Reborn with My Genius Husband-Chapter 22: Puppy Love Right Under One’s Nose

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Puppy Love Right Under One’s Nose

"Don’t drag me into this, I’m scared to death." Anna Willow’s breathless voice came through, sounding like she was carrying something heavy up the stairs.

"Anna, I’ll reward you with a bag of chips later."

Holly Winslow came out of the bathroom, tossed her phone on the bed, and pounced on Iris Kensington. She pinned her down on her own bed, tickled her with both hands, and added, "Your time has come to ’die’."

Iris Kensington squirmed uncontrollably from the tickling, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. "Hahaha... Holly, I... was wrong! Anna... help me... hahaha..."

"Can’t hear you, can’t hear you, can’t hear you..."

Anna Willow let out a mischievous "hehe" giggle, pulled an apple from her schoolbag, and started munching on it. Enjoying the show and eager to stir the pot, she goaded Holly into continuing the "torture." "Holly, tickle her lower back! That’s her most ticklish spot."

"Anna... hahaha... Will... haha... ow..." Iris Kensington couldn’t stop laughing, her cheeks flushed.

A few minutes later, Holly Winslow finally let go of Iris Kensington and flopped down beside her, panting heavily. "Ellie, if you ever try to set me up with another guy again, I’ll really ’kill’ you."

Having endured the "torture," Iris Kensington had thoroughly learned her lesson. "Holly, I’ll never do it again."

She caught her breath for a moment, then turned her head to look at Holly. "Holly, do you really not like Xavier Jennings? I think he’s really good to you."

Anna Willow agreed with that. "I agree."

"He is, but there’s no spark." Holly Winslow shook her head. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Hearing this, Iris Kensington sat up and exchanged a look with Anna Willow. It was a lost cause.

"Not even a little bit of a feeling?" Anna Willow asked curiously.

Seeing the two of them staring at her, poised to interrogate her relentlessly, Holly Winslow sat up. She gave each of them a "lollipop," then deployed her ultimate weapon—Wyatt Winslow. "Nope. Let’s drop it. Your Uncle Winslow made me watch that channel about teenagers today. He was reminding me not to get into a relationship too early."

Hearing Wyatt Winslow’s name, Iris Kensington and Anna Willow instinctively shrank back. Iris said weakly, "Holly, whatever you do, don’t tell Uncle Winslow. I’m afraid he’ll chop me into little pieces."

Just as Holly Winslow was about to say something, a girl with straight-cut bangs walked in. It was their dorm mate, Sunny Chaucer.

Their relationship wasn’t good, but it wasn’t bad either. They barely interacted.

Now that someone else was in the dorm, the three of them stopped talking. They grabbed their books, locked up their valuables, and headed to the classroom.

It was only 5:20, and there were only a few people in the classroom. Most of the students were sticking to the principle of enjoying their break down to the very last minute.

"Holly Winslow, get me some water." The male student had barely finished speaking when a water bottle came flying over.

Luckily, Holly Winslow reacted quickly and caught it. She looked toward the boy in the last row by the window. He was sitting cockily on a desk, his hair a bit long, his features decent enough.

This was Eugene Joyce, a fixture on every teacher’s blacklist.

Before the arts and sciences tracks were split, she, Eugene Joyce, Anna Willow, and Iris Kensington had all been in the same class. She and Eugene had been deskmates for a semester, with Anna and Iris sitting in front of them.

"Get it yourself."

She placed the bottle on the teacher’s podium and went back to her seat.

Eugene Joyce sauntered up, one hand in his pocket, a roguish look on his face. He raised an eyebrow at Holly. "I’ve been gone for a few weeks, and this is how you treat me? So heartless." After speaking, he went to get the water himself and took a big gulp.

Seeing that Holly was ignoring him, he sat down in the seat in front of her. She was working on a math worksheet. He let out a whistle. "Whoa, what’s gotten into you today?"

Iris Kensington and Anna Willow exchanged a glance. No chance.

"Eugene, don’t bother me while I’m doing my homework." Holly Winslow lightly smacked his shoulder with a book, signaling for him to get lost.

She was planning to redo the entire math worksheet.

"You do your thing." Eugene Joyce showed no intention of leaving.

"Holly."

Suddenly, a boy’s low, husky, yet magnetic voice called out.

A boy with piecey bangs stood at the door. He glanced at the guy in front of Holly, his narrow eyes narrowing slightly, revealing a hint of danger.

Anna Willow, looking even happier than Holly, waved her hand. "Handsome Cousin, you can come in."

"Handsome Cousin’s glare just now was totally badass, right?!" Iris Kensington exclaimed, looking at Anna Willow.

Holly Winslow: "..."

’Badass, my ass. That was a death stare.’

While she was spaced out, Mortimer Quincy strode over, carrying two bags. Anna Willow quickly gave up her seat and moved to sit with Iris’s deskmate.

Eugene Joyce shot Mortimer Quincy a look, then slowly got up, took his water bottle, and returned to his seat.

"Cousin, why did you buy so much stuff?" Holly Winslow asked, looking at how the two bags were completely cramming the space between them.

"I bought three of everything."

Mortimer Quincy explained briefly, his gaze falling on her math worksheet. He then asked, "Redoing it?"

Holly Winslow nodded.

"Then you work on it. I’ll just watch for a bit." Mortimer Quincy glanced up at the clock. It was 5:30 now, so he could stay for another twenty-something minutes.

’His voice is so dreamy.’

Holly Winslow’s cheeks felt a little hot. She picked up her pen and started working. Five or six minutes passed.

A long, fair-skinned hand reached out, its index finger pointing to the ninth multiple-choice question on the math worksheet. "That’s wrong. Plug the answer back into the problem and calculate it once."

Holly plugged the answer in and did the calculation. It was obviously wrong. "It is wrong," she said, frustrated.

Mortimer Quincy resisted the urge to pat her head. "You made a mistake in the third step of your solution..."

He took the pen and carefully explained the formula and the problem-solving process to her. After a few minutes, he asked, "Understand?"

Holly Winslow’s eyes were shining brightly. "Cuz... Cousin, you’re so ama—" A glimpse of something in her peripheral vision made her fall silent instantly.

"..."

’Why didn’t they give me a heads-up?’ she thought, shooting a sideways glance at Anna Willow and Iris Kensington.

Anna Willow and Iris Kensington blinked innocently. ’We did try to warn you, you two were just too focused.’

Feeling guilty, Holly said, "Mr. Carlton."

Julian Carlton’s expression was very easygoing. "Mm, going over the worksheet?"

This was his usual demeanor with good students.

Holly Winslow nodded.

Julian Carlton looked at Mortimer Quincy. "Mortimer, not staying for the evening study session today?"

"I’m not attending the evening study session today."

Mortimer Quincy stood up, a good half a head taller than Julian Carlton. He glanced at the clock—it was 5:50—and said, "Holly, I’m heading out."

Hearing that he wasn’t staying for the study session, Julian Carlton said amiably, "You haven’t finished explaining the problem. Go on, continue."

He then added an explanation, "We don’t hold lectures during the evening study session."

He wanted to see what the top student from Jarton High was capable of, and, ahem, maybe pick up some study tips.

Holly Winslow: "..."

She remained silent.

Presented with a golden opportunity to spend more time with her, a glint of a smile flashed in Mortimer Quincy’s eyes. He asked calmly, "Would that be a bother, Mr. Carlton?"

Julian Carlton smiled, unconcerned. "No bother at all. You two continue with the problem. I won’t disturb you. Anna Willow and Iris Kensington, sit next to each other for a bit, and no chitchat."

Only later did he find out that a budding romance had been blossoming right under his nose.

After he left, Mortimer Quincy sat back down. He propped his head up with one hand and said with a smile, "Holly, let’s continue."

The hour hand soon pointed to six. The students in the classroom all noticed there was an extra male student in their midst.

The classroom, which was usually at least somewhat rowdy, was silent except for the boy’s slightly hushed voice explaining the problem.

Because Julian Carlton was standing right by the window on the balcony, watching.