Jaden had spotted Sherry, and his heart was in turmoil. He was so distracted that he barely heard Jenny's questioning.
"What's got you so captivated? Let me see!" Jenny complained, tugging at Jaden's arm.
"Huh? Oh... nothing. I thought I saw something, but it was just a shadow—it's gone now," Jaden quickly explained, turning back toward her.
"Really? Let me take a look." Jenny eagerly leaned in, her excitement showing.
"Uh..." Jaden hesitated, looking through the telescope once more, hoping to confirm Sherry's presence. Yet, the group he had seen earlier had disappeared.
A mix of relief and unease swirled within him as he reluctantly stepped aside. "Go ahead. It seems gone."
Jenny pouted. "Seriously? Your sharp eyes scared away a rabbit from miles away? You should've let me check earlier!" She huffed and leaned in to scan the view herself.
As Jenny panned through the landscape, her expression suddenly changed. She froze momentarily, pulled back from the telescope, and darted a quick, nervous glance at Jaden. Without a word, she leaned in again, scanning the view with renewed focus.
Jaden, consumed by his own thoughts, failed to notice her unusual behavior.
After a long moment, Jenny stepped away, her face slightly pale and her demeanor a touch off. "Uh... let's call it a day for now?" she suggested with a forced smile.
"Hmm? You're tired?" Jaden asked absentmindedly, preoccupied with thoughts of Sherry.
"Yes, something's come up. But before I go, let's make a deal." Jenny looked at him intently, her tone suddenly serious.
"A deal?" Jaden raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Yes. I'll be gone for a while, but let's treat it as a test. If you pass, I'll reward you. But during this time, you can't seek me out or talk to me. Agreed?" Jenny's voice carried an odd mix of nervousness and excitement.
Jaden frowned, puzzled by her sudden shift. Was this her way of avoiding him because she'd noticed Henry Lin's arrival at the resort? If that were the case, it aligned with Luna Zhou's instructions to keep Jenny occupied and close to Jaden.
But Jaden's thoughts were elsewhere—Sherry's appearance had shaken him. He found himself agreeing, more to end the conversation than out of genuine interest. "Fine, as you wish. Are we parting ways now?"
Jenny smiled, standing on her tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. "Yes, but remember—you can't follow me. Let's see how fate brings us together again in this place."
With that, she dashed away, disappearing quickly from his view.
As Jenny vanished, Jaden wiped his cheek absentmindedly, his mind wholly preoccupied with Sherry. He returned to the observation deck and scanned the area with the telescope, meticulously searching for the group he had seen earlier.
They were gone.
His chest tightened. Had Sherry checked into the resort? Was her business trip merely a cover for her to spend time here?
If it really was Sherry he saw, it would mean she had lied to him.
A nagging memory resurfaced—a faint male voice he had overheard during one of their calls.
Could it be? Could Sherry be cheating on him?
Jaden's mind churned with doubt and suspicion. He wanted to trust Sherry, but the image of her at the resort lingered. What if it wasn't her? What if his eyes had deceived him?
She had never dressed as elegantly or luxuriously as the woman he had seen earlier. Could it have been a mere lookalike?
Feeling unsettled, Jaden descended the observation deck and headed to the reception desk, his hesitation mounting with each step.
"Hello," he addressed the smiling receptionist, "do you have a guest named Sherry staying here?"
The receptionist responded politely, "May I ask your relationship to her, and could you provide your name and room number?"
"I'm her boyfriend. My name is Jaden Yan, room 8809."
The receptionist tapped on her keyboard before replying apologetically, "Mr. Yan, our records indicate you're staying here alone. Additionally, due to our privacy policy, I'm unable to share information about other guests."
Jaden clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. "I'm not asking for her room number or anything invasive. I just want to know if she checked in. Isn't that simple enough?"
The receptionist's tone remained calm yet firm. "I'm sorry, sir, but our resort has strict confidentiality rules. I can't provide that information."
"Fine!" Jaden snapped, waving her off as he stormed away.
With no leads from reception, Jaden knew his only option was to search for Sherry himself. The resort was massive, making aimless searching impractical.
Then it struck him - everyone here would eventually gather for meals. The dining area would be his best chance to confirm Sherry's presence.
Glancing at the time, he realized there were still hours until the next mealtime. He decided to wander the resort in the meantime, maybe even book a massage to calm his nerves.
But before he could walk far, Jaden's steps faltered as he spotted a familiar pair approaching - the sight of Jenny clinging sweetly to Henry Lin sent a shockwave through him.