1

I saw Grayson Stewart again on the 1,388th day after our breakup. It was in a KTV private room downtown.

By the time he arrived, the drinking session was already halfway through.

In the dim light, Grayson stood straight and tall. His clean-cut hair and tense jawline highlighted his sharp, defined features.

My breath caught instinctively.

Grayson greeted everyone familiarly. Nora's voice came to my ear. "They all grew up in the same compound. Except for this new one, the rest are all taken."

"Oh." I sat in the corner. I watched him in a daze, maybe shielded by the dim, scattered light.

After four years, he was still so dazzling that I couldn't take my eyes off him. Truly, the good-looking ones belong to the country.

Grayson keenly sensed my gaze and lazily looked over at me. Our eyes briefly met. In his eyes, there was nothing but unfamiliarity and indifference.

Soon after, Grayson stood up and said, "Going to the restroom."

I had drunk a lot of wine and felt uncomfortable, so I used the excuse of going to the restroom. But the real reason was that Grayson had been gone for fifteen minutes and hadn't returned.

Either his kidneys were failing, or he was smoking.

Sure enough, I guessed right.

Grayson leaned against the shiny wall at the end of the hallway. His head slightly bowed. The ashtray was littered with cigarette butts. Between his bony fingers, there was a faint, flickering spark.

My heart betrayed me again. Seeing Grayson always made it flutter, no matter how long it had been.

I asked, "Does it take that long to use the restroom? Are you avoiding me?"

He raised his head and glanced at me but didn't reply.

His silence only fueled my determination.

I reached out to take the cigarette from his fingers. Grayson suddenly grabbed my wrist. His eyes flashed with impatience. He said, "Not just anyone can tell me to stop smoking."

I said, "How am I just anyone? We at least know each other."

He said, "Don't bring up the past." His expression showed seventy percent displeasure and restraint.

After saying that, he brushed past me.

When I returned to the room and sat down, a girl brought a drink over to Grayson. They talked, and the girl looked shy.

I felt suddenly irritated, so I downed the wine before me and said, "I have a shoot tomorrow, so I'm leaving."

Nora said, "Let someone take you home."

I said, "No need. I'll just take a cab."

Nora's boyfriend said, "Let Grayson give you a ride." He turned to Grayson and said, "Didn't you just say you're heading back to the station?"

Grayson didn't respond or refuse. He walked to the door and suddenly stopped, looking at me with disdain. He said, "Aren't you leaving?"

In that instant, my heart skipped a beat.

2

Grayson and I left the KTV one after the other. He walked straight to a Jeep Grand Cherokee and pulled over beside me. He was clearly waiting for me but he didn't say a word.

I hesitated for two seconds before opening the door and sitting in the backseat. I spoke without pretense, "No. 88, Riverside International Apartments, Uranica Road, please."

The car drove onto the main road. The streetlights on either side kept moving back, and the dazzling neon lights were left behind.

Ding...

A WhatsApp message came in. It was from Nora.

"I've got reliable info. Grayson just retired this year and transferred to the city fire department near your place. He's handsome, fit, and currently single. Go for it! His family arranges blind dates, so you better seize the opportunity."

I couldn't help but glance at the man diagonally across from me. Grayson's cold profile was all I got in return. He didn't say a word. His one hand was on the steering wheel, with no intention of speaking.

Back then, our breakup had a lot to do with his job. Now, here he was, out of the organization and planning to settle down.

There was some bitterness, even though I was the one who initiated the breakup.

I said, "I heard you transferred to the city fire department?"

Grayson didn't respond, clearly not planning to engage with me.

I said, "Wouldn't staying in the organization be good? Maybe your future wife would like the uniform?"

The car was as quiet as ever. The silence was almost eerie.

The old me would've cringed with embarrassment by now. But now...

Any bit of restraint would be a disservice to the new and improved Susan.

I curled my fiery red lips and said, "I do like seeing you take off your uniform. Very strong."

"Screech..."

Grayson hit the brakes, and my body lurched forward uncontrollably. I felt like I was about to fly out, so I grabbed onto his neck but was thrown back into the seat.

My fingertips brushed against the skin of his neck, and a faint scratch appeared.

Grayson unlocked the door and said, "Get out." He didn't even turn around.

I glanced outside. We hadn't reached the apartment complex yet. I sighed and got out of the car.

In an instant, the car shot out like an arrow, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust.

His vengeful nature hadn't changed one bit.

3

Half an hour later, Grayson stood at the door with a grim expression.

I leaned against the door and looked at him. "Not coming in?" I asked.

Grayson didn't move.

"Since you're here, might as well catch the snake before you leave," I said.

I thought Grayson was just making an excuse to avoid socializing by saying he needed to return to the fire station. But when I called, he was there.

It wasn't that I wanted to waste public resources. Blame it on the toy snake that looked too real. It scared me so much that I ran out mid-shower. Now, I was wearing a slip dress, and my hair was wet and messy.

Grayson's eyes roamed over me with a mocking, indifferent expression. "Where's the snake?" he asked.

I tossed the toy snake I was playing with at him. "No snake, but there's a snake spirit."

I twisted my waist and wrapped my arms around his neck. "You came over, didn't you?"

Grayson suddenly pressed me against the wall. He hooked his foot to close the door, and said hoarsely, "What's wrong? Maverick can't satisfy you?"

I quickly realized.

Grayson held grudges.

After getting out of prison, I broke up with him. I used Maverick as an excuse, saying I would marry my childhood friend.

Grayson was just about to return to duty back then. He pressed me against the door and said, "Is he better than me?"

I laughed and said, "Of course. He's rich, good-looking, tall, and good in bed."

Then I pressed on the camouflage backpack beside him. "He can be with me 24/7, always at my beck and call. Can you? Or do you want to take off that camouflage right now?" I said.

I knew what he cared about, so I hit the mark perfectly.

That day, I watched the light in Grayson's eyes dim. It was completely different from the way he was now.

I curved my lips into a seductive smile and tilted my head to ask him, "Want to get back together?"

Grayson didn't hesitate for a moment. He sneered and said, "Susan, I'm not interested in you anymore. Maybe you should get some work done? This face of yours is really off-putting."

Just like four years ago, he left completely.

I watched the elevator doors close and felt a wave of bitterness rise in my heart. Who said it's easy for a woman to chase a man? He was harder to woo than any woman.

4

I had always had trouble sleeping. I tossed and turned until dawn that night.

Before, I didn't dare to think of him. Later, I didn't want to think of him. Even though I knew there was no chance with him, I couldn't let it go. I kept struggling with myself in my heart.

Nora wanted to set me up with a boyfriend and sent me Grayson's picture. I dropped my job abroad and rushed back immediately. At that moment, and even now, I felt the same. Grayson and I shouldn't end like this.

I took out my phone and dialed the number I knew by heart. It barely rang once before he hung up on me.

I called again, and he hung up again. Then he blocked me altogether.

"Well done, Grayson. You still remember my number."

I felt excitement in my heart. It was just like when I was eighteen and he confessed to me, making my heart race.

I opened WhatsApp. I added him through his phone number and sent a friend request. But there was no response. I fell asleep waiting.

...

The next morning, still drowsy, I opened the door for Nora.

My slip dress hung off one shoulder, revealing a bit too much.

She pointed inside. "Is it okay?" she asked.

I yawned and curled up on the sofa, watching her snoop around the room like a detective before she stopped in front of me. "He's already gone?" she asked.

"Who?" I asked.

"Grayson! Don't tell me with the perfect timing last night, you didn't seal the deal," she said.

She suddenly leaned closer. "Besides, you've had that 'he's my type' look since you saw him. You didn't pounce on him?" she asked.

I thought I had been more restrained. But apparently, it was still obvious.

Nora asked, "Girl, were you too reserved?"

I glanced at my deep V silk wine-red mini slip dress and thought of last night's Grayson. I sighed and said, "He just wasn't into it."

Nora looked at me in disbelief. "With how sexy and bold you are now, you must have driven him crazy."

She smiled smugly. "Opportunities are always created."

5

Her words made sense.

I went to the mall and bought a one-size smaller bracelet. The sales clerk struggled to get it on me. Within minutes, my wrist had a red mark.

It was time for a little act of self-pity.

But Grayson wasn't at the station. The firefighter who greeted me said, "Someone is jumping off a building at the Hershey Group. Grayson went there himself."

He stopped me and asked, "Miss, do you know Grayson?"

I raised an eyebrow and said, "Why do you ask?"

He said, "He has a picture of you in his wallet. It's yellowed with age, but he still can't throw it away. He's stared at it countless times." He pulled out a wallet with a gossipy look on his face and said, "Look, Grayson dropped it in his rush to leave."

The photo showed me at eighteen. I wore my school uniform, standing under a tree with dappled light. I looked peaceful and beautiful.

My heart warmed. A silent heat spread through me, turning into a burning sensation.

As I reached the apartment complex's entrance, I saw a crowd gathered under a neighboring building. In the distance, I spotted a lone figure sitting on the rooftop.

Grayson's voice came through the walkie-talkie. "Get a cup of milkshake, three-quarters sugar."

I waved the milkshake in my hand at the firefighter next to me and said, "I'll take it up."

The person on the other end immediately refused, "No unauthorized personnel allowed up here."

The girl suddenly got agitated and said, "Don't come any closer. None of you come near me."

The figure in orange was stuck and unable to move forward or back. He said, "Okay, I promise. I won't move forward. Please don't get excited."

They were close enough to talk directly.

My heart skipped a beat. The figure at the edge of the rooftop was Grayson.

I didn't think twice and ran towards the elevator.

It was my first time seeing Grayson in his firefighter uniform. It scared me to death, even though he was wearing a safety harness.

Grayson reached out his hand to me and said, "Give it to me."

I waved him off and took small steps closer to the girl, handing her the milkshake and trying to calm her down. I said, "Tell me, why are you upset?"

She shook her head and said, "You don't understand."

I carefully asked, "Is it about school, life, or... something about feelings?"

At the mention of that, I noticed her gaze soften slightly.

She asked, "Do you and your boyfriend fight?"

I glanced at Grayson and said, "We did, but we broke up after just one fight."

She lowered her head and said sadly, "Love is that fragile."

Grayson understood my hint and subtly moved behind the girl. I continued to distract her and said, "But breaking up doesn't always mean you don't love each other."

I watched Grayson's countdown gesture and continued, "Sometimes, it's just something you can't avoid."

He suddenly grabbed the girl from behind. I quickly moved to the side, giving them plenty of space.

"Ah!" The girl screamed, then burst into tears.

My heart settled back down. I knelt to comfort her and said, "Don't lose hope. He and I were apart for four years, and we rekindled our old feelings."

The girl looked surprised. Her gaze shifted back and forth between us. But Grayson's expression darkened with a hint of coldness.

The rooftop was left with just me and Grayson.

He stared at me with a stormy look in his eyes. He said, "Susan, are you out of your mind?"

His words stung with bitterness. But I kept a bright smile and said, "Yeah! I miss you. I've love-sickness."

Grayson said, "You're crazy." He then left.

I jogged to catch up with him and managed to squeeze into the same elevator with him.

When it came to flirting with Grayson, I was never tired of it.

I asked, "Why didn't you accept my WhatsApp request?"

He said, "Do we need to keep in touch?" His voice was completely cold.

I extended my left hand in front of him and said, "Grayson, can you help me out?"

There was already a deep mark on my wrist.

His gaze tightened, and a fleeting hint of pain flashed in his eyes.

Got him. He felt sorry for me.

Grayson carefully cut the bracelet off. I winced in pain, and he disinfected the spot where the hydraulic cutter had rubbed my skin raw and then applied a band-aid, all while saying, "So dramatic."

"A man who says one thing and means another. Why is that so attractive?"

I waved a two-inch photo in my hand and said in a choked, raspy voice, "You haven't forgotten, right?"

He reached out to grab it.

People were passing by, but Grayson just stood there. He gave me a sideways glance with a dark, almost frightening look in his eyes.

After a moment, he curled his lips into a mocking smile and said with cold indifference, "Thanks for reminding me. I've been meaning to clean out my wallet."

He snatched the photo from me when I wasn't expecting it. He crumpled it in his fist and tossed it into the trash. It was as if all our past memories were thrown away without hesitation.

My heart plummeted to the bottom, shattering into pieces.

I forced a smile and turned to leave, saying, "Thanks, Mr. Stewart. I'm leaving." I held back the tears that were about to fall.