An hour later, I was confronting my boss in the office.

"Mr. Harris, why are other's prizes phones or money?"

"Why is mine so useless?"

"If you handle my son, you'll have everything."

I was too angry to speak. What if he's ugly or disabled?

"Oh, Chloe, he's an overseas graduate. Don't worry."

So I went to pick him up at the airport and ended up waiting for a man and a woman.

Guess what?

The man was my high school crush, and the woman was my mortal enemy from middle school.

I thought, my boss must want to fire me.

I turned around and left, sending a text to my boss.

"Boss, I'll send you my resignation letter tonight."

Joel replied, "Is my son ugly? I remember he has some good looks."

"Did he come back from school disfigured?"

Just as I was about to leave the hall, my phone rang again.

"Hello, who is it?" I shouted angrily.

"Hello, Mr. Harris asked me to contact you for the pickup."

Hearing his friendly and energetic voice, I was curious.

I hung up the phone, turned around, and went over to pick up their suitcases.

They stood there, staring at me in shock.

I grumpily shouted behind me, "Let's go."

Only then did they slowly follow me.

I was on the roadside hailing a ride with my phone, and Dylan was quietly observing me.

After I finished, Dylan walked over and asked, "Are you Chloe?"

I wanted to retort, "I'm your father."

"Ah, you looked familiar. Chloe, do you remember me?"

"I'm Stella."

Of course, I remembered you. The scar you burned me with a cigarette was still here!

"You two know each other?" Seeing I didn't speak, they started chatting again.

"We were middle school classmates," Stella said.

"Oh, quite a coincidence. We were high school classmates," Dylan added.

When the car arrived, I moved the suitcases, and Dylan came over to help.

"Let me do it. Girls shouldn't carry such heavy things."

I froze in place. In high school, I was mesmerized by his perpetual gentlemanly demeanor.

Even when he rejected me, he was so polite.

"Thank you for liking me. Let's see about the future."

"Are you two going to the same place?" I tentatively asked.

"Yeah, to my place," Dylan said.

I was too upset to speak.

After dropping them off, I didn't get out of the car.

Dylan walked over and opened the car door, "Come down and have a meal with us."

"No need, I have something to do," I said stubbornly, closing the door.

Halfway home, Joel called me again.

"Chloe, since you're not going home for the New Year, come and eat with us!"

Over the years, Joel had taken good care of me, grooming me to the position of Project Manager.

Joel had only one son, and I occasionally accompanied her wife.

But at that time, I didn't know their son was him.

"I have plans with friends, no need, Mr. Harris."

"Okay, actually, I have a document here. Can you come over, pick it up, and deliver it to Mr. Carter?"

"Mr. Carter is in a bit of a hurry."

As a corporate slave, I turned around without a second thought to pick up the document.

Mainly, I didn't have anything else to do.

When I arrived at the door, it was Dylan who came to meet me.

"Where's the document?" I asked him.

He suddenly bent down to look me, "Why are you so angry?"

I looked him in the eyes, and my face instantly turned red.

"You were quite gentle in high school, why so fierce now?"

He patted my head, took my sleeve, and led me inside.

I hadn't reacted yet and followed him in.

As soon as the door opened, I was facing a big family.

I was so scared I wanted to run, but he pulled me back.

"You're not going home, who would be meeting you during the New Year?"

His question stunned me, and I looked at him blankly.

"You need to practice your lying skills."

"Chloe, come, we have a seat for you."

Suddenly, a wave of sadness welled up in my eyes, but I smiled.

Stella sat next to Dylan, holding a wine glass and looking at me with ill intentions.

I glared at her, and Lucy gave me a piece of chicken.

"Chloe, don't be shy, make yourself at home."

"Okay, Mrs. Harris."

"Hey, Mrs. Harris sounds too formal. Call me Aunt Lucy," Lucy said.

"Thank you, Aunt Lucy."

They could really drink, and even I, who considered myself to have a good tolerance, was feeling a bit dizzy.

"Chloe, go play with the young ones!"

I nodded, and as I stood up, my legs gave way.

A young boy in front of me came over and supported me.

"Be careful, sis."

I looked up and saw his flushed face.

"Thank you," I politely smiled at him.

He looked around eighteen.

"Sis, want to join us in playing cards?" he asked.

I nodded, and he pulled me into the group of kids.

He told me his name was Nathan.

We were having a great time when someone suddenly covered my eyes with a hat.

I looked back and saw Dylan and Stella.

"What are you doing? Don't touch me."

He leaned on the back of my sofa, "I noticed you're only mean to me."

His voice reached my ears, and my hand trembled as I continued playing cards.

"Dylan, let's go play with fireworks," Stella said.

Dylan patted me again, "Stop playing, let's go together."

"You two have your world, why should I intrude?"

"I, won't, go." I stuck my tongue out at him.

We played until late, and it was time to leave.

"I'll take you home," Dylan said.

"No need, I'll call a cab."

"Do you see any cabs picking up passengers outside?"

His retort left me speechless.

He used to be quite the gentleman; now he's a bit annoying.

"Chloe, let Dylan take you home," Joel said.

He even gave me a thumbs-up gesture secretly. Didn't Joel see Stella standing next to him?

"Dylan, I'll go with you," Stella started to say, but was pulled away by Lucy.

"Stella, come see the room I've prepared for you."

I almost died laughing.

"Let's go," Dylan tapped my head.

I jogged to catch up with him.

Because I'd had a bit to drink, I fell asleep in the passenger seat.

When the car stopped, I opened my eyes to see Dylan leaning in very close.

"I'm unbuckling your seatbelt," his breath tickled my ear.

I blushed immediately.

I quickly tried to open the door to get out, but it was locked.

I looked up at him in frustration, "Open the door."

"What's the rush? Let's chat for a bit."

"We haven't seen each other in six or seven years."

I helplessly leaned against the car door, looking at him reproachfully.

"You have such a big problem with me?" he raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head.

"Then, is it Stella?"

I nodded, then quickly shook my head.

"None of your business."

He chuckled softly, and I glared at him, finding his laugh pleasing.

"Don't laugh."

"She's not my girlfriend, just a college friend."

"We just came back together. Her parents went back to their hometown, so she's staying temporarily."

I looked at him in confusion, wondering why he was explaining this to me.

"My dad sends me your work photos every day, saying he'll introduce you to me when I come back."

"I didn't tell him we already knew each other."

"Mr. Harris took photos of me secretly?" I sat up angrily.

"Yes, he really admires you."

"He brainwashes me every day, saying, 'Remember, she's your future wife.'"

"My future daughter-in-law, I won't accept any foreign girls you bring back."

I laughed too, because Joel was really good to me.

My mom passed away when I was in college, and my dad remarried.

Joel had always taken good care of me since I started working.

He looked at me quietly, and I seemed to be smiling inappropriately.

"Let me tell you, your dad is quite cunning."

"He changed my annual meeting prize to a month of dates with you."

"I was stunned when I saw it."

"You're not satisfied?" he asked.

"Not satisfied with what?"

"With dating me."

I blushed again.

"Dylan, if you don't open the door, I'll get angry!"

He opened it and immediately got out of the car with me.

As soon as I got out, I fell to the ground, and he came over and carried me in his arms.

I don't know if I was really craving a man, but I quietly lay in his arms until he placed me on my bed.

"Do you need help removing your makeup and washing up?" he asked.

"You should go back. I'll do it myself slowly."

He pinched my cheek and said, not goodbye, but goodnight.

I lay on the bed in a daze, anticipating something.

It's said that in one's lifetime, there is only one instance of falling madly in love.

For me, he was that instance.

After parting in high school, I never liked anyone else.

Our online contact was limited to exchanging holiday greetings.

Everything that happened today felt like a dream.

I suddenly sat up, gritting my teeth, "Stella, I'll kill you."

Stella and I were middle school classmates.

I had been pretty capable since I was young, good-looking, good at studies, but a bit soft-hearted.

In our six-person dormitory, she ostracized me from the group.

She made indirect accusations and spread rumors about me.

She even found some bullies to teach me a lesson.

Looking at the faint burn scars on my hands, I suddenly felt a wave of fear.

Because my experience in middle school was too miserable, I found everything about high school life incredibly wonderful.

Especially him.

After the New Year, everyone gradually returned to work.

Dylan was also by his father's side, learning some management skills.

The most inexplicable thing was that I saw Stella's name on the HR list.

A few days later, she reported to our department.

Who came up with the bad idea to have me mentor her?

That day, I went to the restroom, and someone followed me in.

Someone forcefully grabbed my hair and kicked my knee.

I fell to the ground.

Stella was still the same; she yanked my hair and let out a cold snort.

"You had him for three years in high school; I had him for six years in college."

"I advise you to be sensible and stay away from him."

This restroom was for executives, so not many people came in.

After she finished, she left, and I hadn't quite reacted.

The shadows of my childhood overwhelmed me, and I blacked out.

I held onto the wall and walked out, only to run into Dylan.

He was wearing a well-fitted suit and walking towards me with his long strides.

"What happened? Why is your hair so messy?"

"Are you feeling unwell?"

His barrage of concern left me a bit overwhelmed.

My body leaned completely towards him, and it was the first time I cried in years.

Because I was really feeling miserable.

"It's slippery inside, I fell, and it hurts." When I said it, my voice choked with tears.

He picked me up and walked towards Joel's office.

"Dylan, no, put me down," I looked at him nervously.

"Don't worry, my dad's not here."

He placed me on the sofa and gently pulled my skirt up to my thighs.

He took out a first aid kit and carefully disinfected my wounds.

My legs were on his lap, and I was somewhat lost, looking at his serious expression.

Remembering Stella's warning, I steeled my resolve.

I touched his face with my hand and leaned in to kiss him.

He was stunned for a moment, then his expression returned to calm.

Just then, his dad walked in.

Seeing us kissing, he stood stunned at the door.

I immediately put my legs down and pushed him away.

Because I pushed too hard, my legs hurt badly.

"What are you doing, all reckless?" He put my legs back on his lap.

No matter how I tried to pull my legs back, he wouldn't let go.

"Mr. Harris, I just accidentally fell," I said to the old man.

"Ah, no worries, I just came in to get something." Joel scurried in like a thief, grabbed something, and quickly left.

I said I fell, and Joel said no worries.

Thinking about what just happened, my face turned red with embarrassment.