Oscar didn’t give me a chance to say no. I knew what that meant. I held the phone and looked at Josh. A momentter, I walked over and was about to speak when Josh said, “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.”

    Leave? I froze. “Where are you going?”

    Josh walked forward. “Go back.” Go back? Go back to Tideport? But he had said before that he would stay. He even rented a ce to live. When I thought about this, I remembered the demolition and Lena’s request. I hadn’t told Josh about that yet.

    I wanted to ask him why he was going back. But he looked so distant that I didn’t dare to ask. I said, “I’lle over tomorrow night to watch the adjustment.” Josh looked at me. His gaze seemed to be saying, “Maybe you’re free, but I’m not.”

    I waited for him to reject me, but after staring at me for a few seconds, he said, “Okay.” I knew that this was what he really meant. He was angry, but he still didn’t want to make things difficult for me. He must feel sad and wronged. Suddenly, I thought that I shouldn’t do this. I went too far I bullied him just because he had feelings for me.

    In fact, everyone was like this. Those who were more active would always suffer more, just like when I was with Alvin. I remembered the grievances I suffered. Maybe I shouldn’t do

    this to Josh.

    “Josh,” I called to him. “I’m going to meet Oscar tonight because I asked him to look into something for me, iso /iI have to go.” Josh’s eyes darkened slightly, and then he nodded in

    agreement.

    “You’ll cook for me tomorrow night, and then we’lle to watch the lights being adjusted together,” I coaxed him in a yful tone.

    Josh’s mouth twitched slightly. “Zoe, I’m not a child. A p and a candy won’t do.” I pouted. “Really?” He frowned slightly. I moved closer to him. “Darling, if candy won’t do,

    what will?”

    After I said this, I found Josh freezing. The tips of his ears turned red, and his eyes trembled violently. I was teasing him. I didn’t expect him to be so happy when I called him “Darling.” I felt fresh and excited when I teased a tough man like Josh.

    08:52 Fri, 22 Aug We

    ? 61% –

    Just as I thought he would do something to me, I suddenly heard him say in a low voice, “You rejected me, avoided me, and flirted with me. Zoe, are you doing this on purpose?”

    His serious and aggrieved look really made me feel like I really hurt him a lot. I swallowed

    guiltily and said without answering, “Then, see iyou /itomorrowi./ii” /iWith that, I turned around and heaved a sigh of relief.

    +38

    On the way back, I felt that I had gone too far just nowi. /iBut for some reason, at that

    moment, I teased him. I didn’t want to have anything to do with him, but I couldn’t help but

    tease him to see how he was moved by me. I didn’t know why I did this actually.

    Moreover, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that I was scum and bad. I regretted

    not controlling myself. I shook my head in self–mockery. I shouldn’t have done that.

    Just as I was feeling vexed, Thea’s voice suddenly sounded in front of me, “Zoe.”

    Looking up, I saw her standing not far from me. I thought of what I did just now. She must

    have seen that. I felt quite awkward. However, I could only pretend to be calm as I watched

    her walk towards me.

    AD