As I stepped out of the company after work in the evening, I saw him standing outside.

Dressed in a suit, he had a handsome face and a tall and strong figure with excellent body proportions, just like a model on the runway. Passersby couldn't help but look at him.

If it were any other day, I would have gone up to him and asked him to get in the car to keep others from looking at him.

But this time, I just wanted to pretend I didn't see him.

I walked towards the station on my own, and Alex quickly caught up with me. He didn't mention the incident and said calmly, "It's Jason's birthday today. He invited us to have dinner together."

I stopped and looked at him. "Sure."

We got in the car, and there was a silence inside.

The wind blew in from outside the window, and I smelled a faint scent of jasmine.

It was the scent of Vivian.

The scent wasn't unpleasant. On a whim, I asked, "Do you like the smell of jasmine?"

Alex's eyes flickered slightly. "It's okay."

"Really?" I thought, "Then why have I always smelled this scent on you before?"

I didn't say anything more.

We arrived at the agreed hotel, where they had been waiting for a while.

Seeing us come together, Vivian was obviously surprised.

"Good evening, Alex, Isabella. We've been waiting for you for a long time."

I smiled indifferently and looked at Jason. "I'm sorry. I came in a hurry and didn't bring a gift."

Jason is Alex and Vivian's childhood friend. Alex always took me with him to their gatherings, and gradually we became acquainted.

"I've given him a gift. You don't need to feel sorry."

Alex led me to the table.

The remaining two seats were opposite each other. I didn't know if they arranged it on purpose.

I let go of his hand and walked straight to the seat opposite.

Alex's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything and sat down next to the empty seat beside Vivian.

I knew what his friends were thinking.

They never approved of Alex and me being together and were always cold to me.

Before, I wanted to get along with them, and I would give them gifts I carefully selected for every holiday.

But I've never seen anyone really use the things I gave them. They probably didn't want to accept me from the bottom of their hearts.

I was too naive to see such an obvious thing until now.

I didn't say a word and ate quietly.

Alex chatted with them with ease, peeling shrimp without stopping.

He never eats seafood unless someone peels the shell for him, and he will reluctantly try a bit because he finds it troublesome to peel it himself.

However, he didn't mind the trouble now. He peeled a whole plate of shrimp, moved it in front of Vivian, and then slowly took a wet wipe and wiped his hands carefully.

This was a treatment I had never had.

Seeing this, I felt depressed.

I decided to let him go, but I still felt sad when I really saw him like this.

Jason also noticed his actions. He looked at my expression and nudged Alex, teasing, "Don't favor one over the other. Peel some shrimp for your girlfriend too."

Alex seemed to realize it for the first time, looked at the empty plate on the table, and said, "Order another plate."

"No." I took a sip of my drink and said calmly, "I don't like shrimp."

"How about fish then?"

"I don't like it."

Alex looked at the table, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled. "What about chicken?"

"I don't like it either."

He looked surprised, seemingly not expecting me to say this without hesitation.

Meeting his gaze, I took a napkin calmly, wiped my mouth, and added, "I don't like anything you said."

"Isabella, are you angry?" Vivian said cautiously, "Why don't you eat this plate of shrimp? Please don't be angry with Alex."

Her timid look made me look like the bad guy.

"How could I be angry? Please enjoy your meal. I just remembered I have some unfinished work, so I'll take my leave."

With a calm smile, I picked up my bag, ready to leave.

"Come on, are you still upset about Alex setting off fireworks for Vivi?"

Jason mentioned deliberately, his gaze filled with provocation.

Hearing him bring up this, Vivian spoke up, "I'm sorry, Isabella. I was in a mood back then, and Alex just wanted to cheer me up with that. Alex, you should apologize to Isabella."

Alex frowned upon hearing this, "I just set off some fireworks. Why should I apologize?"

His words caused the atmosphere to freeze.

Vivian smiled subtly at me from where he couldn't see, as if silently declaring her possession over Alex.

It was laughable. The person who did wrong had no idea that he was in the wrong.

Just like before, he never realized his own faults.

He thought he could just casually appease me and move on from this.

I smiled, "Yes, you're right. The fireworks were quite a spectacle. Keep it up next time."

With that, I left without looking back.

The moment I closed the door, I heard Vivian's voice. "Alex, go apologize quickly. Isabella is obviously angry."

"Don't mind her. She'll be fine in a few days."

His words stabbed at me like a sharp sword.

What on earth had I done before to make him so confident?

I walked out of the hotel slowly.

The cool breeze of the early autumn night was refreshing.

I strolled along the bustling streets, with couples passing by, their affectionate displays genuinely enviable.

Before Vivian came back, Alex and I were just like them.

We held hands tightly, unwilling to let go for fear of losing each other.

So, why did things turn out this way?

I felt heavy breathing, a bit suffocated.

Seeing an ice cream truck on the side of the road, I thought for a moment and bought an ice cream.

The moment I got the ice cream, I suddenly remembered his words vaguely.

"You know you get a stomachache from eating ice cream, but you still can't resist it."

I took a bite in a daze, and it was salty.

"Your ice cream tastes off," I said to the ice cream truck owner, my voice trembling.

The owner glanced at me and handed me a tissue. "Miss, maybe you need to wipe your tears first."

I looked up, my eyes blurred, and I realized that tears had fallen on the ice cream.

No wonder it tasted salty.

I sniffed, turned around, and went home.

I received a message from Alex as soon as I got home

[Have you arrived home?]

I glanced at it and didn't reply.

Soon, he sent another message: [Everyone didn't have a good meal because of you today. Let's invite them to dinner another day.]

I still didn't reply to him.

He seemed to have lost patience and called me directly.

I put down my phone and turned a deaf ear.

When I came back after washing up, the phone had already fallen silent.

Before going to bed, I habitually browsed through the WhatsApp statuses and unexpectedly saw a photo Vivian posted five minutes ago.

The driver was driving in front, and Alex and Vivian were sitting in the back seat of the car.

In the photo, he was resting his eyes languidly, while Vivian was shyly looking at the camera in a posture that leaned against him.

The caption of the photo was: [It turns out I am still your first choice after so many years.]

I gave a self-mocking smile and replied to her: [Congratulations.]