Oops, My Boyfriend

第14章

In this world, only one thing can compete with the speed of light: gossip.Since the chicken bone incident, women around me started approaching with sly smiles, asking, "Heard you and your boyfriend went to the hospital together?"If a child asked this, I'd take it as genuine concern.But coming from these women, the question seemed to have a more... colorful implication.Who said people lack imagination?I had to repeatedly clarify that we went to remove a bone stuck in my throat, not one stuck somewhere else, much to the amusement of those daring enough to ask.I told Caleb, "You've ruined my reputation. You must marry me now; it's only fair."He smiled and agreed.As for Caleb, his lab work continued to keep him busy.But I was getting used to it.As the romance playbook goes, lovers need to compromise and adapt.On the bright side, I thought, suffering now means later I could lounge around counting—not my money—but my husband's.When boredom struck, I'd head to the activity center.I had a sentimental attachment to that place—it was where my romance blossomed.The ticket booth once manned by the fresh-faced Caleb now housed a fresh-faced young woman.Clearly, the center's management knew the power of beauty as a lure for cash.Sometimes, I'd text friends to kill time, like James.He seemed to be doing well, working at a renowned electronics firm—one of our high school peers who landed a great job.If boredom overwhelmed me, I couldn't resist pestering Caleb.Once, while slurping noodles, I texted him: "I'm currently dining out with a handsome senior. He thinks I'm cute..."His reply was swift: "Oh, just make sure not to eat chicken in front of him. You choking is quite a sight."That ticked me off. Didn't he have any sense of crisis?As the May Day holiday approached, I was thrilled. Seven days of bliss, even doing nothing but sticking by Caleb sounded perfect.But the day before the holiday, as I was about to head to the East Quarter for a shower, I got a call.It was from James."Hey, Audrey, I'm right outside your building."Confused, I replied, "You must be mistaken. Tomorrow's May Day, not April Fools'."He chuckled, "No joke. I'm really here. Come down and see."I nearly dropped my phone rushing to the window on the sixth floor, and sure enough, there was a guy looking up at me.I hurried downstairs.If it were anyone else, I might have quipped about their sudden appearance.But this wasn't just anyone; this was James."Wow, what brings you here?" I asked.He replied with a smile that was clear and devoid of any hidden meanings, unlike Caleb's.He explained that his company had sent a team here on business, and he was part of it.Impressed, I clapped, "So you're traveling with work already? That's impressive!"He shook his head modestly. "Nah, I'm just assisting."Curious, I asked, "Where are you staying?""At the Everfar Hotel, for about a month."I scratched my head, "Hold on, let me change and then we can grab a bite."After changing and grabbing my purse, I led him to try some local campus snacks.Passing the chicken soup restaurant, the owner called out warmly, "Hey girl, is your throat better?"I was in different clothes, and she still recognized me?I nodded and quickly moved on.James was curious, "What happened to your throat?"Would you ever admit to a former crush that you nearly died choking on chicken?I chuckled awkwardly, "Just a bad cold a few days back, my throat hurt."We settled into a Sichuan restaurant and ordered some spicy dishes."So, you're working over the May Day holiday?" I asked.He replied, "The competition is fierce. Everyone's eager to put in extra hours."Noticing his matured demeanor, I commented, "Look at you, all grown-up and professional!"He laughed, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement.Then my phone rang—it was Caleb.He said, "I called your dorm, and your roommate said you were out. Where are you?"I explained, "A high school friend visited. We're out eating right now.""Which restaurant?" Caleb asked."Good Fortune Sichuan Cuisine."There was a pause, then he said, "I haven't eaten either. I'll join you and meet your friend."Before I could decide if it was appropriate, he added, "See you soon," and hung up.James asked, "Your boyfriend?"A bit embarrassed, I nodded, "Yeah, he hasn't had dinner yet. He's coming to join us."James