09

This escape room experience could be considered a failure. Not only did Olivia not relax, but she seemed even more bothered by me.

The next day, I saw a post on Olivia’s social media. She shared a picture with the caption:

[Thank you, darling, for the apology gift. I really like it. I forgive you this time~]

My finger paused slightly as I saw the image. It was a painting, and the strokes were too familiar.

Because I was the one who painted it. Justin has always been fond of art. He even has his own collection gallery. In college, he loved Karl Gustav Carus’s “Faust’s Dream.”

Three months before his birthday, I started working on this painting. Although I studied art, I was only a beginner, and after countless attempts, I wasn’t satisfied.

Finally, after several sleepless nights, I finished the painting.

I presented it to Justin with delight, and he was happy too, hanging it in his bedroom. Now, he had given this painting to Olivia.

I knew Olivia posted this on social media for me to see, as a response to Justin’s gesture in the escape room.

Justin didn’t try to win her favor with the painting. Instead, he trampled on the one who painted it.

He knew I could see it, yet he made a clear choice between us.

Right, she was his girlfriend. He had already made his choice.

After that, Justin and I didn’t communicate for a long time. Instead, I started talking to Tim more often.

He completely changed his cold attitude toward me and actively sought me out every day.

But on this day, I didn’t receive any messages from him, which puzzled me.

So, I proactively sent him a message:

[What are you doing?]

Tim replied with a voice message after a long time, his voice thick with a raspy and sniffly tone.

“I have a slight fever and am resting at home.”

I grew a little worried. “Are you okay? Is there anyone taking care of you?”

“No one’s looking after me; the housekeeper’s back home, and my folks are traveling abroad.” “It’s fine, I’ll manage.”

As he spoke, he coughed a few times, sounding really sick.

I got worried. “I’m coming over right away, just wait for me.”

Tim hesitated. “Would that inconvenience you? Is it a good time?”

Relieved after my confirmation, he smiled. “Then I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Arriving at Tim’s place, he’d already opened the door before I could ring the bell.

He was wearing gray loungewear, his black hair scattered across his fair forehead.

It looked like he had a high fever, with a flush on his cheeks.

Usually, Tim dressed mostly in suits and coats, which made him look handsome but somewhat aloof.

Now, he seemed much younger, like a college student, the distant vibe disappearing.

“Did you take your meds?” Tim gently shook his head.

I gently pushed him back onto the bed and fetched the medication to give it to him.

After he finished drinking the water, he didn’t return the cup to me but instead held it, staring blankly downward.

Perhaps due to his high fever, the tips of his ears were tinged red.

Rarely did he look so silly, and I suddenly found a cute side to Tim.

As the sun gradually set, the shadow of the sunset filtered through the curtains, turning the world into a faded oil painting.

The room was quiet. Normally, we had plenty to talk about, but when alone together, we both found ourselves at a loss for words.

I felt awkward and got up.

“I’ll whip up some porridge; you just rest up.”

Just as I stepped out of the room, a small cat suddenly darted out from somewhere, circling around my feet; I almost tripped over it.

It was the white Munchkin cat that was Tim’s profile picture.

The kitten was adorable, and I couldn’t help but crouch down to stroke its head.

It wasn’t afraid of humans and eagerly nuzzled my hand.

Just as I was about to pick it up, my phone rang.

It was Justin.

He sounded annoyed. “Sophia, where are you today?!”

I was taken aback and checked my phone’s screen. March 12th—indeed, it was Justin’s birthday.

Justin didn’t like celebrating birthdays because his mother passed away on that day.

When he was 12, his mother discovered his father’s mistress, and their seemingly perfect marriage shattered overnight, becoming a joke.

His mother developed severe depression and, on his birthday, jumped off the top floor of his father’s company building, dying instantly.

Since then, Justin never celebrated his birthday.

Every year, he spent it with me.

We didn’t buy cakes; we’d just stay at home, have a meal, and chat.

He said he didn’t want to be alone on that day because it would remind him of his mother, so I would accompany him all day long.

Normally, I took Justin’s birthday very seriously because he never accepted gifts from anyone else but me.

But this year, since he was in a relationship, I hadn’t thought about it.

I assumed that Olivia was special to him and would replace me by his side.

Lowering my gaze, I watched the kitten rolling on its back. “Shouldn’t you have spent it with Olivia?”

“We’ve always spent it together. Besides, you haven’t given me a gift yet.”

I chuckled. “Give me a gift, and then you’ll give it to Olivia to win her favor?”

Justin fell silent. I stroked the cat’s belly.

“Justin, actually, you’re right. No matter how close we used to be, now that you have a girlfriend, we should maintain some distance.”

Taking a deep breath, I continued, “Let’s keep our contact to a minimum from now on

10

Justin’s voice sounded a little displeased. “You can say anything you want, but you still won’t come to see me, right?”

He seemed to realize that he shouldn’t argue with me at this moment and softened his tone.

“Sophia, you’ve always been the one to spend my birthdays with me. Even if we need to keep our distance, you should give me some time to adjust. “Without you here, I’ll keep thinking about my mom, and it’ll hurt.”

Hearing him say that, I weakly caved. If it were someone else, I might have scolded them for being pathetic.

But this was someone who had accompanied me for more than a decade, someone I had liked for a long time.

When he showed vulnerability, it was hard for me not to soften.

Just as I was wavering, a weak voice came from beside me. “Are you leaving?”

I looked up to see Tim standing barefoot on the chilly floor, sans slippers.

He seemed to be burning up, with a hint of red around his eyes, yet he still managed a smile.

“I forgot, it’s Justin’s birthday today, isn’t it?”

Lowering his gaze, his long eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow on his face, and he sounded forlorn. “Go be with him; it’s okay if I’m alone.”

Though he said that, he couldn’t even stand steadily and staggered, grabbing the wall for support.

I quickly rushed to steady him. “Are you okay? Didn’t I tell you to rest? Why did you come out? “

On the other end of the phone, Justin’s voice sounded muffled and cold. “You… are you with Tim?”

I didn’t have time to talk to him further and hurriedly replied, “Yes, I can’t come today. Ask Olivia!”

“Sop—” Before he could finish, I hung up.

Tim leaned against me, his voice weak. “Does it really matter if you don’t go be with him? I heard you used to spend his birthdays together.”

I replied irritably, “Cut it out, stop pretending!”

I’m not stupid; how could an adult man be so weak from a fever that he couldn’t even stand?

This guy looks so proper, but I never expected such a strong hint of jealousy.

Tim pressed his lips together, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I helped him back to bed, about to leave when my hand was suddenly grabbed.

I turned around, and Tim lay on the bed, the darkness casting shadows on his face.

I couldn’t see his expression clearly, but I could hear his serious voice, “Stop liking Justin. He’s not good to you. Sophia, do you like me?”

In the quiet, dimly lit bedroom, only the sound of racing hearts echoed. It was unclear whose it was. I opened my mouth slightly. “When did you start liking me?”

11

Tim didn’t hide his feelings for me at all.

As adults, I didn’t want to play games of giving and taking.

I just didn’t know when he had started to develop feelings for me.

Tim avoided my gaze, unusually bashful. “A long time ago. When you were always following Justin to take care of him, I thought you were such a silly girl. But later, I began to feel a bit jealous. I wondered why your eyes only had room for Justin. If only you could see me too. But back then, you only saw Justin, and I always thought you two would end up together. I didn’t want to steal a friend’s lover, but now that he has a girlfriend, I guess I can pursue you, right?”

I rarely heard him speak so much, and something stirred in my heart, a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite name.

In the days spent with Tim, I indeed thought less about Justin.

Just like my stomach—his constant reminders to take medicine had almost made the pain disappear.

“I-” Just as I was about to speak, Tim suddenly pulled me towards him.

I lost my balance and fell onto him, feeling his burning heat seeping through his hand on my lower back.

Pushing against his chest to get up, Tim, who moments ago couldn’t even stand, held me tightly.

Looking into his eyes, the aggression in his gaze, unobscured by glasses, startled me.

Tim gradually increased his strength, pushing me closer to him.

His pajamas carried the faint scent of clean soap, and my heart raced. Without knowing why, I relaxed my grip.

Tim’s lips were hot, not as cold as I had imagined.

At first, his actions were gentle, but then they became more insistent, prying open my teeth.

My mind went blank as I felt my breath being slowly taken away.

After what seemed like an eternity, I pushed him away just before I suffocated!

Tim was panting, a dark hue in his eyes.

I struggled to get up from him, escaping the room clumsily.

Before closing the door, I heard Tim laughing.

What a beast! My lips were swollen, surely already swollen!

I covered my pounding chest, taking a long while to calm down.

Checking my phone, I realized that in just a few minutes, I had missed 17 calls. Seeing that I didn’t answer, Justin had frantically sent messages.

[“Sophia, are you really with Tim?!”]

[“How could you leave me alone? He’s no good, don’t let him deceive you!”]

[“Sophia, pick up.”]

[“I’m in so much pain, please come keep me company.”]

12

My chaotic heart suddenly calmed. A hint of annoyance seeped into my previously good mood.

This time, I didn’t soften.

This messy relationship should have ended a long time ago.

The moment I left Tim’s place, I received a call from Justin’s friend. His voice was anxious.

“Sophie, Justin was in a car accident. He’s at the central hospital’s emergency department. You should come over quickly!”

I was startled. “Is it serious?”

“It’s quite severe. He has many injuries, but he won’t go for a checkup because he’s drunk. He keeps calling your name. Hurry up and come over!”

At that moment, I put aside my emotions from earlier.

Even if things didn’t work out between Justin and me as lovers, we had been friends for over a decade.

I couldn’t bear to be angry with him at a time like this. Rushing to the hospital, I indeed saw Justin, bloodied and unconscious, leaning against a chair.

Olivia stood beside him, biting her lower lip hard, her face pale.

When a few of our friends saw me, they quickly called out, “She’s here! Sophie is here!”

Only then did Justin slowly open his eyes, a hint of grievance flashing in them.

“You’re here.” He appeared genuinely drunk, slurring his words.

Extending his arm, he grabbed my wrist and whispered, “You didn’t come to accompany me… I miss you so much…”

Olivia’s face paled even further, and she instinctively tried to assist him. “Now isn’t the time to talk, let’s get you checked up first.”

Justin pulled away, his brow furrowed. “Don’t touch me!”

Then, he pressed his forehead against the back of my hand.

“Sophie… Why didn’t you come to accompany me to the event today? Don’t you like me anymore?”

An awkward silence enveloped us.

I hastily withdrew my hand and asked the friend beside me, “What’s wrong with him?”

The friend sighed, “Justin seems to have consumed a lot of alcohol. I heard he insisted on… finding you, and then he got into a car accident on the way.

The driver said he couldn’t reach Justin’s emergency contact, so he dialed a random number, and that’s how I got here.”

I looked at Justin, feeling a jumble of emotions. I remembered that his emergency contact was me.

After Justin’s mom passed away, his relationship with his dad grew strained, and he had long cut ties with his family. Everything he has now, he achieved on his own.

When we initially filled out emergency contact information, I was right there beside him.

He showed me the number he wrote and smiled, saying, “From now on, my life is in your hands.”

For all these years, our emergency contacts remained each other.

I hadn’t expected that he still listed me. No wonder he couldn’t get through to me – I had just blocked him.

Disregarding Olivia, I grabbed Justin and said, “Get up, let’s go for a checkup!”

Justin lifted his gaze at me, his eyes clearer after drinking, shimmering like a puppy’s, damp.

“Sophia, back then, you’d travel halfway around the world just to spend my birthday with me. You promised you’d always be there, so why has everything changed now?”

I recalled the moment he was referring to. In college, I went to the US for a physics competition.

It coincided with his birthday, I bought a ticket and flew back right after the event. It was already late when I arrived home, past ten o’clock.

I panted as I opened Justin’s door. It took a while for him to answer, and just like now, bottles were scattered everywhere.

The living room was dim, and Justin sat alone in the shadows, looking up at me.

Without saying a word, I rushed over and hugged him.

After a long while, Justin slowly returned the embrace, his voice raspy, “I thought you wouldn’t come back to be with me.”