After a brief hesitation, Elin returned to the kitchen and prepared a glass of iced lemonade for Erick as she had done before. Since she was leaving tomorrow, this would be the last time she prepared this drink for him.

Once ready, Elin silently set the glass on the table without his notice.

After a lingering look at Erick, Elin turned and walked away.

Erick had always had a chronic throat issue that made drinking uncomfortable for him. When he opened his eyes and was about to get up for some water, he noticed the glass before him, a familiar, refreshing, and appealing sight. He took a sip, then a large gulp, immediately feeling relief in his throat.

Upon reflection, Erick realized he hadn't seen Elin in several days, likely due to his recent preoccupations.

Of course, being preoccupied was no excuse for avoiding someone.

Partly, this avoidance derived from the fact that since their last encounter, Erick frequently dreamt of his intimate moments with Elin.

Her soft whimpering, reminiscent of a distressed kitten, had provoked an unwanted response from him in those dreams.

Previously, Erick had never seen himself as someone driven by desire.

He suspected it was his youthful impulses that had made him Lose control. However, when the women at the bar approached him, he felt nothing but disgust. Simply being near them was awful, let alone the thought of intimacy.

His mind was in chaos. On one side, he felt monstrous, as Elin had just become an adult, and yet he repeatedly dreamt of sleeping with her. On the other side, he struggled to grasp his own feelings and thoughts. Why did these feelings occur only for Elin, even though he had viewed her as a sisterly figure? It filled him with guilt.

Erick set his glass aside and pulled out a four-leaf clover necklace from his pocket. A childhood friend had suggested it, mentioning that girls appreciated gifts like earrings and necklaces.

Erick had instantly been drawn to this red four-leaf clover necklace, a symbol of happiness. He had carried it around for a few days, always meaning to give it to Elin but never finding the perfect moment .

With determination, Erick finished his glass of ice lemonade, deciding to present it to Elin the following day.

The next day, after sorting out business matters, Erick tried to call Elin. However, the opposite side's tone sounded disconnected, making him furrow his brows. Unwilling to accept it, he redialed, but the number was still disconnected.

Erick paused for a moment and then sent a questioning mark to Elin.

Immediately, a bright red exclamation mark popped up.

Erick had never imagined that Elin would block him. He reflected on the past days, convinced he had done nothing wrong. His avoidance was merely to prevent any awkwardness. Why... He couldn't make sense of it.

The red four-leaf clover necklace lay inside a lovely gift box on the table. Erick glanced at it and firmly closed the box, tossing it into the trash bin. He didn't have time to dwell on the thoughts of a young woman. If that was how it was, then so be it.

Erick got up, ready to attend a meeting, but before he left, he looked at the gift box in the trash bin and impulsively reached down to pick it up.