"I rarely make true friends, but once I acknowledge someone as a friend, I will always treat them well.
Didn’t you say today that nobody has ever indulged you , and you’re afraid you’ll become used to it, right?
From now on, I won’t indulge you anymore. We’ll reverse the roles; you can indulge me."
Jane Quinlan’s eyes nearly popped out. Is this his idea of changing how we interact?
"Kay Forrest, can you ever be serious?
The things I said this morning were genuine. Can’t you..."
"So, you genuinely want to cut ties with me? Even if we work in the same office, we’d avoid each other until death?
Even if we cross paths, would you just absentmindedly ask if I’m okay?
Since you’re neither after my money nor my charm, what could possibly scare you about being friends with me?
You said I spoil you, but isn’t it just because you’ve been sorely lacking in affection and nobody has ever treated you well before?
Don’t you think you’re foolish to push away a friend who genuinely cares about you?"
Jane stared at him, wondering why this man had to make things sound so unpleasant.
"You don’t feel embarrassed being seen with me?"
"Why should I be embarrassed?
Who says there are hierarchies in friendship?
I decide who I’m comfortable with, and I shouldn’t care about what others think."
Upon hearing his frank words, Jane found herself realizing she might be petty.
She smiled wryly: "How can someone as peculiar as you even exist in this world?"
"There is, and you just happened to meet me," he said with a boastful smile, looking at her.
Jane bit her lip, smiling as she looked at him.
He raised an eyebrow: "So, are you still upset with me?"
"I can’t be bothered with you," she said with a smile, flipping open her notebook: "We need to leave at 9:30 am for a meeting in town, and at 2 pm..."
He grinned, watching her relay the day’s agenda, a hint of unrecognized amusement in his gaze.
He seemed to have completely overlooked the influence this woman had on him.
Ever since he noticed her mood was off this morning, his own mood hadn’t been great.
It was only now, seeing the smile on her face, that his spirits were finally lifted.
In the afternoon, after the meeting in town, Kay Forrest saw her standing by the flowerbed near the city hall, looking down at her phone.
He sneaked up behind her and tapped her shoulder, causing her to scream loudly.
She was genuinely startled, turning around to smack him: "Kay Forrest, are you out of your mind?"
Kay Forrest couldn’t stop smiling: "I just wanted to scare you."
"Are you being childish? What are you, three or five years old?"
With a sly look, Kay squinted his eyes: "Yikes, you seem so jittery. Could it be that you were watching... Island Nation films?"
"Island Nation films?" She puzzled for a moment, looking at him: "What..."
As she spoke, she suddenly realized: "You... you’re shameless."
Kay was even more amused, laughing aloud: "What’s so shameless about watching Island Nation films?
Just like it’s no secret that women like watching Korean dramas, men enjoying Japanese films isn’t some secretive matter either."
Jane raised her hand to cover her mouth: "Alright, alright, just stop talking."
He pried her hand away holding it: "What are you shy about, did I guess it right?"
"Can you stop spouting nonsense?
In broad daylight, here at the front gate of the city hall, do you think it’s plausible I’d watch that kind of stuff?"
Jane shrugged: "Then what were you nervous about just now?"
As she spoke, she walked forward to find her car, pulling the door open and getting in.
Seeing her seated in the passenger seat, Kay Forrest approached and knocked on the car door.
Jane looked up at him: "What’s the matter?"
"I’ve been in meetings all morning, do I really have to drive now?"
Jane glared at him, wishing he’d get to the point without beating around the bush.
They swapped places, and Jane started the car, driving away from the city hall entrance.
Rarely, it was traffic congested at noon, and Kay casually grabbed her phone to take a glance.
Seeing that the last text she was looking at was from Xavier, he frowned: "What does this Mr. Xavier mean by this?"
Jane, who was distracted, turned to look and snatched her phone back: "Why are you looking at my phone?"
"If I hadn’t looked, how would I know this Mr. Xavier dares to be so boldly bullying you, is he looking for trouble?"
Jane was originally in a bad mood, but hearing Kay say this unexpectedly made her feel much better.
Just minutes ago, she received a message from Xavier.