Chapter 223
Chapter 223
A few minutes later, the teacher arrived with a small boy dressed in black.
The scrawny little boy stood next to the teacher, his clean white backpack slung over his shoulder.
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The air outside was cold, and his clothes were a little thick. He’d barely entered before his face flushed from the warmth of the room.
In this entire kindergarten, every space covered by a roof was kept at a constant temperature.
When Yvonne came in earlier, lan had wrapped her in a fluffy coat, only briefly taking it off when he carried her into the classroom.
Like her, all the other kids were dressed lightly.
Though his face was flushed, the boy maintained a calm and aloof demeanor.
When the teacher asked him to introduce himself, he pursed his lips and said, in the most minimal way possible, “I’m Hudson Hill.
The teacher, still waiting expectantly, looked at him for a few seconds before realizing the introduction was over.
The last person to introduce themselves so briefly had been Anna.
The teacher, slightly taken aback, glanced around the class, found an empty spot, and asked a nearby boy to move so Hudson could sit next to him.
Hudson tightened his grip on the strap of his backpack and took a slow step forward.
He walked slowly, but even so, it was clear his legs weren’t in the best condition.
As he walked past one of the kids, Hudson caught their surprised gaze. He quickly turned his eyes away, lowering his head
even more.
He cautiously lifted his head, his eyes darting quickly across the room, feeling as though they were burning him.
None of the other kids seemed to care much. A few curious glances here and there, but there was no malice.
That realization made him breathe a little easier. He followed the teacher to his seat.
His new desk mate, a pale, friendly–looking boy, seemed unfazed by the new arrival. He greeted Hudson before continuing his conversation with others.
The two girls sitting across the aisle were busy exchanging snacks, and didn’t even glance at him.
Hudson quietly took off his coat and hugged it to his chest.
This morning, his older brother Gabriel had made him wear extra layers, fearing he might get cold at school.
Gabriel didn’t know how warm the classroom was, so Hudson, feeling more secure, decided to hold onto his coat instead of using the coat hook by the desk.
The other kids continued with their activities. His desk mate occasionally spoke to him, but their talk was mostly abo games Hudson couldn’t join. Still, he was content enough to sit quietly.
After a while, Hudson relaxed a bit. He slouched and leaned on the desk, his head turned to gaze out the window at the rain.
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Chapter 223
Meanwhile, Yvonne was carefully pulling a few small tomatoes out of her bag.
After her previous experience, she’d learned to be more careful.
Now, when she gave things to Anna, she always did so under the table.
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It wasn’t easy to meet up outside school, so one would hand things off while the other kept watch. It felt like a secret mission.
Just as Yvonne was quietly handing over the tomatoes, Anna suddenly grabbed her hand, her voice low and cautious.
“Yvonne, the new boy is watching us.” Yvonne peeked out from under the desk, her hair messy, and followed Anna’s gaze.
Sure enough, Hudson was staring at their direction, and it looked like he’d been doing so for a while.
Remembering the uneasy events from earlier, Yvonne quickly hid the tomatoes, hugging her two small bags to her chest, her eyes pleading for Anna’s help. “Anna, what should we do?”
Anna’s face turned serious, her voice dropping to a near whisper, like a villain in an old movie. “If he’s seen us, then we have no choice but to…
Before Hudson could fully process what was happening, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back. His body stiffened.
The stares from the two girls across the aisle were too obvious. He couldn’t pretend he didn’t notice.
He glanced behind him, confirming that they were looking at him, and felt even more uncomfortable.
Hudson murmured, “Did I do something wrong? Is there a rule again.
looking outside the window?”
Just then, the two girls withdrew their gazes, leaning in together to whisper conspiratorially.
Hudson felt a sudden tension build up in his chest.
The girl closest to the aisle reached into her bag and rummaged around for something.
She took a long time, and when she pulled her hand out, Hudson instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and recoiled slightly.
Two seconds later, he cautiously opened his eyes. No strange insects in sight.
Instead, the hand held out a small, bright red tomato.
The two girls stared at him, their eyes unblinking.
“Eat it,” Anna said, her tone calm but insistent.
Hudson hesitated. He was afraid it was a toy tomato, or perhaps it was poisonous.
He glanced at the tomato, feeling a bit of retreat in his eyes, and his voice became quiet, tinged with a hint of pleading. “I… I have a sensitive stomach. Can I not eat it?”
He’d rather take a slap than risk eating something that might upset his stomach. After all, if it made him sick, it would waste Gabriel’s time.
Anna shook her head, pushing the tomato closer to him, her persistence unwavering. “No, you have to eat it now. Anna had had a weak stomach herself before, but Yvonne had helped her improve
- it.
Hudson paused, staring into the two pairs of wide eyes across from him. Without saying anything, he reluctantly picked up
the tomato.
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Chapter 223
Holding it close to his chest, he brought it to his lips, his face turning pale as he took a small bite.
“Eat it faster,” Anna urged.
The two girls‘ smiles were wide, clearly pleased with themselves.
Hudson’s mind was clouded with anxiety. 1le dared not chew too much, fearing the tomato might be fake or spoiled.
The two girls laughed, their plan successfully executed.
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Hudson had a sinking feeling in his gut. The cherry tomato sat heavy on his tongue—he didn’t even dare chew it. What if it was fake? What if it had already gone bad?
Anna gave him a bright smile and said, “Go on, swallow it. Then move your chair over here. We want to talk to you”
Panic flickered in Hudson’s chest. No one had ever made him swallow one before.
He lowered his long lashes, hiding the shadows that had crept into his eyes.
If this ridiculous tomato ended up messing with Gabriel’s work, he swore he’d curse both these girls to high heaven.
With that thought burning in his mind, he crushed the tomato between his teeth, his expression flat and unreadable.
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