Lynn Walker interrupted him: “Oh, just focus on driving, don’t talk about your friend like that.”

“……”

Ethan Brooks swallowed the rest of his words, furrowed his brows, and took a moment to glance at Lynn Walker.

“You need to concentrate when driving, otherwise it’s not safe.” Sensing his mood, Lynn Walker quickly added, “Don’t be upset, I was just reminding you. If you want to keep talking, go ahead.”

Only then did Ethan Brooks smile: “I’m not mad, thanks for the reminder, darling.”

Before they knew it, they arrived at the restaurant.

Now that they were here, Evan Carter couldn’t very well say she wanted to leave. After all, Ryan Grant hadn’t said a word, so if she insisted, it would seem like she was still hung up on the past, unable to even share a meal together.

She thought, it’s just a meal, an hour at most—she could tough it out.

But what Evan Carter didn’t expect was that when Lynn Walker had said earlier, “My boyfriend will bring some friends too,” the “friends” didn’t just mean Ryan Grant.

It was a whole group.

They had reserved a private room, and it was already full of people.

Logically, since Evan Carter was brought by Lynn Walker, she should have sat with her. But the remaining four seats were in pairs, so Lynn Walker decisively left Evan Carter behind and went to sit with Ethan Brooks.

Evan Carter was thus forced to be seated with Ryan Grant.

From the outside, it looked as if Evan Carter had been brought by Ryan Grant.

A man teased, “Ryan Grant, that’s not cool—when did you suddenly get into a relationship?”

Ethan Brooks clicked his tongue: “Don’t talk nonsense. You think this idiot Ryan Grant could land someone like her? She’s our old classmate, the famous school beauty back in high school! —James Harris, you remember, right? Didn’t you go to Nanwu No.1 High too?”

“Of course, of course, Evan Carter, right? Plus, I used to be in the same class as your friend, Samuel Clark.” The chubby man sitting next to Ryan Grant looked at Evan Carter, smiling a bit sheepishly. “I’ve seen your photos with her on her Moments.”

Evan Carter curved her lips in a smile and nodded.

The next moment, another man said, “Wow, fatty, why are you blushing?”

Ryan Grant didn’t participate in their conversation at all. No matter how many times his name came up, he acted as if he couldn’t hear a thing. Only at this comment did he show a hint of reaction, lifting his eyes to glance in James Harris’s direction.

Ethan Brooks: “Isn’t he always like this? He clams up whenever he sees a pretty girl.”

Maybe feeling ignored, Lynn Walker got a bit annoyed and jumped into their conversation: “Hey, why are you talking about other girls being pretty in front of me?”

After a few seconds of silence, Ethan Brooks coaxed, “Babe, how did you get that idea? Don’t get jealous over nothing.”

……

The food at this place came out really slowly. A bunch of guys sat around chatting away, and after ages, not a single dish had arrived. But as the conversation drifted, the attention brought on by her presence as a stranger gradually faded.

Evan Carter relaxed a little and, without thinking, glanced at Ryan Grant.

Ryan Grant wasn’t joining in the conversation; he was just looking down at his phone, seeming completely uninterested in everything.

Even when people called his name, he barely responded.

Evan Carter lowered her head and took a sip of water.

She felt completely out of place here.

After a while—

Lynn Walker suddenly kissed Ethan Brooks on the cheek, then got up and walked over to Evan Carter. She grabbed Evan Carter’s wrist, smiling: “Xiaofan, come on. Go to the restroom with me.”

Evan Carter stood up. Noticing her bag on the chair, she quietly picked it up.

Following the signs, the two of them went into the restroom.

Lynn Walker took out her lipstick to touch up her makeup, and chatted casually: “Did you really turn down that Ryan Grant back then?”

Evan Carter didn’t answer.

Lynn Walker took her silence as confirmation, and said in surprise, “You know that ‘Overtime’ bar near our company? He opened it with my boyfriend and another guy.”

“……”

“He’s got so much going for him—tall, handsome, rich—how could you turn him down?” Lynn Walker shook her head, unable to understand. “Your standards are way too high. But it’s been so many years, and judging by how he acted just now, he really doesn’t seem interested in you anymore.”

“It’s all in the past.” Evan Carter smiled gently, then took out her phone to check it. “By the way, Lin-jie, I’m really sorry, but I have to head back. Teacher Qian asked me to submit an article tonight, so could you please let your friends know for me?”

Lynn Walker let out a sound of protest, a bit unhappy: “It’s just one meal, it won’t take that long.”

“The teacher’s in a hurry.” Evan Carter said, “I really can’t delay, especially since I’m still on probation.”

“Oh, fine then.” Lynn Walker pouted. “Just be careful on your way back. I’ll head back first.”

“Okay, thanks, Lin-jie. See you tomorrow.”

After Lynn Walker left, Evan Carter turned on the faucet and washed her hands. She wasn’t sure if she’d made Lynn Walker unhappy, but she really didn’t want to stay at a gathering where she didn’t know anyone.

Evan Carter let out a sigh of relief and grabbed a paper towel to dry her hands.