Nora's online momentum continued to grow, fueled not only by her brother and Michael but also by Ryan's contributions. On the day of the piano competition registration, Michael came to pick me up. "I can go by myself," I told him helplessly. "You don't have to bother."
"You're still recovering," Michael said with a gentle smile. "You should avoid running around. I'm free anyway. You can call on me anytime." I paused, touching the scar on my abdomen. It hadn't hurt in a long time.
After registering, we chose a nearby Western restaurant for lunch. Lyrical piano music flowed through the subtly intimate space. Michael maintained a perfect balance—attentive and friendly, without being overbearing. Objectively, he was an excellent man. Our harmonious lunch, however, was abruptly shattered by a
