"Hang out? Sorry, not interested in shopping. How about a gun range? Or an honorable person CS game? Maybe horseback riding? Still want to do something?" Garnet stared at Blair, a provocative look in her eyes.
Blair straightened up and replied without hesitation, "Sure! Let's do all of it. I'll just wait for you in Y City." The young translator looked Garnet straight in the eye without the slightest trace of fear. Her grandpa and uncle were both brave soldiers. Could she be any less? She couldn't chicken out and bring shame to the Ji family.
It was crystal clear to the two women that they both loved the same guy. But they weren't going to play any dirty tricks, or yell at each other. Blair didn't think Garnet was a hypocritical rival, or even a cunning one. Maybe it was because she was a soldier as virtuous as Wesley.
Garnet watched Wesley drive his Hummer away, a complicated feeling stirring in her heart. She was confused by Blair's behavior. 'She should know very well I love Wesley too. We're love rivals, but why was she so blunt? She looked like she didn't care if I loved him or not, ' Garnet mused.
She wondered if Blair was just pretending to be kind and innocent. Of course, she'd eventually slip up and the truth would come out. 'But if Blair really doesn't care about my love for Wesley and has a fair competition with me, then... I'll try to make friends with her, ' Garnet thought further.
Seeing her daughter's contemplative look, Lauren felt sorry for her and tried to comfort her. "Garnet, just give up. Any man would be lucky to have you. You'll meet another guy, maybe even better than Wesley."
As an experienced woman, Lauren could see that there was something going on between Wesley and Blair. The affection in their eyes was evident when they looked at each other.
Garnet smiled and said casually, "Mom, I always get what I want. Maybe Wesley doesn't love Blair at all. Otherwise, why won't he say she's his girlfriend? I still have a chance!"
Lauren smoothed her short hair and said lovingly, "Good luck then."
Wesley stopped at a few more houses and said his goodbyes. Blair didn't get out of the car because these people were strangers to her.
Some of them were Wesley's relatives and some were higher-ups in the military.
After all, he didn't often return to his hometown, and he needed to show respect to those who loved him since he was a boy.
Blair usually got a little carsick in a bus, but felt much better riding in a private car. She fell asleep while the car sped along the expressway. Two hours later, she woke up and was more than a little hungry.
She tilted her head to look at the back seat. A few bags of snacks were lying quietly there. Cecelia wanted to make sure they wouldn't go hungry on the way back. "Could you stop at the next rest stop?"
"Why? Need anything?"
"No..." Blair moved her eyes away from the snacks and sat up straight.
He threw her a sidelong glance. "Not sleepy now?"
"No." She just wanted to eat something. Her mouth watered when she thought of the mangosteens, macadamia nuts, dried mango slices, dried durian slices, candied dates, beef jerky, chocolates... And she wanted something to drink, too. But she felt embarrassed to tell Wesley that, so she lowered her head to play on her phone, trying not to think of the delicious food.
Wesley knew she must need something, though she wouldn't say. So he decided to take a break at the next service area.
Shortly, he pulled the car into the parking lot. As he turned it off, he asked, "Need a restroom?"
Blair shook her head. "No. Go ahead."
Wesley nodded, "I need a cigarette."
They got out of the vehicle. Wesley leaned against the car door and was about to light up when Blair said, "Um...I could really go for a few mango slices..."
'So that's it. She's snacky, ' he realized. Cecelia had covered the back seat with some newspaper and put all the food there, tucking the drinks on the floor. All kinds of delicious smells mixed and floated in the air of the car.
"Then get some. I'll wait." He moved a few steps away from the car and began to smoke.
Blair joyfully opened the back door and took out one of the bags. As she picked out the snacks she wanted to eat, she asked the man, "Want some dried fruit?"
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