I picked up a beautiful man. I lived frugally, just to buy him a five-figure watch because he said he liked it. But one day, I saw him casually toss the watch into a lake while talking nonchalantly on the phone: "It was just for fun. I didn't expect her to be so gullible. "Let's make another bet. A ten-thousand-dollar leather bag. Let's see if she'll buy it." Later, I decided I didn't want him anymore. But everyone said the heir to the Sterling family had gone mad, searching the entire lake just to find a broken watch. 1 It was very late by the time I finished my part-time job and got home. As soon as I opened the door, I was pulled into a warm embrace. "You're back." Julian buried his face in my neck, nuzzling me: "I missed you so much." I blushed: "The coffee shop was really busy today... I accidentally worked late. Have you eaten?" He blinked his eyes: "No, I was waiting for you." I had picked Julian up off the street. The day I found him, it was pouring rain. He was crouching outside the coffee shop, soaking wet, like an abandoned puppy. "Audrey, look at that guy. He's been sitting there for days." My coworker pointed at him: "He looks so pitiful. Should we let him come inside and sit?" But the coffee shop was about to close. I thought for a moment, poured a steaming cup of coffee, pushed the door open, went outside, and crouched in front of him. "Hello." That was the first thing I said to him. "It's cold out. Have a cup of coffee." Julian looked up, and I realized he was incredibly good-looking. Too good-looking to look like someone who would be homeless on the streets. "Thank you." But he blinked, his expression innocent: "I seem... to have forgotten who I am. Can you take me home?" At that time, I was deceived by his appearance. I actually took him home. 2 The sound of pots and pans clinking came from the kitchen. While I was busy, I asked: "Julian, what do you want to eat?" He stood outside the kitchen door: "Whatever you make is fine." Julian—that was the name I found in his wallet. Written on a slip of paper. But the entire wallet contained nothing but that single slip of paper. I considered taking him to the police station. But he was incredibly resistant to the idea. "Don't take me there," Julian hugged me tightly, as if trying to merge into me, his voice trembling slightly. "Audrey, please, let me stay with you." He was like a newborn child, clutching onto a hard-won piece of kindness, begging humbly. My heart suddenly softened. I took him in, and it's been several months. Even the neighbors knew I had a very handsome boyfriend. It's just that he rarely went out, and no one knew what he did for a living. I didn't know either. Every time I brought up helping him find his family, Julian would react strongly, hugging me and acting cute. He always said: "Audrey, don't abandon me." 3 I bought Julian a phone so he could easily contact me. When I was at work, he loved to spam me with messages. The content was always the same, things that made me blush and my heart race: [Audrey, your bed is so soft. Can I sleep on it next time?] [Audrey, next time you wake up to go to work, can you wake me up? I want a good morning kiss.] [Audrey, please don't work overtime tonight. Let's go shopping.] I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but I couldn't help smiling when I replied. A coworker leaned over slyly: "Ooh, the iron tree is blossoming! Our Audrey finally has a boyfriend?" Of course, I didn't dare say it was Julian. I just played along: "Mhm... we haven't been dating for long." She gave a "say no more" look and said: "Honeymoon phase, honeymoon phase. You have to let us meet him someday." I nodded while typing a reply to Julian: "Okay. "Come find me." 4 I walked arm-in-arm with Julian as we went shopping. He seemed very interested in the mall, constantly asking about this and that. Until we reached the elevator, and he wanted to go upstairs. I was a bit hesitant: "Upstairs... there's nothing really to shop for." Julian blinked: "Why?" Upstairs was where the luxury goods were sold. Working two jobs just to make ends meet, I naturally didn't dare go up there. I remembered helping a classmate pick something up from a boutique once, and the sales associate looked at me with a complex expression: "Name. Double-check it. Don't get it wrong." But Julian really wanted to go. He pulled my hand: "Let's just go look. Audrey, please?" I ultimately agreed. Once upstairs, I felt a difference. Julian seemed completely natural. Coupled with his outstanding looks, even his simple, worn-out clothes looked high-end on him. A sales associate's eyes lit up: "Mr. Sterling, you..." "What Mr. Sterling?" Julian frowned and tightened his grip on my hand: "Audrey, do you like those bags?" Actually, hearing that "Mr. Sterling," my heart skipped a beat. But Julian's actions brought me back to my senses slightly: "I... not really." That sales associate was the exact same one who had mocked me before. But right now, she was extremely attentive, constantly glancing at Julian while enthusiastically pitching to me: "Miss, are you sure you don't want to take a look? We have a lot of new arrivals in our store. Other places haven't even gotten them yet." I turned her down and pulled Julian downstairs. He looked at me, confused: "What's wrong, Audrey? Did something happen?" I looked at his handsome face, momentarily losing myself. "Julian, before... did you come here often?" 5 Actually, it wasn't that I hadn't thought about what would happen if Julian remembered his past. But I had never thought about what would happen if he were very wealthy—worlds apart from me—and where we would go from there. "I haven't," Julian ignored the stares of passersby, leaning down to hug me. "Audrey, do you not like it there? Then we'll go somewhere else. "Audrey, look at me. Let's go." Only then did I hold his hand: "Okay." As I led him out of the mall, I was still thinking that if Julian really was very wealthy, I wasn't after his money anyway. I had a clear conscience; I was just dating him. But... what if he still wanted to be with me then? I was lost in thought. I completely failed to notice that on the face of Julian beside me, not a trace of that obedient puppy look could be found. Replaced by a coldness I had never seen before. 6 I was searching for a watch on my phone. Actually, when we were upstairs, Julian and I had looked at a watch boutique. He held a watch that looked expensive at a glance and gestured towards me: "Audrey, look, does this look good?" I checked the price—five figures, enough to cover several months of rent. Even the sales associate was persuading: "Yes, sir has great taste. This is a popular model in our store, and we only have the last one left." Julian's eyes were sparkling, and he looked like he really wanted it. I had no choice but to say: "Then let's come back and buy it another day." Then, I pulled him away. But his gaze kept lingering behind. That was when I decided I would buy it for him. "What is Audrey looking at?" Julian pounced over again, and I quickly locked my phone screen: "Nothing." He humph'd: "Audrey is lying." Then he picked me up and carried me into my bedroom: "Your punishment is sleeping with me tonight." It started raining outside. I was kissed dizzy by Julian. The pitter-patter of the rain covered the sounds of our kisses. Before he turned off the light, he asked hoarsely in my ear: "...Can I?" I nodded. 7 When the watch arrived, I was in the kitchen cooking. I asked Julian to answer the door. "Audrey! Did you buy this?" I saw a fleeting flash of surprise in his eyes, followed by overwhelming joy. He picked me up: "Audrey, you're so good to me." The kitchen was steamy. I told him to get out, but he refused. He turned off the stove, set me on the counter, and leaned down to kiss me. I held his strong waist, kissed until I was in a daze. At that time, it was my first time loving someone like this. Loving him so much I forgot that, besides his name, I knew absolutely nothing about Julian. 8 Julian couldn't put that watch down. Consequently, he became even more clingy towards me. An hour before my shift ended, I received a call from him: "Getting off work soon, right? I'll come pick you up, let's go out and play for a bit." I coaxed him helplessly: "Julian, I still have an hour left on my shift." He humph'd: "Don't care. We haven't had a date in so long. I'll wait for you by the lake." After I hung up, my coworker leaned over slyly again: "Got it, another date. Looks like I have to hurry up today." "Audrey, you leave early. I'll cover your shift!" Unable to resist their enthusiasm, I really did take off my apron. Then I touched up my makeup and left the coffee shop, feeling shy and expectant. 9 There were a lot of people by the lake. But I spotted that standout figure at a glance. Julian was wearing the new jacket I bought him, standing by the lake with his back to me, talking on the phone. I was a bit confused. Besides me, who else did he know? So I quietly walked over, wanting to give him a surprise. "Got it, I'll play a little longer and then head back. "Tsk, do you think I'd actually like a girl who works at a coffee shop? Stop joking, she's just gullible. "It's just a watch worth a few tens of thousands. Let's make another bet. A ten-thousand-dollar leather bag. Let's see if she'll buy it. Place your bets, I bet I win." In that instant, my mind went completely blank. Julian's voice lacked any of his usual naive sweetness. He was cold and disdainful. The next second, I saw him take off the watch I bought him from his wrist. Then, he casually tossed it into the shimmering lake, without a hint of hesitation in his movements. "The watch is lost. Wearing it really brings down my value." Julian said, suddenly turning his head. A few steps away, he looked astonished, making eye contact with me. I was completely unaware that I was crying. The person on the other end of Julian's call was still asking: "Hello? Julian, why aren't you saying anything? Ten thousand is too low, right? That naive girlfriend of yours is so love-struck, she wouldn't bet something that big..." But he had already taken a step towards me: "Audrey..." 10 I don't remember how I left. I only remember Julian's expression instantly becoming stunned, shocked, and at a loss. "Audrey, no, listen to me, I..." "Julian," but I only called his name, cutting him off. "I heard everything." Word for word. The lover who was whispering sweet nothings the day before had just stated this was only a game the next day. He stood coldly on the sidelines, acting superior, watching me, the participant, love him so much I lost my mind. "Audrey." "Don't come near me." I abruptly stepped back twice, as if Julian were a terrifying monster. I looked up at this familiar yet strange man. Those thin lips were saying yesterday: "Sister, don't abandon me." Today, they were confidently talking on the phone with someone else, saying: "I bet I win." So I smiled at him: "Julian, you're right. "You won the bet." 11 Julian called me constantly the whole way. I didn't answer a single one and blocked his number. I knew he was following right behind me. He was tall with long legs; no matter how I ran, he could easily catch up. Even in love, he was just as fearless and arrogant. Halfway there, it started to rain. "Audrey!" He called my name: "It's raining. Let's go home. Can we go home and talk about it?" I didn't look back. He said again: "Audrey, please listen to my explanation, okay?" I still didn't look back. Until the rain started pouring heavily, pattering on the ground. I clutched my wet clothes and walked to the bottom of my apartment building without ever looking back. Julian followed me the whole way like that. I made eye contact with him through the mirror on the front door. He had gotten rained on too. His black hair drooped, looking obedient and soft. His eyes were wet, tinged with red. His clothes were soaked and clung to his body, revealing his physique. Very similar to the day we first met, yet entirely different. I suddenly stopped. In the mirror, Julian stopped too. He looked slightly panicked because I turned my head. "The day I picked you up, it was raining this heavily too, right?" I smiled, and he seemed to guess what I was going to say: "Audrey, I admit to this, but I..." "That's enough." I didn't want to hear it. Something that was wrong from the start, no matter how smoothly it went, was still wrong. "Julian, I wish I had never met you. I regret picking you up and bringing you home. Just leave. Go back to where you belong."
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