Chapter 3

Joey didn't walk into the hotel as the little girl in her arms was attracted by the two potted plants by the entrance. Joey held the little girl patiently with a gentle smile on her face.

I stared at her in silence, the wind carrying away the tears on my face.

I suddenly remembered the first time I saw Joey.

She was out under the blazing sun, wearing a heavy mascot costume. She sat in a corner of the mall, her hair soaked with sweat, gulping down bottle after bottle of water. Although she was exhausted, the light in her eyes shone like stars.

I was captivated by the starlight in that girl's eyes. I watched her put her headpiece back on, then continued interacting with passing customers.

As the mall was about to close, she suddenly walked up to me and gave me a lollipop.

I took it anyway, and instinctively peeled away the brightly colored wrapper.

The weather was hot, so the lollipop had melted a little, yet it still had the usual cheap taste as it hit my tongue. It was cloyingly sweet, yet strangely intoxicating.

I later learned that Joey was a university freshman, a poor student who had just left the mountains. Her father had died early, and she had a sick mother at home. The tuition fees and her mother's medical bills had all landed on Joey's frail shoulders.

Nonetheless, she always had a smile on her face and never complained about the unfairness of the world. She quietly accepted society's prejudices and injustices.

I gradually started to have feelings for her. I would visit her part-time workplace and act as if I were also a hardworking student.

However, I had grown up without worry and lived a life of comfort, so I naturally couldn't get used to this type of work.

When I accidentally broke a plate, Joey looked at me with worry. At first, I thought she was afraid of being dragged down by my mistake since we were on the same team. Surprisingly, she quietly cleaned up the mess and even paid the fine for me.

Joey even comforted me and said, "It's alright. Just be careful next time."

Her clean, gentle smile touched a soft spot in my heart.

I never told her that I was the sole heir of the Smiths. I was scared that she would treat me like everyone else, flattering me because of my background and wealth.

As we spent more time together day after day, I found myself caring for her even more. Until one day, I realized that just hearing the name "Joey Taylor" would bring an inexplicable sweetness to my heart. I knew that I had fallen for this pure, friendly girl.

However, I saw her hugging a boy in a plain white shirt and sharing a small cake when I arrived at her dormitory one day. It was only then that I learned that she had a childhood friend.

He was her first love, the one she liked. They had promised they would start dating after graduation, once they could support themselves.

Seeing the happiness and contentment on Joey's face, I forced a bitter smile, quietly left, and quit my part-time job.

I thought our connection had ended there. Yet, when I passed by a hospital one day, I heard Joey's heart-wrenching cries.