The limited space, the lighting, and the elegance of music drifting over from the mall worked together to create a tantalizing effect.Such a four-eyed look was tantamount to dry wood meeting a blazing fire, and even two people who had never met before would become captives of the atmosphere.Calvin’s arm muscle tensed. “It seems you have a lot of guts. You dare to play with me as an agitator. However, good lawyers are all over the place. I’m not obligated to you.”Adriana’s finger was still on his lapel, moving back and forth. She thought, Calvin must still have some feelings for me. Otherwise, he would have kicked me out long ago.So, she boldly provoked him. “Mr. Calvin, your newly purchased slippers—do you still want them? After all, I don’t have any man in my house. So, it’s idle to keep them. Why don’t I throw them away?”Her meaning was clear: Don’t think I don’t know you want to take advantage of me. If that’s the case, let’s make a fair deal. If you want to eat tofu, then you
Calvin, already the picture of elegance, managed to elevate his presence further by changing into a proper suit.Now, as he walked in shiny leather shoes, the sound of each step on the cobblestones created a rhythmic melody that seemed to light up the atmosphere.He had always walked with one hand casually in his pants pocket, his back straight and erect — truly living up to the phrase “orchid and jade tree.”The moment Adriana’s eyes met his, she quickly looked away.Calvin sat in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and twisted his head toward her. “What? Don’t dare to look at me?”Adriana smirked. “Yes, I don’t dare. I’m afraid I’ll be mesmerized by you and end up crashing the car.”The corners of Calvin’s mouth twitched. When he turned his head back to his right, the twitch became a brief laugh — so fleeting that even he didn’t notice it himself.As the car drove toward the villa area, Adriana fell silent.Calvin, immersed in his phone, focused on handling his work. He didn’t
An hour had passed, but the door was still closed, and there was no news from Calvin.Lunchtime had passed, and Adriana's stomach rumbled.There was no food in the car. She wanted to drive to the neighborhood to eat, but she worried that if Calvin came out and didn't see anyone, he might take advantage of the situation.After waiting for more than two hours, she finally couldn't help but fall asleep in the car.Three hours later, Calvin resigned from Anna’s family and walked out. When he saw the car parked under the shade of a tree, he felt a mix of anger and annoyance.He was about to knock hard when his eyes fell on the sleeping figure in the driver's seat.Through the crack of the open window, he could see Adriana resting her head against the window, deeply asleep.Her outstretched hand hung by the glass, and the wind swept past, pushing strands of hair from the back of her hand to her face.She was quiet and serene as she slept. Her thick eyelashes fluttered as if the cicada's win
When had Calvin ever been lectured like this? His face darkened.Adriana laughed inwardly. “Very good! Serves you right!”With a stern expression, Calvin handed Adriana the car keys. “Give them to me.”The cashier caught a glimpse of the car key’s logo, and her eyes widened. A Rolls-Royce?And the keychain was clearly a men’s style. Driving such an expensive car and still making someone else pay for groceries? What’s wrong with him?Despite his sour mood, Calvin moved efficiently, packing the ingredients with meticulous care. His movements weren’t rushed, yet he quickly organized everything into two large bags.He grabbed the bags and walked out without a word. Adriana followed behind — empty-handed.The cashier, now thoroughly confused, thought to herself, Well... at least he’s doing the heavy lifting. Not completely scummy.****Back at home, Adriana carefully
The food and soup were both inedible and ended up in the trash.The alternative was boiled dumplings.Calvin propped up one side of his head, not wanting to comment on the layer of white, floury dumplings on his dinner plate. “Lawyer Clarke, when treating guests, at least show some hospitality. Letting guests eat dumplings twice doesn’t seem very gracious, does it?”‘What kind of guest are you? If you don’t want to eat, leave!’ Adriana wanted to say these words aloud.However, after reminding herself three times of the “cooperation case,” she said with a smile on her face, “How could it be? This time it's different. Last time it was pork and scallions, but this time it's pork and mushrooms, without scallions.”It made Calvin so angry that he almost choked on his words.After dipping the dumplings in vinegar, Adriana burped.Calvin furrowed his brows. “You have quite the
At first, Adriana was nervous, afraid he might suddenly do something. But when he fell asleep, she gradually settled down. Once she relaxed, she also drifted off into sleep.Calvin usually didn’t sleep well, so even a nap would only last twenty minutes or so. However, when he woke up today, two hours had already passed.His arm shifted, feeling numb and stiff, and he frowned when he saw the woman sleeping against it.Adriana was still sound asleep. Her head tilted slightly, using his arm as a pillow, her legs curled up on the sofa. Her thin frame was tucked into a tiny ball, half of her body leaning against him. Her long hair cascaded down softly, revealing her delicate nose and pointed chin.The setting sun bathed her in a warm, orange glow, making her look peaceful and serene.Calvin continued to lie there, unmoving, leaving his arm beneath her.“You’re awake?”Adriana’s voice was soft as she blinked he
The car circled around, almost flipping Adriana upside down. Finally, they arrived at the top of the mountain.Although it was supposed to be a camping trip, Ray had temporarily transformed the place into something that felt like a palace.In the center stood a large tent, no less solid than a yurt. It looked so sturdy that even if the wind blew at gale force, it wouldn’t shake a bit.Next to the yurt were two barbecues—one roasting a whole goat, and the other loaded with all kinds of meats and vegetables.There were dartboards, archery targets with bows and arrows, table games, and swing beds hung between two trees nearby. Open-air tables with neatly arranged fruits were set up, draped with white tablecloths, and a few lamps interspersed between them. Colorful effect lights placed on the ground gave the entire scene a magical glow.Overhead, strings of colorful lights and flower arches were arranged in a way that could easily pass for
Ray continued feeding the girl different foods by mouth, one bite after another. Eating seemed secondary—the real focus was their playful intimacy. As they kept going, the girl’s pleated skirt crept higher, almost up to her stomach, and her thin, pencil-like legs wrapped themselves around him.Adriana cleared her throat softly and took a few sips of water, hoping to break the tension and regulate the awkward atmosphere.Calvin, ever impassive, flicked the ash from his cigarette and glanced at her. “What are you blushing for?”Adriana pressed her lips together tightly. “The girl is too hot. I’ll just stay away.”Calvin raised a brow. “Seeing other people make love to each other stirring something in you? Feeling envious?”Adriana tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile that almost matched Ray’s signature smirk. “If Calvin can’t stand being lonely, why not ask Ray to bring you a girl? Just don’t pull me into it.”Calvin, already used to Ray’s flings and the revolving door of
Since it was Carson’s case, and the subsequent statute, he had also arranged a number of back doors.Aidan took out his phone and sent a message to the Public Security Bureau, and Adriana met the defendant at the detention center that afternoon.Maybe it was the stereotypes, or maybe it was the social opinion. However, no matter how Adriana looked at him, the man in front of her fit the "bad guy" stereotype.The man was about 5'2" tall, or maybe a little taller in actuality. He had a round head, but his body was too fat to complement his head. His round-necked single-layer shirt was covered in floral tattoos stretching across the back of his exposed hands and wrists.The man saw her and grinned, showing his yellow teeth from years of smoking.Adriana thought to herself, “Where did Carson get the courage to plead for him to be not guilty? His dignified appearance in the courtroom would make the entire jury want to smash eggs.”
“It’s you!”With no strength left to defend herself, Adriana instinctively took a step back. It was in that moment she saw the man holding a spring-loaded knife in a menacing grip — the very same traffic policeman who had impounded her driver’s license, and also that lady’s own son.The man’s mouth twisted as he gritted his teeth and spat, “Little bitch, what the fuck did you just say? You’re trying to get my mom killed! You’re going to get my whole family killed!”There was no one at the entrance of the courthouse at this moment. The knife in his hand could stab her at any time, completely out of control. Adriana’s top priority was to stabilize him.Forcing herself to stay calm, Adriana said evenly, “I didn’t know she was a mother. That day, I only saw her riding a bicycle alone. I thought it looked difficult and I just wanted to help her.”“Don’t
The next day, Adriana packed her things and left for work.When she went downstairs, she saw a familiar car.The neighbourhood she rented in was only mid-range to high-end, and it was rare to see such a luxurious car.The high-profile Aston Martin in front of her certainly didn’t fit in with the overall atmosphere.Adriana instinctively knew there was a familiar face inside, so she turned around to leave.Drip!The horn blared, the driver’s window rolled down, and a head peeked out.“I’ve seen it all. Where are you planning to hide?”Adriana knew dodging was pointless, so she switched to a standard, polite smile — the kind an employee would show when greeting their superior.“Deputy Director Carson showing up at his subordinate’s doorstep first thing in the morning — that can’t be a coincidence, right?”The injury on Carson’s face, after a night of settling in, looked even worse. The swelling had intensified, and the bruise had deepened in color. His left eye, the one that had taken t
Seeing Calvin and Carson angrily facing each other, it seemed like they were about to start fighting again. Adriana put down what she was holding and sat down with a stern face.“You two can bandage each other up. Since you're both so capable of fighting, you can handle the aftermath just as well.”“No way.”“Never happening.”Surprisingly, they were at least consistent on this point.“Well then, since neither of you wants to do it, bear with it. After this, go home — to whoever you like.”Not wanting to get entangled with either of them any further, Adriana just wanted to leave with a clean slate.Carson tugged at her wrist, his red, swollen face filled with helplessness. “You’re not really going to leave, are you?”Adriana looked down at his hand, then forced him to let go. “I made myself very clear already. No matter what you do, I won’t appreciate it. Whether I’m desperate, heartless, or however you want to see me — it doesn’t matter. You can think of me as a scummy girl if you wa
Calvin spoke out in shock. Adriana was afraid he would say something else, so she hurriedly advised, “Calvin, let’s just come together and part peacefully. At least let’s leave each other with some dignity. Let’s not make a mess of things until there’s nothing left.”There was a warning in her eyes, and her stance made it clear she was drawing a line with him.Calvin cooperated by lowering his head slightly, and likewise lowered his voice, whispering, “Do you like that playboy so much? Do you even know what kind of person Carson really is?”Adriana glanced at Carson out of the corner of her eye. He appeared calm and composed, not at all embarrassed by being left out, standing there like a clear stream.“What kind of person he is — time will tell,” she replied. “I’ll also keep my eyes wide open to see it for myself. Instead of listening to your version, I’d rather experience it firsthand.”Calvin was thoroughly exasperated by her. “It seems you’re determined to go against me.”“Calvin,
New York is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the country and has been ranked as a highly livable place for several years in a row. Facing the sea and stretching northward, its late spring and early summer evenings are filled with a gentle breeze and bustling traffic—a perfect blend of vibrant life and the relentless struggles of young dreamers.Strolling through the college campus, where students gathered in groups, one could see couples walking arm in arm, hear playful bickering, and catch fleeting glimpses of youthful romance. It was enough to rekindle even the most faded sparks of sentiment.Carson pulled a cigarette case and lighter from his trouser pocket, but just as he was about to light one, he hesitated and put them back. “There’s an observation deck nearby. Want to check it out?”Adriana refused without hesitation. She wasn’t here for a date. Why would she follow the same route as young lovers?“I’m not going.”Carson glanced at a couple embracing in front of the
Looking at the smelly rice noodles bubbling on the table, Adriana wrinkled her eyebrows into two tight knots. “This is refreshing?”Carson, his long fingers stirring the noodles and auxiliary ingredients in the large bowl, looked completely at ease—clearly, he had eaten this many times before. “These rice noodles are made from the shop owner’s authentic recipe. Only his family knows it. Have a try!”Adriana’s expression darkened as she pushed her bowl away. “Deputy Director Carson, you should eat more.”She found it hard to believe that someone like Carson, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, would be good at this.Actually, it was more than just being grounded—it was practically underground.Carson noticed her reluctance and frowned. “Didn’t you used to love this?”Adriana hesitated. “Before? How do you know what I used to eat?”Had their paths ever crossed? Searching her memory, Adriana couldn’t recall.Carson smirked mysteriously. “Eat three bites, and I’ll tell you.”Back in co
Adriana ignored the message alert and pretended not to see it.At the dinner table, Anderson both explicitly and implicitly mentioned that Calvin’s plan for the night was to attend Karl’s birthday party. He even emphasized, “Our president—when has he ever given anyone such an honor? He rarely attends private parties in a year.”The implication was clear: the relationship between the Walker family and the Blake family was extraordinary.His remark was directed at Adriana, who simply smiled.Anderson might have intended to provoke her, but her lack of response left him disinterested, and he didn’t bring it up again.A house call and a banquet—it seemed that things between Anna and Calvin were progressing well.Pretty good.Drip!The sound of a car horn suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Adriana turned toward the road, and her expression darkened instantly.Carson rolled down the window and leaned out, his elbow resting on the window frame as he smiled at her. “What a coincidence!”At tw
Calvin said, “Whether we are falling out or not, Chairman Blake, there’s no need for you to know too much. I didn’t see Albert.”No one could force a word out of him if he didn’t want to speak.Karl, understanding Calvin’s style, knew better than to press the matter. Truth be told, there was no need to ask—Carson had likely crossed a line that Calvin, who couldn’t tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes, found unforgivable. Perhaps even Albert himself was not worth seeing in Calvin’s view.This is tricky.Karl kept a smile on his face and said, “Carson—that boy lacks determination. Albert has mentioned many times that… well, never mind. Even raising his own son hasn’t been easy for him. It’s clear that mistakes are inevitable in other areas as well. But let’s not dwell on it.”Despite his lighthearted tone, Karl was struggling internally.With his current cash flow issues, he had planned for Albert to meet Calvin tonight, hoping to reinforce his confidence and secure financial suppo