Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

She pushed open the door and stepped out, hesitantly calling out-"Cousin?"

The man turned around, and his eyes lit up with surprise: "Anne?"

It was indeed Halley Cole, the only son of Maddox Cole and Raven.

He hadn't brought an umbrella, and his T-shirt was already soaked through, with droplets of water dripping from the tips of his hair.

Roseanne quickly pulled out some tissues and handed them over, saying, "Here, dry yourself off. Even though it's summer, walking around with wet hair can still give you a cold." "Thanks." He took them, wiping his hair while remarking, "You're still as thoughtful and caring as when you were a kid."

The bookstore was connected to the neighboring mall, so since they had bumped into each other and it was still raining outside, they decided they might as well grab lunch together.

Roseanne called Madge to let her know she wouldn't be coming home for lunch today. After a couple of questions, Madge didn't pry further and hung up.

Inside the bistro, the mellow background music made the dreary rainy day seem a bit brighter. They sat by the window, where the floor-to-ceiling glass kept out the sound of the rain, leaving only the picturesque view.

waiter's recommendation, Roseanne picked out a few signature dishes. While waiting for their food, she turned

back, her gaze inadvertently met Halley's. Roseanne was momentarily startled, then

it was easy for them to play together. Throughout middle and high school, they

time Halley visited her

School, he would bring her some treats. Roseanne vividly remembered those moments-sometimes it was fruit-filled pastries, other times cookies or snacks, and occasionally, a pack of spicy strips... Those were the happiest moments

relationships, and Halley with his internships and work, leading to their

After graduating, Roseanne devoted

entire self

Halley, having quit his job, was busy launching a startup with friends,

both hesitate, feeling it odd to suddenly call after such a long time without contact. Both harbored this thought, leading to a complete halt in communication. Some friendships just fade away like that, but fortunately, they were still bound

said, "Anne, you haven't changed a bit." She was still the sister he remembered, quiet, beautiful, with

genuinely pleased.