Chapter 5

Serena POV

Looking at Vivian's face, I suddenly laughed softly. "Miss Vivian, are you making this scene because Ethan rejected you?"

Vivian turned red with shame and anger, her thoughts exposed.

I ignored her and walked straight to a nearby bench to sit and rest.

Before long, Ethan came back with two ice cream cones.

He sat down beside me and spoke with feigned casualness. "What were you two talking about just now?"

He was too far away to hear our conversation clearly.

But Vivian's angry expression. He should have seen that clearly.

"She said you and she used to be a couple." I looked at him with a faint smile and said slowly, "She also said your old phone has photos of you and her together."

Ethan immediately panicked.

"Don't listen to her nonsense." Ethan frowned, his tone somewhat urgent. "Vivian was young then and didn't understand. She made such a fuss at home that she refused to go to school unless I agreed. I was just humoring her."

I nodded.

Ethan was stunned instead. "Serena, you... aren't you going to ask me anything?"

I smiled faintly. "Ask what? Didn't you already explain? She was young then and didn't understand. You were just trying to get her to go to school. What else is there to ask?"

Ethan suddenly couldn't speak.

"But-"

Before he could finish, Vivian came running over and interrupted him.

On the way back, Vivian walked straight to Ethan's car and familiarly opened the passenger door, about to get in.

Ethan frowned. "Vivian, sit in the back."

Vivian pouted, and her eyes immediately reddened.

Seeing her pitiful appearance, Ethan's heart softened again.

But having already spoken, he couldn't take it back.

I spoke at the right moment. "It's fine. It doesn't matter where anyone sits."

With that, I opened the back door and got in.

After getting in the car, Ethan turned to look at me and explained, "When we go on missions together, Vivian sits in the passenger seat. The view is better, and it's more convenient for communication."

I kept my head down scrolling through my phone and said "Mm" without looking up.

Vivian sat in the passenger seat and immediately became smug.

She reached out and turned on the car stereo. What played was the electronic dance music she usually liked. A style Ethan would never listen to.

I saw Ethan nervously glance at me through the rearview mirror.

Vivian then opened the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat.

It was full of her things.

Lipstick, a small mirror, a comb, wet wipes, and even some chocolate bars.

She picked up a chocolate bar and turned to smile innocently at me. "Serena, he specially bought these for me. I have low blood sugar, so Ethan bought a bunch to keep in the car so I can eat them whenever I'm hungry. You don't mind, do you?"

Ethan cut her off with displeasure. "Vivian!"

I smoothly followed up. "Of course I don't mind. You go on missions together. It's natural for him to take care of you."

Ethan's tone became increasingly irritable. "Serena, you-"

He opened his mouth, then got stuck again.

Vivian's phone rang.

They had an emergency assignment tonight. Her superior specifically requested her for the mission and told her to return to the police station immediately.

"Ethan, turn right at the intersection ahead. Just drop me off at the station!" Vivian said.

Ethan looked troubled.

I was only two intersections away from home.

For such a short distance, I didn't need to call a cab.

But if he stopped the car to let me out directly, I would have to walk home alone.

The distance of two intersections wasn't far, but it would still take some time to walk.

What's more, it was already dark.

Ethan had just opened his mouth to say something when I cut him off first.

"You can stop ahead. It's not far from home. I'll walk back."

Ethan's face darkened.

But Vivian cheerfully urged, "Serena already said she'll walk back herself. Let's hurry back to the station."

Ethan pulled over to the side of the road with a cold expression, glaring at me through the rearview mirror.

I didn't even glance at him. I pushed open the car door, got out, and walked forward without looking back.

Ethan looked very angry as he stepped on the gas and sped away.