It dawned on me that the one without a sense of security in our relationship was Colin all along."I said you're the man I love. What's wrong with that? Or is it that I'm not your beloved?" I enunciated each word carefully, my gaze fixed on Colin.Although using this method to confirm Colin's love for me was a bit childish, I intended to let him know that I loved him as much as he loved me. My love for him was no less than his for me.Sure enough, his captivating eyes transformed from delight to euphoria.An emotion that could only be described as satisfaction appeared on Colin's face."Baby, do you know? You've never said you love me. And I've often wondered if this was all a dream and that we weren't together after all. "But today, hearing you say you love me, I'm genuinely overjoyed. Thank you, Baby. Thank you for loving me. I love you, deeply and truly, the kind of love that's only meant for you."I embraced Colin and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. "Colin, I love yo
As Colin carried me to the bathroom to clean up, I had a brief moment of clarity, reminding me that I hadn't eaten dinner and was ravenous.The following day, before I even woke up, Nico's phone call rang like a death knell. I squirmed under the covers, my bare body too exhausted and reluctant to respond.I pretended not to hear it, forcing Colin to pick up my phone helplessly."Nico, why are you calling so early in the morning?" Colin's voice was hoarse yet strangely alluring in the quiet morning. Nico chuckled mischievously on the other end, his arrogant tone crystal clear through the phone. "My, my, you're still asleep, Mr. White? You must have had a good night, huh?" Now fully awake, Colin raised an eyebrow and glanced at me with eyes full of sweet, affectionate amusement. He spoke coldly into the phone. "If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm hanging up."The stark contrast in his demeanor was remarkable."Wait, don't hang up!" Nico pleaded. "Jessie's team
The feeling of waking up alone after a night of being thoroughly cherished was something only those who had experienced it could truly understand.I couldn't help but wonder when these painfully brief periods of meetings would finally come to an end. It was perplexing how two people deeply in love had such difficulty remaining together.Alas, time was of the essence, leaving me with no spare moments to dwell on these thoughts. After a speedy shower and changing of clothes, I ventured out to find something to eat before meeting up with Nico and Jessie.However, before I could even make it out the door, I noticed several takeout bags and a handwritten note on the small round table by the window.The note said, "Baby, these are your favorite ravioli and oatmeal. Make sure you eat everything. I've also packed your suitcase and added some thick jackets for you. It's going to be tough in the mountains, so take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything. I love you, Baby!"The words
There were 13 of us in total—four women and nine men. Each room accommodated two people, with Nico having his own room and one room designated as storage. The eight rooms were just enough.By the time we arrived, night had fallen. The village chief had been waiting for us. When he saw our vehicle approaching, he immediately instructed someone to open the gate and started helping us unload our suitcases. He also organized dinner, insisting on giving us a proper welcome.To my surprise, the village chief remembered me. He greeted me warmly and asked why Colin hadn't come, saying the children missed him.I was baffled. During the rescue operation, which lasted a day and a night, we had barely contributed anything. The professional teams did the actual work while we merely played a supporting role.The village chief and I had only seen each other twice in passing during the rescue efforts. What I remembered about him was his face full of worry, deep concern etched into every line. It l
Mr. Miller's words brought tears to his eyes and those of my schoolmates. He was genuinely concerned about the villagers and earnestly wanted to find reliable work for them.Jessie wiped her eyes, raised her glass, and boldly said, "Mr. Miller, it isn't easy to open a mine. Apart from the fact that the reserves must meet the standards, it also requires approval from many departments. "The process will be long, but I promise you, once the mine is established, I will personally recommend to the construction company that they hire your villagers. It would be great if they could stay home and care for their families."For the first time, I realized that our actions could significantly impact many lives, and I couldn't help but feel proud.As the night wore on, Mr. Miller got drunk, and his wife had to come and take him home. The rest of the male students were thoroughly inebriated as well and stumbled back to their rooms to sleep.Jessie and I shared a room. After dinner, we sat on t
Being caught in the middle of Nico and Jessie's relationship proved to be exhausting. In fact, it was emotionally draining.The real work began the following morning, with everyone armed with heavily laden backpacks filled with untold items, their heft evident in each step.Jessie led the group, and we set off into the mountains, chatting and laughing along the way. Nico followed closely, carrying samples and records from our previous trip. Using academic discussion as an excuse, he subtly made his moves to pursue Jessie.I trailed behind them, maintaining a two-step distance so that I would neither lag behind nor intrude upon their conversation.Soon, it became clear that the realities of geological exploration were starkly different from my imaginings. Watching those young faces turn serious and focused as they worked filled me with respect for them.Indeed, every person engrossed in their work deserved admiration and appreciation.Given my limited geological expertise, I wasn'
Colin had attended Lincoln University for nine years and made many friends along the way, all of whom quickly spoke up in his defense. However, the alumni group was vast, and Colin's brilliance during his school years had overshadowed many, causing envy among some.Now that Colin was publicly denounced, many seized the opportunity to kick him while he was down. Whether the accusations were true or false didn't seem to matter. Those who Colin had once overshadowed were eager to reverse the narrative, launching personal attacks and strongly questioning his character without any verification.Colin's outstanding achievements in the industry after graduation had elevated him to the pinnacle of Lincoln University's Department of Fine Arts, stirring even more resentment and jealousy.Critics claimed that Colin repaid kindness with enmity and had a corrupt moral character, tarnishing the reputation of Lincoln University. Some even suggested revoking Colin's master's and doctoral degree
Colin would be inevitably dethroned from his position as an exceptional young painter, becoming a cautionary tale of moral corruption and ingratitude.It wasn't important how others viewed the situation, but Lincoln University was bound to react. If things got worse, our former corporate partners might be affected, leading to substantial financial compensation claims against us.Moreover, the watercolor industry represented thousands of years of cultural heritage and was revered by many. There was no way such a prestigious field would accept anyone deemed morally corrupt.Would Colin be able to keep his teaching credentials? Would I be able to graduate as planned? Would we still have the opportunity to create art in the future?The answer seemed obvious.Jasmine's actions were a calculated attempt to destroy our future. Her maliciousness was a lesson in the depths of cruelty a woman's heart could reach. It seemed that if she couldn't have Colin, she would rather see our lives cr