New Canary, New Joy

I was rich, single, and very much enjoying it.

To pass the time, I kept a poor but ridiculously pretty little songbird.

The girl had a face, a body, and enough sweetness to make men stupid. The only flaw was that she was painfully shy. She insisted on playing some innocent romance game with me.

I was not allowed to touch her.

I was not allowed to visit her at school.

Everything had to happen properly.

I understood. She was young.

Then one day, I went to her university to discuss funding a new lab.

Her professor pointed from a distance at her and another guy, smiling proudly as he said they were his best students, the labs famous golden couple.

I laughed.

So it wasnt that she was young and shy.

She was afraid the boat would tip.

Fine.

I could change birds.

After all, her senior looked much prettier than her.

I truly hadnt seen this coming.

The little songbird I had paid a fortune to keep called me honey so sweetly in private.

Behind my back, not only did she have a boyfriend, she told people I was her obsessive, mentally unstable distant cousin.

I hissed through my teeth.

I had spent my whole life hunting hawks.

Who knew one day Id get pecked in the eye by one?

The student showing me around the lab leaned closer with concern.

Mr. Whitaker, are you okay?

I shook my head. Im fine. Im mentally unstable.

The student laughed awkwardly. Seeing my eyes still fixed on Nora Lee in the distance, he added a few more words.

Mr. Whitaker, Nora is pretty capable professionally. If not for her cousin, she might already be overseas for further study.

I lifted an eyebrow without showing much. Oh? How so?

Nora has this cursed cousin. The kind who supposedly brings bad luck to the whole family. Even his wife died. But Nora still cares about family, so she keeps in touch with him.

During her video interview that day, he suddenly had an episode and demanded she come to him or hed hurt himself. Nora had no choice and missed the interview.

I froze.

Then I gave a cold laugh.

I remembered that.

At the time, Nora had told me she did not want to go abroad. I spent days trying to persuade her.

She curled up in my arms, all pitiful and soft.

Honey, I dont want to leave you.

My heart had softened.

I thought girls these days were so clingy.

When I still refused to give in, she turned away in a huff and asked if I no longer liked her, if I was trying to send her away.

In the end, I spent several hundred thousand to cheer her up, bought her a car, and took her through a round of luxury boutiques.

Now it seemed she was exactly like my late wife, whose portrait already hung on the wall.

Not being able to leave me was fake.

Using me, then making me carry the blame for things she did not want to do, was real.

After leaving the lab building, I texted Nora.

Find time to move all your things out.

A paid arrangement was one thing.

But she had turned it into some ugly little drama where I was forcing an innocent girl and she was hiding an entire second life.

I did not need her that badly.

I had just seen another girl who looked much better than her.

Nora replied quickly.

First confusion.

Then panic.

Honey, what happened?

Whatever it is, talk to me properly, okay?

You promised you wouldnt abandon me so easily.

I scoffed.

When I started keeping her, I had indeed promised not to end things casually.

But she never told me she was doing this behind her boyfriends back.

No professional ethics as a kept woman.

I put my phone away and wandered around campus alone.

It was my first time at this university.

I had always wanted to come. I had told Nora I wanted to see where she studied.

But she had held my hand pitifully and said she was afraid people at school would gossip.

So, at her request, I never came to find her.

Even when I picked her up, I parked at the closest intersection outside campus.

I thought she wanted to keep a low profile.

Turns out she wanted to hide the fact that she was playing both sides.

My phone kept buzzing nonstop.

I had no interest in checking it.

My eyes landed on a girl sitting on the edge of a flower bed not far away.

I remembered her from the group that had shown me around earlier. She had disappeared after one glance.

Meeting her again now?

That was fate being very considerate.

Excuse me. Would you show me around campus?

I vaguely remembered she was Noras senior.

Clearly, she remembered me too.

Mr. Whitaker.

I raised an eyebrow.

Everyone today had called me Mr. Whitaker in the business way, with a title and a bow in their tone.

She said it like I was just a man.

My gaze moved slowly from the red at the corners of her eyes to her soft lips.

She seemed uneasy under my stare and coughed lightly.

I smiled and sat beside her as if we were already familiar.

Are you sick?

She hummed softly.

A bit of a cold and fever. The professor told me to leave early.

Just enough concern entered my eyes.

How did that happen? Did you take medicine? Should I buy some now?

As I moved to stand, my sleeve was lightly tugged.

Then released.

She lifted her eyes and gave me a calm look.

That look went straight to the exact place in my chest it had no business touching.

I sat back down smoothly.

Mr. Whitaker, Ive actually seen you before.

I quickly searched my memory for her face.

Impossible.

A face like hers would have left an impression.

The girl smiled. But you havent seen me.

Last winter, I worked part-time at the North Ridge ski resort.

My eyes shifted.

Last winter, Nora had told me pitifully that she had never gone skiing.

I bought flights and booked a hotel that very night, taking her to North Ridge.

So this girl had seen me with Nora?

I saw you teaching Nora how to ski. Later, I asked her who you were. She said you were her cousin.

So, Mr. Whitaker, is your investment in the lab also for Nora?

I gave a cold laugh.

Originally, yes.

Nora had always complained to me that her advisor favored her senior.

But now, I had changed my mind.

I adjusted the glasses on my nose. When I lowered my hand, my fingers brushed hers as if by accident.

That slender hand moved slightly.

It did not pull away.

I smiled and sat a little closer.

If you want, I can do it for you instead.

She turned her head and looked at me with amber eyes, unblinking.

I paused for a moment, then slowly leaned in.

She did not dodge.

I tightened my hold on her hand.

Still, she did not dodge.

So I smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth.

She remained quietly still, almost like an offering, except the red at the corners of her eyes deepened.

I drew back a little, touched her trembling lashes with my fingertips, and smiled.

Lets exchange numbers.

Ill wait for you to contact me.

Just as I finished speaking, hurried footsteps approached.

By reflex, I pulled my hand away from hers.

Though I might have imagined it, that hand seemed to hold my fingertips for the briefest instant, as if asking me to stay.

Honey, why are you here?

Nora looked at me strangely, then nervously at the girl beside me.

Senior, why are you here too?

I glanced at Noras pale, anxious face and deliberately said, I had business here.

You shouldve seen my message. Move your things out as soon as

Honey!

Nora loudly cut me off.

She glanced at her senior and kept signaling at me with her eyes.

Im sorry. I know I made you mad. Can we talk about it when we get back?

I frowned.

Had I spoiled her so much that she had forgotten what my temper was really like?

I was about to expose everything directly when the person beside me spoke softly.

Nora, hes your cousin?

Nora inhaled and nodded quickly.

Yes, Senior. This is the cousin I always told you about, the one who treats me very well.

After saying that, she threw me a look as if asking for praise.

I gave a cold laugh.

If I had not known she described me at school as her obsessive, unstable distant cousin, I might have believed her.

Just like I had believed the travel photos with me that she occasionally posted.

But I did not refute her.

Because I felt a cool finger lightly hook around my pinky at my side.

The fire in my chest was doused like someone had poured ice water over it.

It vanished instantly.

I lifted an eyebrow and smiled in a much better mood.

Nora thought she had fooled me and visibly relaxed.

She said to the person still hooking my finger, Senior, the professor is looking for you. You should go.

The woman beside me hummed and let go.

But as she left, she looked at me and said softly,

Mr. Whitaker, my name is Iris Bell.

Iris Bell.

I rolled the name over my tongue and rubbed my pinky with my thumb.

Noras unhappy voice sounded beside me.

Honey!

I withdrew my gaze expressionlessly.

She pouted, aggrieved. Senior has a boyfriend. Dont even think about it.

I laughed and glanced at her flushed face.

Oh? Then do you have a little boyfriend at school?

Noras eyes changed instantly.

She frowned at me with suspicion. Did Senior say something to you?

Honey, dont believe her.

If I had a boyfriend, would I post so much about you online?

I waved my hand impatiently, about to speak.

Her eyes reddened, and she attacked first.

Honey, is it because Senior is prettier than me that you told me to move everything out?

I was wrong about you.

With that, she clutched her phone, glared at me, and ran off.

I stood there watching her back, stunned.

Then I laughed from anger.

But I did not stay angry long.

The moment I got into the car, I received two messages.

One was from Nora.

Honey, Im really angry this time. Youd better think about how to make it up to me.

Expressionless, I deleted her.

The other was a friend request.

Mr. Whitaker, Im Iris Bell.

My fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel.

Then I accepted.

Iris messaged quickly.

Mr. Whitaker, Im different from Nora. Im currently single.

I chuckled and answered with a question.

How did you get my contact information?

I asked my advisor.

I rubbed my chin and typed.

My cat can do backflips. Would you like to come watch?

There was no reply for a long time.

Just as I thought I had scared her off, one simple word appeared.

Okay.

I smiled, locked my phone, and drove off campus.

Since someone new was coming, the old one needed to be cleaned out.

I told my assistant to pack up everything related to Nora in my home and send it all to her school.

Nora reacted fast, calling me from different numbers.

She even started acting tragic.

I handed a glass of juice to Iris, who stood by the floor-to-ceiling window.

She accepted it and kept looking down.

Mr. Whitaker, Nora is standing downstairs in the rain.

Is that really okay?

I did not look down once.

Instead, my gaze kept circling the low collar of Iriss T-shirt.

Should I let her come up, then?

Iris finally moved her eyes away from downstairs and looked back at me.

I smiled, leaned closer, and reached behind her ear to pull the sheer curtain shut.

Im only her obsessive distant cousin. I cant control her.

Iriss eyes trembled.

She stood perfectly still as I kept moving closer.

The instant before I kissed her, I turned my head and leaned to her ear.

Iris, the day I took Nora skiing, you saw me kiss her, didnt you?

Just as I wanted, I heard her breath catch.

Her warm breathing brushed constantly against my neck.

I smiled.

Over the past few days, I had repeatedly recalled the ski resort and finally dug out the faintest memory of Iris.

In that memory, she wore a face covering and stood behind a tree, watching Nora and me from far away for a long time.

Iriss restrained voice sounded.

Mr. Whitaker, Nora isnt right for you. She has a boyfriend, and she doesnt like you.

I rested my chin lightly on her shoulder and smiled without answering.

A hot little hand slowly settled on my waist. Iriss voice grew hoarser.

Im prettier than her. Im better in the lab than her. Most importantly, Ive never dated anyone. I can be completely loyal to you.

I laughed under my breath and wrapped an arm around her waist. Looking at her flushed face, I said softly,

All right. Lets try.

And once we tried, we lost track of the world.

Iris was smarter than Nora. She knew exactly what she wanted and learned quickly.

Especially when that cool, elegant face showed shy restraint, it made a mans heart itch.

Outside, wind and rain raged.

Inside, the air was warm and heated.

When the doorbell rang, Iris was lazy in my arms, still catching her breath.

Noras voice came faintly from the door, calling for me.

Iris gave a short laugh. Her tongue shaped two soft words.

Honey.

That hoarse, warm voice softened my ears.

I covered her trembling lashes with my hand and lowered my head to kiss her.

Neither of us had any mind left for Nora at the door.

The next morning, I walked out of the bedroom feeling refreshed.

My phone was full of messages from unknown numbers.

Honey, do you really not want me anymore?

Do you remember what you said when we first got together?

You said even if we broke up, wed end it peacefully and youd arrange everything for me.

But I stood in the rain all day yesterday, and you didnt even come see me. Honey, youre so cruel.

I drank some water and smiled mockingly.

So that entire tragic performance was a reminder to pay her breakup fee.

But why should I?

As a sponsor, I had not only been cheated on, but my little bird had also described me outside as her obsessive older cousin.

I had not even charged her emotional damages.

A warm body hugged me from behind.

Iriss voice was almost too hoarse. Honey, unhappy so early in the morning?

I relaxed into her arms and played with her fingers.

In a few days, Im going to sign the lab agreement. Youll be there, right?

Iris laughed softly.

Yes. The professor values this investment so much that he arranged a signing event. All his students will attend.

I understood.

That meant Nora and her little boyfriend would be there too.

I was very curious what expression she would make when she saw me, her obsessive cousin.

The professor clearly valued this investment more than I had imagined.

He not only applied to use the universitys small auditorium, but also invited reporters.

I listened as he eagerly introduced his project.

At the end, he introduced Iris beside him with emotion.

Mr. Whitaker, this is my proudest student. She missed your last visit because she was sick. I believe she apologized to you afterward?

Iris extended a hand with a perfectly serious face.

Mr. Whitaker, hello.

I looked at Iris and smiled. When I shook her hand, I scratched her palm lightly.

Her face gave nothing away.

But red spread from her ears down her neck.

The professor led me into the venue while introducing his other students.

Then I saw a familiar figure.

The professors voice rang out.

Nora, Tyler.

Let me introduce you to our investor.

That figure slowly turned around.

I smiled at her with leisurely interest.

Then I watched the bright smile on her face collapse inch by inch.

At last, it became terror.

My smile grew wider.

The professor noticed something was wrong with Nora, and his tone grew hesitant.

Nora, do you know Mr. Whitaker?

Nora looked at the professor in panic, guilt written all over her face.

I watched her stammer for a long time without managing a sentence.

Kindly, I helped her out.

Yes, Professor. Im