CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: THE OLD BACHELOR

Shannon Quinn widened her eyes and hurriedly explained, "I’m looking for the bathroom!"

"Bathroom? Do you want me to take you?"

"No need, it’s not urgent right now. I’m just worried that I won’t be able to find it later, so I’m checking the way now. Please continue, about your first love."

At the mention of "first love," Erin Bishop’s eyes dimmed as she picked up a bamboo skewer and took a bite of meat, before saying, "I met him when I was in high school. He was two grades ahead of me. At school, he was the male idol that everyone knew about, the kind of school heartthrob, you know?"

Shannon Quinn nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, and Erin Bishop continued, "He came from a good family, was good-looking, but was extremely aloof. Many girls liked him, but none managed to get close to him."

"When I first got involved with him, it was actually on a bet with my classmates. If I managed to win him over, I’d win the bet. I was just taking it as a game, not expecting to play myself into it."

"You have no idea how hard it was to pursue him. I stuck to him shamelessly for a whole semester, wrote love letters, sent flowers, followed him, climbed his family’s wall to find him... I did everything others did, and also what they didn’t dare to do. I still remember it was on New Year’s Eve when he agreed to be with me."

Recalling these memories, an inadvertent smile appeared on Erin Bishop’s face, yet her eyes became warmly teary, "He was particularly cold at first. You could say ten things to him, and he might not respond to even one. Later, after I bugged him enough, he would respond impatiently with a few words, none of them pleasant. Anyway, he kept tormenting me; on New Year’s Eve, I gambled with him, saying, ’I’ve chased you for so long, and I’m tired. I know you’re annoyed with me, so I’m planning to give up after today and never bother you again.’ Guess what he said?"

Shannon Quinn listened attentively, shaking her head.

"He said I messed up his life without his permission, and now that I’ve messed it up, I want to walk away, calling me excessive. I sensed that he was somewhat reluctant to let go of me, given he hadn’t avoided me for over a year. I knew he had some feelings for me, so I pushed him to confirm our relationship, saying if he didn’t, I wouldn’t look for him anymore. Then he said we could try it out, and if the trial period went well, I could become his official girlfriend."

"Thinking about how foolish I was - why did I let him torment me? I didn’t owe him anything."

Shannon Quinn listened and chuckled lightly, "But I think you willingly did that."

Erin Bishop also chuckled; some memories felt happy just by recalling them. She nodded and said, "I really was willing. You have no idea how happy I was when he confirmed our relationship. I found out he was the kind of person with a tough exterior but a soft heart."

"He wouldn’t say sweet things to make people happy, and loved to criticize me, yet treated me exceptionally well. That kind of well-being was through actions, not words. He’d berate me but treasured me inside. Forget about others; I envied myself."

"I envy you too; I deeply regret not dating during school."

"Have you watched youth school dramas? That’s basically how it was with us, like what’s portrayed in dramas. He was a top student, and though I wasn’t failing, I struggled with my studies, so I’d bring my textbooks to his house every day for tutoring. He attended school with me, waited for me after school, and all the girls envied me."

"I envy you too; having such a first love makes life worthwhile."

"Later, I don’t know for what reason, but he took a year off from school. I asked him and he didn’t tell me, yet he would still come to school to find me whenever he had time. Some people even said he took a break especially for me, because if he didn’t, he’d graduate, and this way he could be with me for another year. I don’t know if that was true, but indeed it was because of this we spent another year together."

"What happened afterward?"

Erin Bishop’s smile faded, and she ate a few mouthfuls of meat in a venting manner, chewing as she said, "Then he left. He didn’t say anything, just left. Changed his number, cut off all contact. I asked around and finally heard he went abroad to study."

"Did you have a fight?"

"No, I still don’t understand why. Just days before he was fine, he even joined me at school for meals. Then he said he was busy, didn’t call much or reply to my messages, and suddenly disappeared."

Shannon Quinn sighed regretfully; no wonder Erin Bishop always shouted that name whenever she got drunk. Such an unresolved first love, probably anyone would struggle to move on.

"I sometimes feel he might’ve been playing with me, seeing me as foolish, teasing me intentionally. Three, five years passed, and he still hadn’t come back for me. I convinced myself he was a jerk and told myself to forget him. I started changing boyfriends often, making my love life appear rich. But no matter what, I could deceive others, not myself... I couldn’t forget him."

"Didn’t the guy just say he might come back soon? By then, you can ask him clearly what happened."

Erin Bishop looked despondent, seemingly worried, perhaps fearing that the unforgettable beautiful first love in her heart was just an easily forgotten past for someone else.

"Let’s drink, I’ll get the wine!" Erin Bishop said as she stood up, walking to the wine shelf to fetch bottles and glasses.

Shannon Quinn didn’t stop her, knowing she could take her home once she got drunk.

"Miss Bishop?" Shannon Quinn looked up to see Ronan Rhodes approaching, subconsciously glancing around to find no sign of Landon Sutton.

Erin Bishop turned to look at Ronan Rhodes; his similar appearance made her a bit flustered, but his cheeky grin quickly broke any fantasy.

"I asked around; is your name Erin Bishop?" Ronan Rhodes asked with a smile, and Erin Bishop nodded, moving to sit beside Shannon Quinn and leaving the spot opposite for Ronan Rhodes.

After Ronan Rhodes thanked her and sat down, he handed over a business card, "My brother’s number is on it; you can contact him directly if you need anything."

Erin Bishop accepted the card, looked at the familiar characters, pursed her lips, and asked Ronan Rhodes, "Is he married?"

"Married? No, he’s still a bachelor!"

"Then... does he have a girlfriend?"

Ronan Rhodes smiled meaningfully, as if about to say something secretive, glanced around, shielded his mouth with his hand, and leaned forward, whispering, "My brother is gay, how would he have a girlfriend?"

Shannon Quinn felt amused and exasperated hearing this, while Erin Bishop frowned, scolding Ronan Rhodes, "You’re talking nonsense!"

"It’s true! If he weren’t gay, how could he have not found a girlfriend till now? It’s abnormal!"

"You’re the one who’s abnormal!" Right then, Erin Bishop still defended him.

Ronan Rhodes chuckled lightly, just about to say something when his phone received a text from Landon Sutton: Tell the woman with black hair to step aside.

Ronan Rhodes initially didn’t quite understand the text, but upon looking up at the black-haired Shannon Quinn, recognizing her as that designer from the fashion show, he got a vague idea. So, he said to Shannon Quinn, "Miss, could you step out for a moment? I have a few words I’d like to say to Miss Bishop privately."