Miles Between Us

In the fourth year of my long-distance relationship with Nolan Price, he suddenly became clingy.

Before going to the lab, he would report his schedule to me in advance. If he came across a good milk tea, he would share it with me.

Even when he went out for a meal with friends, he would take photos and send them to me.

But after listening, my roommate and self-proclaimed relationship strategist said with absolute certainty:

Your boyfriend is cheating.

Telling you what hes busy with in advance is his way of hinting that you shouldnt call.

When he goes out to eat and only photographs the food, not the people, its absolutely because someone special is sitting beside him.

And wait, didnt you tell me before that your boyfriend never drinks milk tea?

I refused to believe it.

During the long weekend, I dragged my suitcase across half the country to Nolans university.

And there, I saw a girl take a sip of milk tea, shove it into Nolans hand, and complain:

Too sweet. Gross.

The next second, a message from Nolan popped up on my phone.

[Tried a new milk tea flavor today. Its sweet. Youd probably like it.]

[When you come visit, Ill buy it for you.]

Nolan Price, you promised today was all mine. And youre secretly playing with your phone again?

The girl snatched his phone and spoke fiercely.

Im confiscating it.

Nolan smiled, pressed his palms together, and begged.

Please, Your Highness. Let me send one last message, then Ill go eat with you. Give it back, okay?

Fine. Two minutes.

[Tara, my adviser is keeping me in the lab again this afternoon, so I cant video call. Dont miss me too much.]

Seeing that ordinary check-in message again only made my heart twist.

Before coming here, I had bet a whole month of living expenses with my roommate.

I was certain Nolan would never cheat.

Reality slapped me immediately.

I followed behind Nolan.

I watched as the girl excitedly pulled him into a fish hotpot restaurant.

She picked up a slice of fish coated in red chili oil and held it to Nolans lips with a mischievous smile.

Nolan looked at her with indulgence and helplessly opened his mouth.

But he was clearly a clean freak. He never shared chopsticks with me.

Once, I accidentally used his chopsticks by mistake.

He threw them straight into the trash without hesitation.

Nolan was hit hard by the spice.

He immediately picked up the drink beside him and took a sip.

But when we went out for hotpot together, if even a little chili oil touched the clear broth, he wouldnt touch it anymore.

Every time that happened, I felt terribly guilty.

I would blame myself for being greedy and ruining the date.

So it turned out taboos could be broken.

I just wasnt the exception.

I followed them at a distance.

Then an older woman suddenly stopped me with a warm smile.

Miss, buy a lovers lock.

Hang it on Lovers Bridge with your boyfriend, and youll stay together forever. Happy and blessed.

I turned my head.

The girl was holding a lovers lock, laughing and chatting with Nolan as they queued to walk onto the bridge.

I laughed at myself and politely declined the woman.

Thank you, but no. I dont have a boyfriend.

I suddenly remembered when Nolan and I climbed a mountain together two years ago.

Under the old matchmaking tree at the summit, people crowded around to buy red ribbons, write down their names with their lovers, and pray for a lasting bond.

Nolan said superstition was irrational.

He also thought it was a waste of time, so he pulled me straight down the mountain.

Later, I secretly climbed back up alone and hung one.

Maybe because I had been in such a hurry and wasnt sincere enough, the matchmaker god refused to bless us forever.

When I walked up behind Nolan, he and the girl had just finished hanging the lock.

The girl clapped her hands, planted them on her hips, and admired the lock with satisfaction.

Done. Now were locked together. Well never be apart.

I gave a soft laugh and asked them:

Lovers locks are supposed to be hung by lovers. Are you?

Tara?

Nolan suddenly looked up at me, his expression both surprised and guilty.

Why didnt you tell me you were coming? I couldve picked you up at the station.

He stood and naturally reached for my suitcase.

I held it tight. He couldnt pull it away.

My expression was mocking.

If Id told you in advance, how would I have caught this sweet little scene?

He grew slightly annoyed and scolded me in a low voice.

Tara, dont talk nonsense.

She and I are just ordinary friends.

I shook off his hand, my expression calm.

Nolan, you still havent answered my question.

I was speaking to Nolan.

But my eyes were fixed straight on the girl.

She smiled and took the initiative to greet me.

Hi, Tara. Im Ruby Sullivan, Nolans junior.

Im sorry. I didnt know youd be upset.

I just thought it was fun, so I pestered Nolan into hanging this lock with me and you.

If you dont like it, Ill ask the staff to take it down right now.

Nolan frowned.

Dont bother. The staff remove them after a while anyway.

Only then did I remember that Nolan had mentioned the name before.

Back then, he told me Ruby was his advisers youngest daughter.

He had complained about her to me.

He said she often hid their lab results and made them play hide-and-seek.

Sometimes she even clumsily broke glass instruments in the lab.

He had also teased her for having a sweet tooth.

He said she ate so many sugary things she got cavities, then cried outside the clinic because the dentist wore a white coat.

Eventually, he even started feeling sorry for her.

He said Ruby was often lonely by herself, and his adviser had asked him to spend more time with her.

Naturally, I had assumed Ruby was a lively little girl who had no peers to play with.

I had even bought a popular doll online as a gift for her.

I planned to ask her not to mess with Nolan, or maybe put in a good word for him in front of her father.

But it turned out she was about my age.

Nolan forcefully took the suitcase from my hand.

With his other hand, he clasped mine, interlocking our fingers.

Sorry, Ruby.

My girlfriend came all this way to see me. I cant hang out with you today.

Ruby gave a soft ah.

But theres still the lab group dinner tonight. If youre not going, I still want to go.

Dont forget, you promised my dad youd get me home safely.

Nolan hesitated for a moment, then immediately made the decision for me.

Tara, come with me then.

You came all this way at night. You probably havent eaten.

After dinner and after I send Ruby home, Ill go with you to the hotel.

He didnt give me room to refuse. He simply took my hand and led me into the car.

Well, well, Nolan Price. You ran around outside with your junior all day and only showed up now.

You made all of us wait this long. You have to drink as punishment.

The guy sitting beside him pressed down the hand pouring the wine.

Nolan is practically the advisers future son-in-law. If you get him drunk, be careful the adviser calls you out in tomorrows group meeting.

Nolans grip on my hand tightened. He immediately explained.

Dont take it to heart. Theyre joking on purpose.

I looked around.

Everyone seemed used to it. Clearly, this was the kind of joke they made all the time.

Ruby slapped the guys forehead casually.

Why are you barking? Cant you see Nolan brought his girlfriend?

If you two ruin their relationship, all of you are dead.

Only then did those people notice my existence.

Their gazes landed on the three of us, and their expressions instantly turned subtle.

The guy smiled awkwardly and slapped his own mouth twice.

My mouth has no filter. I just talk nonsense. Please forgive me this once.

Ill pay for todays meal as an apology.

You said youre paying, so I wont hold back.

Ruby sat down without ceremony and picked up the menu, adding another crate of beer.

Nolan frowned and pressed her hand down.

Drinking again? Did you forget how you got alcohol poisoning last time and were sent to the hospital in the middle of the night?

Why do you never learn?

Cancel it.

The others chimed in.

Yeah. Last time, Nolan was scared half to death. He didnt sleep all night and stayed with you in the hospital.

Ruby snorted.

As he should.

If he hadnt made me mad on Valentines Day, why would I have gone drinking?

I froze.

On Valentines Day, I sprained my ankle.

While getting the wound bandaged, I cried and video-called Nolan for comfort, only to see that his background was also a hospital.

But he didnt notice anything wrong with me. He just hurriedly said a few words, told me he was busy, and hung up.

I thought he had fallen seriously ill and hidden it from me because he didnt want me to worry.

Ignoring my own injured foot, I tried to buy a ticket to go to him. My roommate stopped me, but I still couldnt sleep the whole night.

That night, I called him countless times.

Not a single call went through.

So that night, for another girl, he had tossed and turned sleeplessly just like I had.

Ruby snorted and shoved the menu back at the server.

Besides, youre not anyone to me. What right do you have to control me?

Nolan froze.

Sitting beside her, he fell unusually silent.

I stood awkwardly to the side, watching the scene.

I only felt wretched and unnecessary.

In the end, it was the guy who had joked earlier who noticed my embarrassment and waved to a server not far away.

Add a chair here.

And so, for the entire meal, I was like that chair that had been dragged over temporarily.

Out of place.

Ruby drank quite a lot.

Nolan watched her the whole time and didnt touch a single bite of food.

I, on the other hand, was starving. So I picked up my chopsticks and ate without ceremony.

A message from my relationship strategist, Erica, popped up on my phone.

Have you met him? Whats the situation?

I took a photo of the scene and sent it to her.

Above that message happened to be the photo Nolan had sent me as his meal check-in.

Back then, I had forwarded it to her specifically, asking her to analyze it.

She had concluded that he was cheating.

I smiled bitterly.

I owe you a month of living expenses.

Outraged, she sent me several sixty-second voice messages in a row.

I didnt have time to listen.

Because Ruby suddenly covered her mouth and stood.

I feel like throwing up.

Nolan stood helplessly and supported her.

I told you not to overdo it. Now you feel awful, huh?

Hold it in. Ill help you to the restroom first.

Ruby shook off his hand.

Youre a man. If you follow me into the womens restroom, arent you afraid people will call you a creep?

Let Tara come with me.

Nolan was convinced. He lowered his eyes to me.

It really isnt convenient for me.

Tara, can you go with Ruby?

I stood. I wanted to see what Ruby was planning.

Sure enough, the moment we entered the restroom, the person who had supposedly been too dizzy to stand became sober.

Ruby washed her hands leisurely and looked at me through the mirror.

Nolan never told anyone he had a girlfriend.

My heart sank.

I know youve already seen it. I like him.

She paused, then added:

And he likes me too.

She suddenly took a phone from her pocket and entered the password in front of me.

The familiar phone case made my heart tremble.

It was the birthday gift I had given Nolan last winter. Mine was the matching pair.

Ruby clearly noticed that I recognized it. Proudly, she waved the phone at me.

The smiling girl on the screen slowly merged with the person before me.

I felt dizzy and had to support myself against the wall.

Otherwise, why would he use my photo as his lock screen and my birthday as the password?

Oh, and you probably didnt know.

Sometimes, Im the one who replies to your messages for him. No need to thank me.

I just thought you were so pitiful, waiting by your phone every day like a dog for him to reply.

Her words were like a blade, completely cutting through the last thread of hope in my heart.

So in places I didnt know, our photo had been replaced by Rubys.

The anniversary password I once set for him had become Rubys birthday.

Even the love that once belonged to me alone had been divided and given to Ruby.

Tara, is Ruby still feeling sick?

Help her out. Ill give her some hangover medicine first.

So Nolan could be this thoughtful too.

Do you believe that if I go out now and tell him you left, hell only blame you for leaving me here alone?

I fell silent.

Suddenly, I was terrified to know the answer.

But Ruby walked out.

Why are you alone? Wheres Tara?

Ruby swayed to his side and buried her head in Nolans arms.

She left me here alone and went ahead. A drunk guy walked by just now.

I was scared to death. Thank God you came.

Nolan frowned.

She left? How could she leave a drunk girl here by herself?

Ill help you back to rest first.

But Nolan.

How could you bear to leave me alone in a city I didnt know?

I laughed at myself and called my roommate.

Erica, can you help me fill out the application form for the government-sponsored study abroad program?

I probably cant get back to school until tomorrow afternoon, and I wont make the deadline.

The other end was silent for a moment. She cursed Nolan a few times, then spoke loyally.

Easy. I havent submitted mine either.

After hanging up, I went to the front desk to get my suitcase and planned to take a cab to the hotel.

But when the female driver heard the hotel address I gave, she kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

She hesitated several times before finally speaking.

Miss, are you here alone to visit friends?

I wasnt used to strangers being so warm, so I casually said yes and didnt respond further.

Then why book that hotel? If you can, switch to another one.

Seeing my confused expression, she explained.

That hotel was recently exposed for hidden cameras. They were selling guests private photos on overseas websites.

It caused a huge scandal. Almost everyone local knows. Didnt your friend remind you?

My whole body turned cold.

I immediately opened my phone to check if there were any flights back to school.

Luckily, I managed to find one last-minute red-eye ticket.

Thank you for reminding me. Im not going to the hotel. Please take me straight to the airport.

While checking in, I finally received a call from Nolan.

Why did you leave Ruby alone in the restroom just because you were mad at me? Do you know how dangerous that place is?

Luckily, nothing happened.

Nolan did not care which hotel I had booked or whether I might have been filmed.

He did not worry whether I, alone on unfamiliar streets, would get lost or harassed.

Only accusation came at me.

Maybe he finally realized I hadnt spoken. He finally remembered to ask:

Where are you now? Ill come get you.

Nolan, dont come.

Were breaking up.