4 Daniel's call came in. I hung up, and it rang again. For the first time, Daniel's calls felt annoying, and I prepared to turn off my phone. But I accidentally pressed "answer." "Chloe, where did you go? Don't scare me. Give me an address; I'll come find you!" Daniel's voice clearly showed panic. Ryan, who was still organizing my things, paused his movements when he heard the call. "If you have nothing better to do, go find a new hobby, maybe take up gardening or join a book club, don't follow me around like a stalker. I have my own life to live." Daniel fell silent. On Lantern Festival that year, Daniel said he was busy working overtime. I was home with a severe cold and fever, unable to get up, and called Daniel, asking him to buy me medicine. But I had clearly seen Ashley's Ins post: "Everything's great, thanks to Big Brother Daniel for taking me to see the lantern show." On the other end, Daniel's breathing grew heavy. A few seconds later, he managed to squeeze out a few words: "I'm sorry, Chloe."" I snorted. "No need. Daniel, we're over. Please don't bother me again."' *Click.* I hung up and blocked Daniel. Seeing me hang up, Ryan slowly walked over to me. "Chloe, are you serious?" I looked up. "When have I ever *not* been serious?" Ryan mused, "Leaving the wrong person is progress. Congratulations, Chloe, you're embracing a new beginning." All these years, my focus had been solely on Daniel, and I'd grown distant from old friends. It was rare that Ryan still remembered our past campus friendship. "Come over for lunch tomorrow. I need to celebrate properly." Ryan smiled like a kid. "Then I'm in for a treat!" The next day, I spent the entire morning cooking a table full of dishes. I hadn't eaten properly these past few days, and my stomach was empty. Ryan also brought a bottle of fine red wine. Once seated, Ryan looked at the feast and asked, puzzled, "Chloe, are you into healthy eating lately?" I glanced at the spread, realizing all the dishes were light and mild. For years, to accommodate Daniel's sensitive stomach, I'd given up spicy and rich foods. The dishes I learned were all mild, and now it had become a habit when I cooked. I chuckled self-deprecatingly. "It's just habit after so many years. Next time, I'll make something with different flavors for you."' Ryan's brow subtly furrowed. "Do you cook often at home, Chloe?" I nodded. "Then why bother? Tonight, I'm taking you out for a big dinner." Ryan's tone left no room for argument. This kid was starting to get a bit of a CEO vibe now. That evening, Ryan mysteriously led me to a private dining restaurant. "Chloe, this place is pretty exclusive; not many people know about it or can get in." "The food is amazing. Eat as much as you want and relax."" I definitely needed to relax my tense nerves these past few days. As dish after dish of tempting, colorful food arrived, I didn't hold back and started eating heartily. Seeing me enjoy my meal, Ryan smiled. "Order more if you want. Tonight, you just need to eat well and feel good." A sour and spicy tripe soup was especially authentic, and I wanted another bowl. But my spoon slipped, falling into the bowl, splashing soup all over my face and clothes. Ryan quickly reached for napkins to wipe my face. Just as I was about to take them to wipe myself, I heard a familiar female voice.