Chapter 38 Long Vacation
Daniel called to say Zoe's visit ended a week early for some reason.
He sounded happy, and honestly, so was I.
Out of sight, out of mind. With Zoe gone, I could finally relax.
She was like a ticking time bomb; keeping her around would only cause trouble.
I couldn't help but compare Daniel to Brad.
When I was in trouble, Daniel either didn't know or ignored it.
But Brad, whether on purpose or by chance, always had my back.
In that sense, my dad was right—Brad was more mature and reliable, making me depend on him more.
But I wanted to be independent and strong. If I could handle something myself, I didn't want to bother others.
Yet deep down, I was still a girl with a little princess inside me, always longing for love.
Brad was the one who loved me the most, apart from my parents.
I had completely taken over Brad's free time, becoming a shadow of his.
Sometimes, when Brad was too busy and we didn't see each other for a few days, I felt uneasy, like something was missing.
Brad seemed to get it. No matter how busy he was, he always found time to call me, and he never missed a meal. All the food he sent was exactly what I liked.
Before leaving, Zoe came to see me. She held my hand, crying and insisting she was innocent.
I knew Zoe's character, so whatever she did always felt insincere.
Not wanting to watch her act, I told her to speak her mind and not play games with me. I wasn't Daniel, so even if she cried blood, I wouldn't feel sorry for her.
Zoe, with tears in her eyes, pitifully lied.
She said John was just a fellow townsman, and there was nothing between them, that they were clean, and I shouldn't overthink it.
"If you hadn't come to me, I really wouldn't have thought much about it."
Regarding Zoe and John, honestly, I didn't know what to do. Just thinking about it gave me a headache. In the end, I just warned her, "Go back and treat Daniel well; he really likes you."
After seeing Zoe off at the airport, I sent Daniel a photo, telling him Zoe had returned safely. Maybe my care wasn't perfect, but for a girl, the best care should come from her boyfriend. I told him that as a good boyfriend, he should always pay attention to his girlfriend's every move and keep her close.
I kindly reminded Daniel once more because of my soft heart.
Whether Daniel understood or not, there was only so much I could do.
Before I knew it, the holidays had arrived. Most of my classmates were heading home with their luggage, while some were traveling in groups.
I had originally told my parents I wouldn't be going home and planned to go to Mount Meru with my roommates Isabella Garcia and Mia to see the fall foliage. My travel bag was already packed.
But Brad suddenly told me the competition date had been moved up, and we had to finish all the work by the fourth, or we wouldn't make the preliminary review. To prove it, he even brought the professor to vouch for him.
So, with teary eyes, I watched Isabella and Mia happily board the airport shuttle, while I was dragged back to the studio by Brad to finish the final touches.
My mood was not great, and I couldn't muster any enthusiasm. As Brad would say, I pouted for days, looking utterly miserable.
With most teachers and students gone, the studio was almost empty, just the two of us. Brad kept an eye on my meals and reminded me to focus on my work, making the place feel so lonely I wanted to cry.
I had waited all year for this long holiday, only to waste it. It was heartbreaking! I wanted to cry!
On the night of the third, I worked until 9 PM. Exhausted, I insisted on going back to sleep and finishing the rest tomorrow.
Brad wouldn't agree, using both soft and hard tactics to make me finish the remaining bit.
At 10:45, he sent me back to the dorm.
After three days of non-stop work, I was utterly exhausted and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
In my dream, Isabella and Mia were showing off the beautiful photos they took at Mount Meru, making me so angry I wanted to punch them.
I thought I could sleep in since I had nothing to do during the holidays. But at dawn, the phone started ringing.
I thought it was Helen and didn't check the caller ID. Groggily, I answered and called out, "Mom."
There was a moment of silence, followed by a familiar chuckle that made my ears tingle.
I instantly woke up and looked at the screen. Brad was smiling at me like a mischievous sprite.
It was a holiday, and I had finished my work. Why was he bothering me so early? My morning grumpiness peaked, and I forgot about my unkempt appearance. I yelled, "It's a holiday! Why aren't you sleeping? Are you crazy?"
Brad's smile grew even more mischievous, his eyes sparkling, and his smirk full of roguish charm, like a well-dressed scoundrel. "Don't sleep. I'm taking you out."
I refused to agree.
Brad patiently described how delicious the food was, how beautiful the scenery was, and how many artists flocked there for inspiration. He said I might not want to come back once I went.
His clear voice was so persuasive.
Brad was not only a master of oil painting but also an expert at persuasion. By the end, I felt that missing this trip would be a huge regret in my life.
Besides, there were still four days left of the holiday. Staying in the dorm would be a waste.
So, not wanting to miss out again, I was swayed by Brad's sweet talk.
I grumblingly got myself ready and stepped out of the dorm with my small bag. Brad was waiting quietly under a tree, his gaze so deep and starry, making my heart race.
Brad stood tall and straight, exuding a fresh, clean, and dignified aura, enough to make rivers bow in respect.
For some reason, my heart started to race.
Brad walked over, took my small bag, and led me to his black SUV.
"It's too early to take you out for breakfast, so I bought something on the way. Make do with it." He handed me a bag with a beautiful logo.
I opened it to find my favorite porridge.
That place was nearly twenty-five miles from the Northern Institute of the Arts, and it was just dawn. He really got up early.
The warm porridge slid down my throat, comforting me so much that I wanted to sigh.
Honestly, Brad might be strict with me, but when it came to pampering me, he spared no effort.
I looked at Brad who focused on driving, and thought his face was really handsome. I often found it hard to look away. His thin lips were slightly pursed, his starry eyes were deep, and his broad shoulders made me want to lean on them.
"Are you satisfied with what you see?" Brad noticed my gaze, glanced at me, and teased with a smile.
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