Quiet Devotion

My girlfriend, whom I’d been in love with for many years, was going to be sent abroad for three years. “If I leave, will you always wait for me?”

“No! I’ll find the next woman and the one after that. I won’t waste my youth clinging to a single promise.”

Because of that sentence, Yumi called me every morning, noon and night, afraid that I might forget her even for a moment.

In order to give her a birthday surprise, I pulled every string I could to get an overseas visa.

On her birthday, I rushed over to see her, only to witness her blowing out candles with another man.

The two of them held each other tightly and kissed passionately, while I stood frozen as if stabbed by a knife, unable to move at all.

She saw me, comforted the man and only then walked out.

“I drank too much last night, so I didn’t call you for a day and you came chasing after me? That guy is just my eating companion. Eating alone is too lonely…”

I sneered. “Not a bed companion, then?”

I was the son of the richest man, the crown prince of the city’s elite circle, yet I was actually replaced by a pale, frail pretty boy— it’s kind of embarrassing to say out loud.

I immediately pulled out my phone, found the woman who used my photo as her profile picture and called her. “Anne, stop fantasizing over my picture. Come pick me up.”

——

Yumi’s eyes carried a hint of grievance. “Yale, don’t make trouble. Everyone knows Anne has been pining after you for more than ten years. Using her to get back at me isn’t very interesting. I’m not saying I won’t come back. Ryan is just a temporary way to kill time. Once I return to Calvessan, we’ll get married, okay…”

I raised my hand and, summoning all my strength, slapped her across the face. “Don’t disgust me, or I can’t guarantee what I’ll do next.”

I had been restraining myself all this time to avoid overturning the restaurant and taking down that man.

The crisp slap immediately drew the attention of many people.

The man who had been kissing Yumi passionately suddenly rushed forward in long strides. He raised his hand and touched Yumi’s rapidly reddening face, his eyes red as he said, “Yumi, does it hurt?”

Then he turned to scold me angrily, “Who are you? What gives you the right to hit someone?”

His Calvessanesse pronunciation was precise, yet the tone unmistakably carried Yumi’s unique inflection.

I couldn’t help but laugh and looked up at Yumi. “How long have you two known each other?”

“About two months?” Yumi answered casually.

My expression grew even darker.

If we weren’t together all the time, I wouldn’t have believed that this puny guy could speak Calvessanese so well in less than two months.

“During these two months, you didn’t immediately answer my video calls at night because you were busy teaching him Calvessanesse in bed, right?”

Yumi denied it vigorously.

Ryan, however, smugly raised his left hand, chin up in a provocative gesture. “In just eight hours it’ll be the 100-day anniversary since your sister and I met! I know you Calvessian men are macho and possessive, but that’s no reason to hit your own sister! I’m calling the police!”

Sister?

I froze in place.

Yumi, guilty and avoiding my gaze, pulled me aside to explain. “Yale, Ryan misunderstood. I told him you’re my brother. Give me some time to sort this out…”

I glanced at Ryan, who had already called the police and I didn’t think he would give Yumi any time or opportunity to handle things.

I pushed Yumi aside and rushed over, snatching Ryan’s phone and smashing it on the ground.

As I raised my hand again, Yumi anticipated my move and grabbed my wrist tightly, not letting me strike.

“Yale! I told you I’d give you an explanation!” she said. Then she turned to Ryan and gently coaxed him in French. “Darling, go home and wait for me. I’ll buy you the latest model of iPhone as soon as I finish dealing with this phone.”