Ethan is five years older than me, but I never call him "brother." Watching him switch girlfriends one after another. For each one, I would obediently call her "sister-in-law." On my twenty-second birthday, I waited all day, but Ethan didn't come. I made a wish to never like him again. After my birthday, when I went downstairs to throw out the trash, I saw a familiar figure. It was Ethan's best friend, Caleb. "Caleb, why are you here?" "Ethan couldn't get away, so he asked me to bring you a gift." "Oh, thanks. Where's yours?" He smiled and said: "I prepared two gifts. I'll decide which one to give you after you answer my question. "Ava, liking him is tiring, right? How about trying someone else? Be my girlfriend." 1 I looked at Caleb in surprise. When did he find out I liked Ethan? I clearly hid it very well. I never showed a trace of jealousy in front of Ethan. "Caleb, I don't understand what you mean." He pressed his lips together, clearly smiling. But there seemed to be some nervousness in his eyes. "Then let me rephrase. "Ava Lin, I like you. "I want to ask you, would you give me a chance to date me?" But he is Ethan's best friend. When I was five years old and met Ethan for the first time, Caleb was right beside him. Come to think of it, I've known Caleb for seventeen years too. I stared at his face and suddenly remembered the wish I made tonight. Caleb laughed out loud under my stare. "Why look at me like that? "Think I'm causing you trouble?" I shook my head. Not trouble, just a bit unexpected. Caleb is different from Ethan. Knowing him for so long, I don't seem to have seen him date anyone. For a while, I even treated him as a love rival. While Ethan, never lacked women around him. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was pricked by a thorn again. After a sharp pain, I looked at him and said: "I just wished to be in a relationship tonight, and you delivered yourself to my door. "Caleb, you must have been arranged by Cupid. "Then I'll follow God's will and date you!" Caleb was stunned, seemingly not expecting me to really agree. He looked at me for a while, then smiled. He turned around and took out a beautifully wrapped gift box from the car. Handed it to me. "This one is for my girlfriend." 2 I opened it in front of him. It was a necklace set with small diamonds, looking very expensive. "Isn't this too expensive?" I knew his family was rich, but usually for birthdays, his gifts were similar to Ethan's. When it was his birthday, I would return a similar gift. Caleb walked over and rubbed the top of my head. "It's for you, not expensive." As soon as he got close, the faint scent of cologne on him drilled into my nose. Different from the scent on Ethan. His was colder, like bitter lemon filled with ice cubes. I quietly stepped back, creating distance. Just as I was thinking about how to return the gift, Caleb's phone rang. "Caleb, is the gift delivered?" The night was quiet, and Ethan's voice came through the receiver. Along with the laughter of the girl next to him, clearly audible. "Mm, delivered." When Caleb spoke, he kept looking at me. I felt inexplicably cramped. Eyes looking elsewhere, ears still listening to the voice on the phone. "That's good. I just called Ava and she didn't answer, thought she was angry." Caleb chuckled low. "No, she went downstairs to throw out the trash and didn't bring her phone." "Right, she has a soft temper, never gets angry with me. "Hey wait, how do you know she didn't bring her phone? Is she next to you? Let her answer the phone." I turned my head immediately, afraid Caleb would hand the phone over. I just agreed to be his girlfriend. Now asking me to answer Ethan's call. It felt awkward no matter how I thought about it. Unexpectedly, Caleb turned around and lowered his voice: "It's not convenient for her to answer. If you have anything to say, just say it, I'll pass it on." "Then wish her a happy birthday, and strive to get a boyfriend this year. Every time I take her out for dinner, I have to explain unnecessarily, lest people misunderstand she's my girlfriend." Ethan's teasing voice lightly spoke of my embarrassment. I clenched my hands, nails digging into my palms. Caleb lowered his voice and chuckled. "Won't happen in the future." Ethan paused for two seconds, his voice turned cold. "What do you mean? She's dating?" Caleb stepped forward, his free hand holding mine. I was stunned, wanted to pull my hand away, but he interlaced his fingers with mine tightly. Caleb looked down at my eyes and whispered: "Mm, she's with me. She's my girlfriend from now on. If you have nothing else, hang up." 3 Hanging up the phone, Caleb didn't let go of my hand. "Any plans for tomorrow?" I stared at the ground and whispered no. "Then I'll pick you up tomorrow to go out and play. It's quite cold at night, you go up first." I nodded. Waiting for him to let go, I fled upstairs. Caleb called me from behind: "Ava, you won't regret it, right?" I stopped but didn't dare to look back. "No." "That's good. If you regret it, I'll have to pester you relentlessly." My face felt hot. Walked into the elevator without looking back. After returning home, sure enough, I saw missed calls from Ethan on my phone. And many messages. [Happy birthday, Ava.] [Bro is busy outside. Caleb was passing by your place on a business trip, so I asked him to bring the gift over.] [You're with him?] [Since when?] [Why didn't you tell me?] [Didn't see you talking much with him usually, how come you're dating?] [Is he pursuing you and you're embarrassed to refuse? Don't be afraid, bro will go talk to him for you.] I looked at the messages. Heart felt heavy. Couldn't describe the feeling. The pleasure of revenge? Guilt towards Caleb? Or, unwillingness, grievance... After considering for a long time, I replied with a "Mm". Ethan called via voice chat immediately. But I didn't want to answer, clicked reject. Ethan sent another message. [Ava, have you really thought it through?] Thought it through. Don't want to like you anymore. Ethan's message popped up again. [Do you like him?] I don't know. The Caleb I knew always had a faint sense of alienation at gatherings. But that superior face and cool temperament often attracted flirtations. Tonight he confessed first. Besides being surprised, I was a bit panicked. Now calming down, I also felt that agreeing to him was a bit impulsive. But Caleb might not be a bad choice. Ethan couldn't wait for my reply and called again. I accidentally answered by mistake. "Ava, are you really with Caleb?" Ethan on the phone sounded anxious. So he can panic too? I gave a low "Mm". Then heard him curse irritably. "Caleb forced you, right? Damn it, he knows you're my sister, yet still made a move!" "Ava, you don't need to be afraid of him. I'll go talk to him—" I interrupted him, asking: "I'm not afraid of him. He said he likes me, so I agreed." And you never said you liked me. So, why are you angry? Ethan's anger stopped abruptly. Followed by the sound of smashing things. A woman's frightened voice came from the side. Screaming asking him what happened. I suddenly felt that all the complex emotions just now disappeared. Ethan belongs to any woman. But impossible to belong to me. I should have seen it clearly long ago. I looked at the necklace Caleb gave me. Whispered: "Ethan, I thought you would bless me." Before, I called him Ethan by full name. And was scolded by him for being impolite. Why call Caleb "Caleb" but not call him "Brother." But now, I called him brother, and he's unhappy again. Rustling sounds came from the opposite side, Ethan's voice was tight. "Ava, wait for me, I'm going back now. We'll talk when we meet." The call hung up, Caleb's message came just in time. [Ava, if Ethan comes back to find you, don't be soft-hearted, okay?] [Give me some face, dating for a week is fine too.] I imagined what expression Caleb would have when saying this. Probably with helplessness, and faint pampering. I couldn't help but smile. Replied "Okay" to him. 4 The next day after nine o'clock, Caleb called to ask if I was up. I hadn't reacted yet. "Anything wrong? Caleb." Only heard Caleb chuckle softly on the other end. "Forgot as soon as you woke up." I immediately remembered agreeing to date him last night. Sat up abruptly. "Ah, I didn't forget, I'm getting up now." Caleb's smile deepened. "It's okay, no rush. Let me know when you're ready." After hanging up, my heart pounded. Covered my face in regret. Before when meeting Caleb. Ethan was always present. Oh right, speaking of Ethan. He said he was coming back to find me today. Thinking about it makes it more chaotic. Don't know what crazy fit he's throwing, getting so excited hearing I'm with Caleb. He doesn't like me. Why care who I'm with? Clearly last night on the phone, I heard a woman's voice beside him. I adjusted my mood and set Ethan's WeChat to do not disturb. Forced myself not to think about him. Since I agreed to be with Caleb. Focus on it. When I dressed and went downstairs, I saw Caleb's car parked downstairs. His tall figure leaned against the car door. Wearing a cashmere coat, standing posture lazy and casual. The indifferent face, upon seeing me, revealed a smile. Lifted his foot to welcome me. "Caleb, sorry, I overslept." He gave a "Mm". "Then how do you plan to compensate me?" I didn't expect him to say that, stunned on the spot. "Then, I treat you to dinner?" He smiled and came to hold my hand. "Okay, but I hope you agree to another condition of mine more." Although didn't know what condition Caleb would raise. But being late for the first date is indeed impolite. I could only bite the bullet and agree. "Sure, say it, as long as I can do it." "Change the way you address me, don't call me Caleb." (Note: In English, using first name is already intimate, so the distinction is less stark than Chinese. Assuming the request is to drop formalities or use a nickname.) "Ah? Then call you what?" "Cal." After he finished speaking, he looked down at me. Face faintly showing expectation. "Cal" read once in heart. When about to say it out loud, it felt like burning my mouth. "C-Cal." My voice was as small as it could be. Still heard by Caleb. The smile on his lips deepened, and he responded to me very seriously. "Mm, I'm here." Setting aside the relationship with him. Caleb's face, when smiling, is really lethal enough. Especially when you know, his smile is because of you. It makes one even more shy. I blushed and changed the subject. "Let's go eat, I'm hungry." Caleb said nothing, took my hand. He seems to like interlacing fingers very much. Last night when I agreed to date him, he held me like this too. But I'm not used to it. After eating, Caleb pulled me to see an art exhibition. "Cal, aren't you here on a business trip? If the company is busy, we won't go see the exhibition, you go back first." Caleb's family wanted him to go back to manage the company. But he said before thirty, he wanted to start his own business first. Before, every time there was a gathering, he would come sit for a while and leave. During the meal, calls and emails were endless. In my impression, he is a CEO busier than a workhorse. But today while eating, he didn't look at his phone once. Now he wants to take me to see an art exhibition. Unexpectedly, Caleb said lightly that the company's affairs were handled last night. Today's time all belongs to me. I blushed, pretending to be calm. "Cal, I'm not a child, don't need you to accompany me." "Oh, then I am a child, I need you to accompany me." Help, face hotter.
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