Evan Yu looked at me with some surprise.
We had never even had a meal together before; we barely even greeted each other when we met, just a passing glance was enough.
But since it concerned his good friend’s marriage, and he knew the importance of the relationship between the Pei and Xu families, he thought about it for a moment and then agreed.
“Alright, let’s do it tonight. I’m free tonight.”
“Great! I know a coffee shop with excellent coffee and a comfortable, quiet atmosphere, perfect for talking. Here, let’s add each other on WeChat, I’ll send you the location,” I said enthusiastically, taking out my phone and holding up my QR code in front of him.
Evan Yu glanced at the QR code, then handed me a pen.
“No, write it on paper.”
What kind of person was this?
A caveman?
I gave him a look that was hard to put into words, then scribbled the address of “Encounter” coffee shop on the paper.
“Let’s meet there at 8:30 tonight.”
I put down the pen with a smile and left in a good mood.
At 8:00 tonight, at “Encounter” coffee shop, Evan Yu wouldn’t meet me.
He would meet Lila Wei.
With this expectation, I was excited all day, eagerly anticipating the moment Evan Yu would see Lila Wei.
I decided to disguise myself and witness this historic moment with my own eyes.
It was no wonder Hugh Pei and Evan Yu were good friends; they even liked the same woman.
I just didn’t know if Evan Yu’s feelings for Lila Wei were love at first sight or if they developed over time.
If it wasn’t love at first sight, then tonight might be a disappointment.
I changed into a loose black long-sleeved shirt and pants and put on a wig.
Around 8:00 PM, I went to “Encounter” by myself.
I didn’t go inside, just peered through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sure enough, Evan Yu was already sitting in a corner seat.
Wasn’t that my favorite spot?
He was wearing a simple white T-shirt, and his hair was combed down, making him look a few years younger.
He had a cool, distant air about him, sitting there quietly drinking his coffee, not even playing on his phone.
Where was Lila Wei?
I looked towards the counter, searching for her.
After looking for a while, I still couldn’t find her.
But my furtive behavior had caught Evan Yu’s attention.
I wanted to run, but I felt it wasn’t right.
“Zoe Xu, are you blind?” Evan Yu greeted me with his usual high-class courtesy.
“You’re a doctor, for crying out loud. Can’t you speak with a little more class?” I said, annoyed, as I pulled off the wig.
To be honest, it was very hot.
“You asked me to come here to talk, but you’re wearing a wig and not coming in. What’s the meaning of this?” Evan Yu asked, frowning.
I answered righteously, “I’m here, aren’t I? I was just checking to see if you were inside.”
Evan Yu didn’t waste any more words with me.
He pushed open the coffee shop door and ordered, “Get in.”
I walked in reluctantly, carrying the wig.
As I passed the counter, I carefully checked again.
Lila Wei really wasn’t there.
I asked another girl, “Where’s Lila Wei?”
“She has the day off today!” the girl replied.
My face fell instantly, my anticipation turning to nothing.
I sullenly followed Evan Yu to a table and, out of habit, ordered a black coffee, drinking it in silence.
Evan Yu stared at me.
“Weren’t you going to talk to me about you and Hugh Pei?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t feel like talking about it anymore. How about this, I’ll buy you a coffee, and you can go home and rest early.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I felt a cold chill emanating from Evan Yu.
His eyes were sharp, a match for Hugh Pei’s.
“Are you playing me?” he asked coldly.
“No, I’m not. I just suddenly feel like there’s nothing to say about me and Hugh Pei. You all know I’ve been in a one-sided love for years, right? He doesn’t like me, he didn’t like me before, he doesn’t like me now, and he won’t like me in the future. What’s there to talk about?” I replied unhappily.
“If you really want to help me, then go and persuade him to divorce me!”
Evan Yu stared at me without blinking, as if trying to judge how much of what I was saying was true.
His gaze made my skin crawl.
I pretended to drink my coffee.
“Your two families’ marriage alliance isn’t as simple as an ordinary couple getting married. I shouldn’t have to tell you that,” Evan Yu finally said.
“You two can’t get divorced unless a very serious problem occurs. Hugh Pei won’t agree.”
“You seem to know him well. That’s what he said too,” I sighed.
“Brothers in arms, I see.”
Evan Yu didn’t speak, just took a sip of his coffee.
I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
Lila Wei wasn’t even here.
A supporting character didn’t need so many scenes with a main character.
After three minutes of silent coffee drinking, I got up to pay.
“I’ll get it,” Evan Yu said, standing up and gentlemanly stopping me.
“Fine,” I didn’t refuse.
While Evan Yu was paying, I slipped out of the coffee shop, got in my car, and drove away.
As I turned at the intersection, I saw in my rearview mirror that he had just come out of the shop and was watching my car leave.
I shook my head and sighed to myself.
Evan Yu was destined to be a step behind Hugh Pei.
I had tried to help him twice, and both times I had failed.
The red thread of fate between Hugh Pei and Lila Wei must be made of steel.
I felt that trying to push Evan Yu any further was just a waste of time.
I might as well rest.
It was only ten days.
I could wait.
As I expected, Hugh Pei didn’t come back for the next week.
We returned to our previous state of no contact and no meetings.
I was happy to be free to do my own thing.
I picked up Julian Qi from the hospital when he was discharged and even treated him and Lila Wei to a meal.
Then I practiced my cello skills diligently.
I had to pick up the craft I had neglected for so many years.
I drank my Chinese medicine three times a day, and with Eva Liu’s cooking, I actually gained four pounds.
“Zoe, have you been taking some kind of magic pill recently? Your complexion is so good, so rosy and fair!” Ginny said, pinching my cheek during our get-together.
“I’ve been drinking Chinese medicine to regulate my body and eating more. Gaining weight is starting to show some results,” I replied cheerfully.
“You’re just showing off!” Ella Li exclaimed indignantly.
“We’re all trying to lose weight, and you’re over here drinking Chinese medicine to gain weight?”
Tilly Ouyang slapped Ella Li’s bouncy butt.
“You’re just happy-fat. Be content!”
Ella Li’s boyfriend was a great cook and had indeed been feeding her well.
Ella Li shook her head proudly.
“Jealous? Ah, this is the benefit of finding an ‘economic man’!”
Although her boyfriend’s family wasn’t as wealthy as hers, he was a good person, handsome, and honest and gentle, so her family didn’t object.
“Ella Li, if you have any suitable commercial gigs next time, take me with you,” I suddenly remembered.
I was so bored at home.
I needed to develop a career!