Back to the Greenridge
The city of Greenridge, at the Liz’s River Hotel.
At nine in the evening, the third floor lounge of the Hotel was alive with the buzz of a birthday party. Unlike the brightly lit main hall, the lounge was bathed in a mix of subdued lighting that wasn't too harsh on the eyes. A combination of dim hues cast a cozy glow over the elegantly decorated walls and carpet, complemented by the soothing sounds of jazz, setting the perfect atmosphere for the party. "Caroline, I heard you went on a blind date a few days ago?" Ms. Harper, the birthday girl, asked just as Caroline Harper was delicately sipping her drink.
The spiciness spread across her taste buds, and at those words, she nearly choked.
How did news of her blind date spread so quickly?
"Wow, birthday girl, you're quite the informant, aren't you?" Caroline managed to swallow her drink, turning to face her with a hint of surprise. "You know about my date in the States?"
"Eh, my brother knows him. He mentioned you today when he came over, and I just happened to overhear," Harper's eyes widened as she leaned in, excitement raising her voice a notch, "You didn't deny it! So it's true?!"
Indeed, just a few days ago, Caroline had her first-ever blind date—albeit a failed one. It wasn't something she had eagerly agreed to; it was more about complying with her elders' wishes, simply having dinner and meeting someone. But technically speaking, it was a blind date.
"How did it go? Any sparks? Did you like what you saw?" Harper fired off a series of questions before adding, "He had quite a few nice things to say about you!"
Caroline's date, the esteemed Mr. Chadwick from the Chadwick family, had a good rapport with Harper's brother, sharing a brotherly bond where they could talk about anything. Initially, Chadwick's compliments were subtle, but as the conversation went on, he seemed to get carried away, praising her to the skies.
Caroline, tilting her head slightly, seemed to be organizing her thoughts. Her small face with pure and beautiful features, an off-shoulder dress revealing her swan neck and collarbones, and holding a glass in her slender wrist—her fair skin contrasted with the dark red of the drink, making the scene strikingly captivating.
Harper had always known Caroline was beautiful, but it seemed her beauty had reached new heights in the three years since they'd last met. No wonder Mr. Chadwick was so taken.
Harper was fixated on the angelic face before her. After a few seconds of waiting, the angel spoke, answering the questions in order: "No chance. No spark. Not my type."
Harper couldn't help but roll her eyes dramatically.
Again with "no spark."
This line had been a constant in their decade-long friendship, reminding Harper of their middle and high school days when Caroline was nicknamed "the grass cutter" for having the most confessions from the "class hunks" and "school hunks" of various kinds.
And every time, Caroline's reason for rejection was nearly identical: no spark, no chemistry. She couldn't fall for someone if she wasn't attracted to their appearance.
As Caroline's best friend for ten years, Harper knew all too well that despite Caroline's angelic appearance, she was a true connoisseur of beauty. She could spend ages raving about a beautiful woman but was exceedingly picky when it came to men.
"After all these years at Harvard, and with all the handsome guys and the eligible bachelors here, none have caught your eye..."
But, even as a staunch member of the "aesthetics appreciation society," Caroline had yet to meet the type of beauty she loved most. It was quite tragic when Harper thought about it, which made her retract her teasing.
She joked, "Besides, I think the man who could catch your eye probably hasn't been born yet. Just wait a bit longer for him, Caroline."
Caroline smoothly took the bait: "And then?"
"And then?" What did she mean by that?
Dragging out her words, Caroline said, "I'll wait for him to grow up... and by the time he's born, I'll be too old."
Harper blinked, "Huh?"
Caroline continued, "A fleeting romance, and then I run away with the consequences."
"???" What was this, some melodramatic, rhyming nonsense? It was oddly catchy, though. Harper looked at her as if she were crazy, "Harvard taught you to write limericks now? Have you had too much to drink? Maybe you need some peanuts to sober up."
Indeed, Caroline had drunk a bit too much, amused by Harper's reaction, and couldn't help but laugh for a long while.
Amidst the increasing number of glances from those around, conveying a silent message of, "Haven't you monopolized Miss Harper enough? Isn't it our turn now?" – Caroline began to feel a sense of disinterest. Placing her empty glass on the tray held by the attentive server, she said, "Sweetie, I'll take off. I just got off the plane yesterday, and the jet lag hasn't worn off yet. I have something to attend to tomorrow. Let's catch up properly another day."
"Sure, go get some rest," Harper paused, then added, "But you've only been back in the country for a little over ten hours. What could you possibly have to do tomorrow?"
After a moment of hesitation, Caroline, considering that this would soon become public knowledge, decided there was nothing she couldn't share. She smoothed her hair and casually remarked, "I'm donating a building to the East University."
"Pffft..."
The room erupted in laughter once again.
