She was almost home when Serena suddenly remembered that she should inform Xavier.
This morning, when she hurriedly left his place, she remembered him asking her to send him a message once she was done with her business.
After the disturbance caused by Poppy, Serena almost forgot about it.
Taking out her phone, she sent him a message: [The divorce agreement is signed, I'm on my way back. Last night... thank you for the red wine.]
After the message was sent, she held the phone, waiting for his reply.
But after waiting for a while, there was still no response.
"Strange?!" Serena turned on the screen of her phone, "He usually replies quickly, why is it taking so long this time?"
In the midst of her thoughts, the taxi had already stopped at the entrance of the community. The driver turned around, "Twenty-six!"
Serena snapped out of her thoughts, "Oh, right! Can I transfer it?"
"Sure, no problem!" The driver skillfully handed over his payment code.
Serena paid the fare, groggily getting out of the car. She walked toward the community while still thinking about Xavier not replying to her message.
"Beep!" Suddenly, a notification sound rang out. She quickly lowered her head to check.
After seeing the content of the message, her expression immediately darkened, "Lately, there are too many of these ads! The phone operators have really hit a new low. Can't they block junk messages automatically?"
She deleted the property listing she just received and continued walking forward.
As she reached the entrance of her home, before she could go inside, her best friend-Vega's call came in, "Serena, what are you doing?!"
Serena tilted her head and squeezed the phone between her neck and shoulder, freeing her hands to search for her house keys. "Just got home, what's up?!"
"Hey, I have to tell you, I'm shopping at Vernon right now. Guess who I just saw?!"
"Did you see another little celebrity dressed up like they just stepped out of a fancy event?!"
"No! It's not a little celebrity! This guy looks way better than any average celebrity, and you know him."
"I know him?!" Serena frowned, "Stop keeping me in suspense, just tell me, who is it?!"
"Guess! We both know him, and he's super handsome. There's only a few guys like that, I don't believe you can't guess!"
"Say it! If you don't, I'm hanging up!" Serena was starting to get annoyed because she still couldn't find the keys.
"Hey, hey, hold on, I'll tell you!" Vega lowered her voice mysteriously, "I saw Xavier Blaze! The campus heartthrob from high school, the one who kept chasing after you!"
Serena froze for a moment, instinctively asking, "What's he doing there?!"
"Having lunch with a woman at a Restaurant!" Vega observed and mumbled, "It looks like your marrying someone else really hit him hard. His standards have dropped quite a bit. I saw the woman, she's dressed in expensive clothes but looks pretty average. Compared to you, she's no match."
Serena's finger brushed against something hard and cold. Looking down, she realized it was her house key.
This apartment was the only property she got from her divorce with Clint. She hadn't been here in a while and almost thought she had lost the key.
On the phone, Vega was still chattering away, "Serena, remember how Xavier was so devoted to you? Back then, we all thought he was just a rich kid, looking for a little novelty. But who would've thought he chased you for so many years... I heard you're married now, but he still didn't find a girlfriend, and he even stayed single for a few years just to keep his promise to you. Now it seems like he's finally moved on..."
The key was at the lock, but Serena furrowed her brows and, without thinking, said, "Which western restaurant? I'll go take a look."
"What?! You're going there?" Vega was surprised, "Aren't you not interested in him? Are you sure you want to go?!"
Before Serena could stop herself, she made up her mind, "I'm free today. Going to watch the show isn't a bad idea."
"Alright, come on! It's the Avery Restaurant on the fifth floor of Vernon. Hurry up, I'll keep an eye on them."
After hanging up the phone, Serena turned around and quickly got back into the elevator, which was still on her floor.
When she arrived at the Avery Restaurant half an hour later, she quietly sent Vega a message: [I'm here, are they still there?]
She soon received a reply: [Yes! They seem to be having a good conversation. Xavier's back is to me, so I can only see the woman. She's smiling happily.]
"Where are you? I'll come find you!"
"Left when you enter, keep going straight, the seat at the farthest corner. Be low-key, don't disturb them or we won't be able to watch the show."
"Got it!"
Once inside, Serena lowered her head and walked along the wall, cautiously making her way to Vega. Before she could greet her, Vega pulled her down, "Shh, look, they're clinking glasses again!"
Serena followed Vega's finger. Not far away, a man and a woman were indeed clinking glasses.
She couldn't see Xavier's expression, only a well-dressed back.
The woman across from him was covering her mouth and laughing sweetly.
Serena twisted her fingers, muttering softly, "No wonder he didn't reply to my message. Looks like he's lost in the arms of a beautiful woman and has no time to reply to me!"
Vega, with a lovesick look, stared at Xavier, "I envy that woman so much!"
Suddenly, a spark of anger flared inside Serena, "What's there to envy?!"
Vega rolled her eyes, "Serena, only you can ignore a man like Xavier! He's handsome, rich, and so devoted. If he liked me, I'd definitely throw caution to the wind and go for it!"
Serena's attention was fully on the corner seat.
Xavier raised his glass again and took a sip with the woman.
Her fingers subconsciously tightened on her clothes. She felt inexplicably angry, "Last night, I had one glass, and he wouldn't let me drink anymore. But now, with her, he's having glass after glass. I think he just didn't want to let me drink his wine!"
Vega turned around, confused, "Serena, what are you muttering about? The music's loud here, I didn't catch it."
"Ah?! Nothing!" Serena quickly covered, but her gaze was still locked on the back of Xavier in the distance.
Just then, for some reason, Xavier turned around and glanced toward their direction.
***