The group sat around the round table. The dishes were aromatic and looked exquisite. Every dish was placed in delicate porcelain, looking incredibly extravagant.

Seth could care less if the food was drugged. He impatiently helped himself with the dishes.

Linda teased him. "Not scared of the restaurant pulling your bank password out of you now?"

"They can do as they please!" Seth answered with food in his mouth. "It's not like I have much in my account. Probably can't even afford this meal! I won't be making a loss!" "Oh, Dr. Stafford's a wise consumer!"

"You're not bad either!" Seth chuckled. "You ate more than me!"

Linda almost hit his head with her cutlery.

Cordelia and Marcus grinned at each other lovingly as they watched their friends bicker.

"All the dishes are served." The manager led the servers to serve some fish soup.

"This is a fish only available in the river of Splendor Mountain. Its meat is fresh and sweet, buttery but not overwhelming. It's the best for soups."

The four of them took off the lids.

As expected, an aroma wafted into the room. The fish was braised well with a hint of romance from the adornment of petals.

Cordelia gave the fish eye to Marcus out of habit.

It had always been like that. When her mother was still sober and sane, she would make Cordelia and Carter fish. When it was served, she would give the eyes to her and Carter. Her mother said that fish eyes were good for one's eyes and were the most precious part of a fish.

Of course, the most precious part should be shared with the most precious person.

Cordelia smiled as she looked at Marcus.

Linda smirked in envy. "Aww, someone's doting on her husband like precious fish eyes. What a match made in heaven! Ugh, you make me so jealous!"

"No need to be jealous!" Seth teased her. "You have a fish too! Pick the eyes yourself if you want them!"

"How's that the same as them being given by someone else?"

Cordelia blushed and ducked her head.

Marcus smiled, having never felt as triumphant in his life.

Seth gave Linda the fish eyes in his bowl before they started eating.

"You-"

"There." He looked at her gently. "Now you have them too."

Linda stayed silent with her head lowered, but a smile bloomed from the corner of her lips.

Cordelia booked three rooms. She had thought that she would rest in the room with Marcus after dinner, but Linda tugged her, looking a little awkward.

Cordelia thought about it. Linda and Seth were not official yet, so maybe they did not feel comfortable spending time alone. Even if they got along well, what if they impulsively entered the same room? It would be too fast.

The corner of Cordelia's lips twitched. She asked Marcus to go ahead while she stayed back to chat with Linda. Hence, she accompanied the latter into her room.

It was only then Linda heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.

"Do you have to be so nervous?" Cordelia teased her. "Dr. Stafford's a gentleman. He'd never take advantage of you!"

"What are you talking about?" Linda giggled. "I just didn't want to come back to my room alone and asked you to keep me company. But to avoid Marcus resenting me, I'd better let you back early!"

"I'm not going back tonight." Cordelia changed into her pajamas and hopped into the bed pulling the sheets away. "Let's have a sleepover like we did in college, okay?"

"No way, Mrs. Grist! What should I do if your husband comes knocking for you?"

Cordelia giggled heartily while Linda was only saying so for the sake of it as she snuck into the bed as well.

It was as if both girls had gone back to their carefree school days. Back then, they shared the same dorm. Not only did they have endless classes, but they also had endless things to talk about. They shared a bunk bed. Sometimes when they came back together after a night revision, Cordelia would also occupy Linda's bed when she did not want to climb up the stairs.

When girls were together and were not talking about boys, they would be comparing their figures... just like now-Linda "ambushed" Cordelia when the latter turned around.

Cordelia screamed and curled herself up before she smacked the hand that groped her, causing Linda to cackle.

Both of them messed with each other, and it only ended when Cordelia mercilessly pinned Linda into begging for mercy.

Cordelia let her go and pillowed her head above her arms. She looked at the ceiling with a bright smile.

Cordelia chuckled, "Linda, are you really not planning to accept Seth?"

Linda's smile froze. She seemed carefree but was timider than anyone else when it really came to romantic relationships.

Even without the light on in the room, Cordelia could feel the change in Linda's emotions.

"I think Seth's alright. And I can see that he really likes you."

After a while, Linda's voice came from the dark weakly. "Cordelia, let's not talk about him, okay?"

"I don't understand." Cordelia turned around and propped herself up to look at Linda. "You both match each other in every aspect! Seth's seriously courting you too. Why aren't you giving him a chance?" "I... I don't think I'm a good match for him."

"You'll only know if you give it a try, right?"

"No need to try it out. There's no way!"

Linda's tone was anxious, as if she was troubled.

There was a long pause before Cordelia asked softly, "Linda, is there... something I don't know about?"

Silence followed her question. She chuckled and lay back down. "It's okay. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Heh, it's getting late. We should sleep!"

"Cordelia..."

"Hmm?"

Linda bit her lips and said with much difficulty, "I... had someone memorable in the past."

Cordelia paused. It felt like something was stuck in her throat as she wanted to say something but could not.

"That person's like a childhood friend," Linda said slowly. "We grew up together. He lived just next door. Like all the other boys, he liked bullying me since we were young, and I hated him at first... But the more things were like that, the closer we grew. When we were 18, we..."

"What happened?"

"We separated and never met again."

Cordelia did not expect an ending like this. She wanted to ask why. Why had they separated, and why had they never met again? However, she heard Linda's suppressed sobs in the dark.

With the moonlight that spilled in, she saw Linda's jerking shoulders. Cordelia was shocked. From the first day she knew Linda, she had never seen the latter cry like this.

The reason they separated... Was it life and death?

"Linda..." Cordelia rested a hand on Linda's shoulder, wanting to console her.

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