In the airport lounge, Alexander Gale stared at his phone, tapping on the screen half-heartedly, clearly in a low mood.
Jack Smith leaned over and asked cautiously, "Bro, you seem to have been in a bad mood since we left the villa. What's wrong? Didn't enjoy the last few days?"
"No."
"Is it because you didn't have enough fun, or you don't want to go back?" Jack Smith guessed randomly. "But Benjamin Reed really put his heart into it this time. The arrangements for food, drinks, and entertainment were meticulous. I was so happy I forgot about home. Just for this, I'd definitely welcome him back to London."
Alexander Gale couldn't be bothered to engage, still appearing disinterested.
He touched his chin, saying to himself, "Benjamin Reed is really something. His stepmother influenced his dad to send him to Paris, and in just six years, he became a leader in the Paris pharmaceutical industry. During this time, he didn't receive any help from Benjamin's family and faced countless obstacles. His ability to cause chaos upon returning to London is undeniable."
"This invitation to have fun was really thoughtful, he's good at handling social niceties."
"Eh, Gale, what do you think about his return to London? Aren't you planning to focus on medical equipment next year? The market is only so big, Benjamin Reed's return will definitely mean a share of it."
Alexander Gale tapped a few times on his screen, put away his phone, and said nonchalantly, "Let him have a share if he wants, as long as he has the ability to swallow it."
Jack Smith grinned, "Look at me asking, Gale, you're just doing this on a whim, it won't affect you at all. His stepmother is going to have a hard time though, Benjamin's family made their fortune in pharmaceuticals. The legitimate son returning with full glory, oh, there will be drama."
Alexander Gale was uninterested in all this, stood up when the boarding announcement came, and prepared to board.
Jack Smith followed, chattering, "But Benjamin Reed's brother is really good-looking, with rosy lips and white teeth, and those beautiful eyes... especially when he brightly calls me 'brother'..."
Alexander Gale suddenly stopped, squinting at him, "He called you brother? When did you meet him?"
Jack Smith replied bewilderedly, "I met him when we were kids, but he was thin and quiet in my memory. I bumped into him in the elevator yesterday afternoon when I went back to my room to charge my phone. I didn't recognize him until he greeted me."
Alexander Gale's expression darkened slightly, "He called you brother?"
"Yeah, I'm three years older than him, so he should call me that. Is there a problem?"
"Hmph..."
He let out a cold laugh and strode towards the boarding gate.
Jack Smith, confused, jogged to keep up, "Bro, are you scoffing at me?"
"Get lost, stay away from me."
"What did I do..."
*
At night, in a high-end villa in London, men and women mingled, chatting and laughing.
The birthday boy stood on the second-floor balcony, wearing only a white shirt in the cold wind, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, half his face hidden in the night and smoke, looking sexy and charming.
"Gale, so you're here," said a handsome young man in a white suit, smiling as he handed over a small gift box, "Happy Birthday."
Through the lingering smoke, Alexander Gale was momentarily taken aback, then quickly collected himself and took the box, "Thanks."
Essen Reed laughed heartily, "Why aren't you wearing a coat? Be careful not to catch a cold."
"I'm not cold."
"Hahaha, have you turned into steel after soaking in the hot springs for two days?" he joked, then asked, "How was my brother's villa? Ah, it's a pity I was tied up these past few days; otherwise, I could have joined you guys. Soaking in the hot springs in winter must be so comfortable."
"It was okay."
"I'll definitely try it sometime."
"Mhm." Alexander Gale extinguished his cigarette, "I'm leaving."
"Ah?" Nicholas Reed followed him inside, "Are you leaving already? We haven't even had the cake yet."
He rubbed his cold fingertips, "I've already had some."
"Ah..."
Nicholas Reed watched him go downstairs, put on his coat, and leave, feeling a bit downcast but quickly perking up to rejoin the birthday party without its guest of honor.
*
Alexander Gale got home, took a hot shower, sat on the bed, and picked up his phone to send a message.
For the first time in his life, Alexander Gale received a red exclamation mark.
He frowned, looking closely at the chat box that showed the exclamation mark and the message "The message has been sent but was rejected by the recipient."
He laughed in frustration and called his assistant.
"Hey, boss, happy birthday."
"It was happy."
"Uh..." So it's not happy now?
"Find me the contact for Essen Reed, Benjamin Reed's brother who owns the hot springs villa in Paris."
"Oh, okay."
"Make it quick, I'll double your year-end bonus."
The assistant's reply was loud, "Got it!"
Less than ten minutes later, Alexander Gale received the information from his assistant, gritted his teeth as he dialed the number.
"Hello?"
Essen Reed's muffled voice came through, seemingly woken up.
Alexander Gale gritted his teeth and said, "It's me."
"..."
There was silence on the other end, then the call was disconnected.
Listening to the dial tone, he got up, started pacing back and forth, and dialed again.
The phone rang for a long time before being picked up.
He was furious, "Essen Reed!"
In the dim room, Essen Reed sat cross-legged on the bed, silent.
"Why did you block me?"
"..."
"Speak."
Essen Reed, clutching the blanket, asked in a muffled voice, "What do you want?"
"Why did you block me?"
He repeated, "What do you want?"
Then added, "Don't you know already? Didn't you reject it?"
Now it was Alexander Gale's turn to be silent.
Essen Reed waited a long time, feeling his heart drop from a height, thudding into the water, suffocating and painful.
Finally, he slumped his shoulders, ended the call, lay down, pulled the blanket over himself, and buried himself.
Alexander Gale clenched his phone, sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the cigarette pack and lighter from the nightstand, smoked two cigarettes, then called again.
The call connected, followed by silence.
"Essen Reed," he said, "come back to London."
Essen Reed felt his heart being lifted from the lake bottom, a slight smile on his lips, softly responding, "Mhm."
He continued, "Take me off your blacklist."
"Mhm."
Alexander Gale hung up, opened Facebook.
[Alexander Gale: .]
[Essen Reed: ..]
Finally, it wasn't a red exclamation mark. He smiled, leaning against the headboard, typing.
[Alexander Gale: Where did you learn to block people the moment you're upset?]
[Essen Reed: Your profile picture...]
His profile picture had been changed to a cartoon version of himself, completely at odds with his actual demeanor.
[Alexander Gale: I changed it at the airport this morning, didn't you see?]
[Alexander Gale: I just left, and you blocked me right away?]
Essen Reed, snuggled in the blanket, felt a bit guilty but also a bit happy. Did Alexander Gale have a bit of feeling for him?
[Alexander Gale: Just because I left without saying goodbye? Essen Reed, you really have a temper.]
[Essen Reed: [Shrinking cat.jpg]]
Alexander Gale, looking at the sticker, could imagine him shrinking into the blanket, kind of cute...
Essen Reed glanced at the time, only two minutes to midnight.
[Essen Reed: Happy Birthday.]
[Alexander Gale: It was quite happy, but then I discovered I was inexplicably blocked...]
He didn't know how to respond.
Alexander Gale sent another message, this time a voice message, "Say it again."
Essen Reed pressed the chat box, whispering, "Alexander Gale, happy birthday."
Alexander Gale listened twice, smiling back, "Thank you, it's cold, sleep early, wear more when you get up, I'll wait for you to come over, good night."
"Good night..."
After ending the chat, Essen Reed replayed the voice message several times, covering his rapidly beating heart, closed his eyes, and had a good night's sleep.