During the journey from the cafe back to the studio, Xylia had been in a state of distraction.
365 vouchers.
She did not return to her senses until Josie called out to her loudly. “What are you thinking about, so lost in thought? Your face is so pale–are you sick?”
Xylia shook her head. I’m fine. Is there something wrong?”
Josie pointed at the phone. Tve selected a few promising candidates for interviews. Are you avable tomorrow to interview together?”
Xylia nodded. “Yeah<b>. </b>You’ll arrange it.”
Josie nodded, then sensed that something was truly amiss with Xylia.
She followed Xylia into the office.
Looking at Xylia, who seemed as lost and dejected, Josie narrowed her eyes and asked, “I just saw Joshua go to the cafe to look for you. What did you two talk about? Why do you look so spaced out, like the conversation took your soul away?”
When she heard Joshua’s name, Xylia’s gaze flickered.
With great curiosity, Josie observed all of her reactions, then leaned on the desk and moved closer to her. “It seems there really is something going on. What exactly happened? Did he confess to you?”
It seems there really is something going on. What exactly happened? Did he confess <b>to </b>you?
Xylia looked up in surprise, her eyes unmistakably conveying the question. “How did you know?”
Josie clicked her tongue, turned to the refrigerator to retrieve a beverage for herself, and then seated herself on the sofa. “Joshua treats you differently from everyone else. His double standards are so obvious. Only a fool would fail <b>to </b>see that he likes you.”
As the person involved, Xylia simply didn’t notice these details.
She recalled the words that could not be refused that Joshua spoke just now after his confession in the cafe. “Now that everything is clear, I will no longer hide my pursuit of you.
“If you are willing to speak harsh words to me, I will <b>not </b>cry in front of you; <b>instead</b>, I will go back and find a corner to quietly heal my wounds.
“I have sent you the contact information of my university ssmate. If you are unwilling to assist me with this minor request, I will not seek your help again, regardless of how great the difficulties I may encounter in the future.”
He made himself out to be as pitiful as possible.
Although Xylia felt he was putting on an act, his words made her suddenly feel <b>guilty</b>.
8:12 Thu, Sep 18 H
He had helped her so much, and after finally managing to ask her, she still refused.
She just <b>felt </b><b>that </b>it wasn’t right.
Xylia sighed softly.
E55 vouchers-
She raised her eyes and looked at Josie, who was sitting on the sofa, cating snacks. After thinking for a moment, she walked over and sat down opposite her. “Josic, I have a question I’d like to ask you.”
“Is this about your love life?” Josie asked with keen interest, finishing thest crisp in her hand. She looked at. Xylia with a serious, attentive expression. “Go ahead–if there’s anything I can help with, I will certainly do so.”
Her eyes sparkled; she was in a gossipy mood.
Xylia observed the faint excitement appearing on her face and began to lose her resolve.
However, as she currently had no better outlet for confiding, she could only brace herself and continue speaking, Josie. I did not ept Joshua…”
Before Xylia could finish speaking, Josie interrupted her in shock. “You didn’t? Why?”
Josie stared at Xylia with wide eyes, <b>unable </b>to believe it. “That is impossible. You definitely like Joshua! Why did you reject him?”
At that moment, it was Xylia who wore an expression of disbelief. “When did I ever say I liked Joshua?”
The tips of her ears grew slightly warm.
She believed that she had absolutely no romantic interest in Joshua.
Josie leaned in toward Xylia, narrowing her eyes as she carefully examined Xylia’s expression. At <bst</b>, she spoke as if a realization had dawned on her, “You have not yet realized it yourself, have you?”
Xylia looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Josie said, “You have not realized your dependence on Joshua.”
Xylia felt inexplicably perplexed.
Josie had previously regarded Xylia as highly intelligent. However, after eight years of marriage, seeing that Xylia was still so insensitive about feelings, Josie now considered her rather foolish.
She continued, “Since I arrived in Norhill, I have noticed that you exhibit two distinct attitudes when interacting with your elder brothers from the Sadler family and with Joshua.
“Although you behave normally toward the Sadler brothers, there is still ack of closeness between you. However, it is different when ites to <b>Joshua</b>.
“For instance, during thest renovation, when Joshua and Hudson were present, you were undecided about the curtain color, and the first person you consulted was Joshua.”
8:12 Thu, Sep 18 H
Xylia remembered this matter.
At that time, the renovation of the studio was nearingpletion.
<b>55 </b>vouchers.
She looked at the office curtains, deliberating between choosing whitece curtains or light blue patterned
curtains<b>. </b>
Both Hudson and Joshua were nearby: she instinctively asked, and it was indeed Joshua whom she addressed.
Xylia said, “Hudson is indeed my family, but I have only recently reunited with the Sadler family. Although I <b>am </b>now getting along well with them, we are not yet that close. I did meet <b>Joshua </b>in Jupiton, and we are friends<b>. </b>Compared to Hudson, I am indeed more familiar with him.”
Getting along always took a process.
During her time in Jupiton, she and Joshua <b>had </b>gradually be close and developed a tacit understanding.
This was also within the bounds of reason.
She thought Josie was overthinking it.
Xylia shook her head. “Never mind. You haven’t dated before, <b>so </b>asking you is pointless.”
She simply gave upmunicating with Josie.
Josie’s eyes widened abruptly, and she eximed, “Xylia, you actually struck a nerve!”
She suddenly jumped up to chase <b>Xylia</b><b>. </b>Xylia hurriedly rushed out the door, escaping from Josie’s clutches.
In the evening, Xylia returned to the Sadler family’s ce.
She p
picked up her phone countless times, looking at the chat interface with Joshua.
The chat interface showed a message sent to her from Joshua, asking her if she had arrived home safely. The message above was the contact card of <b>Joshua’s </b>university ssmate.
Xylia was drawing in the design studio, holding a paintbrush in her left hand and her mobile phone in her right hand.
She gazed absent–mindedly at her phone.
It was not <b>until </b>the paintbrush tip pierced the drawing paper that she came back to herself.
The design drawing on the drawing board was ruined<b>, </b>and the tip of the paintbrush had also snapped off.
Xylia put down the paintbrush with a hint of despair.
After considerable deliberation, she friended Joshua’s university ssmate.
She never thought about hurting Joshua, nor did she truly wish to see Joshua crouched in <b>a </b>corner, healing his wounds<b>. </b>
<b>8:12 </b>Thu, Sep 18 N
55 vouchers
She thought. I’ll just get along peacefully with him for now. After I reject him again and again, Joshua will eventually give up.”
Joshua’s university ssmates quickly epted her friend request.
Within two minutes, they <b>had </b>added each other <b>as </b>contacts.
Henry Payton: [Hi, I am Henry Payton, a university ssmate of Joshua. You must be Xylia Sadler, the designer Joshua introduced. Has Joshua discussed our coboration with you? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. If it is difficult to exin over the phone, we can arrange a time to meet and talk in person.]
Xylia exchanged a few words with him.
During the conversation, she could <b>sense </b>Henry’s enthusiasm and urgency, which differed from a mere intention to cooperate.
She could sense that Henry wanted her to gain a deeper understanding of his factory.
His writing consistently reflected a <i>de </i>
passion for his career, mirroring the demeanor she disyed when
introducing her studio to several executives.
Xylia felt much more relieved.
<b>It </b>appeared that Henry was not someone whom Joshua had authority over.
After arranging to meet with Henry for a detailed discussion tomorrow, she let out a long sigh of relief.
She thought perhaps she really should not have <b>thought </b>of Joshua in that way.
AD
Comment