"Just call me Charlie, Grace. Everyone calls me Charlie!" Charlotte said with a smile.
I wondered why that name sounded so familiar.
It felt like I had heard it somewhere before, more than once. But I couldn't remember it right then.
"Alright, Charlie!" Grace replied. "We already ordered. You can pick two more dishes you like!"
"Sure! What did you order, Grace?" Charlotte took the menu and asked.
"Chinese cabbage and tofu soup, steamed sea bass, and stir-fried spinach. All light flavors. You can order something else!" Grace said.
"You eat so lightly, Grace!" Charlotte asked with a smile.
"Grace has had an upset stomach lately. She can't eat spicy food," Owen explained.
"Then I'll order light food too. I can eat that!" Charlotte said considerately.
"It's fine. Order whatever you like!"
So Charlotte ordered two extra dishes. They weren't particularly light or spicy.
After ordering, we chatted with Owen.
"Owen, I didn't know your girlfriend was so beautiful!"
"I think so too!" Owen glanced at Grace and answered with a smile.
"You misunderstood. Owen and I are just good friends. Not boyfriend and girlfriend!" Grace explained with a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were—but you two look perfect together!" Charlotte said, a little embarrassed.
"Did you hear that? Even Charlie thinks we're a good match!" Owen said with a smile, winking.
"Charlie is just being polite!" Grace said with a smile.
Charlotte watched them interact so naturally. She thought it was a pity they weren't a couple.
Owen was a bit feminine, but he was still handsome. He was thin, but he had a good temperament. Grace was beautiful too. It didn't make sense that they weren't together.
"Grace, don't you have a better choice?" Charlotte asked with a smile.
"No, I'm still single. Do you want to introduce someone to me, Charlie?" Grace said half-jokingly.
"Isn't there a perfect choice right across from you, Grace?" Charlotte said with a smile.
"Owen is like a brother to me. Do you think I'd feel anything for him?" Grace said with a smile.
"My cousin doesn't have a girlfriend. My cousin, Lucas Bennett!" Charlotte explained.
Grace asked with a smile.
"Do you recommend your cousin every time you meet someone who needs a boyfriend?"
"You guessed it, Grace!" Charlotte replied with a hearty laugh.
Even though we met for the first time, we had a good chat. Charlotte was naturally straightforward. When she first met someone, she was eager to make a good impression.
But a cow is still a cow. Once she got comfortable, her true nature came out.
"Charlie and Evelyn are classmates!" Owen chimed in at that moment.
"Oh, really? What a coincidence!" Grace smiled at Charlotte and replied.
"Do you know Evelyn, Grace?" Charlotte asked curiously.
"Yes, Alexander's wife. We've met!" Grace explained.
"I forgot you know my cousin, so you must know Alexander too.
Evelyn and I grew up together. We're as close as sisters!" Charlotte replied with a smile.
"Evelyn is so lucky!" Grace said with a smile, staring at Charlotte.
"She really is! Now she's married to Alexander, and he dotes on her!" Charlotte nodded in agreement.
I didn't notice her expression change.
She kept talking.
"I just had lunch with Evelyn this afternoon. But she's pregnant now and can't get tired. After eating, she went home first!"
"Charlie, are you working or studying now?" Owen asked at that moment.
"Owen, I've been working for almost half a year!" Charlotte answered.
"What industry are you in?" Owen continued.
"Design!"
After Charlotte finished talking with them, they got ready to leave.
Grace originally asked Owen to take her home. But Charlotte almost reflexively waved her hand and said no. She had a car. She would drive herself.
Owen just laughed and didn't insist. He told her to drive carefully.
After Charlotte left.
Owen drove Grace home.
In the car, Grace asked casually.
"Did you do that on purpose?"
"Do what on purpose?" Owen asked.
Grace didn't say anything more. She turned to look out the window.
"It's not as complicated as you think. I don't know Charlie that well. We've played tennis together before. I happened to run into her today. I invited her to dinner. After all, she's Lucas's cousin!" Owen explained.
"I'm not rejecting her having dinner with us. But you know her relationship with Evelyn. And you deliberately mentioned Evelyn!" Grace answered lightly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think about it when I said that. I just wanted you to know that connection."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Grace sighed.
Owen glanced at her and didn't say much.
Maybe subconsciously, he wanted Grace to completely let go. So he unconsciously steered the conversation toward Evelyn.
"Owen, I won't bother Alexander anymore. I didn't before, and I won't now.
Some things can't be let go. It's just my heart holding on.
I really came back to China because of Alexander's return. At that time, I still had some hope in my heart.
But after I found out he was married, I knew I didn't even have a chance.
Actually, to be more precise, it's not that I lost my chance after he got married. I lost it when I broke up with Alexander in the first place.
I never had a chance. But sometimes people are like that. They always hold onto a sliver of hope that a miracle will happen one day.
And how many miracles are there really?
Besides, I still owe Evelyn such a big favor. Do you think I would ever destroy her relationship?" Grace gave a bitter smile.
"No matter what you feel, you shouldn't disturb them," Owen said as he stopped the car at a traffic light. He turned to look at Grace.
"Owen, you still hate me as much as before. But if it weren't for you, I might not have made it this far," Grace said with self-mockery.
"I'm helping you. But I'm also saving myself," Owen said, looking straight ahead without expression.
Some people are always chasing people who don't belong to them. And there are always other people behind them who refuse to give up. They are the same kind of people.
After the traffic light turned green, the car continued moving. Neither of them spoke. Only soft music flowed through the car. Some things were already understood by both of them. There was no need to say more.