16 Spicy and Silent Dinner

Now, she worked in the famous hotel in Boston, the seemingly most vibrant little world of humanity, countless people rushed by, gathering and dispersing for different purposes, yet she had to greet this vast bustle alone. He wanted to stop her and ask if she was truly happy, but he dared not.

Over the years, had he ever truly considered these? Everything was changing, now considering this, wouldn't he just seem insincere?

Alice watched Mike's somewhat hesitating expression, and laughingly tugged at his sleeve, "What's wrong?" She still had that childlike air, and when they were slightly at odds, unless she'd crossed a line, she would often proactively pout and cuddle up to him, because sometimes she just randomly got moody.

She'd always been like that, not caring about others' gazes. At that moment, it seemed like they were just a normal couple on campus, with him as a young professor just starting his career, and their relationship had always been somewhat tersely romantic, always inspiring envy.

He couldn't bear to release her hand, just muttering, "Nothing, just a bit tired."

Alice hadn't said a word yet, and the noisy group that emerged from the lobby drowned out any trace of weariness in his voice. She stood to the side, waiting for Mike to finish checking in. She watched him write, and his handwriting was still as clear as it used to be.

John stood outside in the dark. He was entertaining clients for dinner, but the sight of those delicate hands lightly clutching the young man's shirt, while also hurt John, left him momentarily stunned.

He seemed to catch a glimpse of her smile, one he had never seen before, simple and pure. He thought he had seen a photo of that young man before.

Just as he got lost in thought, a voice called out to him from the front, "John, I'm waiting for you." The soft voice came from Emily, and he turned his face and gave a faint response.

In the lamplight. Emily swept past him, as if by chance, and she said, "Miss Smith? What a coincidence."

She raised her voice slightly, "Miss Smith?" John wanted to stop her, but ultimately he just turned away.

Alice whispered something in Mike's ear and then hurried over, asking, "Mr Williams, Miss Brown, how are you?" She seemed a bit flustered, and her tone was overly polite.

A flash of displeasure crossed John's face, but he was instead quite interested as he glanced at Emily, a faint smile playing at his lips.

"We're having a party with friends. Miss Smith, don't you need to work today?" Emily asked with a sly smile, her long eyelashes twinkling. "I saw you at the airport this afternoon."

Alice smiled, "Yes, picking up a friend." She casually glanced back and said, "I won't take up any more of your time. Enjoy yourselves." With a hasty smile, she turned and walked back into the lobby. Emily shrugged and said to John, "Let's go."

John walked alongside her, and the silence made Emily feel uncomfortable as if John had sensed the small scheming in her heart. She suppressed her restlessness and quickened her pace, her heels tapping the ground crisply and nimbly.

Alice mentioned wanting to have spicy food, but Mike shook his head, "Forget it, I know you don't like that."

Alice smiled, "I've actually grown to love it - I discovered that soon after graduation." She took him to a restaurant that offered spicy food. It was dinner time, and the place was packed with people, the air filled with the scent of spicy peppers.

He couldn't help but think, "It feels just like old times," but he didn't say it out. Instead, he saw her happily say, "I love eating here the most. It feels like we were back to the old times."

Mike ordered her favorite dishes and took well of her as before. Alice looked silently, and the steam from the dishes seemed to rush into her eyes, causing her to blink. Despite all the dishes, she only drank her yogurt in small sips.

Mike set down his spoon and knife, and he observed her and asked slightly. "Why are you eating so little?" In his memory, she had always been a big eater, starting and finishing all the dishes every time.

That one time they had dinner together, the students in his class were somewhat reserved in his presence, especially the girls, who ate delicately like little birds.

He only paid attention to her, at first seeming a bit embarrassed and unwilling to chat, just focusing on eating - it was so cute, eating in small bites, oblivious to everything around her.

She lifted her head, her lips probably stained red from the chili, looking as radiant as a rose. "I'm getting older, and my appetite isn't like before."

Mike laughed, the word 'old' used to describe her just didn't seem right. Slowly, that purely joyful smile faded away, even in the liveliest place, they just couldn't find the words to speak, enveloped in a dead silence.

Alice's hand rested on the fork, motionless for a long before she slowly brought it to her lips and blew gently. She was quiet, but her heart hurt.

She couldn't remember what she had said, only that a certain song kept repeating in her mind.

I heard/That you are settled down/That you found a girl/And you are married now/I heard/That your dreams came true/Guess she gave you things/I didn't give to you/Old friend/Why are you so shy/Ain't like you to hold back/Or hide from the light/I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited/But I couldn't stay away I couldn't fight it/I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded/That for me, it isn't over/Never mind/I'll find someone like you/I wish nothing but the best for you too/Don't forget me I beg/I'll remember you said/Sometimes it lasts in love/But sometimes it hurts instead/You know how the time flies/Only yesterday was the time of our lives/We were born and raised/In a summer haze/Bound by the surprise/Of our glory days

Later, in a hurry to take her phone from her bag, Lily, who was on duty tonight, suddenly fell ill through her shift. She felt embarrassed to ask someone else to cover for her, so she called Alice.

Alice listened with her weak voice, and she remained silent. Finally, Lily remembered something and suddenly said, "Oh, I forgot, you're supposed to meet with alumni today, right? Forget it then, I'll figure something out."

Alice came back from her thoughts, and replied with kindness, "It's okay, I'll be right there. Take good care of yourself." She hung up the phone, forced a smile, and said, "Do you want to go back and rest early? I need to cover for a colleague."

They just started their dinner. Both of them were burdened with heavy thoughts and had little appetite. Since the restaurant was close to the hotel, she decided to accompany him back.

They walked in silence, Mike lowered his head and saw her hand clenched into a fist - he averted his gaze, focusing on the path ahead. Three years ago, he was accustomed to holding her hands. Even in the coldest weather, she never remembered to wear gloves.

It wasn't until they parted ways in the lobby that she realized they had been silent the entire way. It struck her as somewhat amusing, and somewhat absurd - would they have been like this before? As he turned away, she suddenly, very softly, asked him, "Why did you come here?"

Mike's face paled slightly, he stopped for a moment, still, as always, when facing her, it seemed as though the whole world was fragile, and he couldn't bear to speak harshly - his tone was gentle, tinged with weariness, "Alice, it's for work." His handsome face carried a hint of helplessness and disappointment, and finally, he turned and left.