Alice heard this and her mind immediately spun into confusion. She silently assessed his expression: "What's going on?"
She cast a sidelong glance at Mike.
Mike clearly hadn't anticipated Victor's remark either, his heart drumming nervously, fearing that Victor might expose him.
Observing Mike's demeanor, Alice deduced that he was just as clueless, indicating his ability to maintain secrecy.
Regaining her composure, she nonchalantly quipped to Victor, "It's been centuries, what's the occasion? Catching up on old times? Should Mike excuse himself?"
Victor calmly replied, "If he doesn't mind, he can step aside."
Mike: "..."
Alice: "..."
The former promptly stated, "I don't mind. I'll go back to the lecture, only caught half of it earlier." With a smile, he walked away.
As he turned, he gave Alice a reassuring look that seemed to say, "It should be fine, don't worry."
Alice also felt a sense of relief. If this was about the matter at hand, Mike couldn't escape involvement, there was no way he could walk away unscathed.
She stood up straight, walked to the doorway, crossed her arms, and stood in the shade, then spoke, "What's going on? Spit it out."
Victor stood beside her, pausing before speaking.
Alice glanced over. The bright light at the doorway cast delicate tree shadows on Victor's nose and those peach blossom eyes.
Meeting her gaze, he glanced at her, and in that moment, his pupils flickered, like ripples on a tranquil lake.
Alice's mind was instantly pricked, and a thought floated freely in her mind: "Handsome Victor. He shines brighter than the scorching sun."
She then raised an eyebrow at him teasingly, "Hmm? It's been so long since we've chatted, don't know how to approach me anymore?"
Victor didn't deny it, as that was indeed the case. He paused for a moment before speaking, "When my little sister started college, did you give her a gift?"
Alice's mind completely relaxed, and she nodded slowly, "I believe I did. What's the matter?"
"What did you give her?" he looked at her intently.
Alice replied casually, "What's the big deal? Mia got into Cambridge, so I gave her a gift to congratulate her on her academic success. Isn't that normal?"
Victor didn't find it normal, "Are you close to her?"
"Fairly, I was close to her brother," she smiled, "Although her brother and I went our separate ways, Mia has always been sweet to me, always calling me sister when we meet."
Victor remarked coolly, "She didn't know we broken up."
Alice looked at him, "Oh, so once she found out, she stopped calling me?"
"Once she found out, she wouldn't accept such expensive gifts."
"What's the big deal? Just because things are over between us doesn't mean I can't still care for Mia. What's wrong with giving a gift to a kid I care about?" Her eyes softened, "Tell her not to be polite, it's just a little token from her sister."
The seemingly innocent phrase "a little token" fell, and Victor fell silent, not saying another word.
After a moment, he nodded slightly and concluded the topic, "I thank you on her behalf."
Alice quipped, "After all these years, you're only just now coming to me?"
"I hadn't had the chance before," he replied casually, then cast his gaze into the distance, looking at the sky.
"Ah," Alice nodded lightly and changed the subject, "When will Mia graduate from college?"
"This year."
The man's voice became clear and concise, just as indifferent and reluctant to speak as before when they were not together.
Alice glanced at him, feeling a mix of emotions... After asking about her own matters, she immediately put on a cold and silent facade, thinking, "Well done, Victor, that's just like you."
However, Alice didn't voice her thoughts. Instead, she continued nonchalantly, "Quite fast, back when I met Mia, she was still in high school, but by then, we had already broken up."
Recalling the past, she added, "I met Mia downstairs in the dormitory and asked her to return the gifts you had given me."
Victor returned his gaze to her. His expression seemed at a loss for words, perhaps not expecting her to casually mention past events and the breakup as if discussing the weather.
Alice smoothly transitioned to praise, "Mia, under your guidance, is quite impressive. She even went there." With that said, she indicated, "I'll take my leave now."
At that moment, her phone vibrated again, and she glanced down to read a message.
Her roommate Anna had sent a picture showing several suitcases and a pile of books, with a caption that read, "Sis, haven't you returned all the books yet? Are you out on a date? It's getting dark."
Looking at the items in the picture, Alice couldn't help but reply with a voice message, "Why do you have so much stuff?"
Her friend responded with another voice message, "Four years of undergrad, this... well, it's not much."
After listening, Alice furrowed her brows with a tinge of melancholy. Then, she turned to Victor, who was already preparing to leave, and called out, "Hey."
He paused, glancing at her with casual indifference, saying nothing.
Ignoring his aloofness as if it were invisible, Alice continued on her own, "Are you still planning to attend the lecture? What's it about?"
Instead of answering, he countered, "What about you?"
Alice shook her phone playfully.
Victor raised a puzzled brow, looking genuinely puzzled, "What?"
Alice remained silent.
Intentionally, this man, he seemed uninterested in getting closer to her.
But this rare opportunity, a chance to solve her luggage problem and have some close contact with him once more, Alice wouldn't let slip away.
She put down her phone, smiled at him, and said, "Victor, you're still as graceless as before, spending four years in England which is known as a land of gentlemen didn't make you a gentleman."
"Is that so? What 'before'?" he asked.
Alice's lips twitched, thinking how forgetful he was. He had brought up their past voluntarily earlier, but now he acted as if it didn't exist.
Unbelievable.
Burning bridges after crossing the river, huh?
This bitchy man still made one itch to conquer and subdue, just like four years ago.
But at this moment, she didn't want to delve into the past romances, to prove their existence which held no value. She only wanted to address the present issues.
After a few seconds of silence between them, when she relaxed her furrowed eyebrows, that stubborn man finally seemed too lazy to continue the useless banter or pretend ignorance. He turned around and descended the steps at the doorway.
Following him, Alice said, "I'll treat you to dinner tonight. I won't let you lose out."
He walked towards the dormitory area in silence.
The area beneath the doctoral building was quiet; it was still summer break, so there weren't many students around in the afternoon.
Anna, who was cleaning the dorm, quickly heard footsteps and, upon looking towards the door, froze.
A few seconds later, she waved to the former heartthrob of the school and approached Alice, asking, "Are you really on a date?? When did you two get back together? Why wasn't I informed?"
Alice chuckled but remained silent, heading straight to grab some things.
There was quite a lot of stuff; the suitcases were filled with heavy clothes.
Alice said to Victor, "You take the suitcases, I'll carry the books."
The miscellaneous daily items and shoes were to be carried downstairs by their respective owners.
Victor didn't say a word. After a while, he effortlessly carried the three suitcases downstairs with one hand and even helped Alice with a stack of thick books.
Once everything was downstairs, Alice told Anna, "You ride bike over there. Give me the keys, I'll drive the car to your rented house first."
Anna handed over the keys, saying, "Do you remember the name of the community I mentioned earlier? Sun-light, right at the next intersection..."
Alice nodded, "I know, no need to say more."
"Alright, I'll text you the address and room number. I'm sharing the place with some other students from the school. When you arrive, just move the books, and we'll bring the suitcases up together when I get there."
Alice looked at Victor, "No need, he's here."
Anna exclaimed, then looked at Victor, "That's too much trouble, isn't it? You're busy here and then going there. It's fine, no need, thanks a lot." She nodded in thanks towards Victor.
Before Victor could speak, Alice interjected, "It's okay, I'll treat him tonight."
Saying that, Alice got into the car.
Victor didn't say anything and got into the passenger seat.
On the way, Mike called Victor, asking, "Where are you going?"
"You go back first, I'm busy. We'll catch up later," the man replied.
With Victor on the phone, Alice leaned over and said, "Tell Mike we're having dinner together tonight."
After hanging up, Victor didn't say anything. Alice then spoke, "You should join us for dinner, it's hot summer, I can't just boss you around for free. You're not obligated to help, you're not my boyfriend."
Victor glanced at the passenger seat almost imperceptibly, then turned his head to look out the window.
As the car drove out of the school gate and stopped at a traffic light, Alice sent a message to Mike.
Her voice message echoed clearly in the small car, "Mike, do you have plans tonight? Join us for dinner, I'm asking Victor to help me move into the dorms, so I'll treat him."
Mike promptly replied, teasingly, "You two enjoy your meal. Why would I join?"
Alice chuckled, glanced at the man in the passenger seat, then replied, "Victor don't want to eat with me if you are not around. Don't be polite, I don't want to owe anyone any favors."
Mike chuckled, "Okay, let me know the restaurant later."
After putting down the phone, Alice released the brake and continued driving. Occasionally, she glanced at the man next to her who had been gazing out the window.
In this quiet space, upon closer observation, after four years, he had matured quite a bit.
Previously, he was arrogant and needed some taming; he didn't exude the same calm and indifferent aura he carried now. Back then, it was just a touch of aloofness in his personality.
Now, at twenty-five, apart from his still captivating face, he seemed much more composed.
Alice started a casual conversation, "Are you very unfamiliar with this place? You haven't been back to the northern city in these years?"
"I have."
"How many times have you been here?"
"Three times."
She curved her eyes, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes, remembering that their breakup was mainly due to the fact that they rarely met after he went abroad.
Seemingly nonchalant, Alice continued, "Not even once a year, really busy. So, what brings you here?"
"To see Professor Stephan."
An expected answer, given his good relationship with Professor Stephen, who was his supervisor. Otherwise, she wouldn't have assumed he would stay at the university.
Alice chose not to delve deeper into this topic.
They were almost near the Sun-light community, where Anna had rented a place, just at the next intersection.
Before reaching Sun-light, they passed another community called Lake Garden.
As they drove past the entrance, Alice couldn't help but bring up another topic to Victor, "Remember this? You lived here during your senior year." She had visited back then, so she knew that the neighboring community was Sun-light.
"Yes," Victor glanced in that direction.
Lake Garden was a newer community, with a better environment than Sun-light and slightly higher rent. However, even this community had aged a bit compared to a few years ago. The white walls were starting to show signs of aging, with the late afternoon sun adding a touch of nostalgia to the scene.
"You still remember this? This community seems a bit old now," Alice remarked.
"Yes."
"You still look quite young."
Victor looked at her as if she had said something absurd, "I'm only twenty-five."
"Is that so? Do you think I'm old?"
He glanced at her face, "Yes, you're old."
"Really?" Alice turned her head, teasingly adding, "My dear ex-boyfriend..."
"..."
"Is your trip to Cambridge for acting lessons? One moment you act like a human, the next like a dog."
"..."