Chapter 207: I don’t hate you too.

"Then... why are you leaving?"

The bright grin on Penny’s face faded at that question. Surprised that Slater knew about it, her brows slowly knitted together.

How did he know?

"Some time ago, I overheard you and Professor Singh talking," he said quietly, eyes cast down a little. "I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, and I was simply going back to the library to get something. But I heard him talking about taking you in as his apprentice and that you would have to leave the house."

Slater explained his side of the story, including his assumption that apprenticeship was withdrawn. After all, Penny didn’t seem she was planning to leave in the past several weeks. Matter of fact, even their parents didn’t mention anything about it to them.

But seeing that Professor Singh came by today, Slater knew it was about that. Hence, he followed them to the study room. This time, he was planning to eavesdrop. The problem was, when he heard his parents’ response, Slater knew she would leave.

"Is it because I wasn’t very welcoming before?" he asked, almost tearing up. "Or was it because I got angry because of the chocolates? Penny, I will share all my chocolates — you don’t even need permission anymore. I won’t eat them anymore."

He pressed his quivering lips, assessing the unmoved look plastered on her face. "I’m sorry!" he exclaimed in a hurry, trying his best to get a reaction from her. "I’m sorry for being rude to you and for calling you name before. And I’m also sorry that I wasn’t a fair brother and that you have to clean up my mess, even though I’m older than you!"

"I’m also sorry about... about a lot of yelling," he continued nervously. "And for pulling all those pranks on you. I’m also sorry for not being a good brother and for being weak."

Slater rummaged through his memory to remember anything that he should feel sorry for. Meanwhile, the corner of her lips curled up while looking at him nervously racking his brain and apologizing for everything.

"And I’m sorry... for neglecting you," he said after the countless sorry mentioned before this. "I know I should be a proper big brother, but I kept failing you and disappointing you. I’ll try my best to be a good big brother."

Slowly, he lifted his teary eyes on her and smiled helplessly. "I’m sorry."

Penny planned to make a joke and play with him just to distract him. Her third brother was so easily distracted. He might have explosive emotions, but if done right, it was easy to distract him away from the emotions.

But that sorry... [I’m sorry for neglecting you,] hit her so differently.

That word — neglect — was the right term for Bennet’s biggest sin toward her.

They neglected her from the start till the end, and at this point in her life, she wasn’t expecting an apology for that anymore. What else could she do? These people hadn’t done what they had done — not that they still have that kind of power over her in this lifetime.

But that apology... touched a part of her heart that she didn’t know still existed.

A shallow breath escaped her nostrils as Penny tapped the side of her bed. "Third Brother, my pets are currently with Butler Jen. You can come in."

Slater gulped and cautiously walked in, afraid Tiana was just hiding somewhere. When Slater sat awkwardly on the edge of the bed, he faced her.

"You already forgive me?"

"You already said sorry many times, even before this day, remember?" she reminded him, referring to the time they all apologized to her and asked her for another chance to be a proper family for her. "I know you didn’t detail everything like today, but I already know you meant that apology."

His brows rose. "Then are you not going to leave now?"

"Third Brother, who told you that the reason I’m leaving is because you were mean to me at first?"

"Then why are you leaving if not for that?"

"Well..." she trailed off and pondered about the reason. When she thought of an answer, she smiled brightly. "Because I want to live freely."

Her answer, however, wasn’t clear to him.

"Don’t you feel free in here?"

"Third Brother, what I meant by that is that it’s a dream for me," she said. "If I can graduate early and get to work early, then that means I can retire early. If I retire early, I can enjoy my life as much as I can while I have the energy!"

Slater blinked, his brows knitting.

"Still doesn’t get it, do you?" Penny squinted and sighed. "For instance, Brother Hugo wanted to be in the military. It’s been his dream since he was young, so he’d do anything he could to achieve that."

"Ah."

"It’s also the same with you!" she blurted out. "You wanted to be a musician, and of course, you will do everything to be one and share your music."

Slater tilted his head a little to the side. "Who said I want to be a musician?"

"Huh?" his question was akin to a bucket of cold water poured on her. "You don’t want to be a musician?"

"I don’t even know what I want right now."

"Ah.. hehe. Wild guess." Penny laughed awkwardly and shook her head to divert the attention. "My point here is that’s my dream goal. If I’m going to spend my youth working, I’d rather do that ten years earlier and then spend the remaining decades of my life enjoying life."

She raised her hand in front of her and counted in her mind while putting down her fingers. "That’s it! In my mid-twenties, I’m already retired! I have a lot of strength to travel then."

To be frank, Slater still didn’t get it. He didn’t understand her desire to retire early; he didn’t even understand why she was thinking of retiring at this age! She just entered middle school! However, watching her excitedly talk about it gave this strange ease in his heart.

’She looks so happy while talking about it,’ he thought, smiling as he listened. ’How can I stop her this time?’

When Penny looked back at him, her smile stretched as it seemed he finally got it. "That’s the reason," she said. "That’s my goal in this life."

"Is there any way that I can stop you?" he still asked one last time.

"Well, I’m doing this for my future. If you suddenly found out what you want to become in the future, will you appreciate it if I oppose it just because I can’t understand it?"

Slater pursed his lips. "No."

"Heh. See?" Penny smirked and reached out, patting his head mildly. "It’s okay, Third Brother. I don’t hate you anymore."

Her smile broadened until her eyes appeared like mere slits, filling his heart with warmth.

"I don’t hate you too."