Some said Manchester was a cold industrial city, which was why the people here loved heavy metal music, enjoyed strong liquor, and liked to shout at the top of their lungs, all to drive away the ever-present chill.
Eva sat in a taxi, watching the buildings on both sides of the road flash past outside the window, but her heart remained back at that place, watching the sports car drive away.
Were they dating?
Scarlett was a very beautiful woman. Even Eva had to admit that. Although she did not feel she was inferior to her, Scarlett was Ethan's neighbour and seemed much more proactive, even going so far as to pose as Ethan's girlfriend at Beckham and Victoria's wedding.
Although Ethan had mentioned his past grievances with Scarlett over the phone, it was obvious to Eva that both of them seemed to remember that experience quite fondly. Seeing them walk out side by side, chatting happily, it was hard to believe they had ever been at odds.
Staring blankly out the window, Eva had to admit a fact she had been unwilling to acknowledge until now. She had truly fallen for Ethan. This was the first time she had genuinely fallen in love with a man.
She had only ever had one boyfriend, but that had been her parents' choice. For the sake of filial duty, she had decided to get married and leave the film industry she loved, but then she met Ethan, and everything that happened after that was like something out of a film.
In the blink of an eye, more than a year had passed. Her two chance encounters with Ethan on planes were still fresh in her mind.
At this moment, Eva could not help recalling something Ethan had once said to her. He had joked several times that he suspected he and Eva shared a telepathic connection, which was why he could always call just when the other person was feeling bored or lonely.
The first time she heard this, Eva's heart felt as if it had been lightly shocked, a tingling sensation spreading through her. But being somewhat slow to notice such things, she had not realised it at the time. She only felt that her relationship with Ethan seemed to have taken a step forward.
Later, as they talked more, they became familiar with each other. It just so happened that Eva came to the UK with her film crew, so she ran over to London to watch a New Manchester United match, only to see a dejected Ethan after a defeat.
She had never known how to comfort a man. She wanted to help Ethan share his burden but did not know where to start, so she could only sit foolishly with him at the bus stop, watching bus after bus pass by, praying in her heart that those passing vehicles would carry Ethan's troubles away with them.
It was as if her prayers had worked. Ethan soon recovered, turning back into the Ethan she knew best, confident, cheerful, and always wearing a bright smile that seemed especially dazzling even in the night.
If everything she and Ethan had experienced so far had been plain, simple, and subtle, then the moment she heard Victoria introduce Scarlett Elan as Ethan's girlfriend on the day of Beckham's wedding, she clearly felt her heart shatter in that instant.
She panicked and was completely at a loss. She did not know how Ethan could have suddenly ended up with a girlfriend. She even felt as if a world she had unknowingly built inside her heart was on the verge of collapsing at that moment.
At that moment, she clearly realised that she and Ethan were no longer just simple friends. But she was still unwilling to admit it, deliberately suppressing her emotions because she did not know what Ethan was thinking.
But as many love experts said, only the brave pursuer was worthy of love.
Eva was not brave, so when she saw Ethan walking with another woman with her own eyes, although she rationally guessed that perhaps they were not a couple, emotionally, she was very, very afraid. She did not even dare to verify it and could only choose to run away.
"Eva, shouldn't you find a little courage? Even if they really are dating, even if they get married, you can still fight for it, can't you?" Looking out the window, Eva muttered to herself.
She had a feeling that if she left today, she would lose Ethan forever.
It was only a half-hour drive from Ashton New Road to the airport, and they arrived soon.
After getting out of the car and walking into the airport lobby, she watched the travellers coming and going. They were all rushing home to spend Christmas with their families, and everyone looked hurried and anxious.
Only Eva walked slowly by herself, like a walking corpse whose soul had been taken away.
She was still hesitating over whether she should leave or not.
Did he know she had come? If he knew she had come to find him, would he come out to look for her?
If he knew she had seen him with Scarlett, would he explain it like last time? Or would he come up with a pile of excuses to make it clear that he had nothing to do with Scarlett?
A pile of questions weighed heavily on Eva, so heavily that she could barely take a step. She could only crawl forward like a snail, unable to make up her mind.
...
Ethan hurriedly hung up the phone with Walsh and walked back into the airport lobby.
Although he was the club owner, in reality, New Manchester United did not have much staff. Especially recently, with things being so busy and the new stadium about to open, Ethan had to handle many matters himself, and he really could not get away.
Even so, he decided to squeeze two days out of his busy schedule to fly to New Zealand to see Eva, spend Christmas together, take a short holiday, and also visit the filming set of The Lord of the Rings.
It would be even better if he could meet some Hollywood big shots!
Thinking of this, Ethan suddenly smiled. He had transmigrated for so long, but he still had a strong fanboy streak. It was not just football stars. He was also a fan of Hollywood actors, such as Nicolas Cage, and directors like Spielberg.
Walking back into the airport lobby, he saw someone standing not far from the main entrance whose outfit felt familiar.
Beneath a black miniskirt and stockings was a pair of leather boots. She wore a black open-collared coat on her upper body, revealing a large patch of fair skin on her chest. Her dark golden hair fell softly to her shoulders, and a pair of large sunglasses covered most of her face. Unless it was someone very familiar with her, it would have been hard to recognise who she was.
What Ethan recognised most clearly was that pair of large sunglasses. They were custom-made for Eva by a sunglasses brand she endorsed. The style was very unique and suited her face shape well, so Ethan recognised her at a glance.
He took out his phone, opened his contacts, searched for a while, found Eva's number, and called her.
In the distance, Eva was clearly startled by the sudden phone call. She took out her phone and discovered that it was actually from Ethan. Her heart was immediately filled with mixed emotions. Should she answer or not?
The phone did not give Eva too much time to think. After a dozen seconds, she decided to answer the call.
"Hey, Eva, where are you?" Ethan stood behind a pillar, poked his head out to peek, and asked with a mischievous grin.
"Uh... at... the airport!" Eva's heart was pounding. She then added, "I've already booked my ticket back to New Zealand!"
Why did she say that? Vaguely, deep down, Eva still hoped that Ethan would persuade her to stay.
"Oh, really? That's quite a coincidence. I have a friend who also happens to be going to New Zealand, but he doesn't know how to take a plane. I wonder if you could help me take him along? He's at the airport right now!"
Eva cursed inwardly. He only looks for me when he wants help. What does he take me for? Why doesn't he go and ask Scarlett to help him?
Although she thought this way, she still nodded and agreed. "Where is he? He doesn't even know how to take a plane. He's not a child, is he?"
Ethan chuckled. He happened to look up and see the name of one of the passage exits, so he immediately pushed the door open, entered, and told her the location. He walked out, only to find himself in a quiet alley between the outside of the airport lobby and the car park.
Eva grumbled indignantly at Ethan but still found a service attendant, located the passage, and walked out, only to find herself in an alley where there was not a single person.
"Hey, Ethan, you aren't playing a trick on me, are you?" Eva asked angrily over the phone.
"How could I dare? Isn't this right in front of you?" Eva heard Ethan say on the phone.
But strangely, there was an echo in the alley.
Eva suddenly turned around and immediately saw Ethan standing behind her with a grin on his face, shaking the phone in his right hand, then pointing at himself, as if indicating that he was the child who did not know how to take a plane.
Eva stood there in a daze. When she saw Ethan suddenly appear, all her complaints, suspicions, and hesitation were thrown to the back of her mind. Tears could not help sliding from her eyes, dripping from beneath her sunglasses, and she threw herself into Ethan's arms, bringing a faint fragrance with her.
"You damn bastard!" Eva hugged Ethan tightly, reaching her hands behind his back and pounding him hard.
Ethan was startled by this sudden change and stood there at a loss, only able to let Eva keep pounding him. Fortunately, a woman's strength was not that great. He did not feel much pain from that bit of force, but he was a little puzzled. What was wrong with this girl today?
But gradually, Eva cried very sadly, yet she still held on to Ethan tightly, as if afraid that if she were not careful, he would disappear from under her nose again, just like how he had suddenly popped up out of nowhere.
Ethan thought Eva must have suffered some grievance, so he let her hold him and comforted her by stroking her hair.
(To be continued.)