Chapter 783 Growing Up
Time flew by. Years passed.
Charles, now in eighth grade, stood tall at 5'10". With long legs and a slim frame, he looked like a model.
As a kid, he resembled Martin. But as he grew, he surpassed Martin in looks, blending the best features of both Martin and Patricia. His natural grace turned heads everywhere.
In a white tracksuit, his legs looked even longer and straighter.
The moment Charles stepped out of the airport, a small figure ran up and jumped into his arms.
"Charles, you're back! I miss you so much!"
Friends around them started teasing.
"Charles, your wife's here!"
"Look at you two, so affectionate."
"In public, no less. Behave!"
Violet, leaning on Charles, stuck out her tongue at them.
"Mind your own business!"
The friends raised their hands in surrender. "Alright, we're leaving. Take your time."
They walked away, leaving Charles to look down at Violet, who barely reached his chin. His tense face softened as he ruffled her hair.
"Why are you here?"
He didn't remember telling her he was coming back today.
Violet pouted, "You said you'd be gone three days. Why so long this time? Did you win?"
Charles held her hand as they walked out. "Of course I won! When have I ever lost?"
He had gone abroad for a physics competition.
In elementary school, he found textbooks boring and started entering math competitions. By second grade, he was competing with fourth graders. By middle school, he had mastered math competitions and then studied physics, which was introduced in eighth grade. He started self-studying in seventh grade and competed with older students.
His room was filled with trophies from elementary to middle school. He earned the title of prodigy through hard work. Top universities invited him to join their programs, but he hesitated because of Violet.
Who would take care of her if he left? She had just started first grade and needed his protection.
Hearing he had won, Violet beamed.
"Really? That's awesome! Martin, Patricia, and my parents booked a hotel to celebrate."
She added mysteriously, "And there's a big surprise too!"
Charles pouted, "Celebrating every time I win, at least twenty times a year! It's boring."
At first, he felt accomplished. But over time, it got tedious. He had money, status, identity, and knowledge. Now, nothing interested him.
No wonder they say strong people are lonely. He felt really lonely now.
Violet said, "This time is different, there's a really big surprise!"
Seeing her so excited, Charles didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he changed the subject, "Why are you alone? Didn't anyone come with you?"
Violet replied, "Yes! Fannie came with me! She just dropped me off at the exit and left."
Charles sighed, "I don't know what goes through her mind every day!"
She never did anything reliable. Leaving Violet alone in such a big airport—what if she got lost?
Violet, unaware of his thoughts, happily swung Charles's hand, "Charles, now that you're back, you won't be leaving again soon, right? Every time you come back from a competition, you stay for only a few days before leaving again. You never have time to spend with me."
Charles said, "This time, I should be staying for a week."
Ever since he started competing, he had been traveling constantly. He hadn't spent much time with Violet.
Hearing he would stay for a week, Violet's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Really? Then you can spend time with me! I want you to take me to the movies, skiing, shopping, and bungee jumping." She listed them one by one.
Charles listened quietly, never showing any impatience, his gaze so tender.
They chatted as they walked out of the airport.
Fannie and the driver had been waiting for a long time.
Seeing them, Fannie immediately jumped out of the car, opened the door for them, and made an exaggerated gesture of invitation.
Charles ignored her, letting Violet get in first before bending down to sit inside himself.
Fannie pouted and sensibly sat in the front passenger seat.
She thought being sensible might help her avoid trouble.
But Charles didn't let her off, "If I know you leaving her alone outside again, I won't be so polite."
Fannie slumped her shoulders in defeat and muttered, "Got it!"
To celebrate Charles winning the national gold medal in the physics competition, Martin had booked a six-star hotel.
Everyone had arrived early.
Declan sat quietly in a chair.
Maria and Tyler were chasing each other around the private room.
Although Tyler was three years younger than Maria, he was not any shorter and even seemed poised to surpass her.
Declan had also grown into a young man.
Though he was only in elementary school, he was already 5 feet 3 inches. As he grew older, his features looked like Charles's, but unlike Charles's mature and steady demeanor, Declan was aloof and unapproachable.
In fact, he was indeed very cold and spoke little.
Among the five children, he was the one most similar to Martin in temperament.
Sitting next to him was Austin.
Austin's expression was almost a copy of Declan's—equally unapproachable and always maintaining a sense of distance.
When he saw Charles and Violet walk in hand in hand, his gazes fell on their clasped hands, a dark undercurrent in his eyes.
As for the girls, Fannie and Maria, their heights were noticeably shorter than the boys.
Although tall among their peers, they were still half a head shorter than the boys.
Besides them, the most surprising person to Charles was him.
And this was the big surprise Violet had mentioned.
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