Evan eyed me in surprise. We'd never even exchanged greetings before, let alone dined together. But given the stakes of his friend's marriage—and the Pei-Xu alliance—he relented. "Alright. Tonight works."
"Great! I know a cozy café with amazing coffee. Let me send you the address..." I thrust my phone's QR code at him.
He ignored it, handing me a pen instead. "Write it down."
Stone Age much? I shot him a look before scribbling "Encounter Café" in bold strokes. "8:30 PM. Don't be late."
Grinning, I left. Evan would arrive at Encounter Café... and find Lila Wei instead of me. The thought kept me giddy all day. I even donned a disguise—a black tracksuit and wig—to witness their meeting.
Hugh and Evan truly were brothers, sharing even romantic interests. But would Evan fall instantly for Lila, or would it take time? If the latter, tonight would be a letdown.
At 8 PM, I lurked outside the café. Through the window, I saw Evan sitting in my usual corner booth, wearing a simple white tee with his hair down—looking younger, almost approachable. He sipped coffee quietly, no phone in sight.
Where was Lila? I scanned the counter, but she was nowhere to be found. My furtive spying drew Evan's attention. Before I could flee, he strode outside.
"Zoe Xu, are you blind?" he greeted me, less than politely.
"Can't you act like a doctor?" I retorted, yanking off the stifling wig.
"You invited me here, then skulk around in disguise. What's the game?" he demanded.
"I just wanted to confirm you'd show up," I lied, feigning innocence.
He pushed open the café door. "Inside. Now."
Reluctantly, I followed, scanning the counter again. No Lila. "Where's Lila Wei?" I asked a barista.
"She's off today," came the reply.
My heart sank. Evan led me to a table, and I ordered black coffee in silence.
"Aren't we supposed to discuss Hugh?" he prodded.
I shrugged. "Changed my mind. Coffee's on me—go home."
His aura turned icy. "Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all." I bristled. "What's there to discuss? You all know I've been pining for years. He doesn't love me—never did, never will. If you really want to help, convince him to divorce me."
Evan scrutinized me, weighing my sincerity. I stared into my coffee, avoiding his gaze.
"You know as well as I do that your families' union isn't ordinary. Divorce isn't an option unless something drastic happens—and Hugh won't agree," he stated.
"Sounds like you two rehearsed this," I sighed. "Brothers in arms."
He sipped his coffee, silent. With Lila absent, there was no point lingering. After three awkward minutes, I stood to pay.
"Allow me," Evan said, blocking me with unexpected gallantry.
I didn't argue—money meant little to him. As he settled the bill, I slipped out. In my rearview mirror, I saw him watching my car speed away.
Hopeless. Even with my interference, Evan lagged behind Hugh. Their bond with Lila was unbreakable. Why waste more energy?
The next week passed peacefully. Hugh stayed away, and I focused on myself—picking up piano again, drinking herbal tonics religiously, and even gaining 2 pounds thanks to Eva Liu's cooking.
"Zoe, did you find the fountain of youth?" Ginny Deng pinched my cheek at a gathering. "You're glowing!"
"Chinese medicine and good food," I laughed. "Turns out, gaining weight is possible."
"Show-off!" Ella Li groaned. "We're all dieting, and you're trying to get fat?"
Tilly Ouyang smacked Ella's toned derrière. "That's happy fat. Be grateful!"
Ella preened. "Jealous? Dating a chef has its perks!" Her boyfriend, though less affluent, was handsome and devoted—her family approved.
"Ella," I interrupted, "next time you have a modeling gig, bring me along. I need a new project."
Time to rebuild my life—on my own terms.