Only the mechanical "beep beep" remained in the receiver, lingering in her ear for a long time. Susan Clark suddenly flopped back onto the desk with a thud, the tension in her mind slowly dissipating, only to be replaced by a hollow sense of loss.

Being able to interview Ian Shaw was supposed to be something to be happy about.

But the emotional sensitivity of her period was amplified by this moment of disappointment, and Susan Clark's mood was anything but good—she even felt a bit bitter.

Today was her boyfriend Samuel Grant's birthday.

It was the first birthday they would celebrate together since getting together.

Samuel Grant had even specially reserved a restaurant and bought movie tickets, waiting to celebrate with her after work.

Now, not only could she not spend Samuel Grant's birthday with him, she also had to drag her sickly body to work, and might even end up making the trip for nothing.

Susan Clark turned her face over, took a few deep breaths with her eyes closed, then immediately shut down her computer and started packing up.

Nancy Cole had been focused on writing, but hearing the commotion from the opposite desk, she looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

Susan Clark leaned on the desk for a while, waiting for the cramp in her lower abdomen to pass before saying, "The interview got moved up. I have to go tonight."

"Huh?" Only then did Nancy Cole notice Susan Clark's complexion.

Although her skin was always fair, right now there wasn't a trace of color in it, almost transparent, the sickly look written all over her face, completely lacking her usual lively energy.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I have to be, even if I'm not. What else can I do?"

Susan Clark walked over to the printer, hugged a stack of documents, and stared at the floor in a daze, her brows drooping.

The printer worked silently, sheets of paper stacking up neatly in front of her.

Someone's phone started ringing. Susan Clark suddenly looked up, blinked, and took out her own phone.

She should call Samuel Grant to let him know, but just as she pulled up her contacts, he seemed to sense it and called her first.

"Baby, when do you get off work? I'll come pick you up?"

Leaning against the printer, Susan Clark traced circles on the panel with her finger. "Sorry, I have to go do an interview last minute. It'll probably take about two hours. I don't think I can have dinner with you."

She thought for a moment, then added, "I'm not feeling well today, so I probably can't go to the movies tonight either."

Upon hearing this, Samuel Grant sighed and said, "Alright then, I'll just hang out with a friend or something."

"Mm, sorry." Susan Clark pressed her lips together, her voice growing even softer. "I'll make it up to you next time, okay?"

——

After Susan Clark hung up, Nancy Cole spun her pen, propped her chin with her other hand, and grinned, "You bailed on your boyfriend?"

"What else could I do?" Susan Clark retorted. "If I don't bail on my boyfriend, should I bail on Ian Shaw instead?"

"Sigh, poor thing. Your dear boyfriend just had his chance to spend his birthday with you stolen by a man you've never even met."

"You make it sound like I'm going to celebrate Ian Shaw's birthday." Susan Clark picked up her materials and went to bind them. "I'm speechless myself. I don't even know what Ian Shaw looks like, but I have to bail on my boyfriend for him."

Nancy Cole found it a bit unbelievable. "But seriously, your boyfriend doesn't mind?"

"What is there to mind about this?" Susan Clark thought for a moment and said, "He didn't say anything, just said he understood."

"Tsk, your boyfriend is way too understanding." Nancy Cole said as she shut down her computer. "Not like mine—he's so clingy. If I bailed on him, no matter the reason, he'd definitely get mad at me."

For a moment, Susan Clark was lost in thought.

With a "click," a sharp pain shot through her finger. She reflexively pulled her hand away, narrowly avoiding getting her skin pierced by the stapler.

But the sharp pain in her fingertip lingered, slowly spreading to her heart.

Holding her materials in one hand and her phone in the other, Susan Clark stood in front of the printer, zoning out for a while.

"I'm off work." Nancy Cole stood up with her bag and handed over a box of medicine. "I saw you ran out of painkillers. Take mine, have some in advance, so you don't faint from the pain during the interview."

After that, she leaned in and whispered, "If you mess this up, there are some people just waiting to be thrilled."

At this moment, Susan Clark had no mind to respond to Nancy Cole's reminder. Her head was filled with the words "understanding."

Samuel Grant, is he maybe a little too "understanding"?

Besides, she had just said she wasn't feeling well, and Samuel Grant hadn't even asked what was wrong.

Once a thought like that takes root, it becomes hard to suppress.

Susan Clark sat at her workstation in a daze, hesitated for a moment with her phone in hand, then sent a message to Samuel Grant.

Susan Clark: Are you upset?

Samuel Grant: ?

Samuel Grant: No, I understand, work is important. We'll have plenty more birthdays together.

Samuel Grant: By the way, you said you weren't feeling well. What's wrong? Are you sick?

Susan Clark let out a breath.

Looks like it's just period sensitivity, overthinking things.

Susan Clark: It's nothing, just not feeling well because of my period TAT

Samuel Grant: Poor baby.

Samuel Grant: So where are you doing the interview? I'll come pick you up when you're done.

——