When I found my fiancé, who had been missing for six months, he was wearing an apron, helping a woman hold down a squealing pig. His movements were clumsy, and a second later, the pig kicked him so hard he went flying. The woman grabbed his sleeve and hauled him up: "How can you be this useless? Go out to the garden and pick some greens." He gave her a goofy smile, turned around, and that's when he saw me standing there. He froze for a second, then walked over and asked, "What are you doing here?" I didn't know what to say for a moment. Right then, the woman noticed me too. She tilted her chin at me: "Here to take him home? Stay for the barbecue before you go." 1 While swiftly bleeding the pig, the woman asked me, "Are you his older sister or younger sister?" As soon as I got word on Arthur Sterling's whereabouts, I rushed over immediately. I didn't even change out of my work clothes; I was still wearing my stilettos. Now, those stilettos were sinking deep into the mud. Only after I yanked my shoe free did I answer her: "Fiancée." Hearing my answer, the hand holding the knife visibly paused. She didn't say anything, but Arthur, standing nearby, chimed in. "Luna, do you still want me to pick those greens?" Without even looking up, the woman instinctively snapped at him: "If you don't pick the greens, what are you going to do? You can't even hold down a pig. What kind of man is as useless as you?" Arthur looked panicked and quickly appeased her: "Don't be mad, don't be mad, I'm going right now." I had never seen Arthur like this. In my memory, he handled everything with a cool, effortless detachment. Even if the sky were falling, his first reaction would be to find a solution, not to panic like an ordinary person and ask, "What do we do if the sky falls?" Since we were kids, I had modeled myself after his stoic, unreadable demeanor, until people started calling me the "Second CEO Sterling." But now, over a single sentence, he was frantically trying to comfort that woman. Six months can change a lot of things. I had to admit, the Arthur standing before me was a completely different person from the one in my memory. Arthur turned to leave, but the woman suddenly called out to him again. "Arthur Sterling." "Don't call me Luna anymore. I have a full name. It's Luna Hayes." With that, she tossed the knife into a large basin, washed her hands with some clean water from a bucket nearby, stood up, and started walking forward. Halfway there, she turned back to look at me. "Let's go. It's a bit of a walk to my house from here." I started to follow her, but stopped after two steps, the words spilling out instinctively: "What about Arthur?" I regretted it the moment I said it. The tip I got said Arthur had been living here for six months; how could he not know the way back? 2 The woman waved her hand dismissively: "Don't worry about him. He's got a mouth to ask for directions; it's not like he can't find his way home..." She stopped mid-sentence. I hadn't noticed her emotional shift; my mind was entirely focused on the fact that my heels were sinking into the mud again. Sensing that she had suddenly stopped, I looked up and met a pair of watery eyes, blinking rapidly as if tears were about to fall. She reached out, and I gripped her hand tightly. Her hand was rough, but warm. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. The road is rough, hold onto me." For that short stretch of road, she really did hold onto me tightly. Along the way, we ran into people she knew, most of whom teased her about Arthur. Right in front of me, she clarified: "Stop talking nonsense. This is Arthur's fiancée." After she said that, people looked at us with gossipy stares. She didn't shy away from it, but the scrutiny made me uncomfortable. She whispered to me, "It's fine, they don't mean any harm. I'll walk a bit faster; we just need to get home." Once we got to her house, she found a pair of cotton-padded slippers and placed them in front of me. Fearing I might find them gross, she quickly added, "They've been washed. Put these on for now." Seeing me change into them, she stopped bustling around—pouring hot water, turning on the heater. Only when there was truly nothing left to do did she sit down next to me and bring up Arthur. "I didn't know he had a fiancée." The tears she'd been holding back the whole walk finally fell. She sat beside me, head bowed, her hair falling forward, and all I could see were large teardrops smashing onto the floor. But I was Arthur's fiancée. I was the one who had been wronged. I should be the one crying. Yet, perhaps because the hand that held mine was so warm, I found myself at a loss for what to do. I gently patted her back and comforted her: "Don't cry." She wiped her tears, turned her head, and said to me with red eyes: "But don't worry, I'm not some shameless person, and I won't pester you guys." "You two should go. I swear, I will never appear in front of you again." Seeing her resolve, I finally asked about Arthur. "How did you two meet?" 3 The story was as cliché as it gets. Arthur got caught in a massive blizzard while skiing, and she saved him. She nursed him back to health, and they lived together for six months. But there were holes in this story big enough to drive a truck through. Once Arthur had recovered, why didn't he leave? Both our families had utilized every resource available to search for him for half a year; why was there absolutely no trace of him? It was only because my best friend's boyfriend came here, said he saw someone who looked a lot like Arthur, and I came on a whim, that I finally found him. Luna didn't speak. She got up and brought out a pile of things from an inner room. I recognized them. They were Arthur's belongings, including a watch I had given him. She shoved them into my hands: "They're not cheap, are they? I'm not an idiot, I can tell. Honestly, the only reason I saved him in the first place was for the money." At first it was for the money, but what about later? Neither of us voiced that question. I didn't blame her. She was kept in the dark too, so who was there to blame? "Luna, praise me! Uncle said the greens I picked were excellent." Arthur was back. Looking at his sparkling eyes, I really didn't want to blame him either. But I also had to admit, this was all because of him. Why didn't he leave when he was healed? Because he didn't want to. Why was there no news despite everyone looking for him? Because he cut off all contact. Hearing his words, Luna repeated herself: "I told you, I have a full name. Call me Luna Hayes." After she said that, she snatched the basin from Arthur's hands, turned, and walked out the door. Suddenly, it was just Arthur and me in the room, and an awkward silence fell over us. Growing up, he was usually the quiet one between us, so eventually, he spoke first. "What are you doing here?" Should I not have come? My fiancé goes skiing to relax, gets caught in an avalanche, is missing for six months, and when there's finally a lead, shouldn't I come? That's what I thought, and that's exactly what I asked him. Furthermore, the marriage between us concerned the interests of both our families. Every day delayed was a risk. I didn't understand how he could live here with such peace of mind. He untied his apron but offered no explanation. For the past six months, I had held everything together on my own, even keeping his company running. Luna is a good girl, she's reasonable, so I can let it go with her. I asked Arthur: "When are we leaving? Do you even want your company anymore?" I just didn't expect Arthur to freeze, ultimately saying absolutely nothing. Luna was the one who answered that question for me. Her hands were wet; she must have just finished washing those greens. "Leave after dinner. It doesn't look right for you to stay at my house forever." "You should have told me where you were from sooner. I would have done everything in my power to send you back." Arthur stared blankly at Luna standing in the doorway, and I looked at Arthur. "After dinner tonight, I'll have Vivian come pick us up?" Luna smiled: "That sounds good. Just in time to be home for the holidays." I waited for Arthur's answer. When he didn't respond immediately, I asked again, my tone taking on a harder edge: "Arthur, tonight I'll have Vivian pick us up and take us back." He finally turned his gaze to me: "Okay." 4 Luna is a very efficient girl. It was just her and her father at home. She must have spoken to him beforehand, because at the dinner table, the old man just sighed heavily, breath after breath, without saying a single inappropriate word. Eventually, Arthur managed to produce a bottle of liquor from somewhere. He filled his glass and looked at the old man. "These past six months, I've truly seen you as my own father." Luna cut him off: "Arthur, you're drunk. Don't say things like that." After she spoke, she poured me a glass too, and asked quietly: "Can you drink?" I nodded. She pressed the glass into my hand, then lightly clinked her own glass against the rim of my full one, and downed it in one gulp. The old man, having had too much to drink, started spilling words he shouldn't have: "I originally wanted to entrust Luna to you, I..." Arthur grasped his hand: "I know, I know." Clutching my glass, my throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. I proactively spoke up to change the subject: "Arthur, let's not be so heavy. Talk about something happy." Luna smiled and went along with me, maintaining the atmosphere at the table. The next second, Vivian's call came in: "When are you leaving? We're here." That call saved everyone's life in that room. I smiled and looked at everyone present: "The car is here. We're getting ready to leave." Hearing that we were leaving, Luna helped her father into the bedroom. When she came out, she said: "I won't walk you out." I took out my phone and transferred some money to her. She didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it crisply. Looking at the generous amount, she smiled broadly: "Wishing you a long and happy marriage." I helped Arthur into the car. Vivian asked me: "How did you end up drinking so much?" I didn't answer, just urged her: "Let's go, time to go home." I had bought out this relationship with money. Once we got back, Arthur would still be the Arthur from my memory. But just half an hour into the drive, Arthur looked at me intensely: "I want to go home." Vivian said, confused: "This is the way home." Arthur replied with certainty: "No, it's not." Vivian didn't know what to say. She looked at me helplessly, then eventually pulled over at a rest stop and got out, leaving just the two of us in the car. The emotions I had suppressed for so long finally erupted. I demanded of Arthur: "What exactly do you mean?" Moonlight spilled in through the car window. The wind was strong, whipping my hair across my face, allowing me to secretly wipe away my tears under the guise of fixing my hair. I don't know if Arthur saw my tears. After a long silence, he said: "I'm sorry." But what good is an apology to me? I asked him again: "Do you really want to go back?" He couldn't answer. The moonlight shone through the window onto his face, illuminating the deep conflict in his eyes. He remained silent for a long time. The weather forecast predicted snow for the next few days, which is why I troubled Vivian to drive through the night on the highway. But there were no signs of snow at this rest stop. I simply rolled the window all the way down and said to Arthur. "Since you can't make a choice, let's make a bet. If it snows within two hours, you go back. If it doesn't, you obediently return to New York and go back to being CEO Sterling." Arthur didn't expect me to use such a method to decide. He also knew it doesn't just snow on command, yet he continued to wait. Two hours passed. Not only was there no snow, but even the wind had died down a bit. I looked at Arthur. He frowned and said: "Wait a little longer." We waited another half hour, and still, there was no sign of a single snowflake. Arthur didn't say a word, just kept waiting. I let out a laugh, raised my hand, and slapped him cleanly across the face. I told him: "Get out, Arthur." He got out of the car, took two steps, then turned back and said to me: "I'll return to New York in half a month..." I cut him off: "Get out." When Vivian returned and saw Arthur was gone, she probably understood what had happened. Without another word, she started the car and drove me away. She cursed the whole time she drove, only stopping when she heard my muffled sobs. When I finished crying, she said: "Stella, it's okay. Tomorrow is a brand new day." 5 When I got home, my parents were still awake. My mom draped a blanket over my shoulders and said: "Well, at least you can relax now that Arthur has been found..." "Mom, he didn't come back." I clutched the blanket tightly. The arranged marriage couldn't be changed. Arthur had made his choice, and now it was my turn to make mine. "Mom, let's not wait for Arthur anymore. Let's see who else is a good match. I'll get married this month." She tried to persuade me: "There's no need to rush. I want you to find someone you truly like. Your dad and I aren't going to force you." But I didn't see it that way. I flatly refused: "The outcome will be the same regardless. It's better to find someone of equal social standing." Before, my relationship with Arthur was half affection, half business strategy. I knew I couldn't escape the fate of an arranged marriage, so I might as well maximize the benefits. My parents have always respected my decisions, and they immediately agreed. I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. That's when I finally saw the texts on my phone. One was from Arthur: "Stella, I'll be back in half a month." The other two were from Luna. She was even more anxious than Arthur. "Please don't misunderstand, I'm not that kind of disgusting woman. I have absolutely no intention of coming between you two. I don't know why he came back. I've already left to stay at my sister's place. I promise I won't see him during this time." "I don't want to ruin your relationship." Her every word was an open and honest clarification. The Sterling family is large, and the environment Arthur grew up in was full of scheming and backstabbing. It's not surprising he was drawn to someone like her, nor is it surprising he wavered. It's just that I had no desire to be one of the options Arthur had to choose between. I decided to bow out first. Luna's tears earlier today were genuine. I replied to her message: "No need. I'm calling off the engagement. We have nothing to do with each other anymore." Luna called me immediately. After hesitating for a long time, she finally just asked: "Are you really calling off the engagement? I mean, he's a bit dense, but his personality isn't bad..." I interrupted her: "I really am." Silence stretched over the line. Finally, she spoke: "Then can I pursue him? I really do like him." Her tone held a hint of apprehension, but she stated it straightforwardly. "Go for it. I'll probably be married within the month." "That fast?" She started telling me about the young people in her town who rushed into lightning marriages, the consequences they faced, and urged me to wait a bit longer. Before we knew it, we had been talking for two hours. Her concern was completely unfiltered. She didn't hold any animosity towards me because of who I was. If I had met her first, I probably would have been drawn to her too. When she told a story about being chased by geese as a kid, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. She said sheepishly: "Sorry, I get really talkative when I'm excited." After hanging up, I actually slept incredibly well. My parents moved fast. The very next morning, the guy's information and the location for our blind date were already sent to my phone. I followed the address to the restaurant. The man politely stood up: "Hello, I'm Harrison Thorne." During the meal, he smoothly picked up on everything I said, handling every detail flawlessly. As we were leaving, I asked one extra question: "Do you know my parents?" He didn't hide it: "I do. When your father was sick, I was the one who took care of him." Then I knew who he was. My dad had mentioned to me once that a subordinate of his had a crush on me for a long time. When my dad was ill abroad, that subordinate handled everything perfectly. My dad was so impressed with him that, even knowing Arthur and I were childhood sweethearts, he still insisted I meet him. But back then, I only had eyes for Arthur and couldn't care less about anyone else. I kept putting it off and eventually never met him. I didn't expect that we would end up meeting now anyway. Just looking at him, you wouldn't be able to tell he had a crush on me at all. It was too cold outside. As I adjusted my scarf, I asked him: "So, you have a crush on me?" "Yes. For eight years." My hands froze on my scarf. He stated the number so nonchalantly. Realizing my awkwardness, he chuckled: "A crush is my own business; it has nothing to do with you. You don't need to feel awkward." As he spoke, he casually handed me the hot coffee he was holding. I was still reeling from that number. If he hadn't admitted it himself, I never would have guessed he'd been harboring a crush on me for eight years. It was freezing, so he offered to drive me home. When we arrived, my dad saw him and immediately tried to pull him inside to chat. He looked at me, and when I didn't say anything, he politely declined. As I was walking him to his car, he asked if I wanted to take a walk nearby and pick up some groceries. I laughed: "Stalling for time?" He looked a bit embarrassed, but ultimately admitted it: "Yes." I didn't refuse and walked with him. On the way, I got a call from my best friend. She excitedly told me: "Stella, did you know? Arthur is back!" That was way too fast. I thought Arthur would stay there for a while longer. But that wasn't what my friend really cared about. It was what came next: "That woman came back with Arthur too. Some friends went to pick Arthur up, and do you know what she said?" "She said she's currently pursuing Arthur."
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