"Ryan, it's alright. We're heading to the office anyway, so just wait for me there, okay?" Celeste Harrington's response offered me a modicum of solace.

"Alright," I replied, though a wave of melancholy swept over me. Celeste Harrington was so considerate and understanding; I couldn't fathom why Sophie Summers was so relentless in urging her to break up with him, confidently declaring their relationship doomed.

"Have you two settled things?" Sophie Summers asked, her tone laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.

I muttered a brief response and chose to ignore her. After work, as always, she drove off on her own, leaving immediately without a word. I had no idea what errand took her away today, disappearing so abruptly. It felt peculiar. I headed to the bus stop, ready to catch a ride home, when Charlotte Hayes pulled up beside me in her gleaming, brand-new BMW 3 Series. The car shimmered under the sun, its radiance impossible to ignore. Clearly, she was thriving in this company.

"Get in. I'll give you a lift," she offered with a warm smile.

I opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. As I fastened my seatbelt, she suddenly stretched her hands out in front of me, like an eager child showing off a prized possession. Her face was lit with anticipation."Ryan, look! I painted my nails red. Aren't they beautiful? What do you think?"

"They look great," I responded absentmindedly.

Pouting slightly, she teased,"You didn't even look closely before saying that! How insincere!"

I chuckled helplessly and took her hand, examining it carefully. The vivid red polish accentuated the fairness and slenderness of her fingers."They really do look beautiful," I said with genuine appreciation.

Her smile grew triumphant, as though she had achieved some unspoken victory."Ryan, I have two packs of cigarettes in the car. Take them with you later."

I quickly waved her off."No, I can't accept so much from you."

She insisted,"I don't smoke those anyway. Just take them. Besides, I could practically be your older sister, so listen to me, alright?"

Casting her a sidelong glance, I joked,"You? My elder sister?"

Laughing, she started the engine."Of course! I'm a little older than you, aren't I?"

Curious, I asked,"How old are you, exactly?"

Feigning mystery, she replied,"Haven't you heard? It's impolite to ask a lady her age."

"Well, I'm not asking casually," I quipped.

She grinned mischievously."I'm not telling. Guess!"

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Shaking my head in exasperation, I said,"I can't possibly guess."

She blinked playfully."Then just assume I'm 18."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter."Charlotte Hayes, that's utterly outrageous—18?"

Pouting coquettishly, she retorted,"Just call me sis already!"

"Dream on. I won't call you that unless you tell me your age," I countered with a smirk.

Seeing my refusal to yield, she finally relented."Alright, alright. I'm three years older than you."

Surprised, I looked at her."You're only 29?" Yet I couldn't help but wonder—could makeup truly work such wonders in making someone appear so youthful?

She glared at me in mock annoyance."What, did you think I was 40?"

I quickly clarified,"No, no, not at all! With makeup, you ladies can turn 80 into 18. I honestly couldn't tell."

Pleased, she gave a self-satisfied smile."See? And here I was saying I'm 18, but you wouldn't believe me."

Looking ahead at the road, I said,"Stop at the next intersection. I'll get off there."

She nodded gently. "Alright. Ryan, shall we have dinner together tonight?"

I hesitated briefly before shaking my head. "No, not tonight."

Unwilling to let it go, she pressed on. "Then what about tomorrow night?"

After a moment's pause, I finally said, "Tomorrow night, my girlfriend will be here."

She froze for a second, a flicker of astonishment passing through her eyes. "Who's your girlfriend?"

With a composed expression, I replied, "Celeste Harrington, from Vanguard Industries."

Her interest was immediately piqued, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "So you're really together?"

I nodded. "We only started dating recently." Looking ahead at the approaching intersection, I reminded her, "Alright, just stop here."

Completely absorbed in her gossiping, she nearly drove past the destination. Hurriedly stepping on the brake, she brought the car to a steady halt by the roadside. The soft strains of music still played in the background as she turned to me and waved cheerfully. "Goodbye, Ryan."

I waved back with a smile. "Goodbye."

As the car door clicked shut, a cool breeze swept over me, carrying with it the faint chill of an autumn evening. I checked the time and decided to grab a bowl of noodles at the corner shop before heading home. The shop owner greeted me warmly as I walked in, and I ordered their signature beef noodles, choosing a quiet corner to sit.

When the noodles were served, I was casually scrolling through short videos on my phone while eating. Suddenly, my phone rang—it was a call from Elena Carter.

"Ryan, where are you?" Her voice carried a faint trace of urgency.

"I'm on my way home," I replied.

"Ryan, I miss you. Can I come see you?" Her voice was sweet, laced with a playful, coquettish tone.

"No! My girlfriend is arriving tomorrow," I said, a hint of exasperation creeping into my voice.

"Oh, don't be like that. She's coming tomorrow, but I want to see you now," Elena's voice remained as honeyed as ever, but her persistence was unmistakable.

"Elena, don't tell me you don't understand what I mean." I sighed, hoping to make my position clear.

"I understand perfectly, but I still want to see you. It's not like you and she are going to last," she said, her tone suddenly taking on a resolute edge.

"Why would you say that?" I asked, a faint sense of unease rising within me.

"What? Who else said that?" Her voice wavered slightly, betraying a hint of alarm.

"Never mind that. Why do you think we won't work out?" I pressed, suspicion gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.

Word by word, she replied, "Because you're in a long-distance relationship—it won't last. Besides, your parents don't approve of her."

"How do you know my parents don't approve?" I asked, a creeping feeling that I was out of the loop taking hold.

"Because… because—oh, never mind! You just need to know that your parents won't agree, that's all," she said, her voice tinged with impatience.

I set down my chopsticks, my thoughts growing increasingly muddled. Elena Carter's words were like a pebble tossed into a tranquil lake, sending ripples cascading across its once-still surface.