Chapter 1895


    When Boyd caught sight of Yasmine the next day in the same spot as before, he breathed a sigh of


    relief. He thought for sure she would pull a Houdini on him—vanish to avoid the awkwardness.


    Thankfully, she hadn''t.


    But as he exhaled, his heart wasn''t exactly doing cartwheels of joy. With her entric way of


    thinking, she probably had bigger fish to fry than dodging him. What that was, though, remained a


    mystery.


    Yasmine was a lone wolf, never leaving a sliver of opportunity for anyone to get close. Boyd was


    much the same. Even when girls from his ss tried chatting him up, he''d leave them hanging


    without a second thought.


    Over time, they had be two distinct fixtures in the ssroomndscape, much like in their


    childhood. Except now, they no longer spent hours trying to read each other''s minds.


    Life marched on in an orderly fashion, with the asional novelty, but nothing that stirred the waters


    too much. Their interactions were like parallel lines—never meeting.


    Derek thought Yasmine would show some different colors around Boyd, but the oue was a


    letdown. That woman was as immovable as a mountain.d2


    Two people who had known each other since they were tots, not exchanging a single greeting in


    months—unbelievable.


    The ce where Boyd and Yasmine actually had a proper conversation wasn''t in the school where


    they could easily bump into each other but in the library, a mere four or five stops away from school.


    The library was a legend in P City, unrivaled in its reputation.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Boyd only agreed toe because, well, it was the library. Otherwise, he would''ve stayed put—the


    school library was a fine spot in its own right.


    Disinterested in the ground floor''s leisurely sweets, he went straight upstairs to find a book. After


    picking something at random from the finance section, he was about to settle down when he


    spotted a ss-enclosed corner near the leisure area windows. It was brimming with potted nts,


    basking in sunlight, with a simple set of table and chairs in the center.


    No one was at the table, and it looked like a cozy spot. He pushed open the ss door and stepped


    inside.


    As soon as he entered, he saw a cream-colored plush carpet spread out on the floor by the window,


    with a couple of beanbag chairs. There was someonefortably settled in one of them, their hair


    fallingnguidly over the blue fabric. They were turned away from him, supporting their head with


    their hand on a propped up elbow. Just as he noticed, they were nonchntly flipping a page.


    Sensing an intruder, the person on the beanbag instinctively looked over, hair shifting aside to


    reveal a face that had be all too familiar to him recently.


    Her hair was down, adding a softness that wasn''t there when it was usually pinned up high.


    Yasmine paused when she saw Boyd, her indifferent eyes halting briefly before she looked around


    nonchntly. "You seem to be lost," she said, turning her head back. "Don''t forget to close the door


    on your way out."


    But the door didn''t open or close after that.


    Yasmine sighed, ced a bookmark in her book, and closed it, flipping over on the beanbag to look


    at Boyd, who had made his way to the center of the ss room. "What do you want?"


    Boyd eyed hernguid form. "Are you nning to ignore me indefinitely?"


    Yasmine raised an eyebrow, taking a sip from her milkshake beside her.


    "It''s not like I have much to say to you."


    "You don''t have anything to say to me?"


    She gave him a once-over and smiled. She stood up from the beanbag and sweeped her hair back


    from her forehead, only to let it fall back, partially covering it again. Her eyes had a mocking glint.


    Boyd pressed his lips together, knowing this was the reaction he''d get from Yasmine.


    "Yeah, nothing, na-da."


    He watched her quietly. "How have you been these years?"


    Yasmine let out a sigh, moving to a pot of vibrant roses, snipping away excess branches with a pair


    of scissors. "Good. Living without a care is less tiring."


    Boyd''s tone lightened. "I thought you''d continue pretending not to know me."


    Yasmine nodded. "I did consider it, but it seemed like it would be a hassle down the line."


    She set down the scissors and misted the petals with a spray bottle. "Talking to strangers, I manage


    a few words. If I treated you as a stranger, I wouldn''t be able to avoid you. So, now that I have the


    chance, I need to make it clear to you that our rtionship might be even worse than that of


    strangers."


    Boyd''s eyes twinkled, "Is it so bad that I can''t even speak a few words to with you?"


    Yasmine turned around, looked at him, and nodded calmly. "Even though I now find it a bit childish


    andughable to still be bothered by something that happened at the age of ten after nine years.


    But, you know, it has been held on for so many years, and suddenly letting go now makes me feel


    that all these years of persistence are somewhat meaningless."


    Not strangers. Worse than strangers. It was exasperating, really.


    "What am I supposed to do?"


    Boyd couldn''t read Yasmine. Once she set her mind on something, there was no turning back, no


    room forpromise. He was at a loss.


    "I don''t want to be a stranger to you, nor do I want a rtionship worse than that."


    Yasmine looked at him, her brows knitting together. "So, what now?"


    Boyd spoke earnestly, "I''m sorry for the past. I apologize. But you could at least leave me some


    room to..."


    He approached her, their heights seemingly on the same scale as when they were kids. He lowered


    his gaze to hers. "Everyone makes mistakes, so they all deserve to be forgiven—at least once.


    That''s only fair."


    Yasmine was silent for a moment, then chuckled. "Don''t you think those words are shameless?"


    His expression remained even. "I have no other choice."


    "What if I disagree?"


    "Isn''t the reason you''re being honest with me today because you''re afraid of an endless tangle


    between us?"


    After a long silence, Yasmine muttered, "I never thought that in nine years, you''d turn into someone


    so shameless."


    Boyd cracked a smile. "You haven''t changed."


    Yasmine snorted. "Who knows?"


    "Derek?" There was a pause before Boyd suddenly spoke up.


    Yasmine bent to pick up the book from the beanbag. "What about him?"


    "As Bryson''s son, it''s strange I''ve never seen him around you. As far as I know, Bryson has always


    been the one looking after you."


    Yasmine paused for a moment before speaking, "Can''t you get your investigation done in one go?"


    "You''re living together now?"


    "Uh-huh."


    "He''s been by your side all these years?"


    "What are you getting at?"


    Boyd watched her for a while and finally shook his head, "Just curious about how your life has been


    these past few years."


    "It''s been good."


    With a curt reply, Yasmine closed her book, her tranquility disrupted, her mood soured. She reached


    for her milkshake, but there wasn''t much left, and it was lukewarm at best. Still holding her book and


    the remainder of her milkshake, she walked out.


    Boyd followed her, "Let me buy you that milkshake."


    Yasmine didn''t respond.


    Given Boyd''s recently dered determination to be persistent, she felt that any word from her would


    be a waste of breath.


    They reached the ground floor, where Yasmine suddenly switched to coffee.


    Boyd looked at her, "I''ve been seeing you with milkshake a lot recently."


    "I''ve had too much sugar today," Yasmine sighed, as if resigned, "Can''t afford to put on weight."


    Thest four words caught Boyd by surprise. So she cared about the same things that troubled all


    girls.


    They took a number to find a seat, but were met by a puzzled voice.


    "Boyd?"


    Yasmine looked over to see a girl standing up from the next table, with long hair, smooth skin, and a


    slender figure that screamed innocence and charm. At that moment, those clear, inquisitive eyes


    were fixed on her, filled with curiosity and uncertainty.


    Boyd nced at Yasmine, feeling an inexplicable knot in his stomach, but still said, "This is Serana."


    Yasmine''s expression remained steady as she nodded in acknowledgment, "Well, I remember."


    The features and aura of Yasmine made Serana’s eyes widen. "Yas..mine?"


    "Yasmine."


    She cut Serana off, feeling that the way Serana said her name was just too awkward for her taste.


    Serana was actually quite nice. There was no reason to think of her in such a negative light.


    Serana was even more startled. "How is this possible..."


    Yasmine''s patience seemed to be wearing thin; as usual, it was inevitable that she''d run into a pair.


    Without looking for another seat, she sat directly across from Serana.


    Several cakes wereid out on the table.


    Serana nced at Boyd, and they both took a seat, her hesitation evident. She didn''t know what to


    say to Yasmine. "I never expected. I thought you..."


    Serana''s words stopped halfway, and Yasmine, with a slight smirk, continued, "Dead?"


    Serana bit her lip hard. "I really owe you. If it weren''t for you, I fear..."


    "Is the cake good?" Yasmine genuinely didn''t have the patience to listen to Serana talk about the


    past.


    There wasn''t a single thing that made her feel even slightly better. Moreover, over the years, she


    had regretted countless times how foolish she had been to risk her life for someone else.


    Not knowing how to respond to Yasmine''s question, Serana, who had been hesitant from the start,


    could only nod. "It''s really nice to see you today. I''m so relieved you''re okay."


    Yasmine pulled a slice of cake towards her, tasting it casually. "You really should thank me. If it


    weren''t for me, you might not have had the chance to enjoy such delicious cake."


    Taking another bite, Yasmine continued with a smile, "Actually, you don''t have to act so grateful just


    because you saw me alive and well today. Think about it, if you hadn''t met me today, I''d still be the


    dead person in your mind, and this cake would still taste just as good."


    Whether she was alive or dead, it really didn''t matter to them, did it?


    As she pushed the cake towards Serana, her smile was harmless. "Eat up, no need to feel guilty or


    ashamed. Over the years, I''ve regretted countless times. I must have been struck by lightning to


    have done something as stupid as risking my life for someone else."


    Serana really didn''t know how to deal with Yasmine. She couldn''t say a word.


    "You sure have a knack for stirring the pot," Boyd finally spoke up after being silent.


    Yasmine turned to him, "Hmm?"


    "You''re not like that at all. Is it so hard to admit you''re a good person? Why do you always say


    things that are easily misunderstood?"


    Yasmine raised an eyebrow, "I certainly don''t consider heartlessness and being cunning as


    compliments."


    Boyd pursed his lips, "It was all a misunderstanding back then."


    "I’m not about being a good person, and please don''t think of me that way. Being a good person is


    exhausting. Make one mistake and your character is torn down, scorned by thousands. A bad


    person does one good deed and it''s hailed as a miraculous turnaround. Please, don''t cast me in the


    role of the good person. I really can''t bear it."