CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: JUST PLAYING ALONG

It must be an illusion.

Julian Fairchild gazed intently at Maeve Lane.

Maeve was eating just fine when she felt a gaze as if it had substance falling upon her.

She lifted her head lazily, faced his gaze, and simply curled her lips into a smile.

Once again, that elusive feeling surfaced in the man’s heart.

With his attitude like this, could Maeve still face him as always? Was it because of deep love... or just a game for her?

Julian subconsciously dismissed the second notion.

...

Maeve noticed that ever since that day they returned from Palova, Julian had started deliberately avoiding her.

Not exactly avoiding, just... trying to not be in the same space.

Like when she waited for him in the cafeteria, only to meet Henry Hughes; when she went to his classroom, he chose to sit in the front row, not giving her even a glance.

At this moment, she just walked out of her dormitory. The weather today was a bit gloomy, much like Julian’s face when he was angry.

"Why am I thinking about him?" Maeve felt perplexed. "Have I really become so obsessed in these days of pursuit? Otherwise, why would Julian be avoiding me?"

She always thought Julian was the type that wouldn’t flinch even if the sky fell, let alone deliberately avoid someone.

Yet this time, once again, he surprised her.

Perhaps it was this curiosity that drove her to pursue him for so long.

To be honest, Maeve didn’t like sunny days; she preferred watching the downpour swallowing the entire city, the howling gale crossing with a crazy, dangerous aura, rain-swept winds like sharp knives seeming to devour everything.

She lightly closed her eyes, lazily lifted her gaze, "Oh well, I’ll let you be for a few days."

Just as well to rest her leg injury.

—

Henry Hughes looked around the cafeteria and didn’t see a familiar figure; he thought of messaging Maeve, but the next second, a message popped up —

[I’m eating elsewhere.]

He looked at Maeve’s profile picture, typed, [Okay].

With Maeve not eating there, Henry immediately decided to go find Julian.

He still didn’t understand what Julian meant, acting particularly resistant to being around Maeve since returning.

No matter how carefree Maeve was, she was still an 18-year-old girl. Being avoided would surely affect her mood, so he "abandoned" Julian.

But for several days, Maeve hadn’t shown up again.

Julian went about his studies and work as usual, seemingly unchanged.

Yet some things slowly changed without notice.

One evening, Henry suddenly grabbed him and asked, "How long has it been since Maeve last messaged you?"

He was stunned for a second, then realized it had been a week since the last time Maeve messaged him.

In fact, Maeve was always quite brief, but she would constantly seek recognition in his presence.

Either a sticker, or a cold ——

[Good morning.]

[Good night.]

It never ceased.

Julian quickly answered, "Eight days."

As he spoke, he briefly puzzled at himself for remembering such trivial matters so clearly.

"Eight days?" Henry frowned thoughtfully and glanced at Julian, "Do you remember how long Maeve has been chasing you?"

Twenty-three days.

An answer spontaneously emerged in his mind.

Julian lifted his eyelids, "Who would remember such boring things."

"Alright then." Henry hadn’t really expected an answer and after a few seconds of silence, he spoke again, "Julian, have you heard about Maeve’s habit when pursuing someone?"

"What do you mean?"

"Maeve once said she’d spend no more than a month on any man."