Chapter 123: My Former Status
"You first. The first bite's always yours." The boy blew on the steaming hot dog he'd just bought before holding it up to the girl's lips.
She smiled—sweet, shy—and took a tiny bite.
"Good?" His eyes brimmed with affection. When she nodded, warmth flooded through him.
How could his girlfriend be this adorable?
"Mind sharing? Looks delicious."
A teasing voice came from behind. Lucas whipped around. The instant he spotted Sophia, his expression cycled through shock, panic, and dread. "Sophia? Michael?"
His voice came out small, uncertain.
Wait—hadn't Sophia gone abroad? What was she doing here?
He should've checked with Michael about her schedule before planning this date.
Sophia's lips curved into a knowing smile as she glanced at the girl Lucas was half-shielding. "Your girlfriend? Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Lucas tried wheedling his way out. He tugged at Sophia's sleeve, dropping his voice to a whisper. "You're scaring her."
Sophia tapped his forehead. "Show some backbone. Just introduce her properly."
Lucas bit his lip. "Only if you promise to keep this secret."
He knew perfectly well—Sophia's high school romance had gone unchallenged by their parents. But if he got caught dating? He'd be in serious trouble.
Michael chuckled from the sidelines. "Sophia doesn't tattle."
Lucas wrestled with himself for a moment before clearing his throat. Slipping an arm around the girl's shoulders, he announced, "This is my girlfriend—Elodie Harrison."
Elodie twisted her hands together nervously, her voice barely audible. "Hi, Sophia. Michael."
"Hello." Sophia's smile softened, as if worried she'd spooked the girl. "How old are you? Where do you go to school?"
"Same age as Lucas. Same school, different class." Elodie's words came out so quietly they nearly disappeared.
Sophia seemed so poised. So commanding. Even while smiling, she radiated an authority that pressed down like an invisible hand.
Sensing her discomfort, Sophia stopped questioning. She turned to Lucas instead. "You. Come with me for a second."
She grabbed his sleeve and hauled him away.
Elodie stood frozen, watching Lucas get dragged off. Sophia really was terrifying.
She stole a glance at the man still standing beside her. Their eyes met. She flinched and dropped her gaze immediately.
Michael was ridiculously handsome. He seemed more approachable than Sophia, at least. Hopefully he wasn't scary too?
Reading her spiraling thoughts, Michael let out a soft laugh. "Don't worry. Sophia's very gentle."
Elodie pressed her lips together and nodded faintly.
Of course you'd say that. She's your girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Sophia hooked her arm through Lucas's, turning her back to Elodie so they could talk privately.
"Lucas, explain why you're dating this early. When did this even start?" Her tone was light, amused—and somehow bone-chilling.
Lucas flushed, fumbling for words. "Sophia, you started dating Michael before you finished high school too. I'm just... four years ahead of you."
Sophia shot him a look. "Setting aside my circumstances back then—if you had the ability to handle your future right now, I wouldn't stop you from dating."
"I do have that ability!" Lucas said quickly. But when Sophia's sharp gaze pinned him down, his confidence deflated. "I'm learning from Mr. White. Once I win the championship, that'll count as an achievement, right?"
"Have you won it yet?"
"The competition hasn't started."
"The National Calligraphy Competition happens once every four years. The next one's in a year and a half. You think you can take first place?"
Lucas thumped his chest. "Absolutely! I'll bring home a trophy for you!"
"Fine. I'll keep your secret for now. But if you don't win, I'm telling Mom and Dad about this. If you do win, I won't oppose your relationship. I'll even defend you if they find out."
"Deal!" Lucas agreed instantly.
Sophia hadn't felt this gleeful about tricking a kid in ages.
National championships weren't handed out like participation ribbons. Lucas had talent, sure—but the world was full of talented people. China had calligraphy masters everywhere. National competitions were battlegrounds where titans clashed.
Those masters had talent and decades of experience. Lucas dreaming of gold? Laughable.
Still, he'd dominated youth tournaments for years. Benjamin's teaching style leaned heavily on encouragement.
Pride before the fall. Let him experience the atmosphere of a real national competition. A little humility would do him good.
"Got enough money?" she asked abruptly.
Lucas blinked, then nodded. "Yeah. Sophia, stop asking me that. I'm not a kid anymore."
Sophia went quiet. She'd never been great at expressing affection. Beyond offering her family advice, all she really had to give was money.
She couldn't repay them with cash directly. Extra allowance for Lucas would have to do.
"Dating costs money. You can't let her pay for dates. You need to buy little gifts. Prize winnings won't cover that." Sophia pulled out her phone and transferred two thousand dollars. "Don't stay out too late. Make sure you get Elodie home safely."
Lucas saw the notification and threw his arms around Sophia. "You're the best!"
Back when he'd first tried bringing her into the family, it had felt like shouting across a river. She'd been kind, but distant.
Now she felt like a real older sister. She scolded him when he messed up. Taught him lessons. Worried constantly about whether he had enough money.
Every time Sophia lectured him, he thought: She cares about me. She's looking out for me because she doesn't want me to make mistakes.
Sophia squirmed out of his hug, uncomfortable. Lucas had grown into someone who knew how to charm people. He'd become more carefree, more comfortable in his own skin. His personality was blooming.
Growth looked good on him.
Her own personality, though? It had solidified long before she'd returned to the Johnson family.