Tenant's Secret Love

Chapter 34: Clean place

My expression began to become unnatural. Renee, who was sitting across from me, noticed that something was wrong with me. She looked at me and then looked back, and her gaze met Brittany's.

Renee was a bit cold-hearted, and Brittany was born proud. When they met like this, they didn't even greet each other, but Robert waved at me and said, "Lucas, taking your girlfriend out to dinner?"

"Well, it's just as well that you're here together. Let's share a table." Although I didn't want to meet, I still politely invited them. This kind of politeness made me feel very awkward, but I had to do it.

Brittany took Robert's arm and shook her head, saying, "No, let's sit over there, so we don't have to squeeze."

Robert followed orders, smiled at me, then took Brittany's arm and walked towards the other side of the table. Looking at their backs, I believed that after this unexpected encounter, Brittany and Robert should absolutely believe that Renee and I are a couple, because Renee and I were on a date today, enjoying a dinner just for the two of us.

...

This was probably the first time Brittany had dined at "Empty City" in the few days since she had returned to the States, so CC was very surprised to see Brittany and also gave Brittany and Robert a draft beer and a Coke, but did not mention the past, because at the moment Brittany and I already had new lovers in her eyes, and talking about the past was tactless and would ruin the mood.

During the meal, Robert and I exchanged a few words across several tables. I asked Robert why he and Brittany were still in Suzhou. Robert said, "Suzhou is where we went to university, but we've rarely visited over the years. So while he and Brittany have some time, they're going to spend a few more days here, but in a few days Brittany is going to follow him to Nanjing."

Robert's answer stimulated my fragile nerves. I of course knew that Brittany was going to Nanjing to meet Robert's family. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before I really received their wedding invitation, and once again I would be torn to pieces.

...

During the meal, I kept fidgeting, but I never looked over at Brittany, and I didn't drink much. I repeatedly told myself: Our past has long been washed away by the flow of time, and no matter how much I don't want to let go, no matter how much I torment myself, it won't change anything.

I knew deep down that ever since Brittany had put on the crystal and diamond necklace Robert had given her, I had been living in a world of my own, building the strongest wall I could to keep myself locked up, not to see, not to think, not to feel...

I didn't know when Robert and Brittany had finished eating before us and simply said hello before leaving. I kept watching them walk into the small alley, but I could no longer see the scenery at the corner where I could buy roasted sweet potatoes on winter evenings.

It was a bit cold that night.

Renee waved her hand in front of my eyes to wake me up from my daze. I then realized that this was a dinner that originally belonged to Renee and me alone. I smiled apologetically and raised my glass to Renee. I gulped down the remaining draft beer in the glass, but I was still very sober.

The dinner continued. It wasn't that Renee and I were eating slowly, it was just that Brittany and Robert left in a hurry. I ordered another glass of draft beer, not because I wanted to get drunk, but because I wanted to sober up a little with the cold liquid.

Half an hour later, Renee and I finished the dinner. After saying goodbye to CC, we left.

"Lucas, you haven't paid the bill yet, have you?" Renee said, pulling me.