Chapter 7

Three days later, while I was drinking at a bar, Silas sent me a message.

He asked when I would return to work.

I was genuinely taken aback when he said something almost like a confession that day; I hadn’t expected him to be so direct.

But I didn’t say anything.

I am serious about Silas. After getting to know him over these days, he indeed surpasses all my criteria for a partner in every aspect.

So we can’t just get together carelessly.

Like with Kaele.

A careless beginning always leads to a careless ending.

Taking advantage of the excuse of heartbreak, I took some annual leave to hang out with friends and relax.

This bar is the only high-end one in the city, not too noisy, and the band sings really well.

I was enjoying the sight of handsome men and beautiful women on the dance floor while drinking with friends until the music stopped at some point. After a while, the sound of a guitar started again.

“I found a love for me

Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead

Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet

Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

‘Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was

I will not give you up this time

…”

A magnetic, slightly husky voice rang out, and I paused my drinking, looking up at the stage with wide eyes.

Kaele, dressed in a black shirt, was sitting on a high stool strumming a guitar, a silver chain gleaming around his neck. In an instant, the noisy crowd and the hazy lights disappeared, and I could only see the glimmer in his eyes as we locked gazes.

The girls below were all excited, discussing going up to ask for his WeChat later.

It was just like the scene when we first met.

Only this time, I wasn’t the one walking towards him.

Kaele, holding the guitar in one hand, slowly walked down from the stage and smiled at me:

“Can I add you on WeChat?”

The whole place erupted, and I, who thought my heart was as calm as still water, actually felt a ripple.

I looked at Kaele with a complex expression:

“Why bother?”

It’s not that I underestimate myself; I can see that Kaele does like me, but how much of that is because of who I am? Or is it just because when we’re together, I take care of him meticulously, never arguing with him over his infidelities, that he likes me?

I feel that perhaps everything he’s doing now is because, subconsciously, I’ve always been the weaker party in our relationship, and he had full control. Now, being dumped by someone he considered a pushover, he’s simply unwilling to accept it.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, Kaele gestured to the stage, and the music continued. He sat next to me, leaning against the back of the booth sofa, and sighed.

“What you said that day, I thought about it, and it’s true.”

“All these years together, you’ve never wronged me. You’ve given me so much, and instead, I’ve been the one hurting you. I understand why you want to leave me.”

His expression was somewhat stiff, as if he didn’t want to say certain things but felt he had to, with a rough awkwardness.

“If I change from now on, if I treat you well and never cross the line with other women again, could you–”

Remembering my words about never going back, his face flushed, and he seemed to steel himself:

“Could you get back together with me?”

“I’m sorry, it was all my fault before!”

I looked at Kaele in surprise, thinking he must have been possessed.

The Kaele who always looked down on me with his chin up was actually apologizing and asking to reconcile.

“Who gave you this idea?” I knew this wasn’t his usual style; someone must have been advising him.

Kaele pursed his lips: “…My buddies. After we broke up, they all said I was too overboard usually, and if I wanted to win my wife back, I couldn’t be too proud–”

At this point, his sense of shame seemed to have reached its limit:

“So, will you get back together with me?”

“I’m much better than those blind date prospects of yours. After dating me, you’ll find them annoying, and that boss of yours from the other day, he’s clearly a boring elite who’ll only talk about work with you. We’ve been through three years of getting used to each other; we’re the most suitable.”

I answered irrelevantly: “How did you get the boss to agree to this stunt?”

Kaele smirked: “I bought his shop. I’m the owner now.”

“Do you like this shop? If you do, it’s yours.”

“No, thanks.” I finished the last sip of my drink, picked up my bag, and stood up.

“Thanks for the offer, the song was nice, but as for getting back together, let’s forget it.”

The air froze, and Kaele pursed his lips, looking at me with a blank expression.

“Why?”

Kaele has a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, always lively and full of light, even when unhappy. It’s rare to see him so cold.

“Because,” I smiled, “I never go back to old flames.”