Chapter 2

"Hey! How could you let my precious dumplings be eaten?"

I exclaimed. Those dumplings had been in the freezer for months, and I couldn't bring myself to eat them because they were the only memory I had of my mother. And now, they were gone, devoured by a dog! Lorraine frowned angrily.

"Haylee, it's just a few dumplings. If Molly ate them, so be it. Do you really have to be so tight-fisted? How about I pay you back ten times the cost of those dumplings? Would that make you happy?"

"My Molly usually eats gourmet dog food. We came to Rhys's place in such a hurry that we didn't bring any. Your dumplings? Even if they were free, Molly wouldn't eat them because she's quite picky!"

Lorraine had no idea how important those dumplings were to me.

I turned to Rhys, trembling with anger, and shouted, "Rhys, this is too much! Lorraine might not understand, but you know the significance of those dumplings. They were the only thing my mom left me before she passed away. How could you let Lorraine cook them for the dog?"

Rhys shrugged it off. "Haylee, they're just dumplings. Do you have to be so tight-fisted? You're making a big deal out of it just for money, right?"

He casually tossed me a gold card. "Here, take it. Buy as many dumplings as you want. Are you happy now?" I let out a cold laugh.

"Rhys, someone like you deserves to end up alone!"

As soon as I said that, Rhys's face darkened.

His voice was low and menacing, clearly angry.

"Haylee, enough is enough. Stop making a scene. I have a temper too. If you keep this up, I'll kick you out, and you'll never see me again!"

I was furious, glaring at him. Suddenly, without the filter of seeing him as my savior, he was just an ordinary person.

Without another word, I turned and left.

As soon as I stepped out, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, a sense of relief I couldn't describe.

Behind me, Lorraine's voice rang out, gloating, "Rhys, you should stop Haylee. If she really leaves, who will be your devoted admirer?"

Rhys scoffed confidently, "Don't worry about her. She'll come crawling back in less than three days."

I left without taking anything, leaving behind all my belongings and feelings for Rhys in the apartment to rot away.

Realizing Rhys wasn't the person I was looking for, I didn't want to waste any more time on him.

Without any attachment to Rhys, I felt no ties to this city. So that night, I took the earliest flight back to my hometown.

When I got home, my dad asked about my relationship status. I told him I was still single.

He planned to set me up on a blind date.

"Your mom is gone, and one day I'll be gone too. I just hope you'll have someone to take care of you."

Looking at my dad's wrinkled face and the concern in his eyes, I agreed.

Before the blind date, I added the guy, Austin, on Whatsapp.

As soon as I added him, I saw he posted on Facebook: "Happy."

On the day of the blind date, I arrived at the venue and was stunned.

Who would have thought I'd meet Oblary's renowned heir, Austin!

Rhys might have been good-looking and well-built, but years of indulgence had dulled his charm.

Austin, on the other hand, exuded sophistication in every move, with a great physique—a true epitome of a handsome man. Rhys paled in comparison.

As soon as we sat down, the waiter brought out a variety of dishes. Austin, ever the gentleman, served me food.

"I wasn't sure what you liked, so I ordered a bit of everything." He placed a peeled shrimp in my bowl, "I heard the shrimp here is excellent. You should try it."

Looking at the peeled shrimp in my bowl, I was a bit surprised. "Thank you."

I remembered dining with Rhys, always catering to his tastes. He never peeled shrimp for me.

When I asked him to, he'd grumble that I was being difficult.

It's true—comparison can be a harsh reality.

In the dim light, I looked at Austin's profile, feeling a strange familiarity, as if I'd seen him before.

Then I noticed the coin pendant around his neck, and the feeling intensified.

I couldn't help but ask, "Have we met before?"

He smiled, "It's only been three years, and you've already forgotten me?"

Austin looked a bit hurt. He said, "Remember three years ago? On Blossom Street, I helped you fend off a bully. I took him to the police station, but when I came back for you, you were gone."

Hearing this, I was stunned, standing there motionless.

My emotions were too complex to describe.

I pointed to the pendant around his neck and asked, "And this pendant...?"

Austin touched the coin pendant and said, "Oh, this? It's just a regular pendant. Lots of people have one."

I felt a bit embarrassed, smiling awkwardly, "What if I told you I mistook someone else for my savior? Would you believe me?"

I was lucky. After all the twists and turns, I found the person who truly saved my life.

Austin and I drank a bit, chatting about everything under the sun. We felt like we'd known each other forever.

Austin propped his chin on his hand, looking at me with a dreamy gaze, and asked, "Su Su, would you be my girlfriend?"

I was a bit tipsy and replied, "Sure."

Austin beamed, "Su Su, you can't take it back now!"

That night, Austin drove me home and stopped downstairs.

"Su Su, get some rest."