Chapter 2

When the ambulance arrived, I followed Mom into the vehicle.

At the hospital, Briar also received the call and rushed over.

Fortunately, everything turned out to be okay.

I floated aimlessly in the hallway.

At the end of the corridor were two familiar figures.

Caleb looked up, and our eyes met.

I instinctively wanted to rush back to the hospital room.

But then I remembered I was a spirit now; he couldn't see me.

I drifted closer.

I clearly heard Caleb's mother's voice.

"You still haven't forgotten Hazel, have you? Why don't you try to find her and bring her back?"

My nails dug into my palms. If it hadn't been for that specific year, Caleb's mom wouldn't have actually opposed us being together.

Caleb heard her and spoke indifferently, "She dumped me back then. She didn't love me. Why would I want her back?"

My lips pressed together, a lump in my throat. I desperately wanted to say that wasn't how it was.

I pinned my hopes on Caleb's mom, wishing she would reveal the truth.

Caleb's mom looked at him with concern. "You're just being stubborn. If you'd truly moved on, you wouldn't have rushed to the hospital so quickly." She sighed. "Ah, maybe you two were never meant to be. Otherwise, why would your apartment have caught fire the night you left for abroad? It must be fate!"

My heart felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over it. Was this truly fate?

Caleb impatiently stood up. "Stop talking about her. She's a heartless person. She wouldn't even show up if her own mother collapsed."

I knelt on the floor, looking up at Caleb's retreating back, feeling a surge of unprecedented injustice.

4

Caleb and I met in college.

From sophomore to senior year, we dated for almost three years.

Everyone said Caleb was lucky, that with his good looks, he'd snagged a rich girl from the Cloud family.

The year we graduated, my dad passed away.

Our family fortunes plummeted.

Mom suffered a sudden illness and was hospitalized due to the immense stress.

We were deep in debt.

It was also around this time that Caleb received an acceptance letter from a university abroad.

He wanted to stay for me, to work and help our family pay off our debts.

He said, "Hazel, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side."

"You don't have to worry about these debts; I'll figure something out."

Hearing those words, I couldn't help but be deeply moved.

When everyone thought the internet market was saturated, he found a new path and innovative ways to play.

He was pulling all-nighters constantly back then.

When he handed me the first significant money he'd earned, he grinned like a kid who'd just won the grand prize.

Everyone in our circle whispered that I'd hit the jackpot, landing a guy as incredible as Caleb.

Even my best friend was a little jealous, lamenting how great it would be if Caleb were her boyfriend.

Rain poured outside as I took the bank card from Caleb's hand.

Right in front of him, I threw it on the ground and stomped on it fiercely twice.

I didn't pause, afraid my emotions would crumble.

Caleb's eyes widened in pure shock. Even if he was confused or angry, he didn't let it show.

He just quietly picked up the card from my feet, carefully wiped it clean, and stubbornly placed it back in my hand.

"Hazel, I know this isn't enough yet, but please take it. We'll pay off all the debts in less than three years."

My lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

I fought hard to maintain control.

I flung the card at Caleb. It grazed his face, leaving a red mark on his cheek.

I ignored the disappointment in his eyes, looking down at him.

"Caleb! Don't you get it? I don't need your card! And I can't wait three years for you!"

"I've been pampered my whole life; I'm used to the good life. I don't want to shoulder these debts for even one day!"

"I've already found a new option."

I spoke vaguely, wanting to leave myself a way out for the future.

Caleb picked up the card again, but this time he didn't hand it to me.

He lowered his head. "Is it Mr. Thompson?"

Hearing Mr. Thompson's name, my mind went blank for a moment.

Then I realized it must have been my best friend who told him.

Because she had seen Mr. Thompson and me leaving a hotel.

She wanted to use that to make Caleb leave me.

I stayed silent.

When he didn't get an answer, Caleb's jaw tightened. "Hazel! Do you even know what you're doing? That man is old enough to be your dad!"

"Snap!" A slap landed on his face.

It instantly turned red, merging with the earlier mark.

"Caleb, my business is none of yours! Mr. Thompson can pay off all our family's debts right now. Can you?"

"I was just playing around with you. I never liked a poor kid like you anyway."

With those words, we were completely over.

He packed his bags and left the country.

I thought we would eventually meet again, and then I would explain the misunderstanding.

But before I died, looking at the plane in the sky, I knew we were destined to be separated by life and death.

I could never explain it to him now.

5

I floated back to the hospital room; Mom had already woken up.

Briar held her hand, cautioning, "Mom, don't walk so far alone anymore."

"And don't... don't look for Caleb either..."

Mom slowly nodded. "I know. Hazel must be sad because of the breakup, so she's staying abroad and doesn't want to come back."

"I'm a little hungry. Could you get me something to eat?"

Briar stood up, turned, and left the room.

Mom stared at the empty air in the room, her clouded eyes filled with tears.

"Hazel... I thought I heard your voice..."

My tears flowed uncontrollably.

Mom's consciousness returned, and she gave a self-deprecating laugh. "But my Hazel is still abroad. How could I hear your voice? Mom must just be missing you too much, having hallucinations."

But I felt it was enough, even if Mom thought it was a hallucination.

At the same time, my soul seemed to fade a little.

I couldn't foresee my death, but now, I could feel my time floating in this world entering a countdown.

After bringing Mom her meal, Briar left again in a hurry.

I knew she had to go home to prepare things for her street food stall at the night market.

The former Miss Cloud, now busy like a spinning top just to make ends meet.

And I, a mere observer, could do nothing but feel guilt.

After confirming Mom was perfectly fine, I followed Briar, watching her prepare the ingredients for her crepes.

I remembered her boasting at my tombstone after learning how to make them.

"Hazel, look, this is just like the crepes from your favorite shop by the university."

"Every time we passed it, you'd clamor for one, always with extra ham."

"I specially learned from their owner, and it tastes exactly the same."

"You'll have a treat now; I'll bring them to you often."

When she first started her stall, she was very clumsy.

Now, she had many repeat customers and several customer groups.

I watched the passing crowds, seeing the long line at Briar's stall, and felt a profound sense of peace.

A young boy looked up. "Big sister, I want a hundred crepes."

Briar looked at him helplessly. "Little one, go tell Leo I'm not making him a hundred crepes."

I smiled.

Leo and Briar were childhood sweethearts.

If our family hadn't suffered misfortune, they would have been engaged that year.

Leo's mom didn't approve of Briar, and Briar, with her fierce independence, found herself in a deadlock with Leo.

Leo tried every way possible to help Briar, but she refused all his attempts.

He just kept waiting for her.

Sometimes I would float to Leo's house, wanting to see if he was a good man.

After staying for a while, I found that Leo was building his own business, intending to break free from his family's control.

He politely turned down advances from women at business dinners.

Almost every day, he would make time to watch Briar work from a distance.

That's when I learned that true, unwavering love really exists.

Maybe I once had it too, but I lost it.

6

Briar was ready to close up around one in the morning.

I squatted on the ground, counting how much ham was left in Briar's box.

My mouth watered, but I couldn't taste it.

"I heard this place tastes exactly like the crepe stall by the university."