This time around. Ethan Vance decided to stay in the countryside to be with his childhood sweetheart. Without a moment's hesitation, I packed my bags and headed back to the city. He said he wanted to establish his career before settling down. I turned around and agreed to my parents' arrangements, marrying the man they set me up with. Later, He proposed that if I helped his childhood sweetheart find a job, he would marry me. And I, pregnant with my child, happened to run into him while accompanying my fiancé on an inspection trip to that same countryside. In that moment, His eyes reddened again, and he repeatedly demanded, "Didn't you say you'd wait for me?" Wait? How absurd. A legacy kid like me, why on earth should I wait for a man who was a nobody? 1. "Mom, Dad, I plan to return to the city in a week, and I'm willing to marry David Sherman." There was a distinct pause on the other end of the line. Then came a cheer filled with surprised joy. "Chloe, honey, is it true? Did you really change your mind, no longer having anything to do with that broke kid Ethan Vance? Are you really willing to come back to the city, back to your parents, and build a relationship with David?" I nodded affirmatively. And emphasized, "David is an outstanding man. There's no need to consider anyone else. I've decided to marry him." In my past life. When I was framed and left for dead by Ethan Vance and his childhood sweetheart. It was David Sherman who comforted my parents. It was he who handled my affairs and cleared my name. And it was he who took care of my parents for the rest of their lives. Such kindness, even bearing his children, could hardly repay it fully. Besides, we shared a deep bond cultivated since childhood. Choosing to marry him, I was completely willing. "Wonderful, just wonderful! I'll book your bus ticket right away, inform the Shermans immediately, and start preparing for your wedding..." Mom's voice was filled with unconcealable excitement and emotion. Dad's heartfelt sighs also reached my ears. I understood. They had always been worried about me. Worried I'd suffer from unrequited love, worried I'd be mistreated by Ethan, worried I couldn't endure the hardships of country life. I was the one who had been wrong. In my past life, I had neglected my loving parents for a man. "Mom, Dad, from now on, I'll listen to your guidance, stay by your side, and be a good daughter! This life, I will definitely be happy!" I definitely will! 2. "I've already made it clear to Chloe Miller. If she can't get you a transfer to the city, I won't go back with her either. She should be trying to pull some strings for you right now." I had just returned to the teacher's housing from the payphone. And I overheard Ethan Vance speaking softly to Jenny Carter in their quarters. "Ethan, you've really gone through a lot. Chloe might argue with you again over this, and you two just made up..." Jenny's eyes were slightly red, looking pitifully delicate. Ethan shook his head, comforting her, "Your parents passed away early. We grew up together. I've long considered you my own sister. It's only natural for a brother to do these things for his sister. Chloe should be more understanding." Hearing the word "sister," a flicker of disappointment inevitably crossed Jenny's eyes. But she quickly regained her usual cheerfulness. "If everything goes smoothly, we should be able to return to the city with the other young teachers in about a week. These next few days, we should say goodbye to my students and colleagues." "Yeah, Chloe's parents are influential. If Chloe speaks up, getting back to the city shouldn't be too difficult. We've received a lot of support from everyone here these three years; we really should bid them farewell, or it'll seem like we're ungrateful." Jenny Carter proposed an idea. She planned to host a small dinner on her birthday to treat the teachers from the office, as a farewell. Ethan Vance was very supportive of this idea. "It's just that I'm a bit tight on cash right now. Ethan, could you lend me some money first?" Before Ethan could answer. Jenny tapped her forehead lightly. "Oh dear, I almost forgot, Ethan, you used all of last month's paycheck to help those students from low-income families. This is really embarrassing..." Ethan thought for a moment, then said, "It's okay, Chloe should still have some. I'll ask her for a bit to give to you." Jenny smiled gratefully, "Okay, thank you so much, Ethan. Sorry to trouble you and Chloe again." Ethan gently patted Jenny's head, his eyes full of affection. And it was at this inopportune moment that I walked into the women's staff dormitory. "Chloe, you're back." Jenny Carter greeted me, but I didn't respond. Ethan frowned. Unlike usual, he didn't scold me for my rudeness but extended his hand and said, "Chloe, it's Jenny's birthday in a few days. We want to throw a birthday dinner and also say goodbye to the school administrators and teachers. We're a little short on cash. Do you have any extra money?" As I packed my luggage, I replied coldly, "No." Ethan's mouth twitched. "How can you not have any? Didn't you just get paid?" I looked up at him. "Already spent it. Just like you two, spent it however I wanted." Ethan pressed his lips together tightly. Jenny's eyes darted. She walked over to me, took my arm, and wheedled, "Chloe, aren't the three of us about to go back to the city? So we wanted to use my birthday as an excuse for a farewell dinner, a way to show appreciation to colleagues we've worked with for three years. Ethan and I used our paychecks to help those needy students, so we had to come to you..." How ridiculous. Why use Jenny Carter's birthday as an excuse for a farewell dinner? A farewell dinner is just a farewell dinner; why tie it to her birthday? If you don't have the funds, don't sponsor needy students. No funds, yet you want to throw a lavish banquet to show off. I responded calmly, "Actually, it's not a bother." Seeing me relent, Jenny's face lit up with obvious joy. "Since you say so, Chloe, then our return to the city should be settled." Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll go to Rosie's Diner later to book a private room. This afternoon, I'll go to the office and let the principal and colleagues know. Including the three of us, about twenty people in total, thirty bucks should be enough." Ethan specifically looked at me when he said this, as if asking if I could produce thirty dollars. Seeing no particular reaction from me, Jenny added, "Most of the twenty people are male colleagues, so there will inevitably be drinking. Thirty bucks might not be enough. Chloe, with sixty, everyone could eat much better..." I nodded along with her words. The smile on her face grew even brighter. Ethan felt something was off but didn't comment. I added, "Since it's a birthday celebration, it's best to have a cake, don't you think..." Ethan immediately objected, "A cake is too expensive, forget it. Besides, they don't sell cakes in this backwater town." Jenny's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Don't be like that, Ethan. I've never tasted cake in my life. Since Chloe said she can get me a cake, she must have a way. I want to try it..." Ethan looked at me, troubled again. I said calmly, "Of course, there's a way. I have the contact information for a cake baker in the city. One call, and he should be able to deliver it." Jenny was so excited she almost jumped. Seeing her so happy, Ethan no longer considered the price of a cake or the cost of delivering it from the city to the countryside. Finally. When Ethan left the women's staff dormitory, he even said to me gently, "Chloe, it feels like you've matured a lot overnight. I'm very happy you can treat Jenny this way. I'll talk to my mom later and arrange for our parents to meet as soon as possible." I shook my head. "No need." He said earnestly, "Although my mom doesn't think highly of you, I hope you can change her opinion. I'll work hard with you." I chuckled, truly not understanding how Ethan's chronically ill, illiterate mother had any right to look down on me! "You go back and talk to your parents too. Try to be as humble as possible in front of my mom, so our two families can sit down and discuss our marriage properly." My parents were principled people who had stood tall their whole lives; why should they bow down to Ethan Vance's mother! 3. When I arrived at the office in the afternoon, Ethan had already announced the party to be held in two days to everyone. Everyone's faces were beaming with joy. Jenny also eagerly urged me to use the school's communal phone to call the cake baker in the city. I did not disappoint her. During a class break, I contacted the baker. "The biggest size you have, enough for twenty people. The decorations should be as elaborate as possible. We need candles and plates. Write 'Happy 23rd Birthday Jenny Carter' on it. And also get one of those little music boxes that plays 'Happy Birthday.' Deliver it to Rosie's Diner on Main Street in Redwater Creek, at 6:30 PM. Tell the hostess, someone will come to pick up the cake." Jenny listened beside me to the requests I made to the baker, her eyes filled with excitement. After the call. Jenny held my hand, her eyes a little moist. "Chloe, you're so wonderful! This birthday dinner will surely be perfect!" I said nothing. I let her be moved by her own emotions there. "Chloe, after you and Ethan get married, can you also introduce me to a good match? Does that Mr. Sherman who visited your house last time have a girlfriend? I heard his family is also a military family. If there's a chance... I'd love to see you every day, Chloe." I smiled faintly. I truly didn't know where she got such confidence. Just then, the school bell rang. Jenny and I went to our respective classrooms. Two days later, it was Jenny Carter's birthday. Disregarding the critical time when her students were about to face mid-term exams, she took leave from the school administration. She made a special trip to the county town to buy a new dress, got her hair done, and put on exquisite makeup. At six-thirty, our group set off from the school and saw her standing at the restaurant entrance to greet us. Seeing the school principal, she greeted him enthusiastically. "You look so beautiful today, happy birthday." Some thoughtful female colleagues had even prepared small gifts for Jenny. Jenny accepted the gifts, smiling very happily. Everyone entered the restaurant in a lively mood. Ethan acted like the host of the banquet, calling the waiter to start serving the dishes. Platters of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Bowls of steaming hot soup. Everyone ate with great relish. Jenny and Ethan controlled the rhythm of the entire gathering, and others chimed in, creating a warm atmosphere. While celebrating Jenny's birthday, they also announced their decision to leave the school soon. In the small private room, voices clamored. I sat among them, silently eating my food, quietly waiting for things to unfold. Ms. Peterson, sitting next to me, felt indignant on my behalf. "You and Ethan have argued so many times, yet he's still so close to Jenny. Have you given up now? Are you planning to just live with the two of them like this?" I shook my head. Ms. Peterson expressed her doubt. "This meal must cost at least over a hundred dollars. Jenny dresses so flashily every day; her meager salary is all spent on clothes. She definitely can't afford this. Ethan also has a sick old mother at home. Even if he helps Jenny out, over a hundred dollars is no small sum for him. So, I've been thinking, it can only be you paying. Can you really tolerate this?" Ms. Peterson was a bit older than me. She had divorced early in life due to her husband's infidelity. She always had a keen insight into the entanglements between men and women. Perhaps she didn't want me to follow in her footsteps, to fall into an emotional predicament, which is why she said these things to me. I smiled and replied, "Don't worry, it's not like I don't understand things." Ms. Peterson raised her eyebrows. "You still don't understand? Bringing one Ethan Vance back to the city is already very difficult, and now there's Jenny Carter too. Who knows if your parents have had to go groveling to the relevant departments for your sake!" I said softly, "They won't have to. I won't be that thoughtless. Jenny can't go to the city, and of course, Ethan can't either!" Ms. Peterson was stunned for a moment. Just then, the waiter pushed open the door and came in. "Excuse me, who ordered the cake from the city? The delivery guy is waiting outside." Hearing this, Jenny jumped up excitedly. "I ordered it! I'll go get the cake and share it with everyone!" Cake was a rarity here. Among those present, few had ever tasted it. Now, hearing there was cake, everyone's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "What a treat, I actually get to taste cake today." "I've never seen a real cake in my life, I'm so lucky!" "I'll eat a little less later and bring a piece back for my kid, he's been clamoring for it..." The waiter hadn't seen a cake in person either. Hearing these comments, he chimed in, "The cake is huge! Not only will you not be able to finish it, even if you do, there'll be enough for everyone to take a piece home." "Such a big cake!" "It must be very expensive, right?" "Jenny's birthday is really something special!" Jenny Carter walked out of the private room, elated. Ethan followed closely behind. "The cake is too big, I'm afraid Jenny can't carry it alone, I'll go lend a hand." The two main characters left. The atmosphere in the private room relaxed. Ms. Peterson looked at me, seemingly with more to say. After a short while, Ethan returned and walked over to me, whispering, "Chloe, come out for a second. The cake delivery guy says the person who ordered the cake needs to sign for it." I sat in my seat, motionless. "Didn't Jenny order the cake? Let her sign for it." Ethan's face turned a little ugly. "Didn't you order that cake over the phone? The delivery guy is still waiting outside. Don't waste time, hurry up and go out." I snorted contemptuously. "Although I made the call, Jenny was the one who wanted the cake. Isn't it inappropriate for me to sign?" Ethan pressed his lips together tightly, saying nothing. Jenny also returned to the private room, her face a bit pale. "Chloe, hurry up and go out, sign for the cake and bring it in for everyone to share. It's rare for us to gather like this." I sat firmly in my chair and replied, "That's right, you hurry up and bring the cake in for everyone. Nobody here has tasted cake before, they can't wait." Ms. Peterson was a sharp woman. She immediately understood what was happening. She said bluntly, "Jenny, you're not thinking of making Chloe go out and pay for you, are you? Usually, you pay when the cake is delivered. But today is your birthday, why should Chloe pay?" Jenny's face instantly became very awkward. "No, I just wanted to..." Ethan defended Jenny, "Chloe Miller, didn't you promise Jenny a birthday cake? Now the cake is here, how can you go back on your word?" I feigned surprise. "Oh, did I promise to buy Jenny a cake? A cake costs at least two hundred dollars, and my monthly salary is less than thirty... How can I afford such an expensive cake!" Ms. Peterson sneered, "How amusing! Inviting people for cake, only to have someone else foot the bill in the end." The faces of the others also turned sour. The cake delivery guy waiting outside grew impatient and walked in. He looked annoyed. "Who ordered the cake? Is anyone going to pay? The total is two hundred and thirty-one dollars. I drove two hours from the city. Don't make me run this errand for nothing!" 4. Jenny was on the verge of tears, pulling my hand, pleading, "Chloe, didn't we agree? Why are you only now saying you don't have money..." I also put on a troubled expression. "I always thought you had the money to buy it yourself. I didn't expect you wanted me to buy it for you..." I quickly checked my wallet. I emptied out all my change and then counted it carefully. "I only have three dollars and sixty-five cents here..." I turned to the others, "Why don't we all chip in, pay for the cake first, and not embarrass Jenny? After all, it's her birthday, she definitely wants to be happy..." Before I could finish my sentence.
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