"So, you're paying me just to do this?"
Looking at the application forms from various prestigious universities on the table, Lip couldn't quite figure out what William was trying to do.
"That's right. You just need to fill out this form, and these 40 dollars are yours."
To be honest, it was the first time Lip had seen someone make such a ridiculous request.
Leaving aside whether he could even get accepted into these top schools,
even if he miraculously succeeded, given his family's financial situation, there was no way he could afford the tuition.
The cost of attending university in America could be described as a terrifying, devouring beast.
Those who could graduate from an American university without taking out loans
were undoubtedly from families that were either wealthy or influential.
"Really? I just need to fill out these forms with my name, and then you'll give me 40 dollars?"
Lip still didn't quite believe it, so he double-checked with William.
"Exactly! The money is right here. Whether you take it or not is up to you."
With that, William slapped the 40 dollars onto the table.
Looking at the 40 dollars on the table, Lip made a decisive choice in his heart.
It's just filling out forms. If the applications get approved, at worst, I just won't go to the school.
No loss there.
So, he picked up the pen on the table and began writing furiously.
At the same time, at the Jackson Household.
Karen was leaning by the window, looking at the snow-covered ground outside.
Wondering in her heart: Didn't Lip say he was coming to tutor me? Where is he?
---
Filling out over a dozen application forms didn't take a short amount of time.
Unconsciously, the entire morning had passed.
"Done!! I'm taking the money!"
Lip pushed all the application forms in front of William and then grabbed the 40 dollars on the table.
This time, William didn't stop him.
His goal was to buy time and ruin the chance for Lip and Karen to interact.
Since the goal had been achieved, the 40 dollars were insignificant.
William was currently a student at the Chicago Institute of Technology.
Not exactly the type who was short on money.
At least his tuition was covered by his family.
However, other expenses had to be managed by himself.
But even so, 40 dollars was insignificant to him.
After checking the applications, William put them away contentedly.
Then he heard Lip's stomach start to growl.
Young people care about face. Lip, at 17, cared a lot about face.
Being stared at by William, he instinctively lowered his head, feeling a bit insecure.
It must be said, Lip was a contradictory mix of insecurity and arrogance.
William didn't laugh at him. Instead, he patted his shoulder: "Come on, I'll treat you to a meal."
Hearing that William was treating him to a meal, Lip became wary instead.
Something unusual is definitely up.
First, he gave me 40 dollars, and now he's buying me food?
Is he gay!!!?
Lip looked at William in horror now.
It wasn't that he was homophobic. In fact, he had somewhat sensed that his brother Ian, who shared a room with him, might have a different sexual orientation.
But if a gay guy was targeting him, then he could only say 'Motherf*cker'.
William noticed Lip's look at this point and immediately realized the guy had gotten the wrong idea. He quickly added: "Where does your sister Fiona work? Let's go eat there."
After saying that, he even winked at Lip to make sure he understood.
Hearing this, Lip raised an eyebrow and sized up William.
"So, you want to get with Fiona?" he said, taking out the 40 dollars.
The meaning was also obvious.
He wanted to express that William gave him the money because of Fiona.
"You can interpret it that way if you want." William had no energy to argue at this point.
He just wanted to get Wolverine's abilities as soon as possible.
Regardless of whether supernatural powers would appear in this world, giving himself an immortal body wouldn't hurt.
Hearing William say this, Lip took it as confirmation.
He grinned and put his arm around William's shoulder: "Good taste. Come on, I'll take you to where Fiona works."
---
Universal Fast Food, this was the fast-food restaurant where Fiona worked.
Fiona hurriedly came to the ordering counter.
"Candy didn't show up again?" The speaker was a Black lady.
Fiona put on her hat: "Today is Bob's hearing."
Hearing Fiona's explanation, the Black lady shook her head: "That boy is going to be the death of her sooner or later. What did he do this time?"
"Tried to graffiti a car while a cop was sitting inside it."
To be honest, Fiona was also speechless.
The Black lady was the same, looking at Fiona incredulously: "What?"
At the same time, she handed over a jumbo hot dog.
This thing, in American slang, means the same as a certain organ.
Taking the jumbo hot dog, Fiona looked at the people in line: "Who ordered the jumbo hot dog?"
"How did you know?"
At that moment, a guy dressed in a rustic redneck style looked at Fiona with a lecherous gaze.
For this level of sexual harassment, Fiona was actually quite used to it.
She fired back directly: "I have X-ray vision!"
Then, after taking the money, she continued working.
When the white trash guy took the hot dog and walked to the side with his friend,
he suddenly asked his friend: "Hey, would you bang a girl like her?"
Hearing this, the white trash guy's friend laughed and said: "I'd consider it with two condoms. Let me tell you, these poor girls, they won't get abortions."
Fiona inside the ordering counter was furious listening, but besides being angry, she couldn't do anything else.
"Assholes!" At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.
"Lip, what are you doing here?" Fiona looked at Lip, confused.
"Well, someone invited me here to eat, so I had to come."
Lip looked at Fiona with a smile, then tilted his head.
Fiona looked over and saw William behind Lip.
"Hi, Fiona. Two cheeseburgers and two drinks."
William finished speaking and handed over 20 dollars.
In these times, prices weren't as crazy as they would be in '25.
20 dollars was enough for two burgers.
"Aunt Jinji's friend?" Fiona naturally remembered William.
After taking the money, she was about to give him change.
"Keep the rest as a tip."
William waved his hand.
"Thank you." Fiona didn't decline, as this was her hard-earned money.
When it came to money, Fiona's principles were strange.
Put nicely, it was called having backbone. Put bluntly, it was called stubborn and inflexible.
Even though she was dirt poor, she stubbornly clung to her ridiculous sense of dignity every day.
Yet, when it came to fooling around, no one ever saw her show any backbone.
After a while, after getting the food, William and Lip sat down at an empty table nearby.
Looking at Fiona still busy working not far away, Lip took a bite of his burger: "Buddy, be straight with me. Are you planning to date my sister, or do you just want to bang her?"