Chapter 1894


    He''d been looking for any excuse to talk to her, to ask how she''d fared over the years, but he could


    already predict Yasmine''s reaction and response—


    "Don''t you think that''s kind of a dumb question now?"


    Well, she was fine now, standing healthy and well in front of him. How could she not be doing well?


    But if not that question, what could he ask that would be a good entry point into a conversation?


    He drew a nk.


    Deep down, he understood that when she had given the impression she was gone for good, it


    wasn''t to deceive everyone, it was just to deceive him. As she had said, she truly wanted to rid


    herself of him. For nine years, she managed to staypletely detached from the orphanage and


    everyone in it.d2


    The day came to an end, and Yasmine finally stood up to leave.


    Books tucked under one arm, her other hand holding a cellphone to her ear, she breezed past him,


    her voice as light and ripple-free as her stride. "Okay, heading out now. Mmm, I could go for a


    milkshake."


    Boyd, who was also about to leave, suddenly froze. It took a moment before he slowly turned his


    head, watching the figure at the ssroom door.


    Thatst bit about wanting a milkshake, with that lingering tone, somehow sounded like there was a


    hint of ying cute in it.


    He met her at an age when she should have been the most delicate and cute, yet he had never


    seen or heard her act like that before.


    Not even in his wildest dreams did Yasmine ever act like a spoiled child.


    And now, although it was subtle, he could still detect it.


    He didn''t want to admit this.


    Her figure disappeared through the doorway without a hint of reluctance, and he stood up, his tall


    and lean silhouette conspicuous in his crisp white shirt. Under the watchful eyes of the female


    students, he strode out of the ssroom.


    By the door, he saw Yasmine casually dump her stack of books onto a young man''s arms and then


    take a paper cup from him, lowering her head to sip through the straw.


    Derek watched her contented expression andughed helplessly, "Every time I see that look on


    your face, I remember how much you used to despise it."


    Yasmine was unfazed, "I never said I liked it."


    Derek chuckled ruefully, "Then what''s this? Looking all satisfied with something you don''t like?"


    "Who says satisfaction has to equate to liking something?"


    Yasmine took another sip, and the two walked side by side toward the school gates, Derek taking a


    deep breath, "Only you could argue like this. There''s no winning against you."


    "An argument is still an argument, no matter how twisted."


    Derek couldn''t argue with that. Over the years, he''d seen plenty of her skewed logic, and somehow,


    she always managed to brainwash him sessfully.


    "How''s college life?"


    "Just a different ce to hit the books, what else?"


    This time, Derek zipped his lips, deciding he was done with the conversation. Since his father had


    brought his mother and him to live with her, he had never seen anything that she truly liked. She


    seemed indifferent to everything. She was like a saint, devoid of desires.


    "Is it that hard to admit you like something?"


    He must have asked her that question a hundred times over the years, but he never seemed to get


    a straight answer. Just like this time.


    "If I find something appealing, I''ll aspire to own it while investing time in pursuits that may seem


    childish and insignificant. With that effort, I could be researching stocks, making a big score, isn''t


    that more enjoyable?"


    Derek sighed deeply, feeling a tightness in his chest. "Enjoyable indeed."


    They reached the school entrance, and Yasmine''s milkshake cup was empty. She tossed it into the


    trash can, and Derek held the car door open for her, waiting for her to get in.


    Boyd stood at the school gates, watching the car drive away, reminded of the day she left the


    orphanage when they were kids.


    Their closeness waspletely natural. Just as natural as her strangeness to him was.


    He thought seeing Yasmine alive and well would be enough, but reality told him it wasn''t.


    Satisfaction was still too far away. It felt like a bottomless pit, one that could never be filled.


    At dinner, Bryson cheerfully asked the first question that his son had asked her today.


    "How''s college life?"


    Yasmine had a cup of milkshake to fill her stomach, didn''t eat the meal much, and only managed to


    take a few bites.


    "It''s okay."


    It was a much better response than the one she gave Derek.


    Used to Yasmine''s temperament, Bryson was thrilled with the answer. "Anything you''re unhappy


    with? If there is, I''ll talk to the school about it tomorrow."


    Yasmine paused, "... It''s okay."


    Derek nced at her.


    After dinner, Yasmine sat watching TV in the living room, and Derek sat down in front of her.


    "Something up at school?"


    Yasmine switched from the finance channel to a celebrity gossip show, not ying dumb. "It''s


    nothing big, just ended up in the same ss as someone I don''t particrly like."


    Derek''s eyes shifted, "...Boyd?"


    Yasmine watched the screen where thetest celebrity was getting cozy with a director at a hotel,


    and upon hearing Derek''s guess, she nodded faintly, "Yeah."


    Derek squinted at her for a long time, "And that''s not a big deal? You sure you don''t want to switch


    sses?"


    "No, I don''t." Yasmine changed the channel, "It wasn''t easy getting my seat."


    Derek thought to himself. " It seemed like it really wasn''t a big deal—still not as important as a seat."


    "You sure it''s not one of those childhood sweethearts reunited scenarios?"


    Yasmine curled up, arms wrapped around her knees, and after pondering for a moment, she turned


    to look at him.


    "And then what?"


    Derek was puzzled, "What do you mean, ''then what''?"


    "After the childhood sweethearts are reunited, what could possibly happen?"


    Derek rolled his eyes, exasperated, "There could be an unexpected romance, and next thing you


    know, a baby."


    Yasmine was taken aback, "Is this a rocketunch or what? How could it be so fast?"


    Derek pointed at her, shock written all over his face, "Did you... did you just imagine that?!"


    Yasmine looked at him for two seconds, then turned her attention back to the TV, scoffing lightly,


    "And why not?"


    "You..."


    Derek wanted to say more, but Yasmine suddenly turned to stare at him, a long, silent gaze.


    Derek shifted to the side, "What are you looking at?"


    "I''ve been thinking about what it would be like to have kids with you."


    A grimace yed at the corner of Derek''s mouth as his gaze locked onto Yasmine''s strikingly


    beautiful face. He ventured cautiously, "Well? What do you think?"


    Yasmine shook her head, "Not gonna happen."


    Derek''s expression darkened, "You have no basis for that!"


    "No, I''ve watched you grow up from the kid next door to this. I''m just not feeling it for your bod."


    Derek gritted his teeth audibly, "Are you even a woman?!"


    "Of course, I am. I''m perfectly normal. Don''t tell me you don''t have a few fantasies about women."


    Derek couldn’t reply to that.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Seemingly amused by the situation, Yasmine leaned back on the couch, propping her head in her


    hands, a smirk ying on her lips as she watched him.


    "Got a girlfriend yet?"


    Derek stumbled over his words, unable to form a coherent response. Finally, he stood up abruptly,


    "This is ridiculous."


    Yasmine watched his ears turn a telltale shade of red andughed, "Humanity''s future depends on


    these things. If you''re really that inexperienced, maybe I should enlighten you someday?"


    Derek red at her fiercely, "You act like you''re some kind of sex guru."


    Yasmine arched an eyebrow, "At least I can think about it without blushing."


    "Heh, that''s impressive."


    "Mhm, better than you."


    Derek had had enough. He didn''t want to continue this absurd conversation and turned to head


    upstairs, but halfway up, curiosity got the better of him, and he looked back. "So what was the


    verdict? You and Boyd, how did that fantasy pan out?"


    Yasmine was idly flipping through channels on the remote, seemingly uninterested. The colors from


    the TV screen flickered across her impassive face, and her eyes seemed devoid of any emotion.


    "Not great." It took her a while toe up with that much of an answer.


    Derek shrugged nonchntly, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief. "Try to think less about that


    kind of stuff, you pervert."


    Sensing Yasmine was about to look at him, Derek quickly turned and continued upstairs.


    The TV screen settled on a sports channel, showcasing a special on athletic champions. Each of


    them was indeed well-built, with long arms and legs, broad shoulders, narrow hips, chiseled abs,


    and their swimming strokes exuded effortless grace.


    But just as quickly, the screen flicked to the financial news channel.