Chapter 237: A Summer That Stayed

The second time he saw her, she barged into his secret hideout on the hospital rooftops. He coldly told her to leave and not disturb him. Her already red eyes grew even redder, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “My mom scolded me, and I just wanted to hide here and cry for a bit.” Then, her voice full of grievance, she asked, “Why does nobody like me?”

After saying that, she wiped her tears and ran off. Fraser still didn’t feel much; he only found her constantly teary eyes annoying.

A few days later, he ran into the girl again. She was crouched in a corner, petting a stray dog, later named Pudding. When she saw him, she hesitated before approaching him. “Hey, do you have any food? I want to feed the puppy.”

Fraser stared at her with an unreadable expression, his gaze shifting to the small, filthy, skin-and-bones puppy. Initially, he intended to walk away, but he reached into his pocket and pulled out two sausages.

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Thank you.” She fed one to the puppy. Then, her own stomach growled. The little girl pursed her lips before quietly eating the remaining sausage.

Fraser asked, expressionless, “Are you very poor?” At his words, her face flushed bright red. “I’ll pay you back for the sausage!”

Whether from embarrassment or because he’d hit a nerve, she grabbed the puppy and ran off.

The fourth time, she sought him out. She was still wearing the same faded jeans. Hesitantly, she stretched out her small hand, revealing the same brand of sausage he’d given her. “The sausages you gave me were too expensive. I worked in the cafeteria for a few days to earn enough money to buy this and return it to you.”

Fraser glanced at her red, chapped hands. Without hesitation, he took the sausage and tossed it into the trash.

She clearly hadn’t expected this. Her eyes widened in shock, then filled with anger and frustration. She immediately ran to the trash can and picked up the sausage. Claring at him, she questioned, “How can you do that? Do you know how many people in this world don’t even have enough to eat? I didn’t mean to eat your sausage that day! My mom ignored me for almost a week, and I was too hungry to resist!”

At the same time, the scrawny stray dog leaped out from behind her. With its thin little paws, it furiously scratched at Fraser, as if protesting on her behalf.

Fraser couldn’t explain the restlessness stirring inside him. It had been a long time since he’d felt any emotions at all. He simply tossed out a cold, “So dumb.” Then, he left.

A week later, Fraser had just endured another pointless therapy session with so-called top psychological experts. It was exhausting. These old fools always said the same things. He ditched his bodyguards to go for a walk, only to run into her again.

A nurse was viciously kicking the dog on the ground. “You think you’re some rich young lady? Look at your situation! You have the nerve to secretly keep a dog!”

The girl pleaded, “I… I just… I’ll find someone to take care of it. I’ll give it away. Please don’t be mad.”

“Then keep starving for another week! Let’s see if I’ll even pay you any attention!” the woman said. After venting her anger, the woman left.

Fraser watched as the girl wiped her tears and gently stroked the dog. “I’m sorry, little one. I don’t think I can take care of you anymore.”

“Hey,” Fraser voiced.

She turned her head at his voice. But, perhaps remembering how he’d thrown away the sausage last time, she ignored him.

He asked, “What’s your name?”

She still didn’t answer.

Hah. So proud.

Fraser drawled, “Sausage.”

The little girl frowned and snapped, “What? My name’s not Sausage! I’m Summer.”

“Summer?”

“Yes, Summer Leonard.”

Fraser’s face remained expressionless, his voice indifferent. “I’ll take care of the dog.”

Upon hearing this, Summer’s dark, crystal-clear eyes sparkled like glass, shimmering with excitement. She smiled brightly. Fraser had seen her many times, but this was the first time he had seen her smile. Her clothes were simple, ordinary. But that day, the summer sun shone brilliantly. And her face, warm and fair, with gentle eyes, was like a summer breeze, quietly rippling through the deepest part of his heart.