Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I was moping on the couch when I got a text from an unknown number. It was a photo of Pixie lying on the floor, refusing to go with Ethan Davis. I had no idea how Ethan Davis had gotten my new number. I messed up my hair in frustration, about to ask if Olivia Wilson was behind this—when Olivia walked out with her suitcase.

Olivia had just made up with her boyfriend and was leaving. She said to me, "I’m warning you—getting hurt once is enough. Don’t do it again."

I knew that as well as she did. But knowing and doing were two different things.

I deleted the text and stared at the variety show Olivia had been watching. I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. I’d been curled up on the couch all day, my back aching.

Night fell outside. I clearly heard Pixie bark twice at the door—followed by a loud slam that cut him off. Oh well. It had been years. He probably just wanted his dog back.

After all, the "little prince" already had a girlfriend.

There was a knock on the door. I didn’t even need to check the peephole to know it was Ethan Davis.

He was holding groceries and seasonings. As soon as I opened the door, he squeezed in through the narrow gap. Pixie trotted in after him, wiggling his butt. Both of them acted like they owned the place.

"Ethan Davis, if you keep doing this, I’ll call the police."

"As the saying goes, a good neighbor is better than a distant relative. My kitchen’s broken," he said. I hated how much his way with words had improved over the years. He wasn’t the little kid who could only say "I hate you" anymore.

In the three years we’d been together, I’d had no idea he could cook—let alone cook well.

He invited me to have dinner with him. I crossed my arms over my chest and emphasized, word by word: "Ethan Davis, we broke up."

"Who said exes can’t get back together?"

"Quit being so arrogant!"

"Sophia Miller, if you didn’t like me, you wouldn’t have opened the door," Ethan Davis said, putting down his chopsticks. He laced his beautiful fingers together under his chin, his eyes filled with certainty. I’d thought I knew him inside out—but he knew my personality just as well.

His phone rang. The name "Chloe Brown" on the screen stabbed at my eyes. This time, I made up my mind. I threw his phone at him, then kicked him and Pixie out the door together.

The mental wall I’d built over the years came crashing down that night. I locked myself in my room and watched the movie we’d once watched together—over and over again.

"I love you so much. So, so much, and I probably always will. I just don’t like you anymore."

"I can’t stop myself from thinking about you, but I don’t have any expectations for you anymore."

He’d posted that line on Weibo once.

What was I still hoping for? That the "little prince" would leave his perfect life and his girlfriend behind? That he’d face huge pressure to be with me? Was any of that possible?

I cried until midnight, and then my tooth started hurting again. I cursed loudly in the silence, set my alarm for early the next morning—I’d have to go back to the dentist.

Every day’s a new hope: Please don’t let me run into Ethan Davis again.

The next day, my dentist wasn’t Ethan Davis. But Dr. Benjamin Harris was just as good-looking. After checking my teeth, he even asked me to lunch. Of course, I ran into Ethan Davis at the restaurant—with his girlfriend. Anyone would’ve said they made a perfect couple!

I didn’t have time to look away before the girl noticed me. When our eyes met, I saw anger in hers. I quickly looked away, afraid I’d "defile" her Ethan Davis.

"Ms. Xu, would you like some dessert?"

"Sure."

Dr. Benjamin Harris politely handed me a slice of rose-strawberry pie. Even though I was facing him, I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles. What’s the problem? Ethan Davis gets to have a new girlfriend, but I can’t start a new relationship?

But in reality, I ended up fleeing that short date. I’d been distracted the whole time, so I politely turned down Dr. Benjamin Harris’ invitation to see a movie. The meal had given me a stomachache—and, of course, I thought of Ethan Davis.

Back when we were together, I’d get stomachaches during my period. He’d thought I just had a stomachache, vowing to make sure I ate properly from then on so it wouldn’t happen again. When I told him the truth, he’d blushed and promised to bring me brown sugar water whenever I needed it. Who would’ve thought that after we broke up, his fear would come true? I was young, but I’d developed a stomach problem. My coworkers were used to it, comforting me: "Don’t worry—stomach issues love young people."

I held my aching stomach and said goodbye to Dr. Benjamin Harris, ready to leave the hospital. Of course, I had to run into Ethan Davis’ girlfriend. The nurses were teasing her, saying she and Dr. Davis had such a great relationship.

I felt too terrible to move, so I asked the nurse for a cup of hot water and sat down on a nearby chair. Chloe Brown glanced at me casually, then said to the nurse:

"I’m not his girlfriend, okay? He doesn’t want to date, but I do. Dr. Benjamin Harris is the one I like—no one’s gonna take him from me. I only went to Ethan Davis to get Dr. Benjamin Harris’ WeChat. I should’ve just asked him directly."

I froze, holding the water cup. Maybe the hot water was working—my stomach didn’t hurt as much anymore.