Chapter: 181


    The busy streets of Alorith were filled with people going to and fro, minding their own private


    businesses. Debbie waited patiently for her flight bound for Jork


    It was a long and tiring flight. Getting off the ne, she hailed a taxi and found the hotel she had


    booked online. The moment she tucked her bag inside the closet, she changed into a white casual


    outfit, put on sneakers, took her purse, and went outside to have some fun.


    She treated herself to a share of stuffed tofu with spicy sauce and strolled along holding her food in her


    hands. When she spotted an interesting widget in a shop by the street, she stopped to appreciate it. As


    she was taking a bite of the tofu, her phone rang.


    She nced at the caller ID, swallowed the tofu in her mouth, and hung up. It was Carlos. She wouldn’t


    take his call.


    However, he seemed quite persistent. Her phone rang again and again and again. Every time she hung


    up, he would call again. When her phone rang for the 12th time, she picked it up impatiently and said,


    “Old man, enough already. Is yourpany going out of business or something?


    Don’t you have work to do? Why do you keep calling me? It’s annoying!”


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    “Deb, it’s me.” The strange yet familiar voice sent her freezing on the spot. Debbie looked at her phone


    screen to check the number. It was indeed not Carlos. It was Hayden who was calling her this time.


    “Oh, what’s up?” Her tone softened. She threw the tofu box into the bin, wiped her mouth dry, and


    listened to him attentively.


    “Who is the ‘old man’ you referred to?” Hayden asked as he was surprised by Debbie’s response when


    she answered his call.


    “Never mind, I was referring to no one in particr,” Debbie replied casually.


    “What made you call?”


    “I’ve been in Alorith for a couple of days now. I have no ns tonight, so I’m thinking maybe we can


    have dinner together.”


    “Oh, sorry. I’m out of town. I’m on a trip.”


    Hayden hadn’t expected her response. For a moment, he was in a daze but soon realized that Debbie


    was such a travel gal. He remembered how much she enjoyed going to ces. She had visited


    different tourist destinations, more than he ever had. He envied her determination and her free spirit.


    “Oh! I see. It’s okay. Anyways, my schedule will be cleared out early next month. How about I take you


    to Ennd for a vacation then?”


    “No, thanks.” Debbie turned him down immediately.


    “I’ve been busytely. I have all these different sses every day. I had to make time for this trip.”


    Debbie was telling the truth. When her trip was over, she would once again be upied with dance,


    yoga, English, and other sses.


    “Debbie, don’t Lie to me. I know you. You always hate studying. You’re just trying to blow me off by


    making up those sses.”


    “No, I’m not. That’s the old me. People change. Now I have yoga, dance,


    English, Advanced Mathematics, and so on, but I don’t learn martial arts anymore.”


    For a moment, there was only silence at the other end of the line.


    “You used to say you will never quit martial arts. My mom and I once asked you to quit, but you


    refused. Why now?”


    Hayden knew how much she used to hate those sses she just mentioned.


    Debbie smiled and said, “Because I don’t have to protect you anymore.”