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The unexpected market stall venture had been extended for about a week now, so it seemed that the "just for today" part had turned out to be untrue. However, in the grand scheme of things, just like how decades or centuries are but a small glance in the river of time, what's a mere seven days? It probably wouldn't even be noticeable, just like faint ripples on the surface of a vast ocean. Life continued to march forward, unmoved by the will of any single person or group. Those things that were etched into memory would slowly and inconspicuously fade away as time passed. Yes, as I said earlier—life continued as usual.
Nick's statement about not feeling well was indeed accurate. Perhaps he had done something behind Liz's back, some efforts known only to him and the shop manager. Fatigue accumulated like falling snowflakes, until it became a heavy overcoat draped over him, muffling his breath and voice, making it feel almost suffocating. This also meant he had to spend an equal amount of time recuperating and taking care of himself. Liz sensed that he was struggling, but she couldn't figure out the source of that struggle. She tried to help, but it turned out he wasn't sick, just exhausted with weakened resistance and immunity.
He was lying in bed, reading a book, what seemed like a classic, but one that Liz couldn't understand. She only knew the book was titled "Not Choosing," a rather peculiar title. However, she had a feeling that books like these, after reading a few pages, made people drowsy, and Nick would gradually let the book slip from his hands like a rabbit and watch it fall to the floor. Liz was afraid he would be startled awake, so she quickly reached out to catch it. In the past few days, and in the days to come, this scene repeated itself often. Nick would easily and unguardedly fall asleep in her presence as if he hadn't considered what might happen if she were to stay awake, as if he didn't mind at all. Liz thought about trying to give him some advice, but she remembered that she was just a fool who started daydreaming after being treated to a meal. So, she just pursed her lips and sighed slightly after her face returned to its normal color.
With the soft sound of Nick's quiet snoring and the unexpectedly peaceful sleeping face that he never revealed otherwise, it was undeniably a rare sight. Nothing like the Nick she knew. Only at times like these did he seem cute, like a little crow with its black feathers neatly folded. Liz looked around the room, where there was nobody else but them, and reached out to touch his fair cheek. She watched it gently dimple under the pressure of her fingers, bouncing back just as quickly when she pulled her hand away. A soft laugh, something she didn't expect herself, escaped her lips. She laughed quietly, a soft giggle. To outsiders, it might seem strange and silly, but Liz didn't care. Nick wouldn't wake up until 7 AM the next morning. So, as long as she kept quiet, this would remain a secret forever.
This was her way of getting back at him, Liz thought with a gleeful smile. Revenge for saying odd things and troubling me...revenge.
Afterward, the shop manager sent a message, filled with caring words and genuine concern for Nick. In addition, there was a hint that it was time to return to work. Liz didn't mind the latter, given how grateful she was for the extended vacation. However, the former left her a bit puzzled. She remembered the shop manager was around 37 years old, had a daughter, and her husband had passed away several years ago. Yet, she still looked incredibly young and beautiful, appearing nowhere near her late thirties. She was graceful and mature, a genuine beauty to a considerable degree. Nick had known her for a longer time than he had known Liz, and the extent of their relationship was unclear. It was something between friendship and possibly something more, shrouded in ambiguity. They drifted in and out, and it was nothing short of ambiguous. Liz didn't know if they were friends or if there was something more than that, something that went further and was more intense.
Liz pursed her lips, feeling an inexplicable sense of impending crisis. It was as if continuing to remain silent and composed would lead to an inevitable and irreparable outcome. She had this premonition, even though the shop manager had been very friendly to her, from this moment forward, Miss Liz's gaze seemed to change, becoming suspicious and even tinged with a noticeable sense of hostility. Although the shop manager remained unaware. Nick, on the other hand, seemed different in her eyes, possibly because of some underlying competitiveness and... subtle possessiveness. He seemed to be approaching her with a shine that was more captivating and mysterious. Just like how a flock of sheep would run for their lives when they saw a wolf, it was a natural reaction to reach this point, even though Nick, still in slumber, had no idea.
On the fifth day in the afternoon, Nick woke up from his nap and felt considerably less fatigued. Liz was still at work, and his phone had a multitude of missed calls and text messages. Some were telemarketing offers, others were inquiries from the shop manager, and there were several missed calls from Amia and Charles...about thirty of them in total, fifteen of each, nearly taking up the entire screen. It made him a bit flustered. He quickly returned the calls and, as expected, Charles took about five rings before answering, while picked up the call after a single ring. Their tones were different, with Charles sounding cold and commanding, while Amiya's voice was warm and full of concern and affection, prompting Nick to want to hear more. They both had similar demands: he should come back, stop wandering around, and break the cycle of living under constant pressure.
Charles even made a rare offer that sounded quite appealing. This included doubling his salary, reducing his workload, and no longer having to eat the nutritionally balanced meals provided by the company. All he had to do was come back. Nick wanted to say that he was doing just fine on his own, that he was self-sufficient, rented a place to live, and even met with Liz, but his hesitance made Charles believe he had some untold troubles. Consequently, Charles's tone became firmer, urging him to return to the company, where everything would be easier to discuss.
Nick reclined on his pillow with his lower back exposed and slightly chilled, his fingers grazing the itchy collarbone, and he asked, "What happens if I go back?"
"It's whatever needs to happen," Charles replied with a soft tut. "No one understands your value and role better than we do. You are essential to me, to us, and to Eclipse."
"I know, but that doesn't mean the company can't function without me, right?" Nick's fingernails scraped across his collarbone, creating an itching sensation. "Besides, I'll have to meet everyone again once I return. I just don't feel quite ready for that right now, so I think I'll pass."
"You're truly peculiar; I've never understood what's going on in your head," she said. There was a sound of something hitting the trash can on her end. "The Employees respect and admire you, and yet you seem to avoid something that others consider hard to come by."
"I know, but I just don't like myself," he casually remarked. "Employees are just a bit too accommodating and gentle with me. They follow me without complaint, happy to be under my guidance. It was only later that I realized that this version of me is just an authoritarian who becomes irrationally angry if others don't comply with me. That's why I find it detestable."
"Is that it?" Charles asked.
"Isn't that enough?" Nick retorted.
Charles, visibly frustrated, tapped her desk. "It's unnecessary. I understand you're the kind of person who tends to be self-loathing or scared of your own success, but is it just a few complaints from the Employees? If you can't adapt, leave; if you can, stay. We're a for-profit company, not a charity. It's you who needs to accommodate others."
Nick raised an eyebrow, replying with surprise, "But wasn't it Charles who initially wanted me to wholeheartedly build relationships with everyone?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call as if the unexpected words had caught her off guard.
"Charles is strange, too," Nick continued, stifling a yawn. "She tells me to get close to everyone, but then she tells me to stay away. Even though I've tried to genuinely follow her advice, in the end, it becomes my fault?"
"Who leaves a company just to find themselves?" Charles complained. "This is entirely your doing, don't try to mislead by shifting the blame onto others."
Nick hadn't heard her speak with this tone of resignation tinged with a hint of pleading in a long time. It surprised him. "I just wanted to take a break and reflect. Maybe think about whether my past self was too overbearing. I couldn't do that in Eclipse, can you understand what I mean?"
"You think you've been living peacefully in The East?" she replied with sarcasm. "Do you think we couldn't track you down, or that we wouldn't use force if necessary, my dear Nick?"
"Let's talk about this reasonably," Nick said, lowering his voice.
"Then come back to the company. I don't mind if it's one or two months; I can even extend it to three or four months, but it's been half a year," Charles argued.
Nick could faintly hear Charles's breathing intensify due to her fast-paced speech, and he could imagine the rise and fall of her chest.
"Do you want to die in the East?"
This time, he fell silent, seemingly contemplating the possibility Charles had outlined.
In fact, Charles was right. Regardless of the situation, perhaps even Nick himself had been perplexed. The East, this single apartment, couldn't be considered his home. Or rather, he, who had been wandering this vast land, had never had a place to call his own. Charles's point was straightforward: he had to choose between the two. Naturally, Nick had spent more time in Eclipse than in The East, so if he had to choose, it should be Eclipse. It was the place where he should "return" to, not "go" to. Whether for Charles or Amia, Eclipse was the home he should "return" to.
Even though he was content with his current life and sometimes entertained thoughts like, "I can keep living like this even without going back to Eclipse." Nevertheless, Charles told him, and the facts she presented were irrefutable. It was the burden that the man known as "Nick" had to carry—the choice was inescapable.
"Hah..."
He didn't know if he felt frustrated or confused, but he ran his fingers through his hair in a way that caused his jet-black strands to cascade down like a curtain of vines and pool between his fingers, finally settling as a small, partially obscured curtain to his eyes.
"Were you this stubborn before...?" Charles's question hung in the air.
"That's what I want to tell you," He retorted. "I'm giving you one more month. Sort out your own affairs. By then, you either come back by your own volition, or we'll bring you back."
With that, she hung up somewhat petulantly.
The screen instantly turned black, clearing all the missed calls and unread messages, leaving just a brief reflection of Nick's slightly troubled smile in the glass mirror, visible only in the fleeting gleam.
"Sharp-tongued, soft-hearted old woman."
...
Approximately half an hour later, the sound of a key turning in the door lock reached Nick's ears. It was followed by somewhat stifled footsteps, which indicated that the person entering had become more skilled, no longer risking breaking the key in the lock. At this moment, Nick could catch a faint scent of summer's midday sun, mingled with sweat and subtle notes of lilac, and perhaps a hint of citrus blossoms. Nick couldn't recall Liz ever using perfume, but the fragrance seemed to suit her perfectly. Based on his guess, the aroma shared some similarities with the manager's scent but had distinctive qualities. So, it was highly likely that the manager had taken it upon herself to recommend these cosmetics to Liz, meddling in her affairs. Nick thought it was annoying to be so intrusive, but the scent did make him feel inexplicably itchy in the chest.
She tiptoed into the room, believing her movements were discreet, but she collided with Nick's gaze when she was about to reach out, startling her to the point where she yelped and almost fell backward. Nick tried to reach out to steady her, and Liz pulled him down. It created a romantic scene: Nick on top, Liz beneath. There was barely a finger's width of space between their noses. Nick could clearly see Liz's long eyelashes and her involuntarily pursed red lips. The fragrance, which had evolved from an unknown scent to something almost intimately familiar, was now on the verge of contact. Liz, on the other hand, felt his warm breath and noticed that, apart from their breaths, there was a faint contact between her and Nick's chest and neck. It felt elastic and almost like pressing a surface, making her feel that it had a certain resilience.
It seemed that, for both, they were extraordinary in various ways. They were in an unfamiliar situation, and neither had experienced such an opportunity to observe each other at such close range. Nick and Liz remained silent at first, but then couldn't help but look at each other, sharing playful smiles. Eventually, they both realized it was time to stop and remained silent, starting to listen to each other's heartbeats as if in a competition to see who would be the first to admit to feeling moved or embarrassed. It was as if the first person to react in such a way would win a lasting victory and enjoy the satisfaction for a long time.
"Is it... a bit too close?" Nick awkwardly asked.
The sweat on his arms, exposed under his short sleeves, had already been absorbed by the fabric once again. It was as if Liz had been drenched in a sudden rainstorm, becoming both hot and cold.
"Yeah... it's a bit hot," he replied, opening his mouth awkwardly, salty drops making his eyes sting, blinking at Liz like a schoolboy giving interested glances to a girl he liked.
Afterward, they separated, and, somewhat awkwardly, they managed to regain a degree of composure. They exchanged stiff greetings and asked each other how their day had been, their entire conversation resembling that of two strangers meeting for the first time on a blind date, with a certain level of intrigue and astonishment in the air.
Nick, or Liz. To be honest, both had started to become accustomed to each other's presence and their life together. It was all smooth and normal, without any ripples, as they spent their days in their overly spacious yet confining apartment. Nick didn't know he would eventually experience such a rare, disorienting event, and Liz was unaware that she would feel a kind of unfulfilled bitterness and discontent stronger than before—similar, but somehow more intense than when she had come back from the convenience store, which was her previous baseline. It was like an upgrade from the latter to the former, something more fundamental and closer to her true feelings.
"Sorry," he stammered. "But at least, believe me, I'm not some pervert who makes advances on young girls."
"No big deal," Liz replied, her eyes wandering. "It's not all your fault. Besides, I don't mind."
Subsequently, as if she had granted the right to break the tension by saying this, Liz briefly thought, "Actually, it can be a bit longer, a bit longer."
But unfortunately, Nick didn't respond to her answer.
The ambiguous and oddly romantic atmosphere was forcibly interrupted, much like the gap that follows anger as the body gradually calms. The man easily escaped this state of affairs and the bewildered expression that didn't seem like something he would do vanished quickly, leaving no trace on his usual poker face. Liz puckered her lips silently, but upon reflection, she decided to attribute her change in mood to an unexpected glimpse of his other side. She appeared to be in a cheerful mood as she retrieved a few microwaveable fast-food boxes from plastic bags she had brought back from the convenience store. The plastic containers were still warm to the touch, with visible condensation on the plastic lids. In fact, she had reheated them in the store's microwave before returning to the apartment, allowing them to cool to the perfect temperature during the journey.
"I can actually cook," Nick said after taking a bite, finding the chicken pieces to be both spicy and hard. "I can make better food than this convenience store fast food. It's tastier, more substantial, and cheaper."
"Well, that's true," Liz replied, using her spoon to draw a few triangles in the air. She continued, "But I thought you might not be feeling great, so I wanted to treat you to some popular food. It turned out to be unexpectedly bad."
"The more appealing a product looks on the outside, the emptier it tends to be inside... Anyway, I'm not the type to eat what someone else buys and then complain endlessly," he said, finishing the chicken and crackers and tossing their two portions of meal boxes into the trash. "Thank you for getting this for me; I'm happy."
"Oh! I'm happy, too," Liz said with a smile. "Is the food okay?"
Nick recalled her usual portion size and found that this amount was a bit excessive. So, he glanced at her and said with a slightly helpless tone, "It's good, but isn't it a bit too little?"
At this moment, the stomach of the girl decided to chime in, as if responding positively to the man's words.
"Well, let's have two more bowls," Nick said.
She pouted in frustration, but he just smiled and ruffled her hair, then walked into the kitchen. "Okay, two more bowls."
He prepared rice as usual, defrosted the meat, washed the vegetables, and mixed the sauce in the right proportions according to his memory. With a serious and focused attitude, he stirred the pot. The colorful vegetables and the gradually whitening chunks of meat met in the pan, blending in the oil and his careful stirring. Suddenly, a delightful aroma splashed out from the pot, making Liz's mouth water, but it quickly dissipated as Nick put a lid on it.
"Just wait a moment," he said without looking back, cutting a lemon, and seeming to prepare a refreshing drink. "Do you like it sweeter or sourer?"
"Sweeter, please," Liz replied, inhaling, and leaning against the counter as she watched him.
For some reason, today Liz didn't seem to be in a hurry to go to the living room to watch TV or take a short nap before dinner. It could be that she was gradually adapting to her current job and life, or perhaps there was a specific reason and excuse for her to stay by Nick's side. However, compared to the former, the latter seemed more likely and more interesting.
"Speaking of which—"
"Which of which?" Nick responded swiftly without much thought, causing Liz to burst into laughter.
"I mean the thing from a week ago, when you asked me where I wanted to go," she said, kicking Nick's shin. "Remember?"
"Yeah, I remember. But there's no need to dwell on that kind of stuff," Nick replied as he placed a lemon wedge in a glass and then reached for a bottle of pink syrup. "It's fine to take things one step at a time. Besides, I'll be done with my debt soon, and then I can find a place to settle down or go somewhere else. You're still pretty young, aren't you? You can think about all these miscellaneous things when the time comes."
In response, Liz didn't answer immediately but instead changed her tone and told Nick that she received a bonus from the store manager today. Nick turned his head with a surprised expression and asked if the store manager had won the lottery or something, as she seemed suddenly generous. Liz explained it was because, on her way to work today, there were a few homeless people who caused a commotion in the store and nearly hurt the store manager's daughter. Out of anger, she tossed those people one by one into the police station. As a gesture of gratitude or simply out of kindness, the store manager gave her a bonus that was almost equal to half a month's salary.
Nick nodded, turned off the stove, transferred the food onto a serving plate, and continued to listen to her.
"Another customer was in the store at the time, dressed rather stylishly. He introduced himself as the head of the human resources department at a security company and asked if I had any interest in switching to their company. But because he spoke this way in front of the store manager, it wasn't very polite, so she chased him out with a broom. However, he left his business card before leaving, hoping that I would consider their company... I've never met someone like that before."
"Considering you're the only employee of the store manager right now, and she can't find anyone else to work, encountering someone trying to steal you away would be quite infuriating for her," Nick remarked.
"Well, I can understand the store manager's feelings," Liz said, her hands behind her back as her thumbs absently rubbed against each other. Her gaze was as downcast as her idle actions, giving her an absent-minded appearance.
Nick glanced at her and handed her the fork and knife. He asked her casually, "Do you know what place that is?"
"If I remember correctly..." She reached into her pocket, took out the slightly crumpled raven-colored piece of cardboard, and placed it in front of Nick. "It should be called 'Murkywater'."
Nick's movements with the knife and fork froze slightly.
Everything indeed unfolded just as Nick's question - "Where do you want to go in the future?" - suggested. It was a reality that Liz had to face, which, while somewhat realistic, was also somewhat cruel, and something that many young people who were still immersed in romantic comedies and heart-wrenching love triangles found difficult to accept all at once. This forced her to start thinking about it and caused her some distress. Even during that time, she pretended to be carefree and cheerful, seemingly more upbeat than when she first arrived here. So, could this be a form of escapism in disguise? Or was it simply her way of prioritizing her thoughts on this matter, and pushing the emotions that she had concealed deep inside her out into the open and, eventually, to someone else?
Liz, unlike the other girls who often agonized over such matters for a long time, was different. She was always clear about what she was doing, what she wanted, what she would gain, and what she would eventually lose. So, the only thing that set her apart was that she always knew the answers and was able to follow her own will decisively and without regret after knowing the answers, even if it seemed like there were contradictions and conflicts between her ideals and this attitude now. It was like knowing for sure that you had no parachute when falling from a great height, but also knowing that every step was like walking on the edge of a knife.
This aspect of Liz was undeniably remarkable. So, the old saying, regardless of who said it and when, had been proven true in her case. Just like a mechanical god descending in ancient drama when mortals were in trouble and at a loss, she opened up paths with supernatural power, and with her extraordinary wisdom, she parted rivers. She had yet to tell Nick that the employee from Murkywater didn't leave after the store manager's outburst; he waited for her outside after her shift ended. She also hadn't told Nick that when he heard what seemed like a rejection, saying, "I have an education only up to high school," he remained surprisingly calm and offered, "As long as you pass the test, the company can provide you with special benefits if you wish, even cover the costs of your university education and ensure your name is on the admission list of the top universities."
Undoubtedly, this was an extremely generous offer, generous enough for anyone to accept with a smile and enthusiasm. Liz felt like she had found a turning point in her life and was on her way to a new world, where she would leave behind her ignorant hat and step confidently into the life she wanted, a new beginning. She was on the verge of saying yes, about to accept, forgetting everything, her excitement and joy clearly visible to everyone. The expression on the face of the person in charge was one of obvious victory, and the store manager, who turned pale and showed frustration on her face, sighed several times.
Yes, it should have been that way.
But what if she had never met someone from the start and never grabbed the hand he extended?
She politely accepted the business card, explaining that she needed some more time to consider, stating that she had some important matters to handle, and that they would be in touch, postponing further contact for the time being, apologizing for not being able to respond immediately. It seemed that this action was seen as a mature and responsible display in the eyes of HR, as the evaluation increased rather than decreased. With this, the urge for an immediate response faded away, leaving only a satisfied smile and a somewhat joyous figure in the background.
"Well, please allow me to wait patiently for your reply, and thank you for giving us more time to prepare."
And this expression of further acknowledgment and appreciation.
Liz turned to look at the store manager, her sparkling golden eyes revealing a hint of embarrassment and guilt. It was a wordless feeling, something that couldn't be directly addressed. The store manager scratched her head and tugged Liz into the store, not knowing what to say to the young girl standing before her. She knew a bit about Liz, Nick had told her some time ago, and she had a fair idea of the hardships and difficulties this young girl had faced. From a practical standpoint, she understood that if it were her daughter, she wouldn't have any objections to such an offer. Moreover, nobody - except perhaps the store manager herself - would like to remain a convenience store employee, anonymous and overlooked, until retirement, or leave due to various reasons even before that. People in the East had a strong penchant for personal growth and self-improvement, a paradoxical individualism that could be exasperating.
Only, the store manager had a slight personal dissatisfaction.
She really liked Liz. Even though they had only spent a few months together, it would be difficult for anyone to dislike this vibrant and intelligent girl. In other words, Liz was someone who was easy to like the moment she appeared. The store manager almost treated her like a lost daughter - although she had never said it, Liz understood this, even if she wasn't completely aware. The store manager had been exceptionally kind to her, making her feel that the warmth she experienced here was somewhat excessive. But in the end, it was just a cute little drama, like when a child throws a tantrum, or when a friend you've known for a long time suddenly tells you they're going far away, and you feel a natural sense of loss. The store manager was already thirty-seven years old, although she lived as if she were younger than anyone else, but she knew better than anyone that she, Liz, or even Nick, were no longer children who could brush aside the future and reality.
"It's okay," she pouted, then put on a warm smile that was usually reserved for cute things. You don't have to listen to my opinion, right? You have to choose your own path, and children who let others interfere in the East are bound to be bullied.
But Liz couldn't help but apologize to her. She lowered her head and bowed slightly, looking like she was about to complete a nearly ninety-degree bow. The woman, seeing her suddenly behaving so ceremoniously, lost some of her usual composure. She was as at a loss as the Liz who had just arrived in the Eastern parts. In the end, she used her hands to gently push up Liz's shoulders, finally bringing their eye levels together.
The store manager let out a long sigh and looked at her with a hint of reproach, "But you haven't accepted yet, have you? You're making it sound like you're ready to quit and leave."
Liz opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something more to the store manager. However, after some internal contemplation, she decided to remain silent, and the moment of silence lasted for just a few seconds.
"I actually want to go," she said, "Extremely—want to. It feels like finally getting to eat something you've been craving, like the dress and makeup you wanted suddenly becoming free. I guess you had some expectations too, right, Store Manager? So, try to imagine how it would feel if those expectations suddenly came true—well, that's how I feel right now."
"So, is little Liz really planning to go to that Murkywater thing?" The store manager leaned against the glass store door, behind her came the faint sound of fabric and glass rubbing.
"I don't know."
She picked up Nick's habit, raising her right hand from her chin to her forehead, running over her apple cheeks, her nose, her brows, and resting on the lifted bangs, her forehead.
Perhaps birds of a feather flock together, or people segregate according to type. Perhaps, when you spend time with someone, you subconsciously absorb their characteristics, carry their scent, and even your way of speaking begins to resemble theirs. Her tone remained the same as always, but her expression mirrored her current state of mind, revealing a sense of confusion that she wasn't sure was imitation or something genuinely hers. Then, this uncertainty, as if resisting what she thought was "imitation," really gave her a reason to be confused - it seemed to be genuine.
"If I knew, maybe I would have made a choice earlier," she suddenly felt a bit drowsy.
"Because of me?" The store manager said, half happy and half sad. "Is it because of me?"
Liz smiled, "Of course, but not just that." Then she continued, "There are some things that can't be said directly to someone. Maybe it's not something that's worth considering from the other person's perspective, but it's very important to me: attitude is important, thoughts are important, and how I see 'myself' is important - but maybe I lack the courage to say it directly, like the store manager, who can naturally speak her mind."
"To the extent that you can't even ask questions?" the store manager blinked and asked her.
She saw the mischievous grin on the store manager's face as she said that as if she had just realized something, which inexplicably made her heartbeat race with embarrassment and self-consciousness about her habit of talking too much and telling the truth. She turned her head, returning to her silence, and, in a moment when no one was around, she opened and closed the message board repeatedly, typing and deleting messages. After a few deleted messages, a sense of regret mixed with annoyance began to show, making it clear that she was struggling with what to say, whom to send it to, what to write, and how much to write. The store manager chuckled to herself, realizing that she didn't even have to look to guess who Liz wanted to send a message to and what kind of response she was hoping for. In a way, it was almost like watching a play she had been part of herself at some point. So now, watching from the sidelines seemed interesting, and she couldn't resist the urge to offer a few words from her perspective as someone who had been through it.
"Just tell him."
She leaned over the counter, pulled a chair over, and sat down, her eyes repeatedly glancing at Liz's phone screen, which infuriated Liz to the point of warning her with a fierce and threatening glare, but even so, she continued her relentless scrutiny.
"I don't understand what you're talking about."
"I don't understand what you're being so stubborn about... " The store manager shrugged naturally, then reached out and pinched the soft and elastic pink cheek of the girl. "Or, in other words, what does it have to do with him whether you choose to go or not?"
The woman withdrew her hand, calmly saying, "His life won't be affected by whether you choose a bright future or a dark one. In the end, Liz's presence won't make his life better or worse. So why care so much about his opinion? Besides, the bonus you just received, and your salary, should be enough to pay off that guy's debt soon. After that, it's your freedom to go wherever you want. How about just leaving quietly, without telling anyone?"
"Mind your own business."
Liz pushed her phone behind her back and stuck her tongue out at her. The store manager had barely suppressed her urge to pinch her again, but she wasn't angry, and she simply raised a finger to her cheek, appearing to be deep in thought, mumbling to herself. "I just don't know if he'd accept an old auntie with a kid..."
"Unacceptable!"
The girl suddenly raised her head and said loudly to her, "Unacceptable! How could anyone accept a sixteen-year age difference? Don't jump to conclusions! Anyway, it's you, Store Manager, who's not acceptable!"
"So, he doesn't accept, or you don't accept?"
"Tsk... But, isn't it generally the case that most people choose someone close to their age for a relationship? In any case, it's not for you to decide, Store Manager!"
"What if he really doesn't mind? And like I said, how you choose has nothing to do with him." The store manager raised her arm, slightly flexed, and looked at her bright white nails with a hint of pink, saying somewhat mischievously, "So, what is he to you? Or rather, what is he for you? Isn't it a bit overstepping for a mere friend's relationship?"
Liz pouted and turned away, deliberately avoiding face-to-face confrontation.
"The truth won't stop or disappear because you're in a bad mood, you know?" She pushed Liz's shoulder, and then, as if she didn't like spending too much time on this topic, changed the subject. "By the way, even though you spend time together at work, you probably don't have much time that belongs to just the two of you, right?"
She grinned, saying, "Every year, at this time of summer, there's a ten-day festival in the Eastern region, a lively grand celebration with various snacks and performance activities, and they even set off grand fireworks at night. Don't you want to go and see? It's a rare holiday event."
"But I don't have any special reason to go... " Liz swept her gaze over the woman's charming face with a mischievous smile. "Wouldn't it be boring to go alone? I'd rather stay home and read a few more books."
"But Nick will be going." The store manager said regrettably. "I think he'd probably enjoy this kind of festival, so I invited him just now. After all, if Liz isn't there, it would be just me—"
As expected, the woman was physically silenced by Liz before she could finish her sentence. However, this wasn't significant to the woman at the moment. She had never seen Liz in such a blushing and flustered state, which was quite novel. It provided her with an opportunity to understand Liz's cuteness on a deeper level. In a sense, for the store manager, this was a delightful surprise she had longed for. She endured the excruciating pain from her arm and enthusiastically patted Liz's hand while speaking at an incredibly rapid pace, to the extent that not even the quickest-tongued comedians could keep up with her.
"So, just be open and go with him, and sincerely ask for his opinion, isn't that the right thing to do? By the way, why not be candid about your feelings and let him know that you've harbored different emotions for him all this time, isn't that very much like a romantic comedy? So, hurry up and let go of me, let go, I won't compete with you, I won't compete with you, Little Liz!!!!"
Amidst this long and tortured sentence, filled with wailing and pleading, the young woman uttered a rare sigh of dissatisfaction with a clear expression of inner turmoil.
"I'll go, alright!"
And the store manager simply chuckled.