Chapter 3

I finished showering, and Julie was already waiting for me on my bed.

"Come clean, what's your relationship with my brother?"

I sighed in resignation.

"We don't have a relationship. We dated for a semester, but it was never public."

Julie leaned in closer, looking at me with a serious expression.

So, I had no choice but to confess.

"Lillian, well, my brother’s ex, let's say you're really something."

Julie grabbed my hand excitedly and praised me endlessly.

"Dating for just a semester and only holding hands, that's a real achievement. I should've taken more advantage while I had the chance. If I knew we'd break up, I would have been even bolder. I’m really regretful now."

Julie chimed in.

"I didn't think my brother would end up like this. I kept wondering why he was so irritable last summer and why he kept asking me why I didn't bring friends over. Turns out he'd been dumped."

Inadvertently, it appeared that I had left quite an impression on Matthew. No wonder he didn't show me a good face today. He's such an outstanding person; how could he accept being dumped?

I reluctantly opened my phone and removed Matthew from the blacklist.

He immediately sent a message.

"Are you asleep?"

"I'm asleep, please don't disturb."

After nursing my leg for over a month, I felt stifled, so Julie thoughtfully got us tickets for a boat ride at Sunset Lake Park.

Feeding fish on a boat was something I had always wanted to do. I used to fantasize about doing it with a boyfriend, but now I realized that I could do these things with anyone.

When we arrived at the park entrance, I suddenly noticed that Matthew was there too.

I squinted at Julie and gave her a meaningful look.

Julie chuckled without a trace of conscience and even used the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom when we were about to board the boat. She never came back.

Matthew rowed the boat, and I stared blankly at the water.

"Is your leg better now?"

Matthew suddenly spoke up. I was still somewhat dazed and nodded.

The boat came to a stop in the middle of the lake, and Matthew handed me a handful of fish food.

I tossed the food into the lake one piece at a time, and in no time, there was a swarm of fish.

The fish were very active, and some even jumped out of the water, splashing water on my dress.

I didn't pay attention and continued feeding them.

Matthew suddenly cleared his throat.

"Your clothes are wet. Let's stop feeding them for now."

I stopped the movements of my hand, hanging my head.

A fish suddenly leaped out of the water, infuriating me. I reached out and caught it.

Under Matthew's puzzled gaze, I smacked the fish hard.

"This smack is for me feeding you, and you repay me by splashing water all over me."

"This smack is for me being so good to you, and you're so cold and ungrateful."

"This smack is for me nearly letting go, and you changed your mind. I don't like it."

The fish wriggled desperately in my hand, and I couldn't help but feel foolish. I was actually getting angry at a fish.

Matthew took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders, releasing his grip on my wrist.

"Let's buy this fish and make fish soup."

Matthew suddenly suggested. I looked at him with teary eyes.

He is really handsome! This is going to be the cause of my death of me sooner or later. Feeling upset, I decided to release the fish back into the lake.

Matthew didn't row the boat, he just gazed at me without saying a word. I felt uneasy under his watchful eyes, so I decided to take the oar from his side and paddled the boat back to the shore, putting in a lot of effort.

Better to rely on myself than on a man.