I dialed the number from the future again.
“The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and try again.”
So I could only wait for the call. There was no way to reach my future self on my own.
I leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.
Future me hadn't mentioned what happened to Cedric in the end.
God, I wanted to know what his face looked like after Judy played him.
Never mind. I had more important things to do.
Prepare my counter-evidence early.
This time, I wasn't leaving a single thing to chance.
The next morning, Cedric called.
“Norie, let me take your whole family out to dinner tonight. We should celebrate you getting first place.”
His voice was warm and attentive, exactly the way a perfect boyfriend should sound.
“Sure.”
A trap dressed up as a celebration.
But I wasn't afraid.
Private dining room. My parents sat across from us.
Cedric stayed glued to my side, pouring tea, serving dishes, toasting with every round.
Three rounds of drinks in, he started “casually” steering the conversation.
“Sir, you were in business when you were younger, right?”
My dad waved that off.
“Business? Nah, just a street stall. Small-time stuff.”
“Then later, how did you……”
Cedric trailed off, putting on a look like he felt awkward bringing it up.
“I think Norie mentioned it once. You were away from home for a few years?”
My dad's smile stiffened for a second.
“That's all in the past.”
He raised his glass, trying to close the topic.
Cedric didn't let him.
“Were you sentenced?”
His tone was light, like it was nothing.
“Several years, wasn't it?”
My dad was quiet for two seconds.
“Three years.”
“Let's not get into all that.”
My mom jumped in to smooth things over.
“It's all in the past. Come on, eat up.”
Cedric smiled, nodded, and raised his glass for another toast.
I caught it from the corner of my eye.
His left hand was under the table. He pressed the pause button on a voice recorder, then slipped it back into his pocket like nothing had happened.
I didn't stop him.
Let it come.
Day four of the public announcement period. A new email popped up in my inbox.
I glanced at the subject line. HR Bureau.
My pulse spiked.
It was here.
【Ms. Nora Whitfield：A public complaint has been received alleging that your father has a criminal record and that you failed to truthfully disclose this information on your civil-service exam application. You are required to submit the following counter-evidence within 48 hours. Failure to respond within the deadline, or submission of false materials, will result in the revocation of your hiring eligibility.】
I took a deep breath and was about to reply.
Then came the sound of a key turning in the front door.
I closed the email instantly and switched the screen to a game.
Cedric walked in carrying a big bag of barbecue and a bottle of red wine.
I kept my face blank.
“I thought you said something came up at home and you weren't coming back tonight.”
“Missed you.”
He set everything on the table, his eyes sweeping across my laptop screen like he was checking for something.
“What are you up to?”
“Playing a game.”
I said it like it didn't matter.
He didn't push it. Just smiled and held up the wine.
“Drink with me?”
I frowned slightly.
“It's not a special occasion.”
He popped the cork anyway.
“Who cares? Every day with you is Valentine's Day.”
He poured my glass.
Filled it to the brim.
It was so cold-blooded I almost laughed.
He was afraid I'd have too much time alone to deal with the complaint email.
He wanted to get me drunk so I'd miss the 48-hour deadline.
Three years together, and now he couldn't even be bothered to pretend.
What he didn't know was that my counter-evidence was already done.
