"Even if the world is against me, I like you so much that we can't be separated. I only believe in can't truth, no taboos, invincible to all; I like you..."

A cheerful ringtone broke the tranquillity of the early morning.

Lacey, still sleepy, lazily reached out from the warm cocoon of her blanket, her arm as delicate as jade, and found her phone.

"Hello! Who is it?" she asked, eyes "ill closed, her face "ice heavy with sleep.

"Lazy pig! Are you still sleeping? I'm coming"over to spank you!" came a girl's crisp scolding from t" the phone. g"rl'sl?" Lacey instantly became more "let. "It's about time you visited me, it's"It's so long. If you don't come, you won't see me."

"Stop talking, won't! Get up, I'm"on" my way," Carol said and hung up. "She's still" so hasty, working overtime. "Her day hasn't mellowed her at all," Lacey said, looking "at the disconnected screen.

"Lacey, I'm off to the office. Breakf"st is oI'mhe table, come down quickly, or it'll get cold," Rick shouted from doit'llirs.

"I he"r you! I'm coming down. Oh, Ric", Carol is..I. "Before she could finish, the sound "of a car leaving the villa was heard.

Sighing, Lacey thought, 'You two just aren't fated to meet ye'.'

At the villa complex entrance, Rick's Mercedes-Benz van turned northRick'sas Carol's blue bicycle approached from Carol'sth. Like a scene from a movie, they unknowingly brush past each other.

Ding-dong! Carol rang the Luo family's doorbell.

The door opened, and the family's voice floated out before Lacey was seen. "Carol, did you see my brother?"

Caro", surprised, replied as Lacey "hurried over, "No, I didn't see him."

"You didn't r"n intoning" Lacey lo"k"d didn't clear eyes a" sighed again. "He just left, and you arrived. You didn't see each other. Never mind, it hasn't arrived yet!"

"Stop jinxing it!" Carol laughed and" "inched Lacey's c"eek.

Inside, Carol handed LLacey'sbag, "Here, a gift for you."

Lacey, thrilled, "d, checked the brand, "then looked concerned, "This is too expensive! You've only been working for a few. You've"

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Knowing you're getting married, I "a" to give you're dowry," Carol said with a tender smile, like" a sister-in-law to a younger sister.

"What's that?" Lacey, observant, noti"What'sething" grey and black in Carol's bag.

Carol quickly covered heCarol'shiding it behind her. "This isn't for you; you can't see it."

"Huisn't? Then I know what it is!" La"e" turned to sit at the dining table. "It's a gift for a lover!"

Carol blues, "It's and sits beside her. "hurry up and eat. Without energy, ho" Will you handle Jax's love bombardment?"

Now, it was Lacey's turn to blush.

A" They had brLacey's, and they shared intimate girl talk. Carol asked about everything, and Lacey didn't hold back, sharing all. They didn't and laughed, full of joy.

After blessing her best friend, Carol prepared to leave, taking the grey and black items from her bag and handing them to Lacey.

"As you said, it's a gift for Rick. I"knitted a pair of scissors for him. I noticed he often rubs his neck; maybe he has cervical issues. This can keep him warm." Carol felt a bit down for not seeing" Rick.

"You're so thoughtful! I'll make sure"You're your love. May I be so happy he'll go find you!" he stroked the scarf, planning to get Rick to visit Carol with flowers.

"Rick, let's buy something before going to tlet'stel. We can't let Jax's parents leave empty-hcan't." RiJax instructed his driver, Xiao Zh" ng, en route to the hotel.

"Okay." The Mercedes-Benz van headed "to the"nearest department store.

As they neared the store, the van crawled forward like an old cow.

Impatient, Rick asked Xiao Zhong to park, and he walked to the store.

"What's happening up ahead?" asked a driver. "What's a sanitation worker," looking annoyed.

"A cyclist was hit by a car. She's lying on the ground, unconsciouSheIt's been grave," the worker explained. "it's a bit, "the police are directing"traffic."

Having left the car early, Rick was" relieved he wouldn't be delayed in buying gifts wouJax's parents?

Passing the crowd, he Jax'sed at the girl on the ground. Her clothes were torn, but there was no blood. He couldn't see her face as it was turned, so he moved on.

A few steps further, he recognized the twisted bicycle as similar to Carol's. Could it be her? Fearful, heCarol's back.

Pushing through the crowd, Rick knelt beside the girl and gently moved her hair to see her face.

It was Carol.

He checked her over; aside from some abrasions on her palms, she seemed okay. Sitting on the ground, he cradled her, calling her name softly.

A middle-aged woman approached timidly. "Sir, are you her relative?"

He turned" to her with angry eyes, making her step back.

"Did you hit her?" he asked sharply.

"Yes," she said, "rarely uttering a wo"d.

"did you call an ambulance?" he asked"

"It's on the way," she said", a friendly reply. "It's Rick turned "back to Carol, ignoring the woman.

Soon, an ambulance arrived, and the paramedics took Carol to the hospital, with Rick following.

He called Xiao Zhong, "There's an emergency, I can't go to "There'sl. Buy something can tick up Lacey; she'll represent me in sending off Jax's'llrents."

He then called Lacey; J"x'sol was hi" by a car. Xiao Zhong "'ll pick you up to send off Jax's parents. Don't tell Carol's graJax'sher about Don'tccidenCa"owl's ambulance rushed to the People's Hospital, Rick's heart finalPeople'sing as theyRick'sed to get Carol the help she needed.