Ethan Sterling was just wondering if he should offer help when he heard Evie say that. His jaw nearly hit the floor.
He was the famous young master of the Sterling family! Since when did he become a porter?
"Ethan, don't just stand there gawking. Come and give me a hand!" Evie turned and shouted at him.
"Your friend?" Emily Hart saw Ethan and asked.
"He is—" Evie started to say 'a friend.'
Ethan warmly greeted Emily like an old friend. "I'm Evie's roommate. I'm Ethan Sterling. Girls shouldn't carry such heavy luggage. Let me take it!"
"Thank you, but it's really heavy. I can manage!" Emily replied, embarrassed.
"Don't mention it. Evie's roommate is my roommate. No need to be polite!" Ethan took the bag and realized it was genuinely heavy!
The next second, he heard Evie say, "You can handle that too. It's all about balance!"
Then she placed another luggage bag from Emily's hand onto his other arm.
Ethan's jaw nearly dropped again!
So there was this scene: Evie took Emily's hand and strolled leisurely ahead of them, while Ethan gritted his teeth, carrying two huge suitcases, trailing behind them like a common laborer!
"Evie, when did you find such a handsome boyfriend?" Emily turned to look at Ethan, lowering her voice curiously.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Evie said.
"Sure, keep pretending. I don't believe you." Emily didn't buy it.
Evie suddenly felt deflated.
"He really isn't my boyfriend!"
"Then who is he? Don't tell me he's a cousin or some distant relative. I won't believe that!"
"He's not a cousin or a distant relative, but he is a close relative!" Evie replied with a helpless shrug.
"I knew you'd say that!" Emily said with a grin, a look that said 'I know you too well.'
Evie suddenly felt a wave of helplessness, like she couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into a river.
She turned her head and glared at Ethan.
Ethan just looked up, caught her gaze, and wore a completely innocent expression.
It was bad enough being a coolie. What had he done to offend Evie?
After a long while, they finally saw Emily off at the train station.
Emily thanked Ethan and waved goodbye to them. Her final look at Evie was full of ambiguous meaning.
Evie sighed deeply and couldn't help but glare at Ethan again.
Ethan looked even more innocent.
The train departed. Evie and Ethan headed back.
"Isn't your roommate just going home for winter break? Why do you look so reluctant?" Ethan looked down at Evie and asked.
"I'm just a little sad. So what?"
"You're not into girls, are you?" Ethan stared at Evie in shock.
"What? You're gay, not me!"
"You... you really are into girls!" Ethan suddenly jumped a few steps away from Evie, looking horrified.
Evie saw his expression and burst out laughing.
Ethan's face looked like he'd seen a ghost.
He only then realized he'd been tricked.
"How can you joke about something like that?"
"I really don't care about that stuff!" Evie shrugged and replied casually.
"How can it be nothing? We're all waiting for you to carry on the family name!"
Evie suddenly stared at Ethan with a blank expression.
Ethan touched his nose awkwardly.
They both got into the car and didn't speak.
"Evie—" Ethan felt there was something he needed to explain.
Otherwise, his uncle would kill him.
"Hmm?" Evie turned her head and looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Actually... my uncle isn't gay at all!" Ethan decided honesty was the best policy.
"Oh!" Evie responded, looking at him with no expression.
"So you already knew. That's a relief!" Ethan was happy.
"I'm not going to run away from the marriage!" Evie said calmly, looking at him.
"Ah?" Ethan didn't understand.
"So you don't need to tell me this!" Evie replied, turning her gaze away.
From the moment she decided to marry Alexander, she knew she had no right to back out. From now on, it was one step at a time.
After getting along with Alexander recently, she thought peaceful coexistence was fine. No worries.
Ethan was about to say something else when Evie interrupted him.
"Would you mind focusing on the road?"
Evie was afraid Ethan would forget he was still driving.
Every time she rode in his car, she was on edge.
Either he was racing or daydreaming. Evie felt like she'd have a heart attack every time.
Ethan said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'm always a great driver!" Evie didn't comment on that.
"What kind of lunch are you treating me to?" Ethan asked again.
"No big meal. Snacks are fine!" Evie said directly.
"Cheapskate!"
"I can't be generous without money!"
"Really? Doesn't my uncle give you an allowance now?"
"He does, along with living expenses!" Evie thought about it and muttered.
When she and Alexander had the wedding, she would move into Sterling Manor. It would be awkward to ask her parents for money.
But now she had no job, no way to earn money, and couldn't support herself.
Should she negotiate with Alexander about her living expenses?
After what Ethan said, Evie didn't listen to a single word. She was too busy thinking about how to draft a post-marital agreement after marrying Alexander.
During Alexander's week-long business trip, Evie stayed home except for seeing off Emily and Stella.
After all, there was a wedding coming up, with many trivial matters. Relatives and friends came to visit from time to time, and she had to entertain them.
So even though it was a holiday, Evie hadn't been idle.
Alexander called Evie when he returned from his business trip.
It was only two days before their wedding.
Evie awkwardly told Alexander that the couple couldn't meet three days before the wedding.
This was what Mrs. Sterling had said before, and her mother had reminded her too.
Alexander smiled on the other end of the phone, and Evie felt even more embarrassed, muttering, "It was Mom who said we can't meet!"
"I know." Alexander replied.
"You've been on a business trip for a few days. Are you okay?" Evie asked.
"Fine. Have you decided where to go for our honeymoon?"
"I'm fine with anything. It doesn't matter if we don't go out. You're so busy all the time. You should rest more!"
"It's fine. I only get married once in my life. I can spare the time."
"Let's go to a beautiful mountain village for a few days." Evie smiled and replied.
"That's it?" Alexander was surprised by her simple suggestion.