Chapter 3

3

Suddenly, an unknown number called. The sudden ring pulled me from my reverie.

I leaned back, pressed answer, and heard a familiar voice:

"Sarah, I'm starting at a company overseas next month. We haven't seen each other in over six months. Let's grab a drink in a few days?"

It was Summer, a former colleague. We worked in the same department and were close friends.

I quit my job to care for John. I even gave up social activities, fearing that regular outings would unsettle him.

After some pleasantries, I learned from Summer that she was going to a newly listed company. The offer was several times better than before.

"Sarah, I'm going abroad, and I don't know when we'll see each other again. I've made a reservation; you have to come, okay?"

Summer's voice held a hint of reluctance. I cleared my throat and tentatively asked:

"Could you ask if they have any openings? We could go abroad together."

After a few seconds of silence, a shriek erupted. "Are you kidding? You really want to go abroad?"

I confirmed, and Summer became even more excited. "Of course! With your skills, big companies will be scrambling for you."

"Wait, I'll finish up here, and we'll talk properly when we meet!"

Around 9 PM, John surprisingly arrived on time. He carried several takeout containers straight into the kitchen.

Because of his OCD, John couldn't cook normally. The smell of cooking would make him nauseous. Let alone cooking voluntarily. Entering the kitchen was already remarkable.

"You said you wanted to eat Sichuan food, didn't you? I contacted the chef before work to prepare it; I just need to heat it up."

John carefully placed the containers in the microwave and turned the dial.

In his eyes, was this the best "compensation" he could offer?

After heating the food, John wore disposable gloves. He placed the uniformly colored and shaped plates on the table, carefully adjusting their positions. Until every plate was at the perfect angle.

"Eat. Remember to start with the vegetables, then the meat…"

John stared at me, even counting my chews. Fearing that I'd chew too many times and disrupt his established order.

"Sarah, don't chew on the right side, you're doing it too much. Switch sides…"

"There's less than half the broccoli left, eat more meat first…"

A normal dinner was torture in this house. To please John, even my eating habits were controlled.

But for Jessica, these restrictions seemed nonexistent.

This girl, fresh out of art school, quickly became John's most frequent model. At first, he patiently corrected her poses and expressions.

Once, I was there when Jessica finished a photoshoot. She patted John's shoulder and whispered: "John, thanks for your hard work today."

This shocked everyone present; we nervously watched John, unable to speak. He hated unauthorized physical contact. Even getting too close would infuriate him.

Surprisingly, he remained calm, unfazed.