She forced a stiff smile. "Yeah, what a coincidence."

Summer stepped forward and affectionately took her arm. "Look at you—you left this afternoon without saying a word. Are you eating alone?"

Clara stammered, unsure of how to respond. "I..."

"She’s with me."

A clear, cool male voice suddenly interjected. The group turned to look.

A man stood there in a crisp black shirt, his eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses holding a gentle smile.

As Clara looked at him, something flashed through her mind.

She spoke uncertainty, "Julian... Julian Zhou?"

Julian nodded with a faint smile. "It’s me. I’m also the person you’ve been waiting for."

Clara was stunned for a heartbeat.

But she quickly realized that this childhood friend, who had grown up alongside her, was indeed her blind date for the evening.

However, in Summer’s ears, those ambiguous words took on an entirely different meaning.

Her eyes lit up as she leaned closer to Clara.

"Cece, you have a boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me?"

Clara snapped out of her daze and waved her hands in explanation. "No, he’s..."

But before she could finish, Summer pulled her into the restaurant. "Since it’s such a coincidence, let's all eat together."

She gave Clara no chance to refuse.

The four of them sat at one table, and soon the dishes were served one by one.

At the table, Summer looked at Julian curiously.

"How do you and Cece know each other, Mr. Zhou?"

Julian chuckled softly. "Our families were neighbors. I’ve known her since we were kids."

"So you’re childhood sweethearts!" Summer’s tone was filled with envy.

Just as she was about to say more, Ethan placed a piece of fresh mushroom into her bowl with his chopsticks, interrupting her in a calm tone, "Alright, let's focus on the food."

That gentle tone made Clara’s grip on her chopsticks tighten abruptly.

At that moment, a spoonful of beef was suddenly placed into her own bowl.

At the same time, Julian’s tender voice reached her ear: "I remember you like this."

Clara froze, instinctively glancing at Ethan.

However, the man only had eyes for Summer, completely indifferent to anything happening on her side.

Bitterness spread through her heart. Clara dejectedly withdrew her gaze and whispered her thanks.

The meal felt tasteless.

Halfway through, Clara got up to use the restroom.

When she came out to wash her hands, Summer happened to be there as well.

She smiled and gave Clara a knowing look. "Cece, you must remember to invite me when you get married."

Clara’s movements paused, her lips pressing tightly together.

After a moment’s hesitation, she looked up at Summer, wanting to clear up the misunderstanding from tonight.

But as she turned, she accidentally bumped into her phone resting on the edge of the sink.

With a loud clatter, the phone hit the floor.

As Clara bent down to pick it up, Summer beat her to it. "Let me get it, your hands are wet..."

Her voice stopped dead.

Summer’s body went rigid, the blue light of the phone screen reflecting off her suddenly pale face—

On the wallpaper was a photo of Ethan and Clara, leaning intimately against each other.

Chapter 4

Clara’s breath hitched, and her eyelashes fluttered violently.

She never expected such an accident to happen.

"Summer..."

"What is this?" Summer interrupted, her eyes already turning red as she stood up straight with the phone. "I treated you like my best friend."

Clara panicked and stepped forward to explain. "Summer, it's not what it looks like, I..."

But Summer pulled her hand away.

The air between them seemed to freeze in an instant.

After an agonizing standoff, a cold voice suddenly broke the silence: "What are you two doing?"

Clara instinctively looked up to see Ethan striding toward Summer with a tense expression.

Even his tone softened as he reached her. "Summer, what’s wrong?"

With tearful eyes, Summer grabbed Ethan’s sleeve and held up the still-lit screen.

"What is your relationship with her? Didn't you say... you didn't know each other?"

Ethan looked down, his gaze turning icy the moment he saw the wallpaper.

"I have no relationship with her. Don't overthink it."

With that, he took the phone and stepped forward, handing it to the frozen Clara.

Clara instinctively looked up, only to meet Ethan’s freezing eyes. "Change it. Don't let anyone see it again."

Then, he took Summer by the hand and left without looking back.

Clara stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating backs. A wave of agony surged through her as if she were being carved open from the inside.

She gripped her phone tightly, her pressed lips devoid of color.

Why... what exactly had she done wrong?

As she stared blankly at the floor, a figure appeared before her.

"What happened? Your colleague and Ethan Shaw both left."

Clara’s throat felt constricted. "It’s nothing. Let’s go too."

She moved to walk past Julian.

But he caught her by the wrist.

"Cece, it’s been two years. You still haven't let him go."

It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.

Bitterness instantly flooded Clara’s eyes.

She pinched her palm to restrain herself, looking away without answering.

Seeing this, Julian let out a silent sigh and said nothing more, leading her out.

It wasn't until they reached the restaurant entrance that Clara managed to settle her complex emotions.

She gently pulled her hand away. "Julian, today’s date... I’ll explain things to my mother so she doesn’t try to play matchmaker again."

"I was the one who suggested the date."

Julian spoke suddenly, his eyes fixed on Clara with a serious gaze. "Cece, I know you can’t let go of the past, but... shouldn't you give me a chance too?"

The sudden confession left Clara’s mind blank.

Looking at Julian’s solemn expression, she knew he wasn't joking.

But she didn't know how to answer.

As their eyes locked, neither spoke for a moment.

Then, a voice cut in.

"Clara Tang, let's talk."

Ethan, who was supposed to have left, had somehow returned.

Looking at the man’s indifferent expression, Clara’s heart tightened inexplicably.

"I..." she looked hesitantly at Julian.

Julian gave her a reassuring smile. "Since Mr. Shaw has business with you, I’ll take my leave."

He then looked at Ethan. "I trust Mr. Shaw will see Cece home safely, right? After all, Mr. Shaw is a responsible man."

He intentionally emphasized the words "responsible man," his voice dripping with deeper meaning.

Ethan frowned but nodded nonetheless.

Clara said a quick goodbye to Julian and followed Ethan.

They sat down in a coffee shop.

Across the table, Clara could feel the displeasure radiating from Ethan.

Just as she was wondering how to explain what had happened earlier, the man suddenly produced a business card and pushed it toward her.

In clear black and white, it read: Director Liu, South City Third People's Hospital.

Clara froze.

Before she could ask, Ethan spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.

"I’ve already spoken with him. You can start working there whenever you're ready."

Chapter 5

After he finished, Clara sat stunned for a few seconds before a look of disbelief and shock crossed her face.

Ethan wanted her to leave her current hospital!

But... by what right?

Under the table, Clara’s hands clenched tightly together. "Just because of what happened tonight, you're kicking me out?"

"An accident?" Ethan’s gaze was sharp as a blade. "I already warned you not to let Summer find out about the past."

"Or do you think doing this will sabotage our relationship and give you an opportunity?"

His words were colder and more piercing than a December wind.

Clara’s eyes reddened instantly. "I never thought that!"

She didn't dare look into Ethan’s heartless dark eyes. Staring down at the black screen of her phone, her voice grew more choked with tears. "Today was an accident. This photo... I’ve used it for many years."

"It’s my only comfort."

Yet, Ethan remained completely indifferent to her distress. "You must delete that photo. It is already affecting my life."

Having said his piece, he stood up. "I’ve said what I needed to say. Let’s go. I’ll call a car for you."

Clara’s nose stung as an overwhelming sense of grievance spread through her.

How had they ever come to this?

After a long daze, noticing Ethan’s displeased expression, Clara finally snapped back to reality.

She picked up the card, her voice faint. "No need. I can call a car myself."

Without waiting for his response, she fled the coffee shop as if escaping a nightmare.

By the time she reached home, the card in her hand had been crumpled.

She stared at it for a long while before finally getting up and tossing it decisively into the trash.

It was a sleepless night.

The next day, after hiding her emotions and composing herself, Clara returned to the hospital.

But as soon as she entered the surgical building, she noticed the people around her watching her with scrutinizing looks.