Broken Hearts, Newfound Love

private photos

e figure, right?!" he boas

s replied, "I pre

made my skin crawl

halantly, "They're all wom

buddy was

t share them with others or

ide, not wanting to

lost count of how many times I argu

words, did fo

mained inseparable,

eling like a petty,

this was reall

want to play this ga

s napping on the sofa, I came ou

let's br

tinged with mild resignation, "You're

t the home I had lovingly maintained for two

one so close felt like nothing. I

hter, the clouds lighter, an

near my office, planning to wo

e called me for the first time, opening

you com

, just tired, and patiently told

breath, "Don't com

he hu

ened screen, I sudd

all for him

made me chase him for a year an

s introduction, I moved int

a broke

out of gratitude, I invit

I ran into Zayne and

what are you

r face beaming with a bright smile, he

g she preferred flat chests and

't flat

t, why wear somethin

first, then walked over to greet t

the wrist to sit down, and sneered at me, "

, you still don't understand respect.

alked back to my colleague and

hesitated, "Y

been a while, an

post that night. He posted a picture of a bunch of empty bottle

, "My best friend, I'

ted to curse so

ly to find he had bl

ad blocked

essages from mutual friends of Zayn

them, they all

d, considerate, a good ear

, would he not know how to maintai

how to give a gi

h cryptic message

be bothered to respond. I dressed up carefu

sed, "Elliana, you look great.

"Yes, I broke up. It's a big celebration. I'l

or you. I've never seen a guy so dramatic. Forgot his charger and had hi

ut that incident un

and Paige didn't have an extra charger. He didn't want to go downs

rvice to send my cha

didn't see my charger in his

t it at Paige's place to a

eply stung me, and I co

g deal out of it. You can use my charg

o great, why a

with

by grievance and anger, whi

ve never seen her as a wo

e locked himself in the bedroom, leav

bbing uncontrollably

ayne slept together ten

e to

at day at the restaurant, after you argued with Zayne, he was in a bad moo

she lea

she tell

li

o call me

ogether before t

o sink into the abys

all sorts of speculations, feeling n

cape my chaotic thoughts, th

olleague fr

ally, looking more youthfu

le eyelids and slightly upturned corners. His amber pupils seemed

r. Standing in front of him, I could just s

hat brings

as

slowly turning red, "Um... Elliana

tutor my cous

distract me, so I ag

is place, I tutored h

nacks, his whole demeanor filled

explaining a problem, I looked

he turned away, his ears turning red,

into my mind. We weren

we were just acquaintances who l

place, we only had

going on

, "Let's have dinner together. Didn't yo

colleague group chat while slacking

r cousin finish

d out, "He's

u

afternoon, how could

ing a sharp glance at Jerred before turnin

ve eaten, you can have a little

he had eaten and

Jerred and I took the glass

third floor, the

Paige standing hand in hand, chatting and lau

to enter the elevator, but Paige gently t

e, Elliana! Is this r

at me, a mischievou

xuded a natural confidenc

never be

ime, when I invited Jerred for dinner, Zayne mock

a fake smile and chose

the back corner, my gaze fixed on Zayne and Paige's interlocked fingers, fee

oring them was the har

te-they were pretending to be just friends t

een tainted, and in this three-person game,

me, and I didn't even notice

ent down, whisperin

eality, looking up

iery intensity that seemed to melt me, "Elliana,

g, the elevator doors opened t

are, his back stiff, slightly turning

finally reacted, giving me a deep look before leav

s once again ju

just trying to help me g

ng me, this reason s

nt of sweat at his temples, as if he w

e seemed to make

ated, switching to a lighter tone, "

hing else I c

doors opened at the right moment, and I step

vening, Jerred walk

gh the corridor, the dim li

t me, his gaze c

a bit swollen, and his white T-shirt was stained with several

r than a distant friend.

need anything, an

neighbor," I rep

ugh my tablet when a friend req

thought, I

ame through: "Wha

this?"

reply half an hour later, foll

o you li

broke up and want

even after breaking up.

lled up inside me. I grabbed a cold beer from the f

inancially independent, didn't spend his money lavishly, and understood social et

elling Zayne, "She's p

ed, "Why else would I be wi

started, but I was already waiting-waiting until I completely lost hope, until al

islike you. Please don't appear in my lif

ng, I finally sent tha

al late at night or had ulterior

om each other's lives forever-no wel

company chat suddenly anno

e chat with "Wishing

saged him privately, asking,

resignation process, as it too

n the way hom

the parking lot and got into

de profile looking particularly handsom

ng lot, I thought I saw Zayn

nfirm, the car had al

t's

ed a

ing at him, "I must have

to ask why he resi

as P

or a while be

unpleasant as she urgently question

etting that I had only blocked her o

e you k

n shows he's right

lly need t

th him, and now he's with me. Wh

nge so intense?"

erfect match, and I wish you a long and ha

n't want to deal w

uld think thi

ung up and blo

king up, no, since knowing Paige,

l intelligence, tolerating what I could and gently addres

erred burst

in confusion, "I

aint blush on his ears, h

posite sex, feeling my cheeks heat up. I quickly changed the subject, "W

me for a while. I thought it was

t, and he turned to look

the car window, casting an ambe

s

ore. The new company is on the way, so

head, feeling a

rpooling, but I was afraid of colleagues misund

to go to the supermarket in front of the

so we could buy some ingredients

selecting ingredients in the fresh produce section. I followe

ually the one worrying about how to plan our meals, what t

dedly follow behind me, as if

f me, and I, not paying attention,

could clearly feel his body tense up. I q

lushed, "Elliana, there's no fresh be

r, "No need to go through th

only like beef, so I'll go get

ntinued pushing

for rose in my heart, somethin

er did get to h

g, I ran into Zayne at the

other was

red's hands, Zayne's expression turned furious.

can yo

a pained expression, "Elliana,

nd his mother tells me

me. They shouldn't mess with

m, shouldn't boys also

start by ask

on and met someone ten times be

loser, standing prote

yne, leaving you made me realize j

very

ow can you

other gla

u

and kind, but they also taught m

tolerate thei

getting angry with people like them. Come on, let

ning affectionately

My mom called your mom, politely asking for

you let him go home first? We can find a

I said

side, took my hand, and walked away with long strides. As we p

had never been publicly humiliated before, e

eel like having hotpot anymore. I

lding back tears as

th concern for a m

fa, feeling utterly drained, as if a

how long until there w

nore

ater, my p

message f

king, and made some Sichuan-style spicy stew with lots

ed even mo

ater, he sent a

t base and serve it. I think it's ca

e difference between hotpot, Sichua

ction oddly lifted

bubble tea while vide

to bring him over to apologize to me,

ed for us to reconcile because I am an only child. My parents had once mentioned in front of her t

go to work together. Seeing my swollen eyes, he f

won't let a loser mess w

ed got out to buy breakfast while I waited in the passeng

s, like a scene from a movie about a down-and-out c

ad quit smoking a

t, Paige

up the habit again a

hooses to smoke, ruining his health,

aze and closed

an ever to stay away from his entire family and be

akfast, and glanced in Zayne's

r he had se

to Zayne, but instead, he said, "Make sure to wait for me to

I replied

d out of the neighborhood with Jerr

had settled, Paige caused a sce

d. He's my boss and has been targeting me,"

ious eyes turn

tly, pulling her

my voice, "Paige, did you j

ebrow, "Why are

wly, "So, the boss who helped you lie abou

edentials to Jerred, you might get

ed a smile, "Nannan, I was wrong to blame you. I'

don't call Jerred colleague

ck to my desk, feeling

Jerred had switched jobs to Paig

asted about having a powerful friend who helped h

ed, "Why didn't you tell me you a

didn't want to upset yo

moji, "She said you

ot competent and always

he suggested, "How a

so I couldn't go. After I told Jerred, he replied, "Th

ank you,

ended past

e a bit, and my

l made me

and ran to him, grabbing his sleeve, "The HR lady told me today

hat

behind me, smiled, and sai

skipped

ey said you, with your charming

're r

my ear, like little pebbles dropping into t