After work, I made a few more deliveries, earning thirty yuan before finally calling it a day. By the time I returned to the modest rented room, it was nearly 11 o'clock. Exhausted, I hurriedly took a shower, preparing to collapse into bed. Just then, my phone rang.

"Who would be calling at this hour?" I muttered to myself, glancing at the screen. It was Sophie Summers.

Sophie Summers, my current employer, was always serious about work matters. I felt a sense of unease, unsure of what urgent issue could possibly require her attention at such a late hour. I answered the call,"Sophie, is something wrong?"

On the other end of the line, Sophie Summers' voice was filled with fury."Ryan, have you nothing better to do?"

I was taken aback, confused."What did I do?"

"What did you do? Don't you know what you've done?" Sophie's voice grew louder, practically roaring with anger.

I was completely lost."You're going to have to tell me. How am I supposed to know what I've done?"

"What nonsense did you feed Lucas Steele today?" Her tone was accusatory, full of displeasure.

"Ah, that..." I finally realized what she was talking about and explained,"He was asking about you, and I thought it might be good for the two of you to get to know each other better. So, I just said a few nice things about you—praised you to the heavens, made you sound like an angel."

Sophie Summers, clearly even more infuriated, snapped,"Ryan, you're such an idiot! Do I need you to sing my praises?"

"I was just telling the truth..." I said, feeling a bit guilty but also innocent.

"Is that what you call the truth? You idiot, stop dodging the real question! Why did you say he and I are a good match?"

"I was just speaking honestly," I tried to explain gently."Sophie, you're not getting any younger, and look at your peers—they've already started families. It's time to think about your future. I honestly think he's a good guy. Though I might not like him much, he treats you well, and, well, you accepted his proposal, didn't you? I think you should just go ahead and live your life with him."

"You're full of crap! When did I accept his proposal?" Sophie's voice was filled with anger and disbelief.

"We saw it that day in the plaza. Don't be shy now," I said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"All we did was talk in the plaza. I never accepted his proposal!" Sophie's voice carried a mix of frustration and fury."You people have such wild imaginations."

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"Oh... I see," I muttered, embarrassed, scratching my head, my gaze shifting uneasily."Maybe we misunderstood. But Sophie, I really think you two make a good couple. Lucas Steele may be a little awkward, but he's genuinely sincere with you."

Sophie Summers spat bitterly,"Ryan, you idiot! Do you think I need you playing matchmaker? Just because you've got a girlfriend now, you think you're so important? Are you trying to plan my life for me? Do you think that because of you, no one else wants me? Do you think you're blocking my chance at finding someone else?" Her barrage of"do you think"s left me stunned and confused.

I quickly waved my hands, trying to ease the tension."Sophie, that's not what I meant at all. I just thought of us as friends…"

"What friends? Are we truly friends? We are enemies." Her voice was as cold as an ice blade, piercing my heart with its sharpness.

"Yes, yes, we are enemies, but I still wish you well. Though I have no affection for Lucas Steele, what if you do? He's been pursuing you for years, and surely you should make a decision by now." I pressed on, forcing the words out, though my heart pounded with anxiety.

"Ryan, I don't need you offering me advice. My life is my own concern, and I know exactly who I wish to be with. I don't need you standing by, pointing fingers." Her voice was laced with disdain and anger.

"Yes, yes, I'll never offer unsolicited advice again. By the way, I told him that back in college, you were falsely accused of being kept by a rich boyfriend." I added carefully, attempting to salvage the situation.

"Ryan, I didn't realize you were so skilled at painting yourself in a favorable light." She sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Am I painting myself in a favorable light? Have I?" I asked, somewhat helpless, though a wave of unease washed over me.

"Do you think Lucas wouldn't recognize your descriptors? Are you truly the perfect gentleman?" Her eyes glittered with mockery.

"No, I'm not. I'm a terrible, irredeemable man," I said quickly, my survival instincts at their peak, as I hastily admitted my faults.

"I won't settle with you this time, but if there is a next time, I will definitely die with you." She hung up the phone angrily, leaving me alone in a daze.

After the call ended, I exhaled a long breath, though anxiety still churned within me. Sophie Summers' reaction had been far more intense than I had anticipated. Each word she spoke cut through me like a knife. Despite our past conflicts and misunderstandings, I had never imagined she could harbor such hatred for me.

I set the now-hot phone down and noticed a flood of WeChat messages, among which Sophie Summers had sent two—one filled with bomb emojis, the other with knife emojis.

I thought to myself,"I truly meant well, yet somehow, it's all gone wrong." Just then, my phone vibrated once more; it was another message from Celeste Harrington. I opened it to find her expressing her longing for me. When I didn't respond, she continued to send messages, asking what I was doing. I hurriedly replied,"Sweetheart, my family just called, and I've only just finished the conversation."

"Really? Or is that just an excuse?" She quickly retorted, her tone tinged with doubt.

"Really," I explained, hastily.

"Then show me the screenshot." Her request, as direct as ever.

"My phone's malfunctioning; I can't take a screenshot," I fabricated, silently hoping she would believe me.

"Liars! Who would believe that?" Celeste Harrington's response was merciless.

"Really," I insisted again, trying to regain some of her trust.

"If you don't show me the screenshot, we're done." Celeste Harrington's tone grew serious.

"Please, no," I quickly begged.

"Do you not want to show me the screenshot, or do you not want to break up?" She pressed, relentless.

"I don't want either, please," I tried to negotiate.

"Not an option. You must choose one." Her resolve was unwavering.