He Has Returned
1442 Words
In the dead of night, a black luxury van glided through the darkness.
The streets were bustling, full of people of all kinds, their inner desires veiled and indiscernible.
Having just wrapped up a business event, Cathy, the assistant, uploaded some freshly taken photos online, murmuring, "Our Anna is just so gorgeous, even casual shots can crush half the actresses in the entertainment industry."
Hearing this, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror towards the woman in the backseat. She had her eyes half-closed, her head lazily resting against the window, her chestnut waves cascading messily over her shoulders. Her pale skin glowed under the dim light, almost luminescent.
Still dressed in her gown from the event, Anna hadn’t changed. Even with a gray furry shawl thrown over her shoulders, her stunning figure was undeniable.
The moment the photo was posted, hundreds of comments started flooding in within a minute.
[Level-headed Human]: Always using her body to grab attention, isn’t she tired of it?
[Half a Lamb]: All you are good for is being a vase.
[Anna’s Little Jacket]: The actress is so beautiful!!!
“......”
Cathy closed i********:, sneaking a glance at Anna. She saw these comments every day, and each time she felt a pang of unfairness for Anna. Clearly, her boss did nothing wrong, yet she was still inexplicably scolded.
Cathy switched to w******p and suddenly noticed that the high school group chat, which usually had no activity, now had 99+ messages.
Opening the chat, she discovered that an old classmate had just married her long-time crush from high school.
Cathy was shocked; she couldn’t imagine the quiet, shy girl with glasses ending up with the boy all the girls once pined for.
Anna stirred, her long lashes fluttering. She glanced out the window and casually asked, “Is tomorrow’s schedule ready?”
Cathy, still lost in her own world, took a few minutes to realize Anna was speaking to her. Quickly, she put away her phone and answered, “Yes, it's ready.”
“What were you looking at so intently?” Anna wasn’t really interested; she was simply bored and needed someone to talk to.
Cathy answered, “Oh, nothing. Just found out an old classmate got together with the guy I secretly liked.”
Anna curled her lips into a faint smile. “That's nice.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Driven by her curiosity, Cathy asked, “Anna, did you ever have a crush on someone back in high school?”
Cathy had been working with Anna for two years, and she had never heard of her having a romantic interest. Though the tabloids often linked her with various men, Cathy knew these rumors were all fake.
Privately, Anna led a very clean life, with few friends and almost no hobbies outside of work—no social life to speak of.
“Sure, I did,” Anna responded bluntly, with no intention of hiding it.
Cathy's eyes widened in astonishment. “You did? Does that mean the rumors were true?”
Anna frowned. “What rumors?”
“That you chased a guy during college but got ruthlessly rejected,” Cathy said, stretching her neck and asking carefully, “So, is that true?”
“It’s true.”
Cathy was truly shocked now. “Who in their right mind would reject you? With a beautiful girl like you pursuing him, he still didn’t appreciate it? Just how high are his standards?”
“Who knows? Maybe he just simply didn't like me.”
Cathy couldn't understand. In her mind, that man must be regretting his decision immensely—after all, the girl he once rejected had now become a famous star.
“Ring, ring,” the sound of a phone ringing interrupted their conversation.
Cathy rummaged through her bag and handed Anna her phone.
It was Anna's agent, Lily. Anna answered the call and waited for the other side to speak.
“Anna, Director Mark's new project ‘Mist’ is auditioning for the lead actress. You should go and try out; this could be a great opportunity for you. I’ve sent Mark’s contact and the audition address to your phone. I've read the script already, and it’s a fantastic role. If you get it, you'll definitely gain a lot of fans.”
Mark was a well-known director in the country, having helped launch the careers of several Best Actors and Actresses. Landing a role in his project could mean winning an award.
Over the past few years, Anna had mostly starred in idol dramas, and Lily had always wanted her to transition to more serious roles. This was a perfect opportunity for that.
“Mmm,” Anna replied absentmindedly.
“I’ll drop off the script for the audition another day.”
“Alright.”
By the time she hung up, the car had already entered Anna's residential complex.
Back home, Anna kicked off her high heels, walking barefoot into the living room. Leaning her head against the sofa, she stared blankly at the ceiling.
The night outside was dark and deep, almost like it had been dipped in ink. The vast living room was so quiet that it made her uneasy.
Anna stood up and went to the bathroom, sinking into the bathtub. The moment she submerged herself, it was as if all her tensions were released.
After soaking for about half an hour, she wrapped herself in a simple towel and walked straight to her bed.
Her phone, which had been lying on the bedside table, beeped. Anna reached for it—it was a message from Cathy with her latest schedule.
Suddenly, another message came in. This time it was from her mother, Ron.
“Come home tomorrow, Eric is back.”
Anna’s hand trembled. Wasn’t he supposed to be abroad? Why did he come back all of a sudden?
Early the next morning, Anna's family sent someone to pick her up. As the car sped along, the scenery blurred by in the rearview mirror. After what felt like a long time, the car began to slow down and eventually entered the villa complex.
Anna stood at the door for a moment before taking a deep breath and stepping inside.
“Madam, Miss is back,” a servant announced.
Hearing this, Ron did not lift her head, instead continuing her lively conversation with the person beside her.
Anna waved the servant away, then slowly walked toward the living room.
The man lounged on the sofa, sitting casually, but even so, he couldn’t hide his inherent aura of nobility.
It had been three years since they last met. He had become even more composed and charming, and undeniably more outstanding.
Not even twenty-eight, and he was already the head of the Eric family. The media called him young and promising—a business prodigy.
“Mom,” Anna greeted.
Ron glanced at her and gestured for her to sit down.
“Eric, you and Anna haven’t seen each other in about three or four years, have you? Today, you should take the chance to catch up and have a good chat.”
His gaze never fell on Anna. He merely smiled faintly and said, “Of course, Anna’s mother.”
Ron nodded in satisfaction and continued to exchange some pleasantries with Eric. “I remember when Anna was little, she wouldn’t play with anyone except you. She used to follow you around all day.”
“Yes, she was very clingy when she was young,” he said, his tone calm and indifferent.
“I’m not sure if your parents told you, but back in the day, both families agreed that if one had a boy and the other a girl, they’d arrange for them to marry.”
“Mom!” Anna cut in, “I think I heard someone calling you from the kitchen.”
Ron clapped her hands together. “Oh, I almost forgot. Eric, I was making chicken soup before you arrived. You must have a few bowls later.”
With that, she left for the kitchen, leaving Anna and Eric alone in the living room.
“Don’t listen to my mom's nonsense; that’s all ancient history and doesn’t count anymore.” Anna knew all too well her mother’s scheming thoughts. In recent years, the Anna family had declined. If they could secure a relationship with the Eric family, it might be enough to revive them.
Eric finally looked at Anna. He had to admit, after four years, this woman had grown even more enchanting. Her alluring peach blossom eyes drooped slightly, with a touch of world-weariness—seductive, yet not vulgar.
- Writer
