Just then, her phone rang.

It was a message from her mother: [Clara, you’re thirty this year. Mom doesn’t know how much longer she has; if you don’t have someone to lean on, how can Mom close her eyes in peace?]

[This young man has a good background. Try to get to know him, will you?]

Clara choked back a sob, and finally replied: [Okay.]

She and Julian, after all, were as far apart as the clouds and the mud.

Like two lines that, after a single intersection, continued to grow further and further apart.

She was destined to live an ordinary life, but as long as he could live well, that was enough.

Just as she put down her phone, a shadow fell over her head.

Clara quickly gathered her composure, looked up, and smiled: “Hello, I’m Clara. Are you the one my mother introduced…”

Her voice cut off abruptly. Every expression on Clara’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by shock.

Julian walked past her in a white shirt and black trousers, without stopping.

Chapter 9

Clara was speechless for a moment. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped by a giant hand; only the sound of her own heartbeat remained in her ears.

Julian… why was he here?

But at the same time, the anxiety in her heart finally dissipated completely.

Seeing him safe and sound right before her eyes was far more reassuring than any news she could have found online.

She pinched her palms, forcing herself to adjust her breathing.

Just then, her blind date arrived.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Clara?”

Clara pulled herself together and nodded: “Yes, hello.”

The man sat down and smiled gently: “My situation should have been explained to you by the matchmaker.”

“My mother is critically ill, and I really want her to see me get married, so I am a bit rushed. But don’t worry, I’m not a casual person. I really think you are quite good…”

Before he could finish, their heads were once again covered by a shadow.

Clara looked up and met Julian’s gaze, her breath stopping once more.

The man on the blind date looked up, puzzled.

“Sir, can I help you?”

Julian pulled Clara up directly: “Sorry, she’s not doing the blind date.”

He led Clara away, heading straight out of the cafe.

It wasn't until they were quite a distance away that Clara turned around and pulled back: “Wait… what are you doing?”

Julian’s eyes were deep and his gaze was scorching, making Clara afraid to look any further.

His tone was unreadable: “Clara, don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”

Clara paused, her throat tight: “It’s good that you’re alive.”

Ten years had passed, but for Clara, it felt like only an instant—seeing the seeds she had planted bear fruit the very next moment; how could she not be overjoyed?

But at the same time, she felt extremely guilty; she had just said she would be together with him when he returned, yet now she had been caught on a blind date.

Julian’s fingertips paused, and he was momentarily speechless. Sincerity really was the ultimate weapon.

“The ‘puppy love’ back then was fake. You were right; it was my half-brother trying to hurt me. I went abroad voluntarily to become stronger.”

“Your wound… are you okay?”

Clara shook her head.

In her memory, she hadn't suffered any major consequences, save for a scar of moderate depth on her lower abdomen.

Julian didn't know what else to say for a moment.

He only whispered: “That’s good.”

Julian took Clara to another cafe.

After ordering their coffees, neither of them spoke again.

To Julian, it felt like he had lived through a dream as well.

On the morning he was supposed to have his incident, his memories had suddenly changed.

He remembered Clara’s warning and immediately had someone investigate his brother’s actions, successfully avoiding the danger.

Afterward, he had someone track Clara’s whereabouts.

When he learned she was on a blind date today, he had been filled with rage.

But now, sitting across from her, the anger had subsided.

He only wanted to talk to her.

Clara wouldn't look up, so he stared at her defiantly. It didn't matter; he had time to waste.

The peace was broken by a ringing phone.

Clara answered. Her mother’s voice came through the phone, sounding displeased: “Clara, what is the meaning of this? You’re thirty now; I finally found you a decent blind date, how did you manage to drive him away?”

Although it was through the earpiece, the surroundings were quiet and the volume was not low. Julian’s eyes flickered, but he didn't speak.

Clara hurriedly turned down the volume, covering her mouth as she whispered: “Mom, it was an accident. I have something urgent to attend to right now, I’ll talk to you later.”

She hung up the phone immediately.

Julian straightened his body, leaning closer across the small square table: “Your mother wants you to get married before you turn thirty?”

Clara’s hand froze as she put away her phone. She gave a silent nod and added: “At my mother’s age, she’s just anxious.”

Julian asked: “Are you anxious?”

Chapter 10

“Huh?” Clara was stunned, not knowing why he suddenly asked this.

Julian stared straight at her, repeating: “Are you anxious to get married?”

Clara was flustered, not knowing where to look: “It’s just my mother who is anxious.”

“Hmm,” Julian nodded, asking a question he already knew the answer to, “why have you waited until now?”

Clara didn't know if he meant why she had waited for him until now, or why she had waited until now to get married. She gave a vague answer: “There wasn’t a suitable match.”

A strange atmosphere permeated between them; one was feeling guilty, the other regretful.

“Sir, here is your coffee.” The waiter set the drinks down and left without lingering.

“Clara, what do you think of me?”

Clara looked at him, puzzled. Meeting Julian’s deep gaze, she looked away again.

Julian said seriously: “Didn’t you say you liked me? Are you lying to me?”

Clara immediately denied: “No!”

But after saying it, she felt her face heat up.

Her heart hammered, drowning out all other sounds.

Julian laughed, just like he had at eighteen, smiling brilliantly at her in the sunshine.

“Then that’s settled. Let’s give it a try.”

Clara looked up, disbelieving.

The object of her teenage crush said he wanted to try it out with her—how could her heart not flutter? Clara had to admit that her heart, dormant for over a decade, was easily stirred by Julian.

She still couldn't believe it: “Really?”

“Of course.” Julian leaned in closer: “Clara, forgot to tell you, I like you, too.”

He had liked her since he was eighteen.

After saying it, Julian’s own ears turned red.

He picked up his coffee and took a sip, pretending to be casual to cover the upward curve of his lips.

They sat there in silence, yet everything was understood.

Of course, Clara knew—she had found out from reading Julian’s suicide note.

After finishing their coffee, they left together.

They walked side by side, Clara’s hands hanging at her sides.

As they walked, a hand suddenly covered the back of hers. Seeing she didn't resist, he firmly interlaced his fingers with hers.

This time, unlike twelve years ago, Julian finally held the hand of the person he had been dreaming about all these years.

Clara glanced at him sideways. Julian smiled: “What?”

Clara shook her head, lowering it in shyness.

The walk only took a few minutes; they soon arrived downstairs at Clara’s building.

“I’m home… you should go back now.”

Just as they let go, Julian pulled Clara back, looked her in the eye, and asked sincerely: “Do you really not need me to go up and see your mother with you?”

“If she asks, can you handle it alone?”

Julian was teasing her, but Clara, like a dense block of wood, really thought Julian was looking out for her: “I can, don’t worry, go on home.”

Seeing her serious expression, Julian chuckled: “Alright, then I’m relieved.”

“Remember to tell your mother about us.”

Clara was a bit embarrassed and pushed him away: “I know.”

The May weather wasn't too hot, but standing in the sun for long still made one feel stuffy.

One left, looking back with every step, while the other stayed behind to watch, as if a thread were pulling between them, only disappearing when they could no longer see each other.

Clara turned around and walked slowly upstairs. When she opened the door, she saw her mother had already returned.

Ever since she had opened up her heart to her mother that time, her mother had stopped stifling her.

Over these years, her mother had changed a lot and learned to respect Clara’s wishes. The only recent point of contention was her desire for Clara to get married.