During a company retreat, we visited a temple. My colleagues all drew lots and hung them on the wishing tree. I don't believe in gods or buddhas, so I didn't participate. A colleague laughed and called out to me. "This couple's lot has the same surname as you, Chloe!" "Chloe Vance, Sebastian Thorne... the names sound like a match." My boss, who was lighting incense, suddenly looked up. "Sebastian what?" 1 When I heard that name, I instinctively looked back. My eyes met my department manager's gaze. He glanced at the red tag with the names written on it, looking puzzled. I walked over with my bag. "Boss, did you call me?" "Oh, no." He looked at me, then back at the tag. "The young heir of the Thorne Group took over some time ago. His name is Sebastian Thorne." My colleague got interested: "These two names don't sound very common." "Could it be you had a fling with a billionaire?" "I suddenly remember... before I transferred to purchasing, I heard about someone who cursed out Little Chloe and got fired a few days later. No procedure, just kicked out directly." I adjusted my glasses and looked down. "If I really had that kind of background, I would have plastered my resignation letter all over the office building, written an email reporting every idiot who ever offended me, and cc'd the entire company." Someone nudged me with their elbow. "Hey, watch your mouth, the boss is still here." "Sigh, no need to hide it, who doesn't know she's blunt." "Remember that brown-noser who showed off his watch to her? She told him to crawl outside and peacock there." Laughter erupted around us. Incense smoke drifted from the copper urn. That red couple's tag was passed around, getting wrinkled. "Give me the tag," I said. "I have to help hang it back up." Others went into the main hall. I sat under the tree, taking a long time to remember this place. Sebastian Thorne's mother was from the south and was particularly religious. To please his mother, whenever he saw a temple, he would go in and light incense. During the years we were together, I don't know how many small, exquisite temples like this we visited. I don't worship gods, so I waited for him outside. That time was an exception. After drawing lots, he said it was a very auspicious sign. So he bought a red plaque, wrote two lines of names with a flourish, and hung it high on a branch. He also said that after making a wish, he had to show his face in front of the Buddha statue according to custom. I couldn't refuse, so I went in with him. I watched him straighten his clothes, raise the incense to his forehead, and bow three times. I didn't make a wish. I believe in myself more than gods. Colleagues walked out of the hall in groups and went to another spot to take photos. I clutched the red tag tightly and sneaked into the hall like a thief. The rose-red incense stick was rough. I lit it hurriedly, imitating the posture in my memory, and bowed down. If making wishes really works... I want to see him one more time. 2 After visiting the scenic spots, my colleagues wanted to eat and asked where to go. I joined the group and we dived into a food stall. A few girls at the next table were eating happily, clinking glasses and exchanging gossip. This one cheated. That one was entangled for years and finally broke up. A male colleague joked, "Exciting enough. I haven't even dated at my age." "It's okay, you have company. Chloe definitely hasn't dated either... wait, that expression, don't tell me you have?" "Curious who could stand Chloe's sharp tongue." "Maybe he couldn't stand it, so we broke up." I smiled perfunctorily and didn't respond. It's been over a year since I broke up with Sebastian Thorne. I was the one who brought it up. Because of a small thing— He was rear-ended on a business trip and sprained his left hand. But he didn't tell me. I missed him and video called him, but he didn't pick up immediately. Half an hour later, he called back. I recognized the background was a hospital and realized he was hurt. A young female employee sent by the partner company to receive him tried to smooth things over. She said the injury wasn't serious, but he needed to rest and be observed for a few days. He came to the hospital in a rush, so he didn't tell me. Look, even others knew to at least make an excuse. There were many things before this. For example, he encountered difficulties in business. When I asked, he brushed it off lightly. He no longer needed me to travel with him. Avoiding talking about troubles in life with me. Even when his father was seriously ill, he only told me he needed to leave home for a while. I had many things I wanted to tell him every day. In the chat history, there was more green than white. The videos I shared on TikTok were never liked. I didn't even know if he had clicked on them. He didn't like posting on social media. Even if he did, it was reposting news about domestic management, with a few brief comments. Matching avatars, official announcements, never happened. I could only be anxious day after day. And ask him again and again, do you love me? He answered quickly and firmly. But he always looked at me with a helpless and tolerant look— As if he didn't understand why I had to repeatedly confirm the same thing with him. I was too young when I met Sebastian Thorne. When I was struggling with what to eat for the next meal. He was understanding various affairs in his family's company. When I was interning with him, I saw him handle difficulties with ease countless times. He was only six years older than me, but much, much more mature. Things that gave me a headache, he could handle as if they were nothing. My initial attraction to him probably came from that ease. But I didn't expect everything to have two sides. The tricks I used due to insecurity, jealousy, and seeking attention hit him like hitting cotton, gently caught by him, not stirring up a single ripple. The time Sebastian sprained his arm and was in the hospital. We only said a few words before hanging up the video. He remained calm and told me: "Looks like I'll be home a few days late. I had someone send your gift back. Don't worry, it's just a small matter." Just a small matter, don't worry. I don't know how many times I've heard this, to the point of numbness. I really wanted to get angry right then. Questioning words almost blurted out. But seeing his unconcerned face, the anger vanished in an instant. What was there to say? He didn't plan to tell me, how could I pry his mouth open? I stared blankly at the black phone screen. Looked around, and suddenly started crying. I didn't know why either. I really wanted to go to his hospital and see. Ask him, how did the car accident happen? What was the situation at the time, how were the other casualties? Will his hand have sequelae? Was he panicked when he was hit? That night I tossed and turned. Scrolling through our chat history from bottom to top, trying to find some evidence of his enthusiasm for me. None. Only transfers, transfers, transfers. I really liked money. Before I was with him, I felt that work and making money were everything in life. Love was something only the elite could pursue. For ordinary people, it was irrelevant. I only needed myself, plus a bulging wallet, and that was enough. Turns out people are greedy. I closed WeChat, looked at the bank card balance, happy and crying at the same time. Finally couldn't help but video call Sebastian. Only after dialing did I realize it was past 3 AM. He must have fallen asleep and was woken up again. He looked exhausted when answering the phone. Draped in a coat, tie loosened, shirt buttons undone. Leaning on the hospital bed, as if he didn't expect me to call at all. After seeing me clearly, he froze for a moment before speaking. "Why are you crying like this. Save your tears, there will be times when they are useful." I thought I had agreed with myself not to cry. To be calm, clearly accuse him of dereliction of duty as a boyfriend, and then break up. But seeing his face, emotions suddenly couldn't be suppressed. "Sebastian, why don't you tell me anything?" "It's just a slight sprain. If I told you, you would have skipped class and flown over like last time. You're in your second year of grad school, leave a good impression on your advisor." I raised my voice, "It's not just about today!" Silence on the other end. Sebastian's expression slowly became serious. Through the screen, looking at me unblinkingly. I turned my head to cover my eyes, turning the camera away from my face. "Those things that make you feel very uncomfortable, very sad, you won't tell me a single one?" "Do we have to talk about etiquette, report good news but not bad?" "I just... want to know the big and small things in your life." "Clearly before... when you encountered difficult things, you would tell me in detail, when you met difficult cli... clients, you would scold them with me!" "Do you have no desire to share with me now?" My chest trembled uncontrollably. Pressing words into intermittent characters. On the other end of the phone, the hospital bed creaked. Sebastian lifted the thin quilt and got out of bed, pulling on his jacket with one hand. "Chloe," he said, "I just don't want to affect your mood." "Do you think I can't handle my own emotions? It's not like I haven't been scolded at work!" "That's different." "How is it different?" "Work is work. With subordinates, it's business, problems need to be communicated and solved frankly, but a girlfriend is different." He said, "You are young, being with me, I have the obligation to ensure you are happy, not to worry about me. In my ideal state, you only need to think about what entertainment to do today, or gather with others to swipe cards, preferably bring me a gift conveniently. If I make you feel stressed or start worrying that I can't handle something, it means I'm useless." "So you don't communicate life with me, not even your father's death?" "I was very busy then, very busy. Too many people came to offer condolences. If you wanted to pay respects, I would not only have to handle the funeral, but also constantly pay attention not to neglect you. I couldn't attend to it." I stared at the screen, silent. Long silence in the audio, only rustling sounds. His left hand was inconvenient, barely put on clothes. Looking at me again, eyelids deep from lack of sleep. "Don't cry. I'll buy the earliest flight back, let's talk face to face." I stopped crying. Sat on the bed, looking at him for a long time. "Don't come back." I said. "When I was your assistant, you said I was practical and capable. You asked me if I had any suggestions for you, asked me what I ate today, did I sleep well, I didn't have the energy to go on a mentally exhausting business trip with you." "I don't understand." "We became boyfriend and girlfriend, why is the distance further." "If the relationship makes you feel I'm delicate and weak and need your care for everything, then let's take a step back." "Is it true that if we return to being friends..." "You will look at me equally again, and tell me some things you won't tell me now." I pressed my dry eyes, no moisture in my palms. He slowly leaned back on the sofa, sighing to comfort. "Chloe, when you reach my age, you will know..." I interrupted him. "I don't know, and I don't want to know." The gap of relative silence. I lowered my head, even I couldn't figure out the motive for speaking. "Sebastian, do you love me?" He spoke with certainty. "Yes." "That's enough." I hung up the phone and moved out of his house that night. Breaking up didn't make me feel relaxed. Those past events squeezed into the gaps of my thinking. Forcing their way in, making other things impossible to think about. Then suddenly withdrawing. Leaving only emptiness and continuous, lingering pain. 3 The team building ended, flew back north. A few days of travel felt like a long dream. Only the red tag with names in my pocket repeatedly mocked me, can pick up but can't put down. Things to do before the new year have entered the final inspection stage. Everyone started to have nothing to do, waiting for the holiday. Brandon called, asking me to attend a wedding banquet with him. "Whose wedding?" I asked. Rare rest in a year, didn't want to spend energy seeing unfamiliar people. Brandon's voice was low, refusing to tell me who was getting married. "Chloe, I really don't know who else to tell. You have to come with me." I checked the date and agreed. Arriving at the wedding scene, I realized the bride was Brandon's ex-girlfriend. I was finally happy. "Hey Brandon," I nudged him with my elbow, "You should have been the wedding car driver, you know the way to pick up the bride best." Brandon gripped his chopsticks, furious. I acted oblivious, admiring the bride's attire. "This MC is no good." I said, "You should go, you rehearsed the process of marrying her many times, right?" He gritted his teeth, after a while, laughed. "Are you sick?" Got scolded. I was satisfied, concentrating on picking dishes from the banquet. Brandon's ex-girlfriend's family status wasn't low, the family demanded high standards for a son-in-law. The two dragged on for several years, breaking up and getting back together. Finally Brandon felt he couldn't convince his future in-laws, and proposed breaking up. I looked at the newlyweds on stage, then at Brandon drinking silently. If it were Sebastian getting married, I would definitely... I would definitely not go. I can wish him success, wish him health, but I won't wish him happiness. The white wine on the table was opened. I poured half a glass, clinked with Brandon on my own. He said, "Don't eat too much, drink a bit with me later." I nodded, risking my life to accompany the gentleman. After eating the meal where Brandon poured out his heart, the street was empty. I was sleepy to death. Seeing him find a designated driver, I simply closed my eyes, lying in the back seat sleeping soundly— Until dawn. I was woken up by the cold. Not at home, still in Brandon's car. Window opened sometime, wind was freezing. Scenery outside strangely familiar. Half asleep, recovered for a moment, suddenly awake. ... It's Sebastian's house. I looked at Brandon incredulously. "You spent money to hire a driver to run hundreds of kilometers a night just to prank me once, right?" "Sigh, you really guessed it." "Are you sick?" I punched his shoulder wildly, "Drive away quickly!" In the scuffle, his elbow hit the steering wheel. The car honked abruptly. The housekeeper auntie walked out suspiciously. Glanced at me, oops. "Miss Vance! You haven't been here for a long time!" I hurriedly stopped her, "Auntie! Don't tell Sebas..." "Quickly tell the master, Miss Vance is back." Auntie pressed the intercom and said a few words, then came back to senses, "Huh? Miss, what did you say?" I collapsed back in the rear seat, "Nothing." Brandon laughed loudly. "Why not get off, aren't you most familiar with this place?" "Master invites you in. You don't know, he always stays up late, abusing his body while young." Auntie complained, opening the car door for me, "Master said you were busy and had no time to come, where did you go this year? Why didn't you even come home." I didn't know how to answer, could only smile. Auntie talked to herself. "You came at the right time, he's free these days, can accompany you to play." Words of refusal hovered on my lips. The familiar small building was in front. Should I see him one more time? See him one more time, talk things out, maybe I can let go of the obsession. I got out of the car like a ghost. Smoothed my hair looking at the phone. Rubbed my face with hands, trying to eliminate the edema after a hangover. The thought in my mind was shouldn't go, but my feet moved forward step by step. The road to Sebastian's house, I used to walk it every two or three days. Sometimes to pick up documents for him. Sometimes to pick him up for a dinner party. Sometimes work went wrong, caught by him to teach me privately. Meeting him was an accident. Rumor has it that before children of wealthy merchants enter the management layer, they will let their children spend money in games to raise a team to practice. Sebastian was my financial backer in the game. Teaming up to clear dungeons is hard work. When busy, have to stay up all night. Fortunately, he was generous. Every season, he sent all wages to me. I distributed to every member. Relying on him, I saved tens of thousands. Didn't expect jokes frequently in the game. Many teams had leaders embezzling member wages, causing backers to be named and shamed. Rich kids had never suffered such shameful bitterness. For a time, all major backers were investigating their subordinates. Sebastian asked nothing. Transferred another hundred thousand bonus to me, calmly said: "I don't care how much you took before. This time, must be divided equally by head count." I said: "I didn't embezzle." "Season wages plus benefits start at 500,000, money passing through your hands these times at least three million. Water too clear has no fish, subordinates do things well, take some profit, I don't mind." I said: "I didn't take a cent. Every sum is recorded, no joke." Silence opposite for a moment, asked my education. I sent a photo of my campus card to him. After a while, a short voice message popped up. His tone approving. "Work with me." So connected with company colleagues. Occasionally assigned some practice tasks. Come holiday, directly threw a workstation photo let me go report. I worked cross-discipline, mostly no specific tasks, just responsible for watching and learning. Sebastian rotated through grassroots departments of the company for experience, busy as a bee. His rank wasn't enough for an assistant. Meeting important clients, had to use the identity of the crown prince to show face. I was dragged around everywhere. Felt like a duck, stuffed with various knowledge. Occasionally accompanied him on business trips, had to take days off. My relationship with roommates was stiff, simply rented outside school, convenient to work anytime. Friends sympathized with me. Said this kind of horse-cow internship couldn't be found with a lantern, asked where I found it. But I felt very good. Studying this crappy major was like two feet in the grave. One side is finding no job starving to death in the grave. One side is dirt on the construction site. Encountering work that doesn't require stationing at the construction site, I was too happy to laugh. Besides, it's boss direct hire, entering to mix with the company's young master. The second I realized I liked him, I felt pain. If clarified, I would lose a very good job. If hidden, feelings beyond subordinate would eventually make me crash. Better to propose leaving myself. Approaching New Year then, business trip ended. Sebastian leaned back in the rear seat, rubbing his brow, "Why not get in the car?" I returned the red envelope received to him. "After graduation, I might not join." He didn't take it, asked me, "Why." "If I pass the exam, I want to continue grad school." "Good thing, I support. Come back after you finish reading, I have a place for you anytime." He tapped the leather seat, "Wind is strong, come up." I held the car door, shaking head. "Not that meaning." At the dinner table, I didn't have to accompany toasts. But maybe the winter atmosphere was too suitable for a drink, I also mixed Sprite and drank a few cups. "Sebastian, I seem to like you. Liking the boss is very unethical." He leaned back in the rear seat, didn't let the driver drive for a long time. Suddenly leaned forward and grabbed my wrist. I was pulled to sit by his leg, heard the heart beating violently. Car door isolated the chill, he exhaled. Folded the suit jacket aside, took out a small long velvet box from his side. "Then unethical things, have to let me do." Necklace studded with slender marquise diamonds, valuable but not excessively expensive. I was stunned, "Why choose me?" He said. "I trust you completely." "If you are at home in the future, I think I will be very relaxed."
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