Sophie Carter received a call from Brian Foster. At that moment, she walked to the entrance of the bar—her figure was voluptuous, her face delicate and beautiful, her skin smooth and tender. Adam Bolton couldn’t help but glance at her a couple more times, thinking that if Brian Foster didn’t get emotionally involved, he’d really be able to enjoy himself. Sophie Carter was Brian Foster’s paid one-night stand, and Adam Bolton’s gaze lingered on Sophie Carter for a moment before drifting to the seemingly pure girl standing behind her. After three months with his ex-girlfriend, Adam Bolton was physically and mentally exhausted, and had only recently succeeded in breaking up. Brian Foster and Sophie Carter were determined to drag Adam Bolton back into the sea of suffering, constantly introducing him to girls who looked innocent.

Tonight’s seemingly pure girl was named Emily Bolton. She had long legs, a slender waist, and stood gracefully. She had the long neck that Adam Bolton liked, wore a chiffon blouse with pleated, wide lapels, making it impossible to tell her bust size. Her eyes were long and alluring, somewhat resembling Emily Harris, and even her name was the same, which made Adam Bolton feel a bit moved. Her skin was fair and delicate. Although she was dressed like a white-collar worker, Adam Bolton didn’t buy it, because Sophie Carter often pretended to be a white-collar worker too, and did it so convincingly. She even spoke English as well as Adam Bolton.

While drinking, Sophie Carter started exposing Adam Bolton’s past, counting on her fingers the girls Adam Bolton had dumped since she met Brian Foster. Brian Foster, meanwhile, swore to Adam Bolton that Emily Bolton was a proud and proper beauty, while also mocking that Adam Bolton would definitely trip up in front of Emily Bolton.

Sophie Carter kept recounting Adam Bolton’s romantic exploits. Adam Bolton grabbed Brian Foster by the neck and pulled him under the table: “You two shameless partners in crime, the game hasn’t even started and you’re already undermining me—how am I supposed to play?”

“That’s what makes it impressive if you can still win her over. So, do you have the guts?” Brian Foster spread his hands. “Five visits to 盛世年华, want to bet?”

“Come on, that’s nothing, not even a challenge. I could slap her and she’d fall for me uncontrollably.”

“If you really dare, I’ll pay for your five visits to 盛世 before the end of the year.” Brian Foster looked at him with disdain, clearly not believing it. Adam Bolton didn’t argue, and the two of them returned to the table to keep drinking. Sophie Carter suggested playing Truth or Dare. Adam Bolton shook his head and refused. Brian Foster laughed and said Adam Bolton was afraid to speak his mind. Emily Bolton, that little flirt, just smiled without saying a word—she really was a bit tempting.

Adam Bolton took a sip of his drink, put on a serious face, and said, “Let’s not play Truth or Dare. I’ll tell you a rather tragic story.” He paused, waiting for Brian Foster to sit up straight. “There was once a girl and a boy who grew up together, went to kindergarten together, then elementary school, then middle school, high school, and even college together. They were almost never out of each other’s sight. The boy was very passive emotionally. Even though they were together, he always carefully hid his feelings, let alone confessing them openly. Looking back now, the boy was kind of an idiot, but thinking about our youth, we really were that naive about feelings. The girl liked the boy too. Even though he was always by her side, she wished he would just express his feelings directly. She kept waiting, through high school, and then four years of college were the same…” At this point, Adam Bolton stopped, squinted his eyes, and looked into Emily Bolton’s bright eyes, smiled, and continued, “During those four years of college, the girl became more and more dazzling, while the boy seemed more and more ordinary. Maybe because of that, the boy became less and less courageous to confess. Even if he knew the girl’s feelings, he had all sorts of worries. Brian Foster knows what I mean—you guys can ask him about it…”

Brian Foster gave Adam Bolton a shove: “Tell your own story, what’s it got to do with me…”

“Hurry up, hurry up…” Sophie Carter urged from the side.

With a faint smile, Adam Bolton said, “During that time, the girl turned down many admirers, until one man appeared. A very persistent, very patient man. Actually, the girl was a bit disappointed in the boy, and couldn’t resist the man’s passionate pursuit. The man was excellent too, almost as excellent as me…”

“Where do you get the nerve?” Sophie Carter interrupted. “Alright, we get it, the guy’s trash, let’s skip this part…”

“Skip it?” Adam Bolton chuckled. “The girl became the man’s girlfriend. At this point, the boy finally realized the pain of losing her. When the girl was about to leave the city with the man and return to his hometown, the boy confessed to her. The girl came back to the boy, and in the end, they got married and had kids…”

“How is that tragic? Isn’t that a happy ending?” Emily Bolton asked, tilting her head, her black-and-white eyes wide.

“For the man, isn’t it tragic?” Adam Bolton took a sip, letting the alcohol slide down his throat. “That man truly loved the girl, but his sorrow is something no one else can understand, because he was just a supporting character in this story.”

The three of them were momentarily stunned. Brian Foster was the first to snap out of it and burst out laughing: “If you could squeeze out a couple of tears, that would be even better.”