In the photo, her smile was blindingly sweet. Behind her was the living room of Luke's house, and on the table were the bowls and chopsticks I had just used.

The phone vibrated again. Luke had sent a message—five words, lying quietly on the screen.

"Ginger, didn't you say you didn't want it anymore?"

A second message popped up immediately after.

"So I threw everything away for you, no need to thank me."

It was eleven o'clock at night when I arrived home.

I pushed the door open to find my mother sitting on the sofa, the television on but without sound.

She was clearly waiting for me.

She turned to look at me: "You're back?"

Her gaze lingered on my face for a moment: "I heard Luke's blind date candidate was at that meal too?"

I "mmm'd," put my bag in the corner of the sofa, and walked into the kitchen to pour some water.

My hand was still stiff when I picked up the kettle, so I switched hands and poured myself a cup of warm water.

"How was she?" My mother's voice came from the living room, her tone filled with cautious testing.

I walked out holding the cup and sat on the other end of the sofa: "She's very good, looks pretty, and is well-spoken."

My mother turned slightly and asked again: "Then, did they... make it official?"

"Yes, they did."

I looked at the water rippling in the cup; my voice was calmer than I had expected.

"They even posted it on social media."

My mother took the water cup and sighed.

"You and Luke grew up together, for twenty years. I thought..."

I heard the regret between the lines, the words left unsaid hanging heavily in the air.

I smiled and interrupted her: "Mom, he and I, we're not a good fit."

My mother opened her mouth, wanting to say something else.

I put down the water cup and spoke first: "Mom, that blind date candidate you mentioned last time, please help me schedule it."

She was stunned, her expression changing from regret to surprise: "You're willing to go?"

I nodded.

"Didn't you say you didn't want to meet before?" she asked hesitantly, as if she couldn't believe it.

I suddenly remembered the image of Luke throwing things frantically just a moment ago.

I pulled myself back, my voice very soft: "The past is the past, now I want to meet."

Chapter 5

The next afternoon, I sat by the window in a Western restaurant.

Opposite me sat a man in glasses, Shen Yan, an engineer.

He looked better than in his photo, spoke softly and gently, and had two faint dimples on his cheeks when he smiled.

By sheer coincidence, he was actually a senior of mine from university.

He poured me a cup of hot chocolate and smiled as he pushed it over.

"I think I've seen you before. Were you always on the third floor of the library back then? But I don't think you were alone."

The surface of the coffee swayed gently.

Just as Shen Yan was about to continue, a familiar voice cut in from the side: "Captain Shen, long time no see."

I looked up. Luke walked over, his expression unchanged.

Shen Yan also stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Long time no see, Luke."

It turned out they had been on the same basketball team.

After a few polite exchanges, Luke glanced toward my side.

In the moment our eyes met, I was the first to look away.

Just then, Luna stepped out from behind Luke.

She had changed into a different dress today, a light pink one, the same one as in the official announcement photo on social media.

Shen Yan glanced at Luna's hand linked with Luke's arm and asked tentatively, "Luke, this is..."

In the second waiting for the answer, I picked up the coffee cup and took a sip, not looking at them.

Luna subtly shook Luke's arm, her lips pursed slightly, with a hint of acting spoiled.

Luke looked away, his voice very low: "My girlfriend."

The wall of the cup was very hot, and the temperature pressed against my fingertips stung with pain.

Luna tilted her head, her gaze landing on Shen Yan and me, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

"What about you two? Are you the same as us?"

Shen Yan laughed softly and shook his head: "No."

After a moment's pause, he turned his head to look at me, his eyes curving, and the dimples appeared again.

His voice was very gentle, yet without any hesitation.

"I'm pursuing her."

Luke's face darkened, and he left without saying a word.

Shen Yan looked at Luke's departing back and paused for a moment.

It was as if he were deliberating on something before changing the subject.

"Speaking of which, this junior of mine was a real celebrity back in university. Countless girls chased him, and he wasn't stingy about writing love letters to countless girls."

My fingers holding the coffee cup tightened slightly, and I managed a forced smile.

Shen Yan didn't notice my oddity and continued.

"But as far as I know, it seems like he only ever gave his heart to one person."

The coffee I was holding gradually cooled, the cup pressing against my palm, the chill creeping into my bones through my skin.

Who was he talking about? Luna, I supposed.

Back in university, I had helped him write so many love letters to Luna. Besides her, who else could he have given his heart to?

I lowered my eyes and smiled, not responding.

Shen Yan put down his coffee cup, looked at me, and his tone suddenly became serious: "Ginger, I think we really get along."

I looked up and met his gaze.

"Can we try to continue developing this?" he asked.

I didn't answer immediately.

He wasn't in a hurry either, just looking at me quietly, waiting for my answer.

After a few seconds, he smiled and added: "If it works out, I think I'll definitely post an official announcement on social media right away."

My fingers curled slightly.

"Post an official announcement on social media right away"—this sentence, I had waited for three years and begged for three years but never received.

Hearing it from someone else's mouth, it sounded so light, as if it were a matter of course.

I didn't respond, lowered my head, and stirred the cold coffee.

Shen Yan knew his place and didn't press further.

Back home, my mother immediately welcomed me, her eyes filled with expectation: "How was the Shen Yan you met today?"

I put my bag on the sofa and thought for a moment: "He's very good."

My mother was stunned: "In what way is he good?"

I thought about it and answered earnestly: "At the very least, he said that if he were to date me, he would definitely post an official announcement on social media right away."

My mother smiled, not understanding: "Isn't that the most basic thing? Does that count as being 'good'?"

Yes, it is the most basic thing.

But some people just can't do it.

I didn't say anything more, said "I'm tired" faintly, and turned to walk into my room.

Closing the door, the world went quiet.

I lay on the bed and opened the email that had been sitting in my inbox for a long time.

It was a job offer notice to be a project manager at a branch in Shanghai.

This time, without even thinking, I clicked confirm.

Chapter 6

When the doorbell rang, I had just put my phone down.

Looking through the peephole, it was Luke.

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

He stood at the threshold, the hallway light hitting his shoulders, his expression obscured.

"Where is the key to my apartment?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.

"What?" I frowned slightly. "You came all this way just to get this key back?"

He didn't deny it.

I turned around to grab my handbag from the entryway, unzipped it, and reached inside.

When my fingertips touched the key, the cold temperature traveled from my palm straight to my heart.

I tightened my grip suddenly and handed it to him.

Luke took it, clutched it in his palm, and didn't leave.

I leaned against the doorframe for a few seconds. "Anything else?"

After a moment of silence, Luke frowned. "Aren't you going to ask why?"

I shook my head. "No need to ask."

I looked up into his eyes. "Luke, you never keep anything you don't want."

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

But I didn't give him the chance.

"I've returned the key. Go now."

I stepped back and gripped the doorknob.

He stood at the doorway without moving. The voice-activated light in the hallway went out, and I couldn't see his expression in the dark.