The Johnson Connection
1496 Words
Scarlett Smith didn't order regular bubble tea; she got bubble tea with larger pearls. She gulped down two pearls and choked, coughing a couple of times before taking a big sip to recover.
But because of that one sentence.
For the rest of the time, her face remained flushed bright red.
When they said goodbye, Scarlett walked away much faster than she had arrived.
She left without looking back, unaware that Jude watched her retreating figure with great interest, a smirk playing on his lips before he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Crestwood University Medical Center.
When Jude pushed open the hospital room door, a soundproofed room momentarily leaked a pig-s*******r-like howl.
The patient on the bed immediately pointed an accusing finger at him the moment he saw him. "Jude—!"
Scarlett Smith didn't order regular bubble tea; she got bubble tea with larger pearls. She gulped down two pearls and choked, coughing a couple of times before taking a big sip to recover.
But because of that one sentence.
For the rest of the time, her face remained flushed bright red.
When they said goodbye, Scarlett walked away much faster than she had arrived.
She left without looking back, unaware that Jude watched her retreating figure with great interest, a smirk playing on his lips before he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Crestwood University Medical Center.
When Jude pushed open the hospital room door, a soundproofed room momentarily leaked a pig-s*******r-like howl.
The patient on the bed immediately pointed an accusing finger at him the moment he saw him. "Jude—!"
Xander Martin yelled loudly, "I've been waiting for you to visit all morning! It's my leg that's broken, not yours, and I still had to hop on one foot to answer the door for you?! Why are you so slow???"
Xander was always blunt and loud. Having known him for years, Jude was immune.
Jude closed the door, watched the nurse adjust the cast height, and then calmly walked to the bedside. "What, missed your dad?"
"..." Xander gritted his teeth. "That mouth of yours never says anything human, just barks."
Jude raised an eyebrow.
He didn't really care about nicknames; he just found it amusing to watch the hothead get riled up.
The reason for the hothead Xander's broken leg could be summarized in three words—
Heartbreak, drunk driving, car accident.
As Jude walked back to the bedside, about to say something, his gaze caught the messy lines of writing on the cast.
It was covered with phrases like "Get well soon, dog," "There are plenty of fish in the sea," and "The next one will be better," clearly written by their friends during their visit.
Very relevant, and highly cautionary.
Seeing where his gaze landed, Xander knew it was trouble. "What are you doing! Jude, what are you doing?! I'm telling you! No! Don't—!"
Jude ignored him, stifling a laugh as he picked up a marker nearby and started writing on the cast leg. "They've covered all the big lessons. I'll just offer some encouragement."
Xander cursed and stretched his neck to see.
Jude wrote four exceptionally eye-catching large words.
— Hang in there, son.
Xander's face turned red with anger. "………… Damn you, Jude!!!"
After finishing, Jude took a photo of the cast leg covered in inspirational quotes as a memento, making Xander curse even more fiercely.
The cursing and complaining lasted a full five minutes until Xander ran out of breath and finally gasped, asking about Jude's situation. "... So what does you coming back mean? Just for fun? Or are you planning to take over the family business here?"
"Both." Jude sat on the nearby sofa, stretching his long legs. "After studying for so many years, it's kind of a liberation."
"Sure is, you've reached the peak." Xander, still struggling through his master's degree, rolled his eyes. "But weren't you in a high position at the Johnson family's overseas headquarters? You're willing to give that up? You're really staying here for good?"
"Most likely." He nodded, then added, "Not much to give up. It's the same everywhere, just a matter of time."
Xander wanted to scoff at what sounded like boasting, but remembering it was fact for Jude, not boasting, he shut his mouth.
After a few seconds, Jude suddenly added, "Oh, just remembered. Actually, it might not be total liberation."
Xander looked confused. "?"
Jude: "Forgot to tell you earlier. I'm now a Finance exchange student at Crestwood University."
Xander: "???"
Xander couldn't believe it. "What the hell did you say? Exchange what?" He got so agitated he almost kicked out with his broken leg. "You've already got a Stanford PhD! Jude, are you insane!!!"
Jude just smiled without answering.
Xander ventured another guess. "Don't tell me you've gone study-crazy and want to get a PhD from Crestwood too? Study at Crestwood, then F University, aiming for a collection of PhDs??"
"..." What kind of mind comes up with a collection of PhDs? Jude scoffed. "Do I look like an i***t?"
Xander widened his eyes, digging deeper. "...If you're not an i***t, then what the hell are you doing it for???"
Jude didn't answer immediately. Instead, he suddenly smiled.
He sat on the sofa, one leg stretched out, his posture relaxed. This smile was particularly criminal.
Jude's good looks were universally acknowledged since childhood, but Xander, looking at this smile, for some reason, immediately thought of spring-centered idioms like radiating warmth and full of life.
Jude spoke slowly, "Probably for..." He paused abruptly there.
When neither spoke, the room grew exceptionally quiet.
Xander's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
After waiting a few more seconds, he saw Jude's smile become even more... perhaps describable as beaming.
Then, in an unusually gentle tone, he said, "To pursue a girl."
-
After saying goodbye to Jude at the bubble tea shop, he went to the main campus hospital to continue visiting his patient friend, while Scarlett walked along the campus main road, her fingers frantically tapping on her phone keyboard.
Scarlett Smith: [@Chloe Davis@Nina Wilson!!! Get out here now!!!]
[Just now, nice butt offered to buy me bubble tea. When we got to the shop, he said he didn't have enough money on f*******:, so he borrowed from me, to pay back later. (I almost suggested using another app... but glad I didn't!!)]
[After we added each other on f*******:, I transferred him the money for the tea. Right after we sat down, he immediately paid me back.]
[So I asked him why he paid back so fast.]
[He said! He actually had money! He borrowed money from me! Just to! Add! My! f*******:!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!]
...
After typing this, Scarlett spammed the Sassy Sisters Squad group chat with emoticons, still not calmed down even as she neared the school gate.
When Jude borrowed money earlier, Scarlett had just been simply, gleefully thinking that it was lucky she hadn't spoken too quickly, otherwise who knows what method he'd use next time to get her f*******:.
But she never expected... Jude did it on purpose.
Secret little schemes were different from straightforward words. Scarlett's mood did a complete one-eighty.
Doing it on purpose was one thing, but he actually laid it out plainly for her!
One moment, calmly borrowing money; the next, confessing the motive behind borrowing!
Couldn't even be bothered to lie! So honest!
He flirted so boldly it made her blush bright red!!!
Scarlett wasn't someone who blushed easily. Chloe and Nina had once questioned if she'd been a nun in a past life, given how composed and zen she was about everything.
But facing the handsome Jude's verbal flirting, combined with his looks that perfectly hit her preferences, her face heated up so much it felt like it might explode. It was still warm now, not completely cooled down... The power of that nice butt was just too strong.
Scarlett went home, took a shower, finished crazily chatting with the two, then remembered something else.
Scarlett Smith: [Oh right, I haven't told you guys... nice butt's last name is Johnson! I saw his name today and suddenly felt like I have such a connection with the Johnson name.]
Chloe Davis: [? Huh? What connection?]
Nina Wilson: [Her high school crush, that Masked Guy, the school tough guy from the neighboring school. She only went asking about him after he'd already graduated, remember?]
Scarlett immediately retorted: [?? That wasn't a crush! It hadn't reached the level of a crush!]
...
Nina Wilson: [Masked Guy's last name was Johnson? It's been so long I forgot.]
Scarlett smiled, typing: [Actually, I hadn't remembered for a long time either. Just suddenly thought of it for some reason hahaha.]
Chloe Davis: [Oh well, what nonsense. Lettie, your new flame's last name is Nice!]
Scarlett's hand paused: ?
Nina Wilson: [Pfft hahaha, yeah, the man driving Scarlett crazy—last name Nice, first name Butt. /clapping]
Scarlett: "........."
- Writer
