Chapter 61


    Emmitt frowned. “Why bring up Summer again? Are you two even on the same level?”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Mirabe tapped her fingers lightly on the table. Her gaze was drifting. “Are you sure you weren’t the


    one who mentioned her first?”


    Emmitt choked, feeling aplete inability tomunicate effectively with her. With patience, he


    exined. “Summer’s shooting for a chance at Prestige College. And you? Participating in this


    competition with your grades seems… somewhat pointless.”


    He paused for a second, and then added in a lower tone, “With the time you’re spending on this, you


    might as well enroll in a tutoring ss. That would be far more beneficial for you right now.”


    Despite his disappointment in his sister, he still hoped she would focus her efforts on more realistic


    goals instead of chasing some impossible dreams.


    Mirabe looked at him with an indifferent smile. “So, what you’re saying, Emmitt, is that I don’t qualify


    for thepetition, right?”


    Her smile momentarily disarmed Emmitt, and he replied without thinking. “That’s not what I mean. It’s


    just that one shouldn’t bite off more than they can chew.”


    “Okay, I get it.” Mirabe nodded, turning her gaze away and resuming her meal of thest bits of


    oatmeal in her bowl


    Emmitt watched his sister, who was seemingly obedient and quiet, but in reality, deliberately cold and


    distant. His feelings were a tangled mess. If he was talking to Summer, there’d be no such


    awkwardness. She would, at least. understand his intentions behind every word.


    The atmosphere at the breakfast table grew heavy. After a moment, Emmitt, finding no taste in his


    bagel set it down and looked back at Mirabe. “I’ll get you a tutor.”


    Mirabe looked up. puzzled. “Huh?”


    “If you’re set on thepetition, I won’t dissuade you. It just so happens I have a friend working at the


    Education Association. Maybe they can provide some guidance,” Emmitt said slowly.


    Those in the Education Association, aside from having advanced teaching credentials from top


    universities, included schrs who had made significant contributions to the country. Guidance from


    someone within the Association could Save Mirabe a lot of detours.


    “Thanks, but I don’t need it.” Mirabe politely declined. She was somewhat baffled. Why was Emmitt


    so convinced she was struggling to the point where she needed preemptive tutoring from someone in


    the Education Association?


    Emmitt didn’t expect her to refuse. He thought his thoughtful offer would surely move her, but she was


    neither touched nor did she hesitate for even a second before declining.


    Emmitt’s expression soured, and he couldn’t help but raise his voice, “Do you realize how much help it


    would be to have guidance from someone within the Education Association?”


    Mirabe met his gaze with an unaffected look and remained silent. Emmitt massaged his forehead.


    His voice grew stern, “You know…”


    Suddenly, he remembered that she had always lived in a small town and probably hadn’t even heard of


    the Education Association. His voice trailed off, and he ended up shaking his head. “Never mind, I don’t


    know why I’m telling you all this.


    Standing up. Emmitt added onest thing to Mirabe, “Since you’ve refused, let’s pretend I never said


    anything.” He was done worrying about his sister.


    As Mirabe watched Emmitt’s retreating figure, she took out her phone after a while and typed out a


    text message. [Is the Education Association really that big of a deal?]