, eyes reddening, feeling like the sky was falling.

But just then.

A fair hand grabbed her little one, gently pulling her.

Suddenly, it was like the sea and sky opened up.

Like breaking free from a swamp, Sophia finally breathed fresh air.

But before she could rejoice, the next second she crashed into a not-so-broad embrace.

Sophia startled, not seeing clearly who it was, about to cry out in panic: "Oh no, someone's trying to kidnap Sophia..."

"Pop!" came a crisp sound.

Her little head received a knock.

That familiar force and feeling.

She looked up delightedly to see that face she'd been dreaming of day and night, her little heart skipping beats as she broke into a silly smile:

"Ah, it's Lucas! Hehe, you came to pick me up, Sophia's so happy!"

Lucas helplessly looked at this silly girl, truly unable to understand how someone could nearly get lost just leaving a station.

So he reached out to pinch her round cheeks.

"Next time don't rush out, just wait until everyone's gone. If I hadn't grabbed you, someone could have kidnapped you and you wouldn't even know."

Hearing this, Sophia puckered her rosy lips, sniffing Lucas's faint shower gel scent, her big eyes rolling before she immediately said pitifully:

"Sophia just wanted to come out quickly, wanted to see Lucas quickly... and sister too."

"Lucas, Lucas, I was so scared!"

Speaking, she acted all wronged and traumatized, her little hands clutching Lucas's clothes as she tried to burrow her head into his embrace.

Not looking scared at all.

Lucas narrowed his eyes, understanding this silly girl's thoughts completely, one hand stopping her head.

"Sophia, shouldn't you let go of me now."

He pinched her silly cute face, warning:

"Also, good friends only hug briefly, you're going a bit too far."

Sophia pretended not to understand, freezing completely, her big eyes blank.

"Lucas, no I'm not, I didn't know good friends only hug briefly! I just missed my good friend so much!"

"I don't understand, Sophia just wants some comfort!"

Lucas was speechless, reminding her:

"Don't you miss your sister?"

This silly girl seemed to have completely forgotten about her sister.

Who had been watching the show for quite a while.

Sophia nodded repeatedly, "Yes yes!"

She said this, but still wouldn't let go of Lucas.

Just then.

"Ahem."

A clear cough finally sounded from behind.

Hearing the familiar voice.

Sophia instantly released her hands.

Turning to see her sister standing with crossed arms, looking heartbroken.

"Some little sister says she wants to see her sister quickly, but then doesn't even look at her sister once."

Sophia's face immediately turned red as she pattered over, hugging her sister and burying her head in her embrace.

"Sister, sister, Sophia missed you so much! What sister saw just now was an illusion, it'll blow away, don't be angry!"

Looking at her innocent romantic sister, Emma gently rubbed Sophia's head, "Alright, sister won't be angry at Sophia. Let's go have breakfast."

Sophia released her grip with a silly smile, turned to see Lucas beside her, and became absolutely delighted.

The three walked toward the station exit.

Emma went to get the car from the parking lot.

The two little ones waited by the road.

Lucas suddenly remembered something, putting on a stern face to ask Sophia: "Sophia, didn't you say there was a really good breakfast place in the station? I didn't see it anywhere?"

"Were you lying to me?"

Hearing this, Sophia immediately froze.

There really wasn't any breakfast place in the station, just a supermarket - she had made it up to get Lucas to come.

"Sophia... Sophia doesn't know either!"

She wrung her little hands, seeing Lucas's serious expression, her big eyes immediately welling up as she took something from her pocket and secretly slipped it into Lucas's pocket.

"Lucas, Lucas, you must have heard wrong..."

Lucas felt in his pocket.

A familiar texture.

A carton of pure milk.

He coughed, "Mm, probably... heard wrong."

"But, don't let it happen again."

This silly girl actually dared to trick him, this wouldn't do.

But considering the friendship fee, he'd let her off this time.

"Mm-hmm, won't dare, won't dare."

Sophia nodded repeatedly, breathing a sigh of relief as she patted her little chest, secretly glancing at Lucas's profile.

Good thing she had prepared the friendship fee in advance.

She'd forgotten Lucas was a bit smart, couldn't trick him like this next time.

That's right, she'd definitely try again.

...