Jacob Green praised, "You’re picking it up quickly, soon you’ll have your driver’s license."
"It’s because you’re a good teacher. You stopped me from learning at the driving school, so getting the license is on you."
"As long as you fully learn it, leave it to your husband."
"Practicing two to three hours a day, you’ll be on the road with a license in no time."
"You look radiant every day lately, always so happy. Seems like you’re adapting well to the hospital." Mia Townsend put the brewed green tea on John Green’s desk, smiling warmly at him.
"Being happy isn’t because I’m adapting well at the hospital."
"Then what’s the reason?"
He wore a blissful smile at the corner of his mouth, "Because I’m in love."
Mia’s smile froze, as if struck by lightning, she couldn’t recover for a long time.
"You... what did you just say?!"
"Is such a big reaction necessary?" He leisurely took a sip from his cup, "At my age, falling in love shouldn’t be surprising, right?"
"Indeed it’s not surprising, but it’s quite unusual for you. Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in love?"
"Sorry for keeping it from you. It’s not that I’m uninterested in love; it’s just that the person who interests me hadn’t appeared yet."
Mia’s heart felt a sudden pang, "That girl... who is she? Where did you meet her?"
"We’ve known each other for a long time, it’s Mia Townsend."
"You..." Mia almost lost her breath, "You like that type?"
"She was my high school first love girlfriend."
Mia was at a loss for words, with so many things stuck in her throat, unable to speak.
"You never told me this before..."
"Because I didn’t want to mention it back then; bringing it up made me feel stifled."
"Nine out of ten first loves don’t work out, how come you’re back together?"
"Because the love is still there."
Mia stared blankly at him, "John..."
"Hard to believe?" His eyes sparkled, revealing whom he was thinking about, "I didn’t expect that after all these years, neither of us looked for anyone else. She’s still consistently in love with me, you know? When we met in the hospital, she thought you were my girlfriend."
"How did you two get back together? Did you approach her first?"
"Of course, it’s me." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel·fiɾe·net
"All these years of knowing you and being your friend, it’s my first time realizing you do have expectations for love."
"Yes," he admitted, "There was just no one around who moved me."
This sentence sank into Mia’s heart, leaving a sour taste.
"Do you think you still love her and can’t forget her because you guys broke the rules back then?"
"No, when we dated, I was a senior in high school and she was in the third year of junior high, we were quite young."
"Didn’t you ever have any thoughts in that direction?"
John Green gave a half-smile, "Of course I did."
"I don’t see you as a gentleman in front of your girlfriend."
"Naturally not." He smiled lightly, still unwilling to share these details even with a close friend.
Back then, apart from not taking that last step, they did everything else.
"I really envy her, all these years and you still like her."
John Green smiled without saying a word.
"Care to join me for dinner tonight?" Mia invited, "Since she’s your girlfriend, I should get to know her better."
"Sure, I’ll arrange it."
When Mia Townsend found out about the dinner, she enthusiastically agreed.
For her convenience, John Green reserved a restaurant near her beauty and hair salon.
After all, Mia Townsend had to work until around nine or ten, and John had a night shift.
When she arrived at the restaurant a little after six, John Green and Mia were already there.
She sat next to John Green, and before she could speak, she noticed Mia scrutinizing her across the table.
Mia Townsend smiled, "Hello, John mentioned you two have known each other for years abroad, and you’re quite close."
"Yes, we’re in the same hospital department and have mutual interests, so we get along well, it’s comfortable." Mia smiled, "I heard you’re his first love. I felt awkward meeting you before because John didn’t tell me about you two back then."
"It’s okay," Mia Townsend said, unconcerned, "Back then, neither of us knew we’d end up together. Now that we are, he told you who I am."
"I’m curious how you two got together initially. He didn’t tell, could you share?"
"At that time, our math teacher had a traffic accident, and he was assigned to substitute for half a month. I remember it vividly; the first time he stepped on the podium, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. It was love at first sight. Later on, knowing he’d leave in half a month, I kept thinking about how to date the top student every day."
"And then what happened?"
Since she wants to know, let her have it.
Mia Townsend smiled, "Then I managed to win him over quite easily."
"Quite easily... won him over?" Mia felt like she was about to spit blood, "From what I know, he’s not easy to pursue. Many girls abroad have tried, including some pretty ones, but none succeeded."
Hearing this, Mia Townsend turned her head to meet John Green’s smiling eyes, feeling a wave of sweetness, "You should ask him why I could pursue him so easily back then."
"Young age, an empty emotional world, and just happened to like you," he contemplated before adding, "The most important is the third point."
Across the table, Mia felt increasingly uneasy.
During the rest of the time, she was clearly absent-minded.
The meal felt flavorless.
Especially when leaving the restaurant, John Green’s reminders to Mia Townsend were, "I’m on night duty tonight, back by six in the morning. Lock the door properly, and if you make a late-night snack, be sure to turn off the gas. Call me if anything happens."
Although his voice was low, she overheard every word, realizing the couple had crossed many boundaries much faster than she had imagined.
She watched as Mia Townsend nodded to John Green. Though it was a completely ordinary gesture, to Mia, it felt exceedingly glaring.
"Why can’t I reach your young master’s phone? Is he home?"
"He is, but he’s probably getting ready for bed." Nathanial Green glanced at the still-lit second-floor window.
"Bedtime?" Elijah Sheppard checked his watch, "It’s only eight o’clock."
Nathanial Green nodded, "Since marrying, the young master is gradually going to bed earlier."
"That’s the difference with having a wife."
"Who would disagree."