Shirley Taylor sat in the library, lost in her reading. She was still wearing that once-bright cartoon T-shirt that had faded over time. Baggy, loose-fitting pants covered her long legs completely, making her look much the same as before.
She still wasn't used to wearing pretty dresses; every time she did, it drew too much attention. Male classmates would bombard her with various methods to get her contact information, while girls would marvel at her transformation and rush over to ask how she managed to look so beautiful.
Feeling shy, Shirley often struggled to decline or respond, resulting in her staring down at the ground, making the atmosphere increasingly awkward.
Over time, people began to harbor a subtle dislike for the once-charming girl.
Rumors circulated around the class, claiming she was being supported by someone. Some even swore they had seen her getting into a Rolls-Royce.
When boys from other classes approached her in an attempt to flirt, they were often taken aback by her expensive watch, which was worth more than twenty thousand dollars. They concluded she must be some rich girl, and their pursuit intensified.
Some even went so far as to say they would gladly drink her bathwater.
Finding that wearing pretty clothes caused her so many problems, she opted for her old outfits once more.
In crowded places, she continued to walk with her head down to avoid drawing attention.
Only in the safe confines of the library did she dare lift her head, following James's earlier encouragement.
Today, as she read, her mind wandered, her concentration faltering. Her eyes read the words, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Should she send a message to her "brother"?
Would it interrupt him at work?
Was his stomach feeling better?
Hesitantly, she pulled out her phone and typed out a quick message. "Brother, I miss you."
Meanwhile, the heartthrob she was pining for, James, was busy riding roller coasters with children, laughing and thoroughly enjoying himself. He paid no mind to the WhatsApp notification pinging on his phone.
This amusement park was recommended by Ms. Morgan, located in New York City; the entrance wasn't too pricey, costing only a few dozen dollars.
The whole concept was to enjoy the buzz of children at play.
Even in a barren playground, a flock of kids could turn it into a day of joy.
The park was full of attractionsârainbow slides, jungle adventures, wild roller coasters, bumper cars, laser tag, and an assortment of slides.
This sprawling 5,000-square-foot amusement area was not only fun for kids but also offered enjoyment for adults.
There were plenty of young mothers around.
Before Timmy came into his life, James had never thought about visiting such a place.
Timmy was having a blast, his smile lighting up the park.
Initially, James had contemplated taking them to Disneyland; now that he had cash to spare, he wanted to see what it was likeâthe rumored sentiments that if you couldn't afford it, stay away.
How expensive could it actually be?
Could they really charge forty dollars for a hotdog? Eighty dollars for an ice cream?
James didn't buy into those rumors; he wanted to see for himself how it all played out.
But Amanda had stopped him.
She insisted that those places were meant for adults, while kids didn't need such high-profile experiences.
There were plenty of enjoyable options around; she simply didn't want to deal with overwhelming crowds.
She mentioned that, compared to unfamiliar cartoon characters, Timmy preferred the little snowman from Mei Xue Bing Cheng or the frog boy from the mall.
James found Amanda to be sensible and caring, especially with such an adorable little Timmy by her side, making the pair exceptionally precious.
"Hey, sis, I feel lucky to have such a wonderful woman like you."
As Amanda walked hand in hand with him, they ambled along.
In the foreground, Jay Johnson moved like a bear, chasing after the bubbly little girl, eliciting joyful giggles and squeals all around.
The scene was heartwarming.
"I'm fortunate too; I didn't expect to meet my brother in a bar," Amanda said with a smile.
She wore sunglasses, bold red lipstick, and a khaki strapless dress topped with a white lightweight jacket, exuding a spicy mom vibe.
Seeing her approachable nature made James feel tempted.
He took a deep breath and sincerely said, "Sis, I want to ask you for a favor."
Amanda turned, curiosity dancing in her eyes when she noticed a hint of unease in his expression.
Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, "Not here; let's talk about it later."
James, taken aback, exclaimed, "Do you think I'm a beast in your eyes? That I'm only interested in that?"
Amanda looked apologetic, "I'm so sorry; I misinterpreted..."
James replied with a chuckle, "Yes, I admit I'm that kind of beast."
Amanda's response was one of mild exasperation, "......"
"Just joking! I genuinely wanted to know under what conditions you would truly fall in love with someone."
James had a feeling there was more behind her emotional demeanor than he understood.
It seemed she had been preoccupied with the idea of finding love after being long out of the realm of romance.
"Truly love someone?"
Amanda smiled softly, "I'm past the age of crushes. As long as you and Timmy are safe and happy, I'm content."
"Don't you have anything you want for yourself?"
"I consider myself happier than most; I don't dare to ask for much more."
James felt a bit lost; her zen-like attitude appeared to reflect a genuine lack of desire.
He considered Tailsa, whose expectations were simpler; a house and a ring would suffice.
After that, she could freely enjoy life, indulging in shopping and more.
Just yesterday, she bought a kitten and a puppy, along with their supplies and food, totaling over fifty thousand.
Today, she planned to shop with her friends and found a bag she liked for eighty-eight thousand.
He wondered if that five million could last her half a year at this rate.
Finding nothing of substance from his questions, he decided to shelve his concerns and focus on enjoying time with the mother-daughter duo.
They reached an area filled with ball pits and playgrounds, and James took a seat under a sunshade with Amanda, while Timmy played enthusiastically with a group of children.
Sadly, adults were prohibited from entering such play areas.
As Amanda chatted about her daily life and her plans for Timmy's upbringing, she expressed her desire to enroll him in piano lessons, aiming to refine his wild nature and teach him to embody a bit more grace.
"I inquired, and the offline training costs a hundred dollars per lesson. Online is cheaper and offers a wide selection of instructors without having to run around. However, he does need a piano, which costs several thousand."
Raising children was definitely financially taxing.
For the average family, affording just one hobby class could be a stretch.
Some competitive parents would even push multiple extracurriculars on their children, boasting about how their kids were learning karate, calligraphy, art, violin, and programming.
Whether any of it mattered was unclear, yet the parents felt compelled to give their children what they couldn't have as kids.
Regardless of the child's interest, they insisted: "They must learn this!"
"If Timmy shows interest, I'll arrange for a well-known teacher to come to him. He deserves a nice piano, and we should find him a larger house, since the current one is too small for him..." James casually suggested.
"Where should we look for a new house?" Amanda didn't decline the offer to find Timmy a proper place.
"Do you want a villa or a spacious apartment?"
"A villaâI don't want to live high up in a building where it's hard to escape in case of an emergency."
"Would you like to live next to Tailsa?" James asked, a teasing smile curling his lips.
Amanda shot him a sideways glance, about to respond when a beautifully dressed woman approached.
With gorgeous golden waves and an aura that stood out in the crowd, she caught the attention of both of them.
"Wow, you must be Timmy's mom! What a coincidence to run into you here!"
The woman was pretty enough, but as she got closer, they noticed her makeup was a bit heavy.
James quickly scanned her details and found out she was thirty-two, with a charm rating of 79, named Ella Ly.
She must have been an 80-rated beauty before she turned thirty.