Chapter 10
508words
Not only had I kissed him first, but I'd also thrown a drunken tantrum in front of my brother, complaining that he never took me seriously as his sister.
My brother was about to scold me for causing trouble again when Ethan Shaw gripped my hand and earnestly told him:
"Pearl is always smiling, but she's actually very sensitive inside. When she gets unusually quiet, it means she's been bottling up her feelings for a long time."
"She says you don't care enough, but deep down she knows you care about her more than anyone."
"Cut her some slack just this once, Mr. Feng."
Ethan Shaw didn't sound like he was acting at all.
But I had no reason to believe he wasn't acting.
Surprisingly, my brother didn't argue with him, but instead allowed him to carry me back to the room.
Coming to my senses, I looked around.
If Lily Smith was really jealous, she should have shown it last night.
I rushed out of the room and saw Lily helping Ethan put on my brother's shirt.
"No!" I rushed forward to stop them.
Ethan looked confused: "You won't even let me get dressed?"
I snatched the shirt from Lily's hands and hurriedly put it on Ethan:
"You're a grown man, can't you dress yourself?"
"Haven't you noticed this shirt is too small?"
Ethan was indeed about two sizes larger than my brother, but I couldn't worry about that now, and hastily buttoned up two buttons for him.
Lily appeared calm on the surface, but her eyes betrayed her.
She lowered her voice and said to me: "You know that Ethan dear and I have known each other for a long time, right?"
"So what if you know each other? Don't you already have my brother?"
She lowered her head and smiled that gentle smile of hers:
"Pearl, why do you still act like such a child?"
I hate that line more than anything.
For four years, she's been saying this to me every few days.
We're the same age, yet she always takes the high ground, looking down at me with that mature, condescending attitude.
Ethan Shaw suddenly put his arm around my waist and said casually: "I happen to like Pearl being innocent and cute like this."
The corner of Lily Smith's mouth twitched slightly. After staring at Ethan Shaw for a long moment, she finally left without a word.
Seeing her walk away, Ethan dropped his hand.
I felt inexplicably downcast, with a strange hollow feeling.
Even the fact that he'd defended me last night couldn't lift my spirits now.
As if reading my complicated feelings, he lowered his head and said softly:
"Shouldn't you be complimenting me on my Oscar-worthy performance?"
I looked up into his eyes:
"So you're thrilled, aren't you? Lily Smith is really jealous."
Ethan Shaw ruffled my hair and smiled ruefully:
"Silly Pearl, Lily Smith isn't as simple as you think."
