In fact, as someone who used to see Joanna as the center of my world, I had long seen through everything.

Joanna deliberately sent me the pictures and then retracted them to make me ask about them.

Then she would send the pictures again to provoke me.

But I was in an interview and didn't reply, so Joanna posted them in the group chat.

She just wanted to make me more angry and jealous, then call to question her or even trouble Liam.

Then she would call me petty, use all sorts of psychological manipulation, defend Liam, and get some classmates and friends to mediate.

Ultimately, she would crush my self-esteem.

But now, I was immersed in the joy of a successful interview. Those photos didn't make me angry at all, and I wouldn't call Joanna to demand an explanation.

I put away my phone, submitted my resignation to the company, then went home, dove into the study, put my phone on silent, and started looking at game character materials.

I wanted to lay a solid foundation for the upcoming design.

I didn't pick up my phone again until I got hungry in the evening and wanted to order takeout. I found that Joanna had called me seven or eight times a few minutes ago.

So I called her back.

"Hey, why didn't you answer the phone? Were you too busy with work?"

In the past, Joanna would have been furious and scolded me, saying I was getting bold by not answering her calls.

But this time, Joanna's tone was very gentle.

"Yeah, what's up?"

I calmly asked.

"Let's have dinner with my parents tonight."

Joanna said.

I initially wanted to refuse, but then I thought that Joanna's parents were nice, and maybe I could take this opportunity to explain everything.

If you can't hold onto sand, let it scatter.

If the entanglement isn't clear, it would be torture for both of us.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I found that Liam was also there, sitting next to Joanna and chatting enthusiastically with her parents.

It looked like they were a complete family, and I felt like an outsider.

Maybe Joanna wanted to use this opportunity to reveal everything.

Well, that's fine!

"Andrew."

Joanna's mom, Crystal Perez saw me and immediately stood up to wave.

I walked over with a smile, but Liam still sat next to Joanna, giving me a provocative look.

Another familiar scene.

With Liam's personality, he definitely wanted to provoke me into an argument so he could play the victim.

He would say they were just friends and tell me not to target him.

Joanna would feel sorry for him, defend him, and make me apologize.

I didn't want to do things that made myself angry anymore, and I was truly tired.

So I pulled a chair and sat alone on one side.

Joanna was visibly stunned.

Her parents' expressions became a bit strange, their eyes darting between Liam and me.

Eventually, the waiter served the dishes, breaking the silent atmosphere.

Crystal served me a piece of meat and said with a smile. "Andrew, you don't look well. Eat more to replenish your nutrition."

"Thank you, Auntie."

I smiled and lowered my head to eat, but I could feel Liam's jealous gaze.

To get back into my old profession and not mess up the interview, I had prepared for a long time last night and drank three cups of coffee in the morning to stay awake.

Now I was both tired and hungry.

"Andrew."

"Why are you eating by yourself? Even if you two are having a fight, you shouldn't sulk in front of the elders."

Liam couldn't hold back, speaking sarcastically to me while serving food to Joanna.

He tried to appear very considerate.

"Are you two fighting? What's going on?" Crystal asked anxiously.

Joanna's dad also stop eating and his expression becoming serious.

Before Joanna and I could answer, Liam interjected, "It's nothing, really. Just because Joanna didn't watch the sunrise with him."

Hearing this, Joanna's parents sighed in relief and started to persuade me not to get angry over small things and to go another day.

Joanna also chimed in.

"Uncle, Auntie, I'm not angry. I'm just tired from staying up late."

I forced a smile and said.

"That's good."

Joanna's parents nodded.

Then the atmosphere became awkward again. Only Liam tried to start conversations, but Joanna's parents didn't respond, so it quickly went silent again.

I just focused on eating. During this time, Joanna's parents served me more food several times.

But Joanna, apart from occasionally glancing at me, didn't mention anything about revealing the truth.

I was puzzled.

Clearly, Joanna brought Liam over to reveal everything, so why wasn't she saying anything?

Was it because she didn't want to be the bad guy in front of her parents and wanted me to be the villain?

The dinner ended.

Before leaving, Crystal pulled Joanna aside for a chat.

Meanwhile, Joanna's dad called me aside and said earnestly, "Andrew, Joanna can be quite difficult at times. Please be more tolerant and don't argue with her too much."

Be more tolerant?

I had always been doing that, thinking that one day Joanna would understand me.

But I was wrong.

After Joanna's parents left, Liam smiled and said, "Let's go sing and call a few more classmates."

"I'm not going. You guys have fun."

I refused.

After eating and drinking, I should go home and sleep. I didn't want to inconvenience myself because of others.

Besides, I always had a knot in my heart about going to KTV with Joanna.

Once, there was a heavy rainstorm.

Joanna texted me, saying she got beaten up at the KTV, so I rushed over in the rain.

At that time, we hadn't bought a car, and the weather was so bad that I couldn't get a taxi.

So I took my electric scooter, fell on the way, and got soaked.

But when I arrived, I found that Joanna hadn't been beaten up. She was just playing truth or dare.

I was drenched like a drowned rat and got laughed at by her friends.

And she didn't say a word for me.

As a result, we had a fierce argument.

Later, Liam often invited Joanna to KTV. I opposed it several times, but Joanna didn't listen and used the same excuse.

She said I was petty.

She said it wasn't just the two of them, so what was I afraid of?

But does having more people make it okay?

The answer is no.

Once, Liam posted a video on social media, showing him and Joanna singing a love song, gazing at each other with sweet smiles.

Even their eyes seemed to be intertwined.

Because of that, Joanna and I had another big fight.

This time, when Liam suggested going to KTV, he just wanted to continue his act.

But I wouldn't fall for it.

Then Liam said to Joanna, "Since Andrew isn't going, let's go."