True Love Waits

"Of course, he holds some amount of power. They are rich, after all. Calvert and his father visit my dad often. Last time, they gave my mom a set of gemstone jewelry. Besides, Langston Ji is friends with Vernon, the gang leader... Wait a minute! You know Vernon too, don't you?" Joshua asked. Sheffield never talked about his private affairs to others. But as his best friends, Joshua and Gifford were the ones who knew him the best.

A wide smile crept across the doctor's face. "I see. Things have become more interesting. Looks like we do share a connection. Vernon only told me that he knew Langston, but he didn't mention that they were friends. I don't think the two of them are on good terms," Sheffield analyzed.

"All right, I've told you all I know about Calvert. Now it's your turn to tell me why you are inquiring about him." Joshua was always curious about Sheffield, his mysterious friend. He wanted to get to the bottom of everything that concerned him.

"Because..." Sheffield grinned, and then announced, "From this moment on, Calvert is my rival." He was determined to make Evelyn his. Nobody could snatch her away from him now.

Joshua sighed. He wondered how Calvert had offended this man. Nonetheless, he decided to drop the subject. "Want to get a drink tonight?"

"No. You should leave. I have something important to do."

"What? Something more important than me? Your best friend?" Joshua pulled a long face.

Sheffield flashed a playful smile. "Your friend is trying his best to get himself a wife."

Joshua choked. "What? Sheffield Tang, are you serious about this girl?" His eyes widened in shock. This was huge news.

"Yes. I have never taken the initiative to hit on a girl. But this time, I did. And I'm serious about her," he said firmly.

Joshua reminded him, "You still have four years left before you reach thirty. You better get a hold on yourself."

Sheffield understood what he was hinting at. About a year ago, he and his friends had gotten drunk and sworn to each other that they wouldn't get married until they were in their thirties. The one who broke the rules of the game would have to spend his night before the wedding with another woman.

Sheffield, being only twenty-six years old, had never expected that he would meet Evelyn just a year after this promise was made. He fell in love with her at first sight, and even had the urge to marry her. 'Love comes like a tornado,' he thought.

After some thought, he said, "It'll be fine. I'll live with her first, and then, when I turn thirty, we will get married." 'Evelina will be thirty-three by then. Would she be willing to wait that long?' He already began to imagine their future together.

Joshua snorted and patted his shoulder. "Do let me see your future wife. I'm so curious about what kind of woman she is. Even a playboy like you has fallen for her and is even willing to tie the knot. She must be a goddess of some sort."

for the next ten days. Still a long way to go. He didn't want to push her too much, and scare her

already dark outside. She looked at the time; it

out for dinner with Sheffield, but they didn't decide on a time. She hadn't set the alarm and thanks to the tiring trip to the Elephant Valley, she had slept for almost four

off the windowsill and strode over to his boss, ready

for a second and asked, "Which room

about. "He left his room

"Not back yet?"

"No."

with a dash

strange feeling in her heart and went

of the guesthouse, a figure suddenly sprang

when the light hit his face, he stopped. Sheffield stood in front

of his mouth and handed it to Evelyn. "Sleeping

eyes and stared at

traveled thirty kilometers to pick this flower for you. Please,

to pick a flower?'

the flower from him and breathed in the fragrance.

must be hungry. Come on. I'll treat you to a huge meal tonight. We'll have fried haw apple, bean paste cake, beggar's chicken, steamed rice roll, braised vegetables..." He went on and on with

was hungry to begin with. With him rambling on about all these delicious

grinned. In an instant, he grabbed hold of her wrist and began to walk. "Come on. After having dinner,

she had never even heard of before. Despite her being a germophobe, she

her hands were full, so he picked a piece

ate the rice cake. After swallowing it, she

wonder he knew the

is my third time here. But I was here for something else back