"Janelle, I feel so tight in my chest, like I can't catch my breath." What should she do? Was she going to die? Over someone who didn't like her?
"You won't. Really, you won't. You just need to get through this. Later, you'll realize any other man would be better than that scumbag." Janelle kept comforting her.
Sara cried and laughed erratically, a complete mess. Janelle didn't mind. She stayed with her until Sara cried herself out, then brought a warm towel to wash her face. Crying like that, Sara's eyes would surely be swollen tomorrow.
Sure enough, when Sara woke up the next morning and saw herself in the mirror, she wanted to cry again. How could she face anyone like this? She'd planned to go with Janelle to see Senior Brother off at the airport!
Janelle, brushing her teeth beside her, couldn't help but laugh. Seeing Janelle mock her, Sara pinched her waist.
"My best friend looks like this, and you're laughing at me? You have no heart!"
"I'm not! I'm really not laughing at you!" Janelle pleaded. "Alright, you stay home and rest like this. I'll go see Senior Brother off."
"Mmh." She was too embarrassed to go out and scare people. She must have been so embarrassing last night – crying and carrying on.
After Janelle finished her own routine and saw Sara still looking glum, she pinched her adorable, puffy cheek.
"Alright, don't be sad. You still look quite cute like this."
Sara was speechless. She looked like a steamed bun! But in her best friend's eyes, she was always beautiful, no matter how awful she looked.
Janelle had just stepped into the elevator when Erik called.
"I'm downstairs. Come straight down. We'll go see Jiang Chao off together." He wouldn't let her go alone.
Janelle went downstairs and saw Erik waiting. She got into the passenger seat.
"I could have gone by myself."
"Either way, Jiang Chao and I are acquainted. I wanted to see him off too." Really, he just didn't want her alone with Jiang Chao.
Jiang Chao had packed his luggage the night before. Hearing the doorbell, he opened it to find Janelle and Erik outside.
"What are you doing here? That distrustful of me?" Jiang Chao asked, amused. It was clear Erik genuinely liked their junior sister. If he didn't, he wouldn't care this much.
"Aren't you leaving? Came to see you off. Let's grab breakfast first." At this hour, none of them had eaten.
"Let's eat at the hotel. Haoting Hotel's breakfast is quite good. My time's almost up anyway." Jiang Chao had planned to have breakfast with Janelle when she arrived.
"Okay, sure." Janelle had no objections. The three went to the restaurant together. Janelle walked in the middle, Erik and Jiang Chao flanking her. Their presence drew curious glances everywhere they went. Those who recognized Janelle speculated about the strange trio's relationship. Honestly, Janelle was incredibly lucky; the men around her were each more impressive than the last, enviable indeed.
Janelle ignored the stares completely. Haoting Hotel's breakfast was a buffet, featuring both Chinese and Western dishes prepared by top chefs. Erik brought her things he knew she liked; Janelle didn't need to lift a finger. Jiang Chao sat opposite her with his own plate.
"The guy's alright. Though still a notch below me." After these past few days, that was Jiang Chao's verdict.
"..." Janelle didn't comment.
Erik returned with more food for her.
"I can't eat that much." The man always tried to feed her.
"It's fine. Eat as much as you want. I'll finish whatever you can't." Erik placed the extra food near his own plate.
Jiang Chao handed Janelle a glass of milk. She didn't touch it.
"Still don't like milk? You've lost a lot of weight lately," Jiang Chao said, genuinely concerned about her health.
"I'm fine. Don't worry." Erik ended up drinking the milk.
Erik drove to the airport. Janelle sat in the passenger seat, Jiang Chao in the back. During the drive, Jiang Chao voiced his lingering concerns for Janelle, giving her many reminders. When he'd first met her, she was only sixteen. In his eyes, his junior sister was still a kid. Though she'd become formidable, he still worried.
Erik took Janelle's hand. "With me here, no one can bully her."
Janelle pulled her hand away. "Senior Brother, I can protect myself." Whether it was The Hills or The Rovellas, even if they were cornered, she could handle them.
At the airport, Jiang Chao passed through security. Janelle and Erik started walking back. Before they reached the car, Janelle received a text from Jiang Chao:
[Enjoy yourself. Erik's not bad... for dating purposes.]
She was young. Dating a few times wasn't a big deal, was it?
The drive back from the airport was quiet.
"What's wrong?" Erik asked, wondering if she was upset.
"Want me to take you somewhere?" Erik had a new plan.
"Where?"
"Hot springs!"
"Not interested."
"Come on. It'll be fun. Bryan's venture. His first investment. Let's go support him."
"I'll ask Sara if she wants to go." Janelle called Sara. Hearing it was hot springs, Sara agreed.
"Yes! I want to go enjoy myself too." Her failed crush really wasn't worth this misery. "Oh, don't buy a swimsuit. I'll bring one for you." Sara rallied; it was time to relax properly.
"Okay. Get ready. We'll pick you up."
"No need. You guys go ahead. I'll drive myself."
"You sure?" Bryan's hot spring resort was in the mountains. Was she okay to drive alone?
"Don't worry. I can handle it." Sara was insistent.
Janelle nodded. Hanging up, she told Erik, "Head straight to the hot spring resort. Sara wants to go."
"Okay."
Bryan's hot spring resort had been in preparation for a while. Today was the grand opening. After being stuck in the hospital for so long, he was finally out and about. The guests today were all Bryan's friends in Graham City. The group chatted animatedly about everything under the sun. When Erik arrived, Bryan rushed out to greet them.
"Erik! Janelle! You made it!" Bryan was like a devoted fan to both of them.
"Yeah. Go entertain your friends. Don't worry about us."
"Erik, my friends really want to meet you. Would you mind?" Erik gave Bryan face, going over to greet the group. But it was just a brief hello; he soon returned to Janelle's side.
"Come on. Let me show you around." Bryan's place had a great environment, filled with all sorts of exotic flowers he thought Janelle might find interesting.