George’s POV:
After dinner, I video called Helen. She was leaning against the head of the bed. Truly, she looked elegant
with her wet hair dripping in the soft, warm light.
The cockles of my heart seemed to warm up as I looked at her.
“What are you doing?” I asked casually. I knew that if I didn’t take the initiative to contact her, then she
wouldn’t have contacted me.
“I just took a shower and I am getting ready for bed,” Helen replied while drying her tresses with a towel.
Her movements were unrushed and I could see that the pajamas she was wearing were rather
conservative. However, my attention was drawn to the diamond-like droplets of water gently falling off the
tips of her hair against her delicate and beautiful collarbone. Images of me hugging and kissing her
passionately flashed through my mind. “Oh!” I replied in a low, hoarse voice.
I secretly admired her without saying anything. Neither of us spoke again for a while. Helen kept drying
her hair and then suddenly asked, “When will you be coming back to New York?”
“In a few days.”
I had promised to accompany my grandpa to have a physical examination and to meet several of my
friends. A technology exhibition was scheduled to take place in Washington in a few days’ time and Jane
and I were invited to participate in it.
Therefore, I would still be around for at least a week.
“I’ll also have to go back to work by then.”
“I guess.”
The next few days were pretty busy. My main schedule was to accompany my grandpa to meet a whole
lot of people with different agendas. Sometimes, my grandpa would send me on his behalf to represent
him.
One day, out of the blue, my mother asked me accompany her to a lunch party. It wasn’t too much of a
big deal for me so I agreed. Before I returned, I had been mentally prepared to attend all kinds of social
occasions with my grandpa and my parents so that I could make them proud.
In return, they would not interfere in my personal life in the following year. My mother had booked a
French restaurant. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a young woman, roughly my age, sitting at the table.
It didn’t take me long to realize that my mother had arranged a blind date for me!
In particular, after a few introductory words, my mother left with her mother on the pretext of needing to
use the washroom. I was now convinced that this was indeed a blind date.
I frowned inwardly and glanced at her indifferently. The woman looked at me gracefully with a light smile
on her face.
“I guess you didn’t catch my name just now. I am Josie Burke. I’m so pleased to see you again.”
I caught the punch of her words and asked, “Josie Burke? See me again?” I couldn’t for the life of me
remember seeing her before, but judging by her tone, she was familiar with me.
“Yes, we went to the same kindergarten as children and also in the same class in the first grade of
primary school. But then, when my father was transferred to a new place of work, we moved away,” Josie
explained with a warm smile
“I’m sorry! I don’t remember.” I answered honestly because I genuinely had no memory of it. Her
surname was somewhat familiar though. It reminded me of someone who had worked for my grandpa
many years ago.
“No problem. Just remember me from today on.” Josie still smiled, as if she was not angry with my
indifference. She seemed pretty cool in spite of my abrupt answer.
In my mother’s eyes, Josie’s identity was perfect future daughter-in-law material for her. She met all my
mother’s expectations. After all, for my mother, it was a marriage between families of equal social and
economic status. Therefore, there was no need for Josie to fawn on anyone.
Her identity was sufficient and spoke for itself. I was in no mood to engage in useless banter, so I turned
to enjoy my foie gras, completely ignoring Josie. Seriously, I behaved as if she didn’t even exist. This
was my last compromise. Silence was my last respect for my mother’s secret arrangement of the blind
date.
My mother had to be grateful that I didn’t say anything rude to Josie in a moment of irritation. I couldn’t
pretend to be interested while I was really not. I was even losing my smile, my politeness and my
patience. At first, she tried to find some random topics to talk about, but I was a person of few words.
Besides, I was in an awful mood, so our conversation was far from pleasant. Finally, the smile at the
corners of her mouth faded. Josie glared at me and questioned me harshly, “I don’t understand.”
“I apologize. I had no idea about this blind date in advance. I’ll talk to my mother when we get back.” I put
down my knife and fork roughly and showed her my stubborn attitude. Shock and disdain enveloped her
face. Josie asked in disbelief,
“Don’t you like me?” I shook my head and explained patiently, “No, that’s not what I mean. I just didn’t
expect to go on a blind date. It has nothing to do with who you are. This is not about you. It’s about me.
Don’t take it personally.”
“You are the first person who dares to refuse me,” Josie sneered and spat in an arrogant tone. I asked
indifferently,
“Really? Well, I’m honored! If you want, I will tell my mother that you don’t like me. In that way, I will
spare you the embarrassment.” I thought I had made it clear enough to her that I was not interested.
Hell, I was even prepared to cook up a story for my mother to let her save face. If she had any sense at
all, she would understand that I was refusing her and she should let it go.
However, Josie suddenly burst into peals of laughter. She rested her chin on one hand and stared at me
with burning eyes.
“No need. I have a heavy crush on you. There are lots of simps on the street but I don’t like any of them.
Hey, but now that I have seen a tough one, of course I like it! I want you.”
“Whatever.” What she thought or wanted had nothing to do with me. Anyway, I had said my piece and
was not at all flattered by her bold words. Just as I was about to leave, a familiar voice came from
behind.
“Honey, what are you doing here?”
I raised my head and met Jane’s gaze. She walked over and sat down beside me. Then she picked up
the knife and fork I had used and was about to eat with it. She tried to portray that we were so intimate
that we didn’t mind using each other’s knives and forks. I scoffed and took the knife and fork back from
her hands.
“Take another set.” Before Jane could object, I requested the waiter to bring new cutlery. Josie stared at
Jane with a sulky face and bluntly asked, “Who are you?” Neither Jane nor I answered her. Jane just
gulped down the food. The atmosphere froze yet again. Josie picked up her bag and left in a huff.
“A blind date?” Jane asked, finally raising her head from her food. “Yes.” I didn’t offer too much of details
and continued to eat. Jane gloated and teased, “I didn’t expect you to end up with a blind date. That girl
is quite beautiful. Did your family introduce you to her? I think you are of equal social and economic
status. Don’t you like her?”
I intentionally didn’t answer her question. Jane said slowly, “I wonder what kind of woman would make
you happy.”
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