Chapter 143

As Summer returned to her seat, she took a deep breath, letting go of her thoughts, and opened her book to continue studying. Logan watched her for a moment longer before shifting his focus back to his own book.

Logan's pen had been paused long enough to create a small indentation on the paper, and now he resumed drawing a wavy line from that spot. At 9:30 PM, the night school dismissed. The classroom erupted in noise as students packed their bags and left in groups.

Logan finished the problem he was working on, and as he closed his book, he glanced at the second-row seat where Summer had been sitting. It was already empty. He didn't rush, taking his time to gather his papers, pens, and books before slinging his bag over his shoulder and leaving.

The night he returned from the countryside, Logan didn't go straight home after getting off the train. Instead, he spent the night at a guesthouse. The next day, when he finally went home, he found that his room had been emptied—his bed, desk, and wardrobe were all gone, replaced by a ping-pong table. 

He wasn't surprised. With a calm expression, he found a hammer and casually smashed the ping-pong table into pieces. Amidst his stepmother's horrified look, his little brother's cries, and his father's angry shouts, Logan dropped the hammer, dusted off his hands, grabbed his travel bag, and left.

The following day, he reported to the factory and moved into the dormitory there.

***

Logan left the night school a bit late, and when he returned to the factory dormitory, most of the other workers were already washing up. He didn't waste any time and quickly went to wash up as well before continuing to read. But the dormitory wasn't the best place to study; it was too noisy. Frustrated, Logan tossed his book aside and climbed into his top bunk to sleep.

Lying on his bed, he didn't close his eyes. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought—not about the upcoming exams or his studies, but about Summer, whom he had seen at the night school. 

When Logan returned to the city, he had thought Summer would come to find him. After all, she had seemed reluctant to part with him in the countryside, always sticking close to him. She even watched him secretly on the train back. But she never sought him out.

Realizing Summer wasn't going to look for him, Logan dismissed his hopes. It was just a misplaced expectation on his part, something he shouldn't have allowed himself to feel.

He had assumed they wouldn't cross paths again. Yet, because of the exam preparation, they ended up in the same night school class. To his surprise, she had changed so much since returning to the city, and she pretended not to know him.

Logan couldn't help but wonder how she had transformed so quickly in just ten days. He recalled seeing a girl who resembled Summer, but much prettier, outside a bookstore yesterday. He had noticed her because she looked so much like Summer.

In the countryside, Summer had often been anxious about her appearance, frequently checking the mirror and asking Logan if she had changed. 

Was it possible that her attachment to him wasn't just to fend off loneliness? Could he have had some effect on her, making her more beautiful? 

Logan found this thought absurd. He had grown up under the influence of rationality and progress, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that his theory, however strange, made sense. 

And then he wondered: now that Summer had become beautiful and had no need for him, did she simply pretend not to recognize him?

***

After night school, Summer didn't return to the factory dormitory with Jenny. She still needed to study, and her home provided a better environment than the crowded dormitory, so she cycled home.

When she arrived, the side rooms were already dark. Shaw and Carman were still awake, their light shining through their bedroom window. 

Summer quietly ran into the main house and knocked on her parents' bedroom door. "Mom, Dad, I'm home."

Carman came to the door. "Why are you home so late?"

"The factory organized night school with professional teachers to help us prepare for exams. I'll be coming home late from now on," Summer explained.

"Alright, but don't overwork yourself," Carman said.

"I'll be fine. It's just for a little over a month," Summer replied with a smile.

"Wash up and get some sleep," Shaw's voice came from inside the room.

"You and Mom should sleep early too," Summer said, still smiling.