Chapter 10

Watching Lu Xi jump around happily, Lu Yixin never regretted her decision back then. Although these years had been difficult, having her daughter by her side made her feel that everything was worth it.

But then again, if it weren’t for Selena Thorp’s help back then, she, a newly graduated pregnant woman with no job, really wouldn’t have known how to support herself and her child. Whether out of gratitude or out of a sense of responsibility as an older sister, she hoped that Selena Thorp would find her own happiness and stop being wary of men because of her own experiences.

“Xixi, when I get old someday, I’ll rely on you to take care of me. Will you be willing to do that for me?” Selina Thorpe hugged the six-year-old Lu Xi affectionately, her voice filled with tenderness.

She hadn’t completely ruled out the idea of getting married and having children. But when she saw those men—all fickle and promiscuous, treating women like mere clothing to be discarded at will—especially when she saw Lu Yixin, pregnant and driven out of her home in such a miserable situation, she told herself: Either find someone who’ll be with me for life, or spend my entire life alone. Without true commitment and longevity, all those so-called “memories of the past” meant nothing to her.

“Xixi will work hard to earn money and take care of Auntie and Mommy!” Lu Xixi raised her innocent big eyes and said seriously, “When Xixi grows up, I’ll bring Auntie home to live with Mommy!”

She’s too young to understand the true meaning of “marriage”. All she knows is that as long as her aunt stays by her side, Mommy will be happy.

“You child, what are you talking about?” Lu Yixin glared at Lu Xi helplessly, then at Selina Thorpe. “It’s all your fault for spoiling my daughter.”

“Haha, Xixi is so good girl! Auntie is waiting for you to marry her!” Selina Thorpe laughed and kissed Lu Xi on the face, making Lu Xi giggle. It also earned Lu Yixin a few eye rolls. She really feared that if Selina Thorpe continued to spend time with Xixi, Xixi might get led astray.

“Selina, let’s talk about serious matters.” Lu Yixin stopped smiling and became serious. “Not every man is like that from back then. There are many good men in the world. Don’t judge all men negatively just because of me.”

As the eldest sister, she failed to set a good example for her younger sisters. That’s already shameful enough. If Selena Sopp really never marries and spends her life alone, she’ll never be at peace with herself.

“Sis, things like this should be left to fate.” Selina Thorpe rolled her eyes helplessly. Every time she came here, Lu Yixin would keep nagging her about marriage. Lu Yixin never got tired of it, and Selina was fed up hearing the same old talk. Couldn’t she come up with something new? These days, there are so many people who don’t get married. Why can’t she be one of them?

“Only monks and nuns would talk about ‘letting fate take its course’!” Lu Yixin retorted mercilessly. “In the end, letting fate take its course leads to one inevitable outcome: living alone until old age.”

“Sis, the car’s here!” Selina Thorpe’s eyes lit up, as if she’d caught a lifeline. She quickly stood up and waved at Lu Xi. “Xi Xi, say goodbye to your auntie. Auntie will come to see you again next time.”

She rushed into the car as if she were trying to escape for her life. Earlier, since the car hadn’t arrived, there was no choice but to listen to Lu Yixin’s chanting. Now that the car has arrived, she certainly won’t be stupid enough to stay and continue to suffer punishment.

“Selena, stop right there!” Lu Yixin wanted to say something else, but Selena Thorpe had already gotten into the car. Through the window, she made a mischievous face at Lu Yixin and waved her hand.

Lu Xi leaned against the car window and shouted, “Auntie, remember to bring me candy next time!”

Selina Thorpe nodded with a smile. The car started moving slowly, and the figures of Lu Yixin and Lu Xi gradually disappeared from sight. Lu Yixin stood there, sighing helplessly. It seemed she’d have to put in more effort if she wanted to find a good match for her sister.

Selena Thorp sat in the car, watching the scenery blur past outside the window. She felt a sense of reflection. Life is like this moving vehicle: many people and events approach slowly, only to pass by in a flash. The scenery in the east grew farther and farther away, while Nantou drew closer and closer.

Just then, a childish nursery rhyme suddenly filled the carriage: “Two tigers, two tigers, running fast, running fast…”

This nursery rhyme is something that’s often heard in kindergartens. Everyone in the carriage instinctively turned their heads toward the source of the sound. There were no children around. So, who could possibly be playing this nursery rhyme? Even the driver, who was focused on driving, couldn’t help but take a glance through the rearview mirror.

This nursery rhyme was the first song the three sisters learned to sing together when they were children. Years later, hearing this familiar melody once again, those long-forgotten memories and lost moments slowly flooded back to mind. Selena Thorp’s eyes slightly reddened.

She knew that this nursery rhyme was rather childish. Every time the phone rang, anyone who heard it would gather around, just like they were doing now. But she didn’t care. This nursery rhyme served as a reminder to her that everyone once had innocent times in their lives. It also reminded her that no matter what one has gone through, it’s important to stay true to one’s original intentions.

Under everyone’s gaze, Selena Thorne calmly took out her phone. A 陌生 number appeared on the screen, yet the digits somehow seemed familiar. After hesitating for a moment, she pressed the answer button.

“Qingqing, have you gotten off the bus? I’m waiting for you outside the station.” A deep, pleasant male voice came over the phone, with a hint of familiar dominance.

Selena Thorne held her phone, completely frozen in place. She would never forget that voice—in life, she would never forget it. It was Eloise Rhodes, that notorious playboy.

The day after the party, Eloise Rhodes called her and said he wanted to pursue her. She had made it clear that she was out of his league and asked him to stop bothering her. But he acted like he hadn’t heard her and continued to call every day. Apart from heat, what she feared most was being disturbed. So, she changed her phone number in hopes of having some peace. To her surprise, he somehow found her new number anyway.

“I don’t know you. You’ve dialed the wrong number,” Selena Thorne said coldly. She hung up the phone immediately and turned it off as well.

She knew all too well how men like Elliott Rhodes were. They had nothing to offer, except for their time. Once you got caught up with them, it was hard to get free again. Looking at her turned-off phone, Selina Thorpe felt extremely frustrated.

Could it be that Maddix Rhodes told Eloise Rhodes that she had returned today? But then, she dismissed this thought. Maddix Rhodes knew her well. That night, Maddix Rhodes introduced her to several men, and Eloise Rhodes wasn’t among them at all. Moreover, Maddix Rhodes knew better than anyone how much she disliked people like Eloise Rhodes—people who were promiscuous. If Maddix Rhodes really wanted to bring them together, she would have said something already.

But this new number – she had only changed it two days ago. Very few people knew about it. Who on earth told Eloise Rhodes her new number?

Selena Thorne frowned, trying hard to figure it out, but couldn’t come up with any explanation. Never mind. If she couldn’t understand it, then she wouldn’t bother thinking about it. No matter who said it, she certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with someone like Eloise Rhodes.

Meanwhile, inside a limited-edition sports car outside the station, Eloise Rhodes stared at the phone that had just been hung up. Her expression was terrifyingly dark. This woman had hung up on him again—this was already the third time!

If it were any other woman, not to mention hanging up on him, even if he spoke in a harsh tone, those women would be too scared to upset him. He really couldn’t understand why he wasted his time on a woman like Selina Thorpe.

“Damn it!” Elodie Rhodes angrily threw her phone onto the passenger seat. The fury in her chest was almost beyond control.

But then again, it wasn’t just his problem. It was a bet between him, Li Daqi, and Lenn Gibson. If he couldn’t even handle a woman like Selina Thorpe, who knew how those bastards would mock him later. Just thinking about it made Eloise Rhodes feel like she couldn’t breathe.

A few days ago, those idiots were on the phone, teasing him so much that he almost rushed to the East to find Selena Thorp. Thankfully, he remained rational and controlled his emotions. He wasn’t some twenty-something kid anymore; he wouldn’t act impulsively like he used to. Besides, Chen Jialing had taken great care of him these past few days, so he could put Selena Thorp, that “gaming tool,” aside for now.

But now that Selena Thorne is back, it’s time for him to take action. Didn’t she refuse to answer his calls? No problem. He can wait for her outside the station and give her a “surprise”.

At the corners of Eloise Rhodes’s mouth, a sinister smile slowly appeared, her eyes filled with determination. She simply refused to believe that she wouldn’t be able to handle Selina Thorpe this time.