A Pet Name That Belonged Only to Them

Standing in the crowd, Zane Cole wore a Chinese-style white shirt, dark pants, and white sneakers. Just those two simple colors made him look unlike ordinary men, giving him an airy, unworldly aura. Just standing there, he drew plenty of attention.

His features were striking and refined, and he looked very young, about the same age as Claire Bennett. No one would have guessed he was the newly appointed head of the Cole family, the famous family of traditional Chinese medicine.

Looking at this old friend from the past, Claire Bennett smiled. "Porridge, what are you doing here?"

Hearing Claire Bennett call him that, the corners of Zane Cole's lips couldn't help lifting slightly.

When they were little, the two of them had given each other nicknames. Zane Cole called her Little Lemon, and she called him Porridge. It was an affectionate pet name that belonged only to them.

Zane Cole took Claire Bennett's suitcase and said, "Come on. I'll take you to get something to eat first."

The two of them left the airport together.

The driver was an old familiar face from the Cole family. When he saw Claire Bennett, he greeted her with a smile. "Miss Claire."

"Uncle Zhao, long time no see." Claire Bennett greeted him back.

Back when the Bennett family's driver was occasionally unavailable, Claire Bennett would hitch a ride to school in Zane Cole's car, so she was very familiar with the Cole family's driver. She hadn't expected that after so many years, Uncle Zhao would still be working for the Cole family, and that Zane Cole would still be almost unchanged from before. Only the Bennett family had long since become unrecognizable.

Claire Bennett's eyes suddenly stung a little.

Zane Cole said, "Let's go. I'll take you to that grilled fish place you used to love most."

Then the two of them drove away from the airport.

...

At the same time, the Sterling family's driver had also picked up Julian Sterling and the others, and the business van headed toward the Sterling residence.

In the car, Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling talked about Old Mr. Sterling's recent health.

"Do you know the Cole family? Lately that head of the Cole family has been making quite a name for himself in New York's circles. A lot of people want to invite him to their homes to help condition their health. Your grandfather wants to invite him too, but he hasn't been able to."

Ruby Sterling asked curiously, "Can't you pull some strings?"

She felt that in New York, basically no one would refuse to give the Sterling family face. So hearing that someone actually wouldn't give Old Mr. Sterling face, Ruby Sterling couldn't help being surprised, and she immediately grew curious about the head of the Cole family.

Mr. Sterling said in a deep voice, "Zane Cole isn't like other people who rush to flatter the Sterling family. He doesn't give anyone face. He's pretty unconventional."

That meant pulling strings would be useless.

After saying that, Mr. Sterling continued, "Julian, since you're in New York this time, go pay the Cole family a visit. Maybe it'll be more useful if young people talk to each other."

In fact, Mr. Sterling knew about the fight between Julian Sterling and Old Mr. Sterling. He also didn't want Julian Sterling to cut himself off from the Sterling family. Old Mr. Sterling was just stubborn—how could he really blame Julian Sterling?

If Julian Sterling could invite someone from the Cole family this time to help Old Mr. Sterling condition his health, then knowing Julian Sterling cared about his body, it would definitely ease the relationship between grandfather and grandson.

Julian Sterling had no objections. He nodded and said, "Okay. After the birthday banquet, I'll go take a look."

Claire Bennett and Zane Cole went to the little restaurant they had loved most back when they were students.

Although both of them had come from pretty well-off families, they had been especially down-to-earth, and their favorite place had been this grilled fish restaurant. She hadn't expected that after so many years, it still hadn't gone out of business.

The busy proprietress noticed them and hurried over to greet them warmly. "You two haven't been here in a long time. You've graduated by now, right? Are you married? You must even have kids already, right?"

Zane Cole did not deny it when he heard that.

His eyes turned toward Claire Bennett, and a trace of softness overflowed from them.

Claire Bennett lowered her eyes a little awkwardly. She gave an embarrassed smile and said, "I'm already married, but I don't have children yet."

As soon as she said that, Zane Cole's expression changed abruptly, and he stared at Claire Bennett in utter shock.

She, she... what had she just said?

The expression on Zane Cole's face was like he'd been struck by a thunderbolt, as if Claire Bennett's words had completely stunned him.

After a long while, Zane Cole came back to himself. Dropping his usual gentle manner, he pulled Claire Bennett's hand and led her off to the side, asking impatiently, "You're married!?"

Claire Bennett looked at the agitated Zane Cole, helplessness appearing on her face, and told him honestly, "Yeah. We hadn't been in touch before, so I didn't tell you. Porridge, I'm sorry. If I ever hold a wedding banquet in the future, I'll definitely invite you to be the witness."

Claire Bennett hardly dared think about the future. She didn't even know whether she and Julian Sterling would ever have a wedding.

"..." Zane Cole instantly didn't know what to say.

In that instant, his heart felt scorched to ashes, then completely plunged into a world of ice and snow. All at once, life felt drained of vitality.

He had never imagined that in such a short time, Claire Bennett could enter the halls of marriage with another man.

He had silently waited for her for so long. Why couldn't Claire Bennett have waited for him a little longer?

Zane Cole actually understood that to Claire Bennett, he was only a good friend, or at most someone she felt brotherly affection toward. She had never shown any sign that she liked him.

But he was different.

He had liked Claire Bennett since childhood. Back then, when they were kids, he thought they were still too young, so he buried those feelings in his heart. He had never expected that later something like that would happen to the Bennett family, and that Claire Bennett would leave without a word.