CHAPTER 302: CHAPTER 302: JUST USING YOU

Therefore, when Caleb Lockwood wanted to take Serena Jennings out to relax, he unexpectedly thought of bungee jumping.

Bungee jumping...

Truth be told, Caleb Lockwood was actually scared.

But he thought Serena might enjoy it, so he was willing to risk it for her.

As it turned out, Serena was even braver than he had imagined.

Caleb found that he seemed to be understanding Serena more and more.

Choosing to eat at the night market was the same.

Compared to upscale restaurants full of rules and etiquette, the night market allows people to drop their facades and be themselves.

Initially, Caleb thought that the places he took Serena to, for fun and for food, were things Serena genuinely liked and would please her.

However, the appearance of Ethan White disrupted the rare good atmosphere between the two.

Caleb snapped his eyes open, filled with resentment.

Finally, he saw Serena and Ethan White walk out of the restaurant.

Both were smiling, as if they had enjoyed a loving meal together.

Caleb drove the car right up to them.

"Mr. Reed..."

He got out of the car and politely opened the back door.

"Please get in."

Caleb’s choice of words was polite, but his tone and aura had nothing to do with the word "please."

Serena suddenly felt a strong sense of intimidation and pressure.

Whether being a CEO or an assistant, Caleb’s presence was always daunting.

Ethan White was somewhat surprised that Caleb had followed them and his expression changed slightly.

"I’ll take Serena back; you can clock out."

Ethan White said this to Caleb, but Caleb showed no reaction.

In his eyes, there was only Serena.

"Mr. Reed, it’s my duty to drive you home."

Caleb emphasized righteously.

Noticing Serena’s slender figure move slightly, Ethan White grabbed her hand.

In front of Caleb, Ethan White interlocked his fingers with Serena’s.

Serena’s wrist trembled slightly.

She actually wanted to withdraw her hand.

At this moment, she hadn’t accepted Ethan White’s confession yet and shouldn’t be holding hands with him.

But this thought only flashed briefly in her mind.

The cold flame quietly burned in Caleb’s eyes, and reflected in those pupils, Serena’s slender fingers slowly tightened around Ethan’s hand.

"Caleb, I approve that you can clock out now."

Serena said coldly, holding hands with Ethan and walking towards the nearby white Lexus.

Under the night sky, walking side by side, Serena and Ethan seemed inseparable.

Caleb silently watched their receding figures, his brows steadily furrowing.

Once, wasn’t Serena like the current him?

Watching silently as he and Claire Shaw went around arm in arm.

Caleb clenched his back teeth, feeling as though a piece of his heart had been gouged out.

So this feeling...

Was so unbearable.

Inside the white Lexus, Serena was the first to apologize.

"I’m sorry, Ethan... Just now... I was just using you..."

Ethan glanced at Serena in the passenger seat as he drove.

"If it’s to make Caleb back off, I’m happy to be used by you."

Serena looked at Ethan and couldn’t help but laugh.

"If you keep indulging me like this, I might take it too far."

"How far?"

Ethan asked with a smile.

Serena couldn’t answer this question.

She actually felt like she had always been taking it too far in front of Ethan.

Enjoying Ethan’s care and concern, but never willing to accept his feelings for her.

In the past, it was because of Caleb.

Her heart was so full of Caleb that there was no room for anyone else.

But now...

Serena propped her chin with one hand, lost in thought.

She couldn’t say whether not starting a new relationship was still because of Caleb.

Because the hurt from Caleb was so deep, she was too worn out to love another.

Serena’s frown grew more intense.

Should she really... give Ethan a chance?

Also giving herself a chance.

When Serena returned home, she heard the sound of a piano coming from next door.

This time, Caleb wasn’t playing a Chopin Nocturne.

He was playing Beethoven’s Symphony of Fate.

Although Caleb’s piano skills were not professional, he wasn’t bad either.

However, this time, the melody sounded distinctly different, chaotic, and subpar.

Serena opened the door and went inside, listening to the melody coming from next door while tidying up.

The piano music could reflect the player’s mental state, Serena always thought so.

Tonight, instead of playing the piano, Caleb was venting his suppressed emotions through it.

Serena realized that seeing her holding hands with Ethan back to the car had indeed provoked Caleb.

If Caleb could resign on his own...

With this thought, Serena fell into a dream.

Today is the official release day of the FZZL system.

This AI-assisted diagnostic system has garnered significant attention from both industry insiders and outsiders since development began.

However, no one expected that when the FZZL system hit the market, The Lockwood Group would change ownership from Lockwood to Jennings.

The Lockwood Group’s stock price soared, though this was anticipated.

More than the stock, Serena was more concerned about when Caleb would bring up resigning.

Yet Caleb was as professional as ever, performing his duties as an assistant meticulously, always following Serena like a shadow.

In the general manager’s office, before Caleb left, Serena suddenly asked a question unrelated to work.

"If I start dating Ethan, will you still want to be my assistant?"

Caleb’s steps paused mid-stride.

He then turned and met Serena’s gaze, who was sitting in the boss chair with her hands crossed on the desk.

Serena now looked very much like a boss.

Competent and charming.

A moment of silence passed, Caleb’s lips curled into a relaxed smile.

"Even if you marry Ethan White, don’t think of firing me. I’m still waiting for my official post!"

With that, he left Serena’s office.

Serena scratched her hair, the K-line graphs on the computer screen couldn’t dispel the frustration Caleb brought her.

At the Next-Gen Academy.

Lana Xavier recently had a breakup with Julian Xavier, and her work performance was dismal, sulking and disheartened.

After lunch, suddenly, a deliveryman approached her, asking her to sign for a bouquet of flowers.

"Are you sure it’s for me?" Lana was incredulous.

The deliveryman confirmed the name and address repeatedly.

"Lana Xavier, you’re the only vocal teacher named Lana Xavier at Next-Gen Academy, right?"

"Uh... yeah..."

Lana nodded dumbfoundedly.

"Then there’s no mistake."

The deliveryman handed the bouquet to her after she signed for it.

In the office, every teacher craned their necks to look at Lana, curious.

What Lana held was an oversized bouquet of flowers, sunflowers, which are quite rare.

It was the first time Lana had received such a grand bouquet.

She felt happy yet puzzled.

"Who could have sent this?"

Lana searched the entire bouquet but couldn’t find any clues about the sender.

"And to think it was sunflowers..."

Suddenly, Lana’s eyes widened.