Stella Charlie’s hand paused on the seatbelt, and she asked carefully, "What’s wrong?"
Vincent Warner lowered his head, took a bank card out of his wallet, and handed it to Stella, saying, "Take this and use it first. Don’t wear yourself out like this. Just focus on studying."
"...I’ve planned my ti well. It won’t affect my studies. And besides..."
"I said you’re not allowed to go, so you’re not allowed to go. Don’t make worry too much."
Stella felt a bit uncomfortable inside, but she also knew Vincent was only thinking of her.
She reached out to take the bank card and replied, polite and a little distant, "Thank you."
She didn’t really like this feeling of relying too much on Vincent. She hoped she could work hard to beco excellent, at least be able to stand confidently by his side.
But it seed the gap between them was a bit too big.
It wasn’t sothing that could be changed overnight.
On the way back, both of them were lost in their own thoughts.
Over the next few days, Stella obediently stopped looking for any part-ti jobs.
For so reason, Vincent beca busy again and only ca back once every few days.
Although he texted her every day to check on her, Stella always felt that this way of being together wasn’t what she thought love should be.
She was always worrying and afraid, constantly anxious about losing him.
She felt that if Vincent one day said he didn’t want her anymore, she would have no reason at all to make him stay.
"Why are you spacing out?"
Hearing Kai Jacobs’s voice, Stella finally lifted her head from the book in front of her and saw Kai sitting in the seat across from her.
"There doesn’t seem to be any exams coming up. How co you’re in the library every day?"
Stella gathered up her scattered thoughts, smiled and said, "Nothing much to do, so I ca here to read. It’s quieter here."
Kai teased, "That’s not like you. You’re the type who can’t wait to run off to work whenever you have a bit of free ti."
Stella let out an awkward laugh and said, "I just want to take a break lately."
Kai fell silent for a mont, his expression turning a bit more serious, and asked, "How are things with him... lately?"
Stella pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and said with a sowhat forced smile, "Pretty good."
Kai took a quiet breath and said, "This is your private business, and strictly speaking I shouldn’t interfere, but I still want to tell you—no matter when, you have to put yourself first. While you’re loving soone else, you need to love yourself even more."
Before Stella could respond, Kai changed the subject. "Are you going to be with him tonight?"
Stella shook her head and said, "He hasn’t co back recently."
"Then... it’s my birthday tonight. I’ve asked a few friends out, you know them too. Want to go out with us?"
Stella did feel a bit resistant toward that kind of social activity, but Kai had spent her birthday with her, so she had no reason to refuse.
That night, in the music bar, Stella sat a little stiffly in a corner.
Kai’s friends all knew her. They had even teased them about their relationship before, but it seed Kai had talked to them in private, so they didn’t joke about Stella anymore.
They all treated Stella like a little sister and took good care of her.
"The little sis can just have juice. Let’s all toast Kai."
Stella picked up her glass with everyone else, and as "Happy birthday" left her mouth, her gaze suddenly, without warning, t that of a man not far away.
It was Vincent, whom she hadn’t seen for several days.
What was he doing here?
He looked expressionless, and the people at his table seed to be his friends, both n and won.
After the toast, Stella didn’t dare go over to say hello.
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