Caleb Johnson felt very strange that Lucas Green suddenly stopped replying to his messages. He thought about it carefully, but couldn't think of any way to offend Lucas Green. At most, he might have made a mistake in a question.
Lucas Green shouldn't be so stingy.
A few days later, when Mason Hayes came to take him to the International Department cafeteria for dinner, Caleb Johnson asked in a roundabout way, "Is Lucas Green not here today?"
"Aye...I've been a little busy lately." Mason Hayes's eyes suddenly became a little evasive.
Recently, the three words "Caleb Johnson" have become forbidden words in front of Lucas Green. As soon as he hears Caleb Johnson's name, Lucas Green speaks very harshly. Sometimes he says that Caleb Johnson is weak and irresponsible, and sometimes he says that he doesn't know people well. He even makes Mason Hayes dare not mention Caleb Johnson to him.
Today, Mason Hayes came to have dinner with Caleb Johnson, and he specially chose the time when Lucas Green was outside the school.
Seeing that Mason Hayes was in trouble, Caleb Johnson tactfully stopped asking.
No matter what the reason was that Lucas Green ignored him, in the end he had to blame himself.
"Zhan Xin," Mason Hayes took out an invitation from his schoolbag and said, "I have a birthday party next Friday. Would you like to come?"
Caleb Johnson was stunned for a moment, then took it and said, "Okay..."
"That's good," Mason Hayes breathed a sigh of relief, "You don't need to prepare any gifts, my friends are all very nice, don't worry."
Seeing Caleb Johnson nodded, Mason Hayes asked him: "Has Quinn Roberts caused you any trouble recently?"
"No." Cheng Zhan thought.
Quinn Roberts really didn't contact him these days, but the text messages and phone calls never stopped, which seriously affected Caleb Johnson's efficiency in taking on work. Cheng Zhan was so annoyed that he specially installed a software to block Quinn Roberts.
After dinner, Mason Hayes insisted on accompanying Caleb Johnson back to the ordinary high school department. When they passed the corridor at the school gate, they happened to meet Lucas Green walking in, and the three of them met at the corner.
Mason Hayes was caught in the act of secretly meeting Caleb Johnson, who was not very good at judging people. He was overwhelmed and waved to Lucas Green with gritted teeth: "Aye, so early?"
Lucas Green looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Twelve thirty, is it early?"
Caleb Johnson and Lucas Green hadn't seen each other for a long time and felt nervous, which was unusual for her.
Lucas Green turned his head and glanced at Caleb Johnson. He didn't seem to be saying anything, so Caleb Johnson asked him, "Did I really do that question wrong?"
Lucas Green didn't expect Caleb Johnson was still thinking about that, so he lied to him and said, "No, the answer is wrong."
"Oh," Caleb Johnson replied, and felt that Lucas Green still didn't want to pay attention to him, so he said to Mason Hayes, "Then I'll go back to the classroom first."
Mason Hayes looked at Lucas Green, then at Caleb Johnson. Before he could say anything, Lucas Green spoke first: "Let's take you there together."
He did not use a strong and imperative tone this time, but he did not give Caleb Johnson a chance to choose. Seeing that Caleb Johnson did not move, he raised his hand and hugged Caleb Johnson's back, then led Caleb Johnson forward.
Caleb Johnson turned his head to look at Lucas Green, who calmly put down his hand, as if he had done nothing. Caleb Johnson walked in the middle, Mason Hayes was two fists away from him, but Lucas Green was very close to him, and when they walked, their arms would touch from time to time. Perhaps because Lucas Green was too tall, Caleb Johnson's heartbeat inexplicably accelerated.
After walking a few steps, Mason Hayes began to explain: "I sent an invitation to Zhan Xin to come to my birthday party."
Lucas Green just said "hmm" and didn't respond.
The three of them walked to the door of Caleb Johnson's classroom in silence. Caleb Johnson entered the classroom. The afternoon self-study class had already begun. The physics teacher sitting on the podium saw Caleb Johnson and smiled at him.
Before Caleb Johnson could sit still, Mason Hayes's text message came again. He said, "Aye actually caught me having dinner with you alone."
Caleb Johnson looked at the screen, thinking of how Lucas Green walked with her, and became a little distracted.
His bottom line is so low that he basically has none, so he seldom feels troubled by anything. Even if the creditors come to collect the debts, Caleb Johnson will deal with them accordingly. However, he is really troubled that Lucas Green didn't reply to his messages.
Mason Hayes didn't wait for Caleb Johnson to reply, but got straight to the point. He introduced a business to Caleb Johnson.
Cheng Zhan felt a little guilty and wanted to give Mason Hayes a decent birthday gift, but he didn't know what Mason Hayes liked. He could have asked Lucas Green, but now... it didn't seem appropriate.
After school in the evening, Caleb Johnson rode a short distance, turned into an alley, and was blocked by Quinn Roberts halfway.
Quinn Roberts drove his father's car and parked it in the middle of the alley. Caleb Johnson didn't know who it was, so he pushed his bicycle over and wanted to knock on the window to ask what was going on. Before he got there, Quinn Roberts opened the door and said to him, "Xinxin, get in the car, I'll take you home."
Seeing that it was Quinn Roberts, Caleb Johnson turned around and drove away. Before she could step on the pedal, Quinn Roberts grabbed her from the back seat and said, "Xinxin, am I so scary?"
Quinn Roberts's expression was extremely strange. It was still dark early in early April. Caleb Johnson looked back at Quinn Roberts and thought that he might suffer again today.
However, Caleb Johnson had suffered more than once or twice, so he didn't take it too seriously.
"I received a remittance of 10,000 yuan yesterday. Was it you?" Quinn Roberts asked him.
Caleb Johnson nodded indifferently and added: "Next time you give money to my dad, I won't pay it back."
"...You are a person who is obsessed with money," Quinn Roberts reached out and grabbed Caleb Johnson's arm, pressing him against the brick wall of the alley. Caleb Johnson's bicycle fell to the ground with a dull sound. "You are a person who is obsessed with money."
Caleb Johnson thought this was ridiculous, but he did not refute it. He looked at Quinn Roberts with his dark and bright eyes, focused but without emotion, and said, "I'm serious."
The only light in the alley came from a street lamp behind the wall, shining down above their heads.
Caleb Johnson was wearing the spring and autumn school uniform, with her slender white neck exposed. Because of the dim light, her eyes looked particularly large, and her eyes seemed innocent, but they were actually cold-blooded.
Caleb Johnson is very thin and not very strong. Anyone who is strong enough can pin him to the ground and do whatever they want to him.
But his heart is his own.
Quinn Roberts finally looked Caleb Johnson in the eye seriously, and all his passion disappeared.
Caleb Johnson's acquiescence to his borderline behavior was just a compromise with the behavior itself, nothing more.
When Quinn Roberts had Caleb Johnson under him, he went through many emotions. His desire for control was satisfied, his desire for sadism was vented, he enjoyed smugness, climax, heartbeat, and pity, but Caleb Johnson did not have any of these.
Caleb Johnson did not resist, did not struggle, did not fight to the death, and did not accept. He was used to setting the bottom line very deep, and inserted a row of blades on the bottom line. Even at the moment of death, Caleb Johnson would not become Quinn Roberts's property because of fear of violence.
It's very difficult to get Caleb Johnson to like someone. He probably won't like anyone.
"Xinxin," Quinn Roberts became flustered, but he didn't dare to let Caleb Johnson find out that he was so unstable, "Even if you don't return it, I will--"
"--Caleb Johnson." On the other side where Caleb Johnson came, someone interrupted Quinn Roberts and walked towards them.
He was very tall, and walked like a gust of wind. He was wearing the uniform of the National High School Department and didn't carry a school bag. He walked up to them in a few steps and asked Caleb Johnson: "Do you want me to take you there?"
"I will send him back." Quinn Roberts stared at Lucas Green and said.
The strength in his hand loosened, Caleb Johnson immediately pulled his hand away, moved a step closer to Lucas Green, and said to him: "No need."
Lucas Green lifted up Caleb Johnson's bicycle and looked down at him. Caleb Johnson reached out to take it, but Lucas Green pushed him away: "Let me push it."
Quinn Roberts didn't stop them, and Caleb Johnson followed Lucas Green obediently.
Lucas Green didn't know how to push Caleb Johnson's bicycle. He couldn't maintain balance and pushed it crookedly. After taking a few steps, he almost hit the wall.
Caleb Johnson looked at Lucas Green and smiled. Lucas Green glanced at him and said, "Then you push it."
Caleb Johnson wanted to answer the phone again, but Lucas Green still refused to let him. Caleb Johnson then said to Lucas Green, "You are too concerned about your reputation."
Quinn Roberts stood behind, his heart skipped a beat, his fingertips seemed to tremble, and his temples were throbbing.
Because Caleb Johnson's voice when speaking to Lucas Green was really sweet, Quinn Roberts was reminded of when Caleb Johnson was a child and asked his mother for candy.
Little Chengzhan thought that he couldn't just say he was eating candy, so he asked his mother first: "Mom, is that candy very sweet?"
If Caleb Johnson were to speak to someone in this tone, then Caleb Johnson must have seen the candy he wanted.
Caleb Johnson watched Lucas Green throw his bicycle into the trunk and then got into the car with him.
Lucas Green drove forward in silence. Caleb Johnson put his schoolbag beside his legs and asked him, "Have you eaten?"
"I'll take you to eat now," Lucas Green said, looking straight ahead as if nothing had happened, "What do you want to eat?"
"I'm fine with either." Caleb Johnson said.
Lucas Green looked at the street scene and made a decision: "Then let's eat Cantonese food."
From then on, the car was quiet for a few minutes.
Caleb Johnson was observing Lucas Green openly, and he had something in mind. He said to Lucas Green, "You were there that day, weren't you?"
Lucas Green didn't say anything, Caleb Johnson added: "On the day I was sick, Quinn Roberts blocked me at my door. You followed me, right? So you called me and lied to me that I got the test wrong."
Lucas Green turned on the turn signal and sped up the car. He looked unhappy and kept his mouth shut, making it clear that he didn't want to continue this topic with Caleb Johnson.
Caleb Johnson asked him stubbornly: "Is it true?"
There was a red light ahead, Lucas Green stepped on the brakes, turned to Caleb Johnson, and asked him expressionlessly: "How much do you get for having S3x with him?"
Caleb Johnson was stunned.
Lucas Green turned his head back and said, "I was there."
Caleb Johnson didn't know what to say, he just stared at Lucas Green blankly. Lucas Green thought Caleb Johnson was touched by him, so he slowed down his tone and asked: "Have you made it clear to him?"
Lu Ye Zheng has been thinking a lot these days. Caleb Johnson's living environment is different from his and Mason Hayes's, so he shouldn't measure Caleb Johnson's actions from his and Mason Hayes's perspective.
Caleb Johnson
He is a bad guy, but he is also down-to-earth on weekdays. Perhaps he got involved with Quinn Roberts because he was really desperate.
He sold his body for money, but along with it came Quinn Roberts's violence and abuse. It would be too arbitrary and stereotypical to criticize him for "not loving himself".
Lu Yezhen still remembers the bloodstains on Caleb Johnson's body. He failed to be Caleb Johnson's savior, and was not even as good as Mason Hayes. He had no right to be disappointed in him lightly.
Quinn Roberts's words "I'll deal with you here" made Lucas Green feel so complicated that he almost didn't dare to think about the deeper meaning.
Fortunately, judging from Caleb Johnson's tone that day and the postures of Quinn Roberts and Caleb Johnson today, their physical transaction should have ended. So from today on, it will be a new beginning for Caleb Johnson.
Seeing Caleb Johnson didn't answer, Lucas Green said, "If you haven't explained it clearly, I'll go with you to explain it."
Caleb Johnson said with a distorted expression: "Just make it clear."
"That's good," Lucas Green said earnestly, "Before making a decision in the future, you can consult me or Xiaowen."
"He and I are not actually..." Cheng Zhan wanted to explain, but when he recalled what Quinn Roberts said to him that day, he didn't know where to start.
And Lu Yezhen also had an expression that said, "You don't need to explain," so Caleb Johnson fell silent.
Lucas Green stopped the car in front of the Cantonese restaurant he chose and said to Caleb Johnson, "We're here."
Caleb Johnson followed him into the restaurant and sat down at the double seat by the window.
Caleb Johnson was still thinking about how to explain that he and Quinn Roberts didn't have that kind of relationship, when Lucas Green said, "It's Mason Hayes's birthday next Friday, I'll pick you up."
"Oh, yes," Caleb Johnson propped his chin on his hand and asked Lucas Green, "What do you think I should give you?"
Lucas Green was flipping through the menu, and when he heard this, he looked up and said, "No need to send me off."
Cheng Zhan thought: "No, what are you going to give me?"
Just as Lucas Green was about to say that he gave Mason Hayes a basketball signed by his idol, Caleb Johnson changed his mind again: "Don't tell me, it's too expensive, I can't afford it."
Caleb Johnson had said all the words, so Lucas Green waved to the waiter, placed the order, and said to Caleb Johnson, "He's interested in psychology recently."
"Which aspect of psychology?" Caleb Johnson asked.
Lucas Green opened Mason Hayes's homepage on a social software and showed Caleb Johnson his recent interests. Caleb Johnson sat next to Lucas Green to watch.
Caleb Johnson took off his coat, still wearing the dull and old cotton T-shirt underneath, and he looked very poor.
But Caleb Johnson was good-looking. He carefully extended his index finger and swiped across the screen of Lucas Green's phone to study Mason Hayes's preferences. Under the light yellow light of the restaurant, Caleb Johnson's hands were white without any flaws. His nails were round and neatly trimmed, and his joints were thinner than others. He looked clean and cute.
"This movie..." Caleb Johnson pointed to a movie poster and said, "Xiao Wen thinks it's good, I think..."
"Silly." Lucas Green commented simply.
Caleb Johnson raised her head, pursed her lips and smiled at Lucas Green, shirking responsibility: "That's what you said."
Lucas Green didn't say anything, so Caleb Johnson continued to scribble down the titles of a few books that Mason Hayes wanted to read, and decided: "I'll give him the books."
When the dishes came, he sat back down opposite Lucas Green and said to him, "I'll treat you to dinner today. You've helped me so much."
"You helped me with the test paper." Lu Yezhen avoided the main point.
"But I did something wrong." Caleb Johnson picked up a piece of rice roll, took a bite, and said casually.
... Lucas Green finally admitted, "You did nothing wrong."
"Lucas Green, I'll treat you to a meal. Can you accompany me to buy books?" Caleb Johnson asked him.
Lucas Green looked at Caleb Johnson for a while and said, "Okay."
After dinner, Lucas Green sent Caleb Johnson back home.
Caleb Johnson still didn't let him in. He saw that there was a light on in his house.
Lucas Green did not force it. He watched Caleb Johnson approach the community and drove away.
Caleb Johnson went upstairs, but when he got to the second floor, he heard his father turn on the TV at full volume, and the whole corridor was filled with the sound of the game broadcast. Caleb Johnson had the urge to run away, so he stood on the stairs for a while and then slowly walked up again.
He opened the door and found that besides Cheng Lie, there was someone else at home. Quinn Roberts's father was sitting on the sofa in his house, and he and Cheng Lie were each holding a beer bottle, watching the game.
"Fcuk, good shot!" Cheng Lie clearly heard Caleb Johnson come in, but he didn't even glance at him. He stared at the battle on TV and cheered.
"Xinxin is back," Quinn Roberts's father turned around first and looked at Caleb Johnson enthusiastically, "Why are you studying so late?"
Caleb Johnson didn't answer. He called out "Uncle" and was about to go to his room, but his father called out to him, "Caleb Johnson, come here."
Cheng Lie put down the bottle and turned to Caleb Johnson. He lowered his voice and called Caleb Johnson again: "Xinxin, come here."
Caleb Johnson put down his schoolbag, walked over and sat on the single sofa. His sitting posture was a little stiff. Cheng Lie's eyes were like a poisonous snake wrapped around Caleb Johnson. If Quinn Roberts's father had not been there, Caleb Johnson was sure that Cheng Lie would hit him with the wine bottle in the next second.
Caleb Johnson and Cheng Lie don't look much alike.
Cheng Lie is a strong and sturdy man. He was also a good fighter when he was young. Now he is swollen due to alcohol, but the outline of his muscles can still be vaguely seen.
"Your uncle Qi said he would help you go to college," Cheng Lie said, "Why don't you come and thank your uncle."
"Hey, Old Cheng, you're too polite," Quinn Roberts's father waved his hand, "Quinn Roberts's mother and I sponsor several college students every year. Xinxin has grown up under our care, and his grades are so good. It's only natural for us old neighbors to help him!"
Cheng Lie laughed out loud, patted Quinn Roberts's father hard, clinked his beer bottle with him, blew on the beer bottle and drank it all in one gulp.
Quinn Roberts's father took another sip of wine and left.
Caleb Johnson stood behind Cheng Lie, seeing Quinn Roberts's father out. As soon as the door closed, Cheng Lie turned around, crossed his arms and looked at Caleb Johnson: "You came back so late, what have you been doing?"
Caleb Johnson didn't say anything, so Cheng Lie started to pick a fight: "A top student is looking down on an old drunkard like me?"
"No." Before Caleb Johnson finished speaking, his cell phone rang. It was Lu Yezhen. Before he could hang up the phone, Cheng Lie grabbed his wrist.
Cheng Lie was stronger after drinking. He grabbed Caleb Johnson and pulled her, then used his other hand to pull, and the phone fell into Cheng Lie's hand.
"Aye...who is that?" Cheng Lie read the name on the screen and said, "Oh, Xinxin has a good friend now?"
Caleb Johnson snatched the phone back, took two steps back, and looked at Cheng Lie warily.
Since he was old enough to understand, he had almost never had a direct conflict with Cheng Lie. Cheng Lie's eyes narrowed: "Fcuk, I'm not allowed to watch it."
He swung the beer bottle to hit Caleb Johnson's shoulder, but Caleb Johnson dodged it nimbly and tried to get into the room. Cheng Lie kicked Caleb Johnson in the knee, and Caleb Johnson fell to the ground. He only had time to turn off his phone before Cheng Lie's beer bottle fell down.
At ten o'clock in the evening, Cheng Lie searched out a few hundred yuan from Caleb Johnson's schoolbag and went out whistling again.
Caleb Johnson lay on the ground for a long time before he got up. He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes for a while, and struggled to pick up the phone whose screen was broken by his father, and tried to turn it on.
Although this mobile phone is cheap, its quality is still good. It can still work even after being stepped on so many times by Cheng Lie.
Caleb Johnson looked at the three missed calls from Lucas Green on the screen and called back. Lucas Green picked up the call quickly.
"My phone is out of battery," Caleb Johnson said to Lucas Green, "I went home and took a shower, then did the test questions, so I didn't pay attention."
His whole body felt like it had been run over by a truck. His chest was stuffy and he couldn't breathe. He had a headache and knee pain. His hand holding the phone was shaking, but his voice was gentle when he spoke to Lucas Green.
"Oh," Lucas Green said a single syllable and stopped talking, but he didn't hang up either. It seemed that he wanted to ask something but didn't know where to start.
"Quinn Roberts didn't come to see me, you don't have to worry." Cheng Zhan thought to himself.
"When do you want to go to the bookstore?" Lucas Green asked him.
"Maybe in a few days," Cheng Zhan thought to himself, "a few days."
Lucas Green agreed, and added: "I'll pick you up when the time comes."
Caleb Johnson was somewhat detached from the conversation and didn't dare to continue chatting with Lucas Green, so he said, "Okay, I'm going to sleep."
He hung up the phone, and the phone slipped from his limp hands to the ground. He also fell along the wall, lay on the plastic-covered floor, and sank into darkness.
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