persistently. “I’ll order you some longevity
noodles.”
Ethan didn’t reply. He didn’t even acknowledge
- me. He was still clutching the bouquet. We
passed a trash can, and I thought he would
throw it away without hesitation, but he didn’t. I
followed him into his office.
It was empty. A cold box of takeout sat on his
desk, untouched. He was going to eat that for
dinner? A pang of guilt shot through me. I
opened my phone and ordered him longevity
noodles. Clear broth, light on the salt, no
scallions. Beef and tomato stew for the protein,
and a few non–spicy vegetable dishes. In the
past, Ethan always ordered spicy food to
accommodate me. Later, I learned he had a
sensitive stomach and couldn’t handle spicy,
oily, or salty food.
After ordering, I sat on the sofa, unsure what to
say. It seemed like anything I said would be
wrong. Ethan was unwrapping the flowers, preparing to put them in a vase. The sight of the ice–blue roses stung my eyes. Without
thinking, I snatched the bouquet and threw it in
the trash.
He froze, looking at the bead of blood welling
up on his thumb from a thorn. He sighed
wearily. “Sarah, are you done yet?”
“No.” I suppressed my guilt, annoyed that he
was so passive, so willing to be a doormat. “I’ll
buy you other flowers. You don’t like these.”
Ethan dabbed at the cut with a tissue, his eyes
downcast. “Forget it.”
Ignoring him, I picked up the trash. “Wait here,”
I said, and hurried out.
On a summer evening, street vendors lined the
roads selling flowers. They weren’t as high
quality as the ones from a florist, but they
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would do. I ran to several stalls and bought every single red rose they had, bundling them together with simple wrapping paper. Just then. the takeout arrived. I headed back upstairs,
laden with flowers and food.
The 19th floor seemed even emptier than before. The few employees who had been working late were gone. Only Ethan’s office had a light on. I softened my steps and pushed the door open.
He stood with his back to me, looking out the window, his figure lonely. He looked like a lost
puppy.
The heavy bouquet and takeout banged against
the door as I entered. Ethan stiffened, then
turned around sharply. He saw me, nearly
crushed under the weight of my offerings.
“Hey, what are you standing there for? Help
me!” I huffed.
He seemed surprised to see me back. After a brief moment of shock, he strode over, took the flowers and food with one hand, and slipped the
other arm under mine, helping me to the sofa.
I caught my breath, my forehead damp with
sweat. “These are for you,” I said, trying to
sound cheerful. “I bought every single rose on
the street.”
Ethan’s handsome face went blank. Damn it.
The current him seemed unable to handle my
sudden change in behavior. Did I have to…
insult him to get through?
Seeing him about to go back to his cold
takeout, I let out a dramatic groan. Ethan’s
gaze snapped back to me. I caught a flash of
concern in his eyes.
I leaned back on the sofa, lifting my chin. “Can’t
you eat something hot? It annoys me to watch
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Ethan:
For the next half hour, my complaints filled the
office. “Do you even know how to eat?” “Can’t
you see that huge piece of beef?” “Aren’t your
going to eat your vegetables? You’re such a
picky eater!” “Slurp your noodles! I didn’t buy
them for you to admire!”
Under my relentless nagging, he finally finished.
the bowl of noodles. Worried he wasn’t full, I
also made him eat two small steamed buns and
even gave him the osmanthus cake I’d bought
for myself. I couldn’t keep this up every day, or
I’d die of exhaustion.
I was talking myself hoarse. Suddenly, a glass.
of water appeared in front of me.
I looked up. Ethan was watching me. “Wet your
throat before you continue,” he said.
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His expression had softened considerably. Although his eyes were still dull, the icy
wariness was gone. I resisted the urge to hug him. “Ethan,” I said. “let’s have a good life together from now on.”
He looked away and silently cleared away the dishes. He didn’t answer my question directly.
“Put your coat on. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
“But I just got here…..”
He quickly opened the door and walked out,
almost like he was running away. As if taking
out the trash was beneath a CEO.
I couldn’t deny the feeling of disappointment.
Reborn once, and this man was even harder to
coax than before. I sat on the sofa, planning my
next move. Should I just jump him? Or should
we have a hoort to heart first and then jump.
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next move. Should I just jump him? Or should
we have a heart–to–heart first, and then jump. him?
My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I answered absentmindedly.
A distant but familiar voice spoke on the other end. “Sarah, where are you?”
My buoyant mood plummeted. I’d forgotten. about him. “It’s you…” My tone was less than
enthusiastic.
Dylan’s voice was gentle. “I’ve been waiting for
you. Didn’t we agree to celebrate my birthday
together?”
Remembering everything that happened in the
past, my fingers tightened until my knuckles
turned white.
“Dylan, we’re… childhood friends, right?”
Dylan sensed my hesitation. “Sarah, we’re
family.”
“Family,” I repeated the word. Then I asked, “Is
there… anything you want to tell me?”
He paused, then sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t
have lied about sneaking a piece of cake.”
See? Why could the people we cared about lie,
make demands, and joke around so carelessly? While Ethan always stood in the background,
bearing the brunt of everything?
I felt a chill run through me. I couldn’t even
force a smile. “Something came up. I can’t make it today. Happy birthday.”
I hung up, took a deep breath, and felt a
tightness in my chest. I remembered the call Dylan made to me before I was kidnapped, asking where I was. I fell into deep thought. He was the person I trusted most. But what if, from
the very beginning, the explosion was an inside.
job?
I looked up and saw Ethan standing in the
doorway, his face shadowed, his expression.
unreadable. I hesitated, then asked, “Did you…
hear all that?”
“Yes.”
“—”
“Let’s go.” His voice was calm, but strained.
“The car’s downstairs.”
I opened my mouth, unsure how to explain what
would happen in the future. I was afraid he’d
think I was crazy. I followed him out, guilt.
gnawing at me.
“Ethan.”
He slowed down slightly but didn’t turn around.
“That was Dylan,” I said quickly. “I did promise
to celebrate his birthday with him yesterday, but today I’m different. I’m from the future-”
Ethan stopped abruptly and turned around, his
eyes icy. “Enough.”
He closed his eyes, composing himself. “Dinner was good,” he said. “And I was happy you celebrated my birthday with me.”
I stared at him, seeing the pain buried deep in his eyes. His lips were pale, each word spoken as if forced through gritted teeth. “So, in the end, you’re going to Dylan. I accept that.
Because this is the price.”
