Chapter 33 A Hint Of Sadness

The phone vibrated in Charles's pocket. Since it was too noisy outside, Vivian unintentionally spoke loudly, "Merry Christmas!"

Charles almost went deaf from her wishes.

"My ears are fine, I can hear you."

"Alright, alright, you're all fine, except for me," she joked.

"How are you feeling? What's wrong? Tell me if something is bothering you."

Vivian immediately looked up at the sky with a hint of sadness. "Can we still call it a grievance if we can speak about it?"

Charles knew she was joking but still replied seriously, "Of course, don't be too strong."

"Have you been in too many dramas?" she asked.

Charles replied impatiently, "How do you know?"

"Haha, because I've watched them all! You know what? I love the kissing scenes between you and Lena. Your jawline is so sexy, and Lena's profile is so beautiful. You two are simply perfect together!"

Charles immediately interrupted her because he felt like he was going to vomit if he heard more. "Where are you?"

"I'm outside, where are you?"

"In bed."

"What are you doing in bed?"

"Sleeping."

"Oh, then sleep." After saying that, Vivian hung up the phone. This time, she truly felt a hint of sadness.

As Charles listened to the busy tone on the phone, he laughed helplessly. He dialed the number again, and after waiting for a while, Vivian picked up.

"I thought you were sleeping." Vivian seemed to have heard the laughter over the phone. "Is it funny?"

"Not funny. I lied to you, I'm still working," Charles said.

Vivian couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or not. "Reading the script?"

"It's an assignment my dad gave me," Charles replied.

"Oh." The noise on Vivian's side gradually increased. "It's too noisy, do you have anything else to say? Maybe we should hang up for now!"

"Wait a minute, I miss you."

"What? I couldn't hear you clearly."

"It's nothing."

Charles felt like he had gone crazy. Why would he say something like that? On the other end, Vivian would only misunderstand his words. He was being forced to work by his dad, so he was already in a bad mood.

William and Evelyn didn't go to the mall. Instead, they found a place with few people but a nice view, and sat down to enjoy the night scenery.

"I like celebrating holidays in America."

"Don't tell me it's because it's lively."

"How did you know? Isn't lively good? I like it when it's lively."

Many times, it's easier to hide one's loneliness when standing in a crowd.

Evelyn thought for a moment and sensed William's loneliness. She then glanced at the time and said, "It's almost time, are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" William was surprised by Evelyn's enthusiasm.

"To make a wish!"

"Alright! I'm ready!"

As William saw Evelyn clench her fists and make a sincere wish, a flower seemed to bloom quietly in his heart.

Without hesitation, he pulled Evelyn toward him and kissed her passionately. In that moment, they were completely immersed in each other.

"My wish has already come true," Evelyn smiled and said those words as she looked at William in front of her. Something quietly changed in her heart as well.

In an instant, courage swelled up within them.

With courage, she pulled William to the corner of a dilapidated street. Pressing him against the wall, she held his face in her hands, trembling, as their lips met.

William was nearly ecstatic, returning the kiss without hesitation.

After a moment, Evelyn supported William's waist, breathing heavily. William lowered his head and whispered gently in Evelyn's ear, "Shall we go back?"

Evelyn knew exactly what he meant. She hesitated, while William hung his head and leaned closer. "Hmm? Is that okay?"

Evelyn didn't know how she nodded in agreement or allowed William to lead her home, but she remembered being completely lost in the moment.

As they closed the door, even though it was pitch black inside, occasional lights from outside illuminated their faces. Evelyn knew that William's gaze was fixed tightly on her.

In one swift motion, he pressed Evelyn against the door, dangerous in proximity, a dangerous man.

"Is it alright?" William's gaze maintained its usual clarity and calmness, but his voice carried an undeniable anticipation and longing. His fingers pressed firmly against the wall, knuckles turning white.

"Hmm?" Seeing Evelyn's silence, he leaned closer bit by bit, his warm breath, deep voice causing her heart to tremble uncontrollably.

Their warm and delicate kisses gradually descended, eroding away their rationality.

Suddenly, William scooped up Evelyn. Using his foot to shut the bedroom door, he placed her onto the bed.

"I can't wait any longer." He came dangerously close. "But if you say no, we'll stop, alright?" It was a pleading tone.

Under the cover of the fireworks outside the house, Evelyn saw the bone-deep tenderness and restraint in her companion's eyes.

Without saying a word, Evelyn reached out and hooked her hand around William's neck, raising her head to plant a kiss.

The flames of passion were ignited.

Evelyn finally experienced the truth behind the saying- never trust a man's words in bed.

In the end, even when she cried and begged him to stop, William didn't relent.

Curling up by the edge of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, Evelyn warned William, "If you come any closer, I'll grab a knife from the kitchen!"

Considering that this was Evelyn's first time, William showed mercy. "I meant to take you to the bathroom for a bath. You misunderstood."

Once again, reality proved the wisdom of that saying.

The man who said he was just helping her bathe in the bathroom ended up taking action again.

In the morning, Evelyn woke up, her tired neck not wanting to move. She looked at the frost on the glass window. It was probably due to snowfall. The indoor temperature was warm and cozy with the air conditioning on, so spending the day curled up like this was not bad at all.

William's hand still rested on her waist. She turned and saw his face. He was awake too.

Their eyes met. It was quite delightful.

Evelyn lay in bed for the whole morning when William walked in with food in his hands. "Want to eat first?"

Evelyn, feeling sulky, ignored him and turned over to continue sleeping.

William set down the food and approached, pulling the blanket. "Have something to eat. It wouldn't be good if you starve."

Seeing that she still didn't respond, he got closer and whispered in her ear, "What's wrong? Still hurting?"

Evelyn grabbed a pillow and aggressively smashed it toward his approaching head. One hit wasn't enough, so she did it again. William didn't retaliate and just pleaded weakly. It didn't hurt anyway, so he let her hit him.

As Evelyn kept hitting, it became less satisfying, and she started feeling hungry. So she stopped and got up, put on some clothes, and headed to the bathroom without even glancing at William.

William sat on the edge of the bed, unable to contain his laughter anymore. Evelyn heard his laughter from the bathroom and poked her head out. "What are you laughing at?"

He walked closer, hugging her and leaning on her shoulder, still unable to control his smile.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

He shook his head. "I'm just very happy and content, so I felt like laughing."

Evelyn ignored him.

In the following week, Vivian felt like she was living a life worse than death. She had her mother's nagging at home and two people glued to each other across the street, making her feel utterly unnecessary. She could only count the days on her fingers, hoping the vacation would end soon and she could go back to work.

However, compared to being oppressed at home, she actually preferred being the third wheel across the street. Sitting on the couch, holding a pile of snacks, and watching TV, it wasn't too bad.

William and Evelyn were in the kitchen. It had been over an hour, and they still hadn't brought out a dish. Vivian sneaked to the door and confirmed that they were still being intimate.

"Oh my god!" This sudden sound startled Evelyn, causing her to drop the knife she was holding. William, feeling helpless, narrowly avoided injuring his thumb. Luckily, he reacted quickly.

"Are you two making a complicated dish? Why do you both need a knife? Evelyn, I never knew you had such a habit before," Vivian teased, making Evelyn glare fiercely at William.

Similar unfortunate incidents had occurred too many times, and Evelyn and William were almost immune to them. Vivian had been constantly challenging William's limits, so William came up with a plan.

He asked Adrian to summon Vivian back to work overtime.

After seeing off Vivian, William felt refreshed and relieved.

Out of humanitarian spirit, Evelyn drove Vivian to the train station. On the way, Vivian held a bag of potato chips, crunching on them as if biting someone's neck.

"I thought you couldn't wait to go back to work?" Evelyn, while steering the wheel, asked the despondent Vivian beside her.

"I wanted to leave home early, but I also didn't want to go back during the vacation."

Evelyn turned her head and looked at Vivian. "You have contact with Charles..."

Evelyn's pupils naturally had a hint of amber color. Under the winter sun, she emitted a strange radiance.

"Do you know? You look like a witch right now! No, you are a witch."

"Spot on, so feeling guilty?"

"Who's feeling guilty? I see you and William being so eager to send me away. It's nothing but sly and cunning!"

Evelyn smiled and said nothing.

"Evelyn, did anything happen between you two?"

"Mind your own business, and be grateful for your intelligence. Don't meddle in other people's affairs," she said, blocking Vivian's waving hand.

"What's wrong with my intelligence? I'm very smart! It's you who's completely enchanted by William."

"Why do I feel like someone's jealous?"

"Jealous? Jealous of what?"

After sending Vivian off, Evelyn felt like she had unknowingly changed a lot because of William. The state of being together satisfied all her expectations of love, but she also felt a faint fear.

Temporary happiness, and then what?

She didn't like herself to be so anxious about gains and losses.

When can she stop caring so much and seriously live for herself?

Evelyn calmed herself down and tried not to think about things that haven't happened yet.