Chapter 3

3 For a whole month.

Mark and I acted like strangers.

As if competing, neither of us wanted to back down.

Meanwhile, Jessica and Mark grew closer.

They ate together, left work together.

Even during the weekend team-building event, Mark chose to hike with her.

Jessica seemed hesitant.

"Isn't this inappropriate? What about Sarah?"

Mark's tone was cold: "We broke up, didn't we? Why would I care about her?"

He didn't lower his voice; everyone around could hear.

"And she loves having dinner with other men, she probably does the same with hiking."

Instantly, everyone's gaze towards me changed; some whispered.

"She doesn't cherish such a good boyfriend; she even flirts with others; no wonder he broke up with her."

The gossipers dispersed only when they saw me approaching.

On the hike, Jessica twisted her ankle.

Without hesitation, Mark squatted down and carried her on his back.

Jessica felt guilty: "I'm sorry, I made us the last ones."

Mark comforted her gently: "It's okay, it was just a relaxing trip; the ranking doesn't matter."

I lagged behind them.

There were an odd number of people, so everyone had chosen a partner.

I didn't want to break them up, so I hiked alone.

I was always physically weak, and I was already short of breath.

The couple ahead were in good spirits.

I even heard someone praise Mark for being responsible.

Mark was indeed a responsible person.

He was polite and gentlemanly to everyone, except me.

In college, he was the class monitor. During an earthquake drill.

Everyone rushed out.

Only he rushed towards me, carrying me on his back after I'd twisted my ankle a few days before.

This incident became a campus legend; everyone envied my good fortune.

But at the time, Mark was actually scolding me.

"Don't you know how troublesome you are? Why did you come to class with a twisted ankle?"

"Because of you, our class came in last. Sarah, you're utterly useless."

I actually wanted to say I'd asked for a leave of absence and didn't need to participate in the drill.

But hearing his harsh words, I didn't want to argue and make him angry.

Later, his friend told me Mark was just being stubborn.

He was worried about my injured foot and wanted me to rest at home.

And he specifically found a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to prescribe medicine for me.

"He earned a hundred dollars a day from his part-time job, but your medicine costs eighty dollars a patch, and he bought half a month's worth without hesitation."

My best friend also envied me: "He's just stubborn, but he really loves you. This tsundere personality is the best."

But now, seeing Mark comfort Jessica,

I realized he wasn't incapable of being gentle; he just wasn't gentle towards me.