If you cannot overcome it, you will be controlled by it for a lifetime.
Doing things you don’t want to do for the sake of face, saying things you don’t want to say, ultimately, the one who suffers is yourself.
This is what they call “dying for face while living in misery!” The reality is that when you are strong, you don’t need a face to enhance your worth; when you are down and out, the face you try to maintain will not bring you an ounce of respect.
Ding!
His phone suddenly rang; it was a WhatsApp message from Sarah.
Jacob opened it and couldn’t help but smile slightly at the content.
He certainly didn’t plan to deliver food for a lifetime; this was just a temporary measure. In fact, while delivering food, he was also assessing the business of each restaurant, and the delivery process served as market research for him.
As long as there’s an opportunity, he believes he can soar again! Jacob arrived home just as it was half-past eight.
Lara was sitting on the edge of the bed, reading a story to Macy, holding a storybook and very focused.
Upon hearing the door open, she turned her head and made a shushing gesture to Jacob.
At this moment, the little girl lying in bed was already struggling to keep her eyes open and was about to fall asleep.
Jacob nodded slightly and quietly took off his work clothes.
After a while, Lara finished the story, and Macy was completely asleep.
She put down the storybook, glanced at the time, and saw it was already 8:40. It would take her about an hour to get back to school, not counting the time to walk to the bus station, so she had to leave; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get into the dormitory.
“I’ll take you to the bus station.”
Jacob knew that Lara’s dormitory building closed at ten, and time was getting tight.
“No need, you should stay home and keep Macy company,” Lara gently shook her head.
“It’s fine, she’s already asleep. Besides, I’ll be back soon.” Jacob casually grabbed a trench coat from the hanger and put it on.
“Then let’s hurry.”
Lara stopped refusing. It was about a bus stop and a half to the bus station she needed to get to, and it would take at least ten minutes to walk there.
Downstairs.
Lara sat on the back of the electric bike, carefully holding onto the hem of Jacob’s clothes.
This wasn’t her first time riding on Jacob’s electric bike, but her heart still raced inexplicably faster.
At the end of February, Coastville was still quite cold; the night wind was chilly, and Lara’s wool coat offered no protection against the wind. As the electric bike sped up, she felt a chill that penetrated to her bones. Instinctively, she leaned forward, feeling much warmer, and her hand that had been gripping Jacob’s clothes transformed into an embrace.
Feeling her close proximity, Jacob felt a bit nervous, especially as the wind tousled her long hair, causing a few strands to fall into his collar. The soft strands brushed against his neck, making his heart race.
Just as Lara had said during dinner, she was about to turn 22, a young lady now!
In fact, Jacob had never really viewed Lara as an adult. In his subconscious, she was still that high school girl he first met, as if she hadn’t grown up.
But the reality was that she was almost at the age when he met her sister! Could it be that my future mother-in-law and father-in-law are fixed? A ridiculous thought flashed through Jacob’s mind, and he quickly twisted the throttle, increasing the speed of the bike to dispel this unrealistic notion.
Not to mention the awkward relationship between the two.
From a conditions perspective, they were also extremely mismatched. He was 35, divorced with a child, without a car or a house, and in debt of 215,000 dollars! Lara was not yet 22, a top student in the journalism department at Coastville University, with a curvy figure and stunning looks. Currently, she is a reporter for the Coastville Evening News, with a bright future ahead! Therefore, from any angle, they were incompatible.
At his age, he shouldn’t be having such thoughts about a young girl! Jacob silently chastised himself.
Soon, the electric bike arrived at the bus station, and coincidentally, the bus Lara needed to take was just pulling in.
“Go quickly!”
“Let me know when you get to school,” Jacob waved at Lara.
“Okay, ride slowly on your way back, and be safe,” Lara reminded him as she walked onto the bus.
Jacob nodded slightly, and after the bus left, he rode the electric bike home.
