"But—" Before Bianca could finish, Chris had already walked back into the guesthouse.
Bianca stomped her feet in frustration but couldn't express her anger. Unable to gain an advantage, she decided to
visit the school in the afternoon to find a child to replace herself.
When school ended, few people remained, just a few students cleaning the classrooms. Despite the old equipment
and basic facilities, these girls cherished them, diligently cleaning every corner.
They chatted excitedly about their upcoming trip. Even though they were heading to a big city, they stayed
dedicated. Several girls joined hands and pledged to study hard, promising to change their lives when they grew up.
Bianca impatiently rolled her eyes.
These girls seemed to be the ones at the top of the school's list—the best achievers in this poor school. Replacing
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthem would surely attract Chris and Lena's attention. So, who should she look for?
Bianca wandered around a small, rough cement field that barely deserved to be called a field. It was filled with
sharp stones that could hurt someone's feet. Her frustration grew.
Then, she noticed a boy who seemed out of place, vaguely familiar.
Suddenly, she remembered taking pictures of him at the school before. She scrolled through her camera and found
his shots. His face lacked the innocence usually found in kids his age.
He must come from a really poor family to the point where he avoided talking to anyone.
Bianca thought for a moment. Kids from such backgrounds typically had low self-esteem, never having seen much
money. He should be easy to manipulate.
She smiled and slowly approached him.
The boy sat under the only patch of shade on the field, poking an ant nest with a stick.
Bianca sat on a nearby rock and greeted him with a smile, "Hello."
The boy glanced coldly at her.
Unfazed, Bianca showed him the photos she had taken. "Hey, I've taken pictures of you before! What's your name,
and are you eight or nine years old this year?"
As she reached out to pat his head, he slapped her hand away. The momentary malice in his eyes sent shivers
down her spine.
"Well..." After a while, Bianca said softly, "I've noticed from the photos you've been watching your teacher, Ms.
Harding. Is it because she's pretty?"
The boy raised an eyebrow but stayed silent and continued to poke at the ant nest, stirring up chaos.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Bianca couldn't help but shudder as she watched. However, she wasn't planning to give up.
"Young man, would you like to take a plane ride? It's going to Centrolis, too.
"From what I've observed, you don't get along with your classmates. That's convenient, you won't have to fly with
them. I'll buy you a separate ticket, a first-class seat! There will be many flight attendants dedicated to your service,
and you can even use the VIP channel—"
"Are you done talking?" The boy finally spoke, his tone cold.
Bianca was taken aback.
Although his voice was youthful, it didn't sound like that of an eight- or nine-year-old child. There was something in
his gaze she couldn't quite grasp.
"Heh! Do you think I'm stupid?" The boy sneered. "That's a private jet! Even though I've never left the mountains, I
know private jets are incredibly luxurious! Shouldn't it be better than your so-called first- class and VIP?"