08
The next time I received a call from Zack was the next morning.
I had just left the hotel and was waiting for a car by the roadside.
His voice was tired and hoarse, “Where are you? Why aren’t you at home? Last night, the air conditioning in Claire’s rented place broke down, and she got heatstroke. I accompanied her to the hospital for an IV drip, then took her home and helped fix the air conditioning. I was busy until dawn.”
“Mm, you must be tired”
“Melody, I’m sorry, I should have told you in advance yesterday and let you take a taxi home after eating. Did you wait for me for a long time?”
I replied flatly.“1 didn’t wait. I took a tax and left after I finished eating.”
He paused on the phone, his tone bitter. “Melody, it’s my fault, I…
At this moment, a car stopped in front of me.
The window rolled down, revealing Ryan’s handsome face. “Melody, are you going to the company?”
I nodded.
1 have some business near your company. Get in, I take you!”
I checked the time. If I waited any longer, I might be late.
Might as well leave a good impression on my leaders and colleagues for my last shift.
got in the car, only to realize my phone call hadn’t ended yet.
Zack was silent on the other end.
I coldly hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.
At the company. I handed over my work to the colleague taking over my position.
At noon, a delivery man brought me takeout.
I hadn’t ordered any.
Zack had ordered it for me.
The dishes were good.
But none of them were what I liked to eat.
I ordered new takeout with food I liked.
Zack called me, asking how the food was.
Treplied calmly. It wasn’t what I liked, so I threw it in the trash”
He was silent for a moment, then asked, “What do you like then? I’ll cook it for you when I get back tonight.”
“No need, I have plans with someone else tonight”
I wasn’t lying to him. I had plans to have dinner with Ryan.
He immediately asked, “With whom? Can I join?”
I refused without even thinking, “A friend that you don’t know. It would be awkward if you came”
He persisted. Is it a man or a woman? I’m your boyfriend, how would it be awkward?”
I got impatient. Why are you asking so many questions? Why do you have to control everything? Aren’t you tired of it?”
After I finished my words, both Zack and I were stunned.
Because this dialogue was too familiar.
Previously, when Claire and he had dinner plans, I called to ask what he wanted for dinner
He told me he had plans with a friend and wouldn’t be home for dinner
tasked if it was a man or woman, and he got upset
I heard a girl urging him to hurry up, so I asked if I could join
He got angry and scolded me with these exact words
When he angrily hung up the phone, I heard him complaining to Clare
He said I was too clingy wanting to control everything, that he had no freedom, and that he regretted getting engaged.
After that, I never mentioned joining him for appointments
Unexpectedly today, by the twist of fate, we had switched roles.
10:20 AM
Zack broke the adence first…
His voice was as gentle ne water as if trying to wash something away. “Okay I won’t come. Come home early, I’ll wait for you…”
The takeout arrived, and I was in a hurry to eat, so I hung up before he finished speaking.
The dinner with Ryan was at a niche private kitchen.
Midway through, when I went to the restroom. I unexpectedly ran into that man who said he’d cook for me at home.
I forgot that this private kitchen was where Zack had first brought me.
If he could bring me here, naturally he could bring others too.
What a coincidence. You’re eating here too?”
He looked at me with a face full of surprise, as if delighted by this unexpected encounter.
Before I could respond, Ryan opened the private room door and came out, calling me, “Melody, your mom called you but couldn’t reach you, so she
called me instead.”
Ever since learning about my overseas assignment, my mom had been calling me eighteen times a day. When she called me this afternoon, I told her I was having dinner with Ryan.
No wonder she would call Ryan’s phone.
Zack recognized Ryan as the man from the photo, and hearing him speak like this, Zack immediately turned gloomy
Ryan seemed unaware of the awkwardness and raised an eyebrow, asking me, “Melody, who is this gentleman?”
Zack’s eyes lit up, his face full of expectation as he waited for my answer.
