Many children bring happiness, a shameless start

As soon as Lip returned to the room, he saw Ian taking out half a cigarette from his bag.

"Lip, do you want to smoke?"

"OK."

Lip took the opportunity to sit next to Ian again.

"Ian, are you still worried?"

"Um."

"Let's talk about it."

"Good." Ian started to open up.

"Hiss~"

"Huh~"

Ian explained that during history class, he helped a girl in the front row deal with Mr. Banclift's unwanted advances. Later, the girl showed up at the convenience store where Ian worked and called him her Prince Charming.

"You sly fox, Ian! You're actually catering to both men and women!" Lip teased, pretending to be shocked.

"Lip, I don't have any feelings for girls at all!" Ian said, clearly distressed.

"How would you know if you haven't tried?"

"Lip~"

"Okay, okay, I won't joke anymore." Lip exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Why don't you just tell her the truth?"

"I did, but she didn't believe me! She thought it was an excuse to reject her."

"This girl is really persistent—she wants to 'fix' you!"

"She's been really forward lately."

"Whose girl is this? So bold!"

"Milkovich's."

"Bad boy Mickey Milkovich's?"

"Uh-huh, that's Mickey's sister Mandy."

"What the hell?!?" Lip was stunned.

"Lip, I know Mandy's not the easiest person to deal with, but don't look at me like that!" Ian frowned, annoyed by Lip's reaction.

Lip wasn't paying attention to Ian anymore. His mind was racing, thinking about Mandy's story—her struggles and her resilience.

She had grown up in a broken family, dealt with violence, and done some reckless things. But despite it all, Mandy had one of the kindest hearts.

She loved Lip deeply in her own way. She was willing to do anything to help him escape their rough neighborhood, asking for nothing in return.

But Lip in the original timeline had thrown her away like spare change. He pursued Karen, who was all wrong for him, while ignoring the sincerity and love Mandy offered.

Years later, when Lip was with Amanda, he ran into Mandy again—working as a waitress. He didn't even have the guts to acknowledge her properly.

"Not this time," Lip thought to himself. Mandy deserved better. She deserved someone who would truly cherish her. And Lip was determined to be that person.

"Lip?" Ian waved a hand in front of Lip's face.

"What's up?" Lip snapped out of his thoughts.

"You've got the nerve to ask me what's up? You weren't even listening!" Ian rolled his eyes. "You were totally spaced out."

"Ian, I wasn't spacing out. I was trying to figure out how you could handle this situation without revealing your secret or ruining your friendship with Mandy."

"Got any ideas?"

"Not yet, but tell me more about Mandy. It'll help me analyze things better."

"Lip, let me figure it out first, and I'll tell you later."

"OK, no rush."

After taking a few drags of his cigarette, Ian began describing Mandy.

"Mandy has a bit of a reputation. Even the boys in our class—and some of the older guys—don't mess with her.

"Her brother Mickey is enough to scare anyone off."

"Mandy's got a reputation, huh?" Lip smirked. "Interesting."

"Watt?"

"It's nothing, keep going."

"Even though Mandy's reputation isn't the best, she's got a good heart.

"She stands up for the timid girls in our class when they're bullied or blackmailed. She's basically the big sister of the group."

"Not bad. She's got leadership qualities," Lip joked.

"Yeah. If her grades weren't so bad, she might've become class president."

Ian took a sip of beer before continuing.

"I've seen her feeding stray cats in the park. She looked genuinely happy doing it.

"That's why I didn't hesitate to help her in history class."

"I see," Lip said thoughtfully.

"But a lot of older guys in school are always pestering Mandy. She seems disgusted by it."

"So, have you thought of a solution yet?" Ian asked.

"Yep," Lip replied confidently.

"Cool!"

"Ian, if Mandy comes to the convenience store again after school, why don't you walk her home afterward?"

"Walk her home? Why?"

"Don't worry about that. I've got a plan." Lip smiled knowingly.

"Okay, Lip. I trust you!"

The sound of something breaking downstairs interrupted their conversation.