In the afternoon, Stella was about to go home when Clarence called.
She answered the call and heard the man’s booming low voice, “You’re not at home?”
Stella mumbled a yes and said, “I can’t stand to be stuck there forever, so I have come to my
workshop. I’m going back now though.”
Clarence replied, “No problem. I have things to attend to later, so I will be late coming back. You can
rest early.”
“Did something happen at the company?”
“No, it’s not something important. I will tell you when I am back.”
“Got it.”
After hanging up the phone, Sherry poked her head into the office, “Stella, are you not leaving yet?”
Stella got up, “Let’s go.”
Sherry was under road space rationing today, and she had come to work by hailing a taxi. Stella would
send her back today.
While on the way, Sherry began, “Your Mr. Conrad didn’t urge you to back as soon as you can?”
Stella smiled, “He has something to attend to so he’ll be late coming home.”
“Speaking of which, although that bastard has a lot of leisurely time at times, but he will still be busy
sometimes, right? However, you can catch your breath when he’s busy, or else he will cling on to you
like there’s no tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this sentence, Stella suddenly felt surreal. If they had this conversation a year ago, this
would definitely sound like a huge joke.
Who could have thought that so many things would go down in just a single year.
Not long after, the car arrived at the destination set by their GPS.
Stella rolled down the car window, “Did we arrive at the right place?”
Sherry answered, “Yes, then I’ll take my leave now. You take care on your way back.”
“Alright.”
When Sherry disappeared from her sight, Stella retrieved her gaze and gunned the engine.
After returning to their condominium, she immediately heard a baby crying after stepping out of the
elevator.
Stella’s steps were fuddled because this was the first time she heard the sound of a baby in all the time
she had been staying here.
She pulled herself back to her senses and just as she was about to enter her unit, the doors of the
elevator opened again and a figure appeared.
Stella froze, “Chan? It’s so late now. Why are you here?”
Channing was there standing tall, and he answered nonchalantly, “I am here to get a free meal.”
Stella used to invite Channing to come over to have a meal together if he was free, but every time she
asked him, she was rejected.
Therefore, it was a pleasant surprise to see him here now.
However, after giving it some thought, Stella thought that Channing wouldn’t feel very great about what
had happened lately.
He must be here to see her because of those things.
Stella walked to her door and entered the password, “Come in.”
Channing followed from behind, and he glanced at the unit next door before entering.
Stella changed her shoes and headed to the kitchen, “What do you want to eat today?”
“Anything will be fine.”
Channing was not as selective as Clarence. Stella checked her fridge and decided to make something
out of the available ingredients.
When she was cooking, Channing appeared at the entrance of the kitchen, “Is Clarence not here?”
Stella answered while chopping some vegetables, “He has something to do. He will come back later.”
Channing frowned, “Something to do? What kind of thing?”
“I don’t know. Never asked him.”
Channing protested, “Why didn’t you ask him? What if he’s lying to you?”
Stella turned around to look at him, “If he plans to lie to me, there would be no difference even if I
asked, you know. He could still make up some excuse.”
“Are you really not afraid that he would hook up with…”
Channing pursed his lips. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
Stella simply answered, “He won’t.”
“Do you trust him that much?”
Stella smiled and only answered after some intervals of silence, “You will know when you are in love in
the future. If someone really loves you, no temptation can lure him away. If that person doesn’t love
you, then there is no point if you are being afraid.”
As she said that, Stella asked, “What about you? Did you get together with Winnie lately?”
When this subject was broached, Channing’s ears inadvertently turned red. He looked away, “I don’t
know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? I am asking whether you have seen her.”
Channing answered, “Her new movie is going to screen. She’s promoting it nationwide.”
Stella’s mouth curled up, “You seem to be in the know.”
“It’s all over the internet. You just didn’t pay enough attention.”
After making all the food, Stella arranged the cutlery on the table and invited, “Come eat.”
Channing asked, “I heard from Clarence previously that you are resting at home. But you seem to
come from somewhere outside just now. Where have you gone to?”
Stella smiled lightly, “You seem to have good connection with Clarence.”
Channing was speechless.
Not very sure whether it was guilty beginning to eat away at him, he continued to droop his head
without saying anything more.
Stella was simply shooting the breeze, “What about your negotiations with that media company?”
Channing replied, “It’s alright. Nothing special.”
At that moment, Stella’s phone rang. It was Clarence.
She picked up the phone, “Chan, you eat first. I need to take this call.”
“Alright.”
Stella walked to the balcony and swiped the screen to connect the call, “What’s up?”
Clarence’s voice came, “Have you reached home?”
“I did. Chan came to visit, and we are having dinner.” After a pause, Stella asked, “When are you
coming back? Do I need to leave you some dinner?”
Clarence replied, “No need for that. I predict that this will drag on until late night.”
Stella responded, “Then you shall focus on your thing.”
“Don’t you want to ask me what I am doing?”
“If you want to tell me that, you just tell me. If you don’t want to, you will just come up with some
excuse. What’s the point of asking?”
At the other end of the phone, Clarence seemed to laugh albeit momentarily, “Got it. I will tell you when
I come back.”
After hanging up, Stella walked into her house again and saw Channing at the dining table. She pursed
her lips and seemed to contemplate about something before returning to her seat, “Chan, I have
something I didn’t tell you yet.”
Channing sank into silence, “Is it related to Jeffrey?”
Stella nodded and began slowly, “He’s dead. On… that day of the funeral.”
However, as for the outcome of the autopsy, she never got to ask Clarence about it.
Even if she knew everything, there was nothing she could do to help.
Channing’s features were stark cold and he didn’t appear to be surprised. He said nondescriptly, “He
should have died sooner.”
Stella said, “Since he is dead now, that marks the end of things. I don’t want you to be bothered by
useless thoughts anymore. Focus on your studies, and get in love.”
Channing, “…”
After dinner, Channing helped to fetch all the plates into the kitchen and wash them.
After a while, he announced, “I’m leaving now.”
Stella said, “Let me send you down.”
Channing rejected, “There’s no need for that. I am not a kid. Bye.”
Stella smiled as he watched his back. In reality, for her or for Channing, things had not come to an end
yet. Not so soon.
She just hoped that no matter how things turned out, Channing could be prevented from all kinds of
damages.
When the door was shut, Stella returned to her bedroom.
She lied in bed and scrolled the internet with her phone. Winnie was indeed touring the nation, and it
had just begun not so long ago.
It seemed like she would only return to City N after some time.
Just as Stella was about to put down her phone, she saw a news about the Stewards. After some
hesitation, she clicked into the link.
When the door was shut, Stella returned to her bedroom.
She lied in bed and scrolled the internet with her phone. Winnie was indeed touring the nation, and it
had just begun not so long ago.
It seemed like she would only return to City N after some time.
Just as Stella was about to put down her phone, she saw a news about the Stewards. After some
hesitation, she clicked into the link.
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