He had never waited for her before.

“Ash, Ash.” Flora Fairy was shrieking again, “It’s the weekend, come with me…”

“Okay.”

“Huh?” Flora Fairy was stunned for a moment. “Do you even know what I want to do?”

“Blind date!” Mason Scott replied irritably. Given her “stellar performance” last time, Flora Fairy had latched onto her, dragging her along every weekend to be her “blind date companion.”

But actually, going with her to blind dates was pretty fun. After all, she didn’t have to worry about anyone being interested in her; she just had to eat and watch Flora Fairy clown around.

Still, “Who is it this time?”

“Hehehehe, a promising young man, a surgeon, Western food, hahahaha…”

Mason Scott couldn’t help but laugh at her smug look. She really had her ways—each blind date was more impressive than the last, but she never managed to catch one. Instead, for some inexplicable reason, they’d end up as her good friends or even friends’ husbands—always the untouchable kind. At the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Flora Fairy had sworn she’d marry any man who’d have her.

Since she needed to go home early to “get ready,” Mason Scott left work on time, which meant she inevitably ran into Ian Mitchell downstairs. Mason Scott just wanted to keep her head down and walk past, but Flora Fairy suddenly stopped, glaring fiercely at Ian Mitchell… and the beautiful woman beside him.

“Outrageous!” Flora Fairy gritted her teeth. Before Mason Scott could react, she was already being dragged in front of Ian Mitchell and the beautiful woman.

“Homewrecker, you’re at it again, seducing men everywhere.”

The beautiful woman, surprisingly, dropped her gentle act and snapped back, “Blind date maniac, dragging people to go on blind dates with you again?” She glanced at Mason Scott. “She’s way prettier than you. Just wait to be a wallflower—never getting married in your life!”

The two of them started arguing just like that, leaving Mason Scott dumbfounded. Awkwardly, she greeted Ian Mitchell, “Hi!”

He looked pretty upset. Well, who wouldn’t be, having their girlfriend called a homewrecker?

“Uh, sorry, she’s just like that—doesn’t mean what she says.” Mason Scott tried to defend Flora Fairy.

Ian Mitchell’s gaze was murderous, his voice icy cold: “You’re going on a blind date?”

“Uh, yes…” Mason Scott didn’t know what to say, but her hesitation only made it more obvious.

He said nothing, just shot her a dark look and turned to leave.

“Ian Mitchell, wait for me.” The woman who’d been arguing with Flora Fairy stopped fighting as soon as he left, hurrying after him.

Mason Scott didn’t have time to sort out her feelings, because Flora Fairy’s expression was so strange—was she… crying?

Flora Fairy! The always-joking Flora Fairy was crying?

“Xiaohong, crying just because you lost an argument is pretty shameful, you know.”

“What do you know!” Flora Fairy glared at her through teary eyes. “She stole my first boyfriend.”

Ah, so it really was a deep grudge! Mason Scott immediately felt a sense of camaraderie, patting her on the shoulder. “There are plenty of fish in the sea. Tonight, let’s find someone great and make her jealous.”

“I’m not mad that she stole the guy I liked. I’m mad that she didn’t cherish him after stealing him, caused him to get into a car accident, and then dumped him because his leg was broken. How could she do that! Why does he still love someone like her? Why doesn’t he like me—just because I’m not as pretty as she is? Wuwu…”

Mason Scott was stunned. She never expected the always boy-crazy Flora Fairy to have such a story. Is it true that the more cheerful someone seems, the more fragile they are inside?

Because she spent so long comforting her, they were late for the first time. Mason Scott didn’t even have time to put on her “ugly makeup,” and Flora Fairy, feeling down, didn’t clown around for once. The result…

The two outstanding surgeons were actually interested in them?!

Oh my god! Is this what they call a blessing in disguise?

Because the guys were so enthusiastic, the four of them went to a movie, sang karaoke, and had a late-night snack, not getting home until after eleven.

Finally seeing her front door, Mason Scott breathed a sigh of relief. “Dr. Jenkins, I’m home now. Thank you for walking me back.”

“Oh.” Dr. Jenkins stopped his lecture about heart disease and said gentlemanly, “Well, good night, Miss Morgan. I had a great time today.”

“Me too. Good night!” Mason Scott smiled, only heading upstairs after he’d left.

The hallway light was broken, making it a bit dark. She reached her door on the fourth floor, fumbling for her keys, when suddenly a tall, dark figure appeared in her line of sight. Startled, Mason Scott dropped her keys with a clatter.

“You…”

Before she could finish, she was pulled into a hard embrace. Her unguarded lips were seized, mercilessly ravaged again and again. The fiery kiss, unsatisfied, trailed down to her neck, as if he wanted to pour out all his suppressed anger in this wild frenzy. His hand yanked open her collar; just as she felt a chill, his lips and tongue covered and devoured her skin.

Mason Scott didn’t even have time to react before she was swept up in this sudden, dizzying confusion, the air thick with a faint scent of alcohol. Alcohol? He’d been drinking!

Mason Scott snapped back a little, breathless, and called out, “Ian Mitchell!”

He froze, stopping, his head still buried in the crook of her neck, breathing heavily.

After a long moment, she finally heard his hoarse voice: “I lost.”

What did that mean?

“After all these years, I still lost to you—completely defeated.”

Why did his voice sound so sad?

“Ian Mitchell, what are you talking about? Are you drunk?” she asked uneasily.

Silence. Then he suddenly shoved her away, his beautiful eyes flashing with embarrassment and anger in the darkness, his voice cold and clear: “I’m not drunk. I’m crazy.”

He turned and disappeared as suddenly as he’d appeared. If not for the faint sting on her lips, she would have thought it was all a ridiculous dream.

She picked up her keys and opened the door, but once inside, she just stood there in a daze. If the phone hadn’t suddenly rung, she didn’t know how long she would have stood there.

As soon as she picked up, she heard Flora Fairy’s excited voice: “Ash, how did it go on your end?”

How did what go? Mason Scott was momentarily confused.

“Come on, tell me! Did Dr. Jenkins make a move? Did he ask to see you again?”

“No.”

“How is that possible!” Flora Fairy shrieked. “He looked totally satisfied!”

He was probably just happy to have such a cooperative audience for his “Heart Disease and Love” lecture.

“What about you?” Mason Scott didn’t want to argue, so she asked directly.

“He asked me to see a movie tomorrow, hehehehe…” A terrifying laugh came from the other end. “Ash, starting tomorrow, I’m going to act like a lady!”

Chapter Three: Getting Closer

Is there anything harder than Flora Fairy trying to act like a lady?

“Ash, does this one look good, or this one? Or maybe this one?” In the clothing store, Flora Fairy was holding up outfits, asking Mason Scott, who she’d dragged out early in the morning with a barrage of calls to be her fashion consultant.

“Hmm, this one.”

“I’m already wearing that one today.” Flora Fairy’s face darkened. “Ash, are you still half-asleep? You’ve been out of it all morning.”

“Uh…” Mason Scott gave a guilty laugh and quickly changed the subject, saying seriously, “Xiaohong, the key to acting like a lady isn’t the clothes.”

“Then what is it?”

“Manners and behavior.” Mason Scott explained, “For example, if someone asks what kind of music you like, you absolutely can’t say heavy metal rock.”

“I don’t listen to rock.” Flora Fairy said happily. “My favorites are Richie Ren and Ah Niu’s ‘A Spray of Waves’.”

This time it was Mason Scott’s turn to look exasperated. In her mind, she pictured three men in floral shorts, grinning foolishly, chasing bikini girls across the beach with guitars, while Flora Fairy excitedly narrated: “Especially the line ‘the beauty turns into an old lady’—it perfectly expresses my hopes for the future…”

“…When you’re together, just don’t talk about music.” Mason Scott said firmly. “Or maybe talk about movies? Aren’t you two seeing a movie tonight? That’s a great way to show a lady’s taste and temperament.”

“Movies?” Flora Fairy’s eyes lit up. “I love ‘A Chinese Odyssey.’ Law Kar-ying is so handsome in it, and his lines are so philosophical—especially ‘People are born of their mothers, demons are born of their mothers,’ which covers ethics, love, medicine, and religion. It’s the best interpretation of ‘all beings are equal’…”

“…Xiaohong.” Mason Scott said with difficulty, “I think tonight, you’d better not say anything.”

It wasn’t until Flora Fairy finally let her go that it was already two in the afternoon. Mason Scott went home, took a nap, and then buried herself in the darkroom. By the time she came out, it was completely dark. She glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already 7:30.

Starving, she opened the fridge but found nothing to eat. Mason Scott grabbed her wallet and keys, planning to make a quick trip to the supermarket.

She went downstairs, crossed the flowerbeds, and suddenly stopped in her tracks, looking up.

Under the dim streetlight across the way, he stood there, his gaze locking onto her through the swirling smoke.

Ian Mitchell!