After Blake got drunk, Howard and the others left following dinner.
Howard and Rowena drove to the city, planning to pick up Linette from Rowena's parents' place.
"Rowena, I think our constant bickering is quite interesting," Howard said with a grin.
"Is that so? But you used to hate my quarrelsome nature. When did you change your mind?" Rowena's lips curled into a smile.
Their relationship had become much more relaxed now. Love wasn't suffocating anymore—it turned out love needed a balance of tension and ease.
"Ever since you made up your mind to break up with me. I finally realized I have a masochistic streak—when you're endlessly good to me, I get annoyed; now that you're ‘not nice’ to me, I can't help but cling to you."
Howard had become an amateur relationship expert, discarding his former self-importance and wholeheartedly becoming a "love slave."
Rowena was amused into laughter—this man had grown more entertaining and adept at sweet talk lately.
"What are you laughing at? I'm being serious!" Howard, despite his thick skin, blushed under his beloved's teasing.
"Keep this optimistic attitude, and we'll love each other forever," Rowena patted his hand, expressing her approval.
Howard's eyes lit up. "When have I not been optimistic? Ever since we had our daughter, I've been positive every day!"
"I know you're a good father," Rowena's expression softened at the mention of their daughter.
Previously, when she had stormed off and left their daughter in Howard's care out of spite, she had expected him to grow impatient. Instead, she discovered his patience with their child was remarkable.
"Don't say that!" Howard shuddered, fearing the "good person" label would dull his senses.
Rowena chuckled again and pointed to the side. "Our old high school—should we go in for a stroll?"
"Really? You're not in a hurry today?" Howard was surprised Rowena wanted to revisit their school days.
Rowena shook her head. "Not in a hurry. It's rare to have some free time; let's make the moments last."
Howard was overjoyed, feeling as if Cupid had favored him.
"Alright, let's go in!" He promptly parked by the school gate.
After parking, the two entered the campus through a side door.
Students were in class, so the campus was quiet, occasionally pierced by the sound of reading. Gardeners were sweeping fallen leaves, creating a bustling yet vibrant atmosphere.
Howard pointed at the playground. "Did you used to sneak-peek at me playing basketball here?"
Rowena rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to sneak-peek at you, would you even notice? I watched you fair and square."
Howard grinned smugly. "Do you remember how handsome I was back then? Want me to reenact it for you now?"
"With you dressed in a suit and tie—really going to reenact it?" Rowena burst into laughter at his formal attire.
"What's so funny?" Howard was puzzled.
"Nothing, just imagining you in a suit playing basketball—your dress pants might tear," Rowena said with a grin.
"Afraid I might expose my butt?" The man suddenly smirked devilishly.
Rowena glared and turned to walk away briskly.
Behind her came Howard's hearty laughter, which filled her with a sense of achievement.
She sat by the playground, gazing at the vast court, her mind flooded with memories.
That once-clean-cut youth had transformed into a mature and steady man.
Howard strolled out of the school gate, found Rowena's favorite yogurt at a convenience store, and hid it behind his back as he approached her step by step.
"Wow, this place holds so many memories of my youth—it's really nostalgic!" He sat down with a sigh, magically producing the yogurt from behind his back and offering it to her, "Here you go, your old favorite."
Rowena stared at the yogurt, momentarily stunned.
"Take it, you used to love it," Howard pressed the yogurt into her hands, then gazed at the playground with a feigned profundity, as if channeling deep thoughts.
She clutched the yogurt tightly, her eyes suddenly welling with tears.
"How could you still remember..." So many years had passed, and she was no longer the girl sipping yogurt through a straw.
Holding this piece of the past, her emotions were in turmoil.
"I remember everything about you," Howard said with a smile, his voice deep and magnetic, "Our first meeting was on March 27th, around 4:30 PM. You bumped into me, apologized profusely, and scrambled to pick up your books—it was a cliché scene straight out of a youth movie, yet uniquely ours."
Rowena was stunned. She hadn't expected him to recall the exact date and time.
"When you bumped into me and looked up to apologize, my first thought was to pinch your cheek—your skin was as soft as tofu."
Howard chuckled softly, reminiscing about her teenage self—her flustered expression, bright eyes, "But did I really pinch you? Maybe I was tempted then, seeing how easy you were to tease."
Rowena's momentary touch was swept away. She poked open the yogurt straw and began sipping vigorously.
Howard watched her sulking, just as adorable as in the past.
"By the way, I've noticed..." He leaned back lazily, hands behind his head, "Your temper hasn't improved with age. It's actually gotten worse. Once, you spoke in a soft, mosquito-like voice that drove me crazy. Now... I don't know how I put up with it."
Rowena punched him. "Yeah, I've got a bad temper. What are you going to do about it?"
"No problem, your bad temper is my doing, and I've learned to tolerate it," Howard grinned ingratiatingly. Their playful banter brought back the feeling of first love.