Chapter 402


    What was sharing a deep emotional connection?


    At that moment, Rose and Edward were a perfect example.


    After finishing their meal, Rose sat in her consultation room, preparing to rest. It had always been the


    three of them chatting together after meals in Natalie’s, Sherri’s, or her rooms.


    They talked about anything and everything.


    However, now that Natalie and Sherri had both been pregnant, they needed to take short naps during


    lunchtime due to fatigue. As a single person, Rose hadn’t wanted to disturb the two pregnant women,


    so she had returned to her own room.


    She yed with her phone in boredom. Recalling her conversation with her brother from the night


    before and what Sherri had said, she had decided to cut ties and delete Edward’s contact. It was better


    to end it quickly than to prolong the pain.


    It had to be a clean break.


    As she opened Edward’s contact, she noticed that the chat log was still on theirst conversation.


    After that, they had not messaged each other. Just as she was about to block him, she noticed a


    continuous cycle of “typing” and then stopping at the top corner of the screen.


    What was going up?


    She couldn’t help but wonder what Edward wanted to do.


    For the next hour, it was a cycle of “typing” and then nothing. This situation had driven her to the brink


    of madness, and she could not help but feel puzzled. Her eyes had darted up and down, and she had


    be increasingly frustrated.


    Rose had never felt so speechless before.


    Did Edward have anguage barrier?


    She had found herself helplessly trying to go along with this odd situation for an hour, nearly driving


    herself crazy. Finally, she quickly typed into the chat interface, [Bro, just tell me what you’re preparing


    to say. If you can’t, at least give me a general idea, and I’ll help you organize it.]


    It was exhausting for her, as people with direct personalities often tend to be. Whenever they saw


    something that could be resolved quickly, but others struggled with it, they had the urge to step in and


    help directly.


    Simrly, individuals with obsessivepulsive tendencies were like this too. If something wasn’t


    arranged properly or was out of ce, they felt an instinctive need to correct it.


    As long as the matter was not corrected and handled properly, difort would spread throughout


    their bodies. To put it bluntly, it was an illness.


    Edward’s actions made it clear that he was typing a message, but those unaware might have thought


    his phone had a virus.


    Finally, after much effort, Edward managed to send his message in his nativenguage that said, I


    want to talk to you about something. Are you avable now?]


    Rose couldn’t help but wonder what took him so long topose just these simple sentences. If


    Edward’snguage teacher knew about it, they wouldn’t be able to contain their frustration.


    Rose did not know her brother had spoken to Edward. After all, they weremunicating through


    screens, and he had no way of knowing her emotions. She replied in her usual tone and mood, [Go


    ahead and tell me. We’re friends, so there’s nothing we can’t discuss.]


    She was only on the verge of deleting him.


    Edward replied straightforwardly. I don’t want to be friends anymore.]


    Rose responded immediately. [So you want to end our friendship? Does your girlfriend care about the


    existence of a female. friend like me?]


    If he wanted to end things, so be it. She had been considering deleting him a few minutes ago anyway,


    but she couldn’t help feeling a slight pang in her chest.


    Edward replied in puzzlement, [What girlfriend?]


    Why was the topic suddenly shifting? Edward was confused after sending the message.


    Rose exined truthfully, with a hint of unhappiness, [Sherri said you have a girlfriend. She also said


    you had nned to pursue that girl. It’s been a long time since then. So, you’re dating her now, right!]


    At the Landor Group, Edward sent the messages while sitting in his chair. He was confused after


    reading Rose’s message. He dialed Sherri’s number directly. But at that moment, Sherri was sound


    asleep. She was almost in the realm of dreams when the abrupt ringing of her phone disrupted her


    slumber.


    She answered the call with closed eyes, still in a half-asleep state, sounding neither fully awake nor


    fully asleep. “Who is it?”


    She had an unmistakable tone that said. “You’re disturbing my sleep.


    “Did you tell Rose that I have a girlfriend?” Edward was puzzled. When had he mentioned having a


    girlfriend?


    Sherri, still drowsy, replied, “Yeah, didn’t you say it yourself that night?”


    Edward pressed his temples in frustration. Now he understood how distorted messages could be


    when passed through someone who couldn’t ry them properly. “Think carefully. Did I say it like that?


    Did you ever pass yourprehension test in school?”


    With a clearer understanding. Edward hung up the phone, leaving a baffled Sherri in her messy office.


    Wasn’t that what he had said? He had mentioned having someone he liked and wanted to pursue.


    Didn’t that automatically make her his girlfriend?


    Her interpretation wasn’t entirely wrong. Something must be wrong with Edward. Time to go back to


    sleep. After all, she was pregnant.


    Edward reorganized his words and sent a message to Rose, saying, [Sherri was talking nonsense. I


    don’t have a girlfriend. I just have someone I like and want to pursue. I haven’t pursued her yet, and I


    don’t even know if I’ll seed.]


    Out of politeness, Rose gave some naive advice. [If you like her, just pursue her. Don’t be like you were


    in the past. I don’t mean anything negative, but if you genuinely like someone, you should go for it. If


    you can’t win her over, at least you won’t regret not trying. But you can’t be a scumbag. You can’t like


    someone and then chase after someone else.]


    Rose continued with her advice, [Although my words might be harsh, they’re true. You’re not a bad


    person. I just wanted to remind you. Whatever you do, don’t be a scumbag ]


    Having been hurt once, she was forever wary of betrayals. Even though Edward’s affections were


    directed elsewhere, she still felt the need to offer advice. Saving a life carned merit, and she was


    hoping to umte some good karma for herself to ensure she wouldn’t encounter any jerks in this


    lifetime.


    After sending the message, Rose thought that she should be considered a very kind person. She was


    helping someone she liked by providing guidance and thoughtful reminders not to act irrationally.


    What a good person she was.


    Rose was impressed with herself. How could she be so generous and kind-hearted, given she was


    nning to delete Edward as a friend a moment ago?


    She didn’t expect him to reply, but she still felt a strange twinge of pain. She propped her feet up on the


    chair and prepared to meditate.


    She set her phone to silent and adjusted the volume to hear the guided meditation. She purified her


    mind and began to visualize herself as a tall tree rooted in the earth, surrounded by serene foliage. It


    was a safe and tranquil space….


    Rose’s brain tried its best to conjure this imagery as she immersed herself in the guided meditation.


    About half an hourter, Sherri quietly entered Rose’s consultation room. After receiving an


    inexplicable phone call from her brother that disturbed her sleep, she couldn’t fall back asleep. She had


    checked on Natalie and found her still sleeping, so she hadn’t gone in


    Pushing the door open, Sherri stood still, her eyes widening. “What on earth are you doing?


    Meditation?”


    Rose was on the verge of drifting off. While meditation was beneficial, it could also lead to sleep. If


    Sherri had arrived one minuteter, she might have actually fallen asleep. Yawning. Rose rubbed her


    eyes. “I was meditating. Why are you here? Couldn’t sleep?”


    Sherri was puzzled. Rose had been so happy all day and did not seem bothered by anything. “My


    brother called and woke me up. Why are you meditating? Got some troubles bothering you?”


    “Oh, it’s just grown-up stuff. Like a dyed period or constipation today. Trivial things, really.”


    Rose rambled with a string of lies.


    Sherri was at a loss for words.


    What kind of nonsense was this? She must be out of her mind.


    ‘What my brother said was that he told you he has a girlfriend. No, wait, I think my brother said he has


    a girlfriend. No, that’s not it. Let me think. My brother’s exact words were a bit fuzzy at the time, and I


    heard something about him having a girlfriend. Did he tell you?”


    After a moment’s pause, Sherri tried to recall her previous statement, nodding with certainty. “Yes,


    that’s right. I’m pretty sure that’s what he said. There’s no mistake. Did my brother mention it to you?”


    the girl


    Rose avoided Sherri’s gaze and coughed awkwardly. “He did, he did. I even gave him some advice on


    how to pursue


    he likes”


    Deep down, she felt ufortable, as if she were being pricked by needles one after another.


    Sherri touched her neck, feeling embarrassed as she replied, “Well, I initially wanted to matchmake you


    two. It’s just that my brothercks vision. You deserve someone better”


    Rose waved her hand generously. “Oh,e on, it’s not that big of a deal. Can’t I be free to make my


    own choices? Besides, your brother isn’t my type. We’re practically like buddies now”


    Sherri didn’t stay in Rose’s consultation room for long. She left after a short while. In fact, she had


    To be honest, Sherri was a bit disappointed. She had gone to great lengths, even buying a ne ticket,


    hoping that something would spark between her brother and Rose. But her efforts had gone in vain,


    and now her brother liked someone else. It almost made her feel awkward in her own skin.


    Rose slumped on the chair with a sigh “Oh, this situation has be quiteplicated, and it’s


    bothering me. I need to get over it. Never mind, I’ll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for


    you, too”


    Lost in her thoughts, Rose started to sing softly. The setting was particrly fitting for singing that song,


    perfectly appropriate.


    However, her contemtion was interrupted by a message from Edward which said. The girl I like


    knows that I used to like someone else. How can I exin to her that my heart is now empty?


    Rose thought to herself, “Is he seriously treating me as a love guru or a rtionship expert? Am I that


    capable?”


    Despite her frustration, she took a deep breath and replied, [You need to prove it. Use sincerity. There’s


    nothing more important than being genuine.]


    Edward quickly replied, [Like what? You’re a girl. You should know a thing or two.


    His response was cautious and had no ws as if he had genuinely developed feelings for someone


    else and was seeking advice from her.


    For the first time, Rose lost her temper. While replying politely she couldn’t help but scold Edward in


    her mind, “Are you out of your mind? Do you think I’m an idiot? Are you intentionally messing with me,


    watching me fall for you, and then changing your mind as someone newes along? You’re the type


    who’s easily swayed by appearances and doesn’t care about someone’s true character.”


    In her polite message, she wrote, [It depends on you. How do you want to prove it? I don’t even know


    what type of girl you like.]


    She was certain that it wouldn’t be someone like her. At least, she and Natalie were pr opposites,


    and infectious, like sunshine.]


    Rose stared at the message in disbelief.


    What was this nonsense? Did Edward like someone like her? Yet the person he liked wasn’t her? Was


    he toying with her? Irritated, Rose decided not to reply any further. She typed with frustration, [I’m at


    work. Look it up online yourself] Edward looked at her message, furrowing his brow slightly. Across


    from him, Kyle was eating his meal seriously. He saw Edward holding his phone and replying between


    bites. He asked. “You’re eating at this hour. Aren’t you hungry?”


    They had a meeting earlier and only having their meal now- Kyle was starving.


    Edward replied, “Go ahead and eat. What are you looking at me for? Is there something on my face?


    Eat your food.”


    “I just feel like you’ve been acting strange these past few days. Is everything okay? If something is


    going on at thepany, let me know. I’ll handle it for you. After all, I’m being paid with your sry,Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    and I was brought in by you.” Kyle expressed his loyalty and concern. Apart from their professional


    rtionship, they were good friends as well.


    Edward had no intention of discussing his currentplicated issue. ‘I don’t need your help this time.


    Enjoy your meal.