Reunion with First Love

My ex-boyfriend claimed he had a congenital reproductive issue for my sake. I was touched, but I couldn't help but laugh!

When the introverted stutterer met her over-imaginative ex-boyfriend again...

"I don't..."

"Hmm? I knew you didn't want to talk anymore! Ha-ha, women."

"No..."

"How could it not matter! Am I really that insignificant to you?"

"Don't..."

"Don't want to see me anymore, right? I'm leaving!"

1

Kate Gilbert had imagined countless times what it would be like to meet Alex Ashton again one day.

She would dress up beautifully, wear the prettiest dress, step into a pair of stilettos, and be the proudest princess.

But life had other plans.

On her first day back at work after returning to the country, Kate had no idea what "the morning rush hour" meant. She hit the gas, only to find the road completely jammed.

As she was about to be late, she grew anxious. Spotting a small gap, she boldly turned the wheel, hoping to squeeze through.

But things didn't go as planned. Her old second-hand car broke down completely and she even got into a car accident.

The owner of the SUV, which had been inexplicably rear-ended, got out of his car, cursing and pointing at Kate. "Hey, you! Yes, you! Are you even capable of driving? Are you in a hurry to meet your maker? Get out of the car..."

Kate, naturally shy and terrified of arguments, was completely flustered, her eyes wide with shock.

The man opened her car door and grabbed her arm, pulling her out. Kate stumbled but managed to stand upright.

Knowing she was at fault, Kate shrank back, enduring his harsh words.

Most people on the road at this hour were rushing to work. Half of the road was occupied by them and the honking sounds came one after another all around, which invisibly aggravated the man's anger.

The seemingly vulnerable girl in front of him seemed easy to bully. His insults grew more intense, his dark hand raised, pointing at her pale face. "You better..."

Before he could finish, his hand was stopped. A deep gray suit appeared less than half a meter from Kate, and a heavy voice sounded above her, "Try touching her, I dare you."

Damn!

Kate's face turned pale, her head lowered even further. The embarrassment she felt multiplied, leaving her in disbelief and wishing she could dig a hole to hide in. Yet, a part of her hoped... was it him?

She looked up, the morning sunlight piercing her eyes, making her blink as tears streamed down her cheeks.

In that moment, the man in the suit had swiftly resolved the situation, paying a hefty sum before turning to take Kate's hand.

Kate, always one for beauty, wore little even in winter. Her slender frame was wrapped in a coat, revealing a stretch of leg.

The man frowned, silently leading her to a Maybach parked nearby. "Get in."

"Huh?" Kate took a deep breath, brushing her bangs aside. "No need... I'll take a cab..."

"Get in!" The man leaned down, his gaze falling on her neck, his voice tinged with anger. "I have things to do. If you don't want to delay me, hurry up, okay?"

His presence was overwhelming. Kate pursed her lips and bent down to get in.

"Where to?"

"Nova Tech Building..." Kate whispered timidly, "What about my car..."

"I'll have someone take care of it." The man turned his head, giving her a long look, a fleeting emotion in his eyes, a silent scoff.

The man thought to himself, "Kate, you've finally reappeared..."

Where should this story begin?

At eighteen, Alex was the heartthrob of the campus. Tall, handsome, and intelligent, he was always on the school's honor roll. Everyone who saw him would say, "Alex is our role model."

Many pursued him back then, sending love letters one after another, all to no avail.

Some, unable to win his affection, spread rumors out of spite, claiming Alex was an unwanted orphan living with relatives.

Teenagers were often influenced by rumors. The rumors grew more outrageous, eventually painting Alex as a lonely outcast.

Alex never bothered to explain. He continued doing what he needed to do, undisturbed.

Then, a girl who had just entered senior high school, secretly infatuated with him.

That girl was Kate.

Ha-ha... Alex gripped the steering wheel, mocking himself for being such a fool.

Kate had abandoned him and disappeared without a word, leaving no trace for five years.

What was there left to hold on to?

Half an hour later, Alex stopped in front of a grand building, coldly telling the person beside him, "Get out."

"Oh... thank you." Kate knew she had reached her destination and dared not say more. She quickly opened the door and got out of the car.

She was so deep in thought that work nearly slipped her mind until the luxury car sped away, jolting her back to reality. Kate patted her forehead, exclaiming, "Oh no! I'm running late!"

2

Kate had applied for an assistant position at a film company. The salary wasn't high, but it was enough to get by.

Having spent the past few years abroad for medical treatment, her studies had naturally suffered. Aware of her own limitations, Kate wasn't picky. She was prepared to work hard and earn as much overtime pay as possible.

"Ah..." On this day, Kate was rushing to report to her supervisor, carrying a stack of heavy documents.

As the elevator doors opened, she was so focused on her task that she didn't notice someone was already inside and walked straight into them.

"Ah... watch out!" By the time Kate realized what had happened, the documents in her hands were scattered all over the elevator floor. She crouched down, her knee-length skirt barely covering her hips, and her hair, damp with sweat, curled pitifully at the nape of her neck.

"I'm sorry..." She apologized while reaching out to pick up the papers, her arm brushing against a pair of straight trousers. Embarrassed, she looked up, "Sir, could you please lift your foot?"

Oh... Kate awkwardly rubbed her forehead. Could things get any worse?

Twice in one week, she had the misfortune of running into her ex-boyfriend, and both times she was in such a sorry state.

"Hmm." Alex remained calm, merely glancing at her before kindly crouching down to help pick up the documents and hand them back to Kate.

Kate's face flushed red. In the confined space, their breaths were clearly audible. "Thank you... Um..."

Alex said with a slight smile, standing up gracefully and speaking to the full-length mirror in the elevator, "Your car is fixed. Come by to pick it up when you have time."

The elevator stopped on the seventeenth floor, and Alex stepped out. "It's still the same number. You haven't forgotten it, have you, Kate?"

"Oh..." It took a while for Kate to respond softly. Left alone in the elevator, she felt a sense of emptiness as it quickly reached the top floor.

During lunch, Kate casually inquired and learned that the seventeenth floor housed the offices of Nova Tech. Its founder, Alex, was a young and promising leader in the AI field.

Kate was lost in thought, mechanically swallowing her rice, silently musing about how accomplished he had become.

It made sense. Alex had always been a prodigy. She remembered how, in high school, he could understand even the most complex formulas at a glance, unlike her, who struggled no matter how hard she tried.

The gap between them had always existed, and it was no wonder that during Alex's college entrance exams, classmates would mockingly predict her fate, "You'll get dumped by the genius sooner or later!"

"Hey, Kate?"

"Huh, what?" Kate snapped back to reality.

Her colleague Bettina Powell teased her, "What are you daydreaming about? Join us for the department dinner tonight!"

"Oh, okay." Kate nodded obediently, a faint dimple having appeared at the corner of her mouth, which caught the attention of a male colleague at the table.

Bettina noticed and nudged Kate playfully, "You are so beautiful, looks like you'll be off the market soon!"

Kate lowered her head, feigning a shy smile, while her hand reached into her bag under the table, grasping a small glass bottle of medicine.

She didn't dare think about dating now.

The time she spent with Alex was enough to savor for a lifetime.

Besides, just being able to see him from a distance and exchange a few words was satisfying enough for her.

3

The city's vibrant nightlife was a playground for the young. In a sleek black gown and with her face elegantly made up, Kate transformed into a part of the lively night scene.

Among those present, everyone was initially a bit reserved, but after a few rounds of drinks, the leader declared that no one should leave sober, and the atmosphere quickly became lively. Groups formed, sharing lighthearted jokes.

As a newcomer, Kate couldn't avoid drinking a few extra glasses. Unfortunately, her tolerance was low, and the strong liquor burned her throat and stomach, making her feel uncomfortable.

Later, when everyone suggested moving to another venue to continue the fun, Kate excused herself to the restroom, taking a moment to catch her breath outside the private room.

The bar was stylish, with soothing music calming restless souls.

In the darkness, someone with a predatory gaze spotted the lost and resting woman.

A man in flashy leopard-print pants sidled up from behind, tugging at Kate's hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he blew smoke in her face. "Hey, lady. You're so pretty, want to hang out with me?"

"Cough, cough, cough..." Kate choked on the smoke, struggling to breathe. She only saw the gold chain around the man's neck glinting ominously, sensing danger, she turned to run towards her colleagues.

The man with the gold chain was relentless, blocking her path and cornering her behind a screen.

"No need to be afraid, sweetheart. Just come have a drink with me."