Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 368

"Huh?" Even with all her mental preparation, Jade was completely blindsided by the question. What did that mean? Wasn't he going to yell at her?

"Why would you ask that?"

Hugo had his reasons, and he laid them out logically.

"From your first day here, I noticed you seem to be terrified of me. Outside of standard work discussions, you avoid speaking to me. If we cross paths, you duck away, and you refuse to make eye contact."

"Last night, you texted me to come to dinner, but by the time I arrived, you were already completely incapacitated. Is it fair to assume you simply didn't want to see me?"

"And in the car, you made it explicitly clear that you hate me, that I am the most annoying person you've met in decades, and that you never want to eat with me again."

Having laid out the evidence, Hugo offered his conclusion. "I consider myself a reasonably emotionally intelligent person. Based on your behavior, the only logical takeaway is that you deeply dislike me. But I've reviewed our interactions, and I can't recall a single instance where I've offended you. Therefore, the only remaining explanation is that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of my character."

Jade couldn't argue with a single point. Every piece of evidence was entirely factual. From his perspective, it painted a perfectly coherent picture.

She figured this was just a really long, polite way of telling her she was out of line. But that was fine—she was ready with her apology.

"So, what do you want to happen now?"

Hearing that she wasn't planning on quitting, Hugo seemed visibly relieved. "Then what is it about me that bothers you so much? What makes you so nervous that you drink yourself into oblivion just to deal with me?"

Jade stared at him, unable to form a single word. She didn't have a problem with him. Every single erratic behavior he listed was just the agonizing side effect of harboring a massive, secret crush. She was terrified of looking stupid in front of him.

She got nervous because she was desperately trying to be perfect—to prove her competence and secure his approval. She lived in constant fear of making a bad impression.

As for calling him annoying, it was only because he was the source of all her bittersweet, unspoken longing. A secret she couldn't share with anyone, forced to swallow the feelings all on her own. Every smile, every minor gesture dictated her entire emotional state.