Chapter 111: Won’t Break Up
After asking her question, Vivian Lowell glanced cautiously at Julian Faulkner.
Julian turned to look at Vivian, his brow furrowed.
’Hmm?’
’What does he mean by that?’
Vivian was puzzled. Her mind raced for a moment, and then a possibility suddenly occurred to her. ’Could it be that Julian has been badly hurt in a past relationship?’
’Did my question just touch a nerve?’
’This is bad.’
’I’m... absolutely terrible at comforting people!’
But the dramatic heartbreak she’d pictured didn’t materialize. Julian seemed to sigh quietly and asked, "Why do you ask?"
Vivian’s heart skipped a beat. Flustered and nervous at being questioned back, afraid she might say the wrong thing and remind him of something painful, she said, "No reason, I was just asking."
"Haha, back in school, our teachers always made us watch movies or read books and then write reports on them. Um... I was just asking for your post-movie analysis!"
’Post-movie analysis?’
Julian was skeptical. He clearly didn’t buy it.
He had seen it just now.
When Vivian asked him that question, her eyes held a hint of sadness. It was as if she was reminded of something, or perhaps she had simply been moved by the film.
Julian considered Vivian a very calm and rational person, so he thought the former was more likely.
Julian knew about Mason Grant.
Before Shelly Lowell showed up, Vivian had always been close to Mason. And even though Vivian had told him their relationship was completely platonic...
’...the fact remained that he hadn’t been a part of that Chapter of her life.’
A sudden nervousness gripped him. He needed to know the truth.
"My post-movie analysis..."
Julian paused, then answered with a completely straight face, "My analysis is that if it were me and the person I loved, we would never break up."
’!?’
Julian’s tone was absolute.
Vivian was taken aback. She turned and gave him a surprised look.
’He’s... that certain?’
’He must have been really hurt in the past, to have such strong opinions about his future relationships.’
Seeing that Vivian didn’t respond, Julian asked, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"
"Uh!" Vivian felt a little awkward. Not wanting him to dwell on his painful past, she thought for a moment and offered, "It’s nothing. I just think... that’s a really good way to think about it!"
"Mm."
Julian gave a slight nod. "A relationship is fundamentally between two people. If there’s a conflict, you just need to talk it out and resolve it."
"You shouldn’t hide what’s on your mind. Just say it openly. There’s always a solution. Even if you have different perspectives, you can work through them and compromise."
’Of course, it isn’t one person accommodating the other unconditionally and without limit. It has to be mutual.’
Julian had always believed that aside from life, aging, sickness, and death—things that were difficult to control—everything else could be planned for.
Many people split up over finances or family issues, but in Julian’s view, those weren’t real problems.
’If you really get down to it, it just means they didn’t love each other enough.’
’Even if life is tough and you don’t have much, things will always get better if you work hard.’
’But...’
’...being a lazy mooch with no ambition is a different story. If someone is just trying to PUA you and take advantage, then it’s better to break up sooner rather than later.’
"..."
Vivian felt that Julian’s gaze was very deep.
So deep, it seemed he had a thousand thoughts he wasn’t voicing.
Vivian was moved by his words and said earnestly, "I didn’t realize you had such deep thoughts on this..."
"Um... I agree with you. It’s just that two people who click perfectly from the start are so rare! Most couples have to slowly learn to adapt to each other, don’t they?"
"Mm."
Julian agreed noncommittally, but he gave Vivian another look.
’Didn’t the two of us click instantly?’
’What’s with that regretful, resigned expression?’
’Don’t tell me she’s thinking about Mason Grant again.’
A flicker of that same insecurity crossed Julian’s mind, and he finally couldn’t stop himself from asking, "What about you? What are you thinking about? Mason Grant?"
’!?’
’Mason Grant?’
Julian’s sudden mention of the name caught Vivian completely off guard.
To be honest, if Julian hadn’t brought him up, Vivian might have completely forgotten about him.
"I wasn’t thinking about him."
Vivian denied it flatly. "I knew Mason, and we were on good terms. I just thought of him as a big brother. As for ’liking’ him... I suppose I considered him a friend once."
"I was never dependent on him, so when I saw his true colors, I was able to walk away without a second thought."
"I guess it was because I didn’t truly like him that I was able to leave so decisively and cleanly."
Hearing Vivian’s explanation, Julian let out a soft breath. Whether from relief or something else, the tension in his expression eased considerably.
Of course, Vivian noticed the faint smile playing on Julian’s lips and asked curiously, "Julian, what are you smiling about?"
"You don’t think I was being naive, do you?"
Julian listened, shook his head, and said seriously, "No. I think you have excellent judgment for not liking Mason Grant. He really isn’t a good man."
Vivian nodded and smiled as well.
After they’d been in the private theater for a little while longer, the cinema’s manager came in.
The manager was extremely cautious, even ducking his head as he entered, likely afraid of disturbing Vivian and Julian.
"Miss Lowell, President Faulkner."
The manager said with a smile, "The cats have been caught. The mother cat and her litter of kittens, five in total, are in the carrier now."
Vivian was so surprised to hear this that she shot to her feet. "They’re caught already? Did you catch them? You’re amazing!"
The manager quickly shook his head.
Just as he was about to speak, Eleanor Rhodes entered from outside the theater, waving at Vivian. "Vivian, so this is where you were!"
"He didn’t catch them, I did! I had just finished a surgery and heard from the front desk that you’d come to the cinema to catch a cat. Since I was nearby, I came over to take a look."
"Um... but when I got here, they said you and Julian were watching a movie!"
"I figured you two were having some nice private time, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Luckily, I’m efficient. Two hours, and the whole litter was caught."
"..."
Vivian felt a little sheepish.
’Private time, my foot.’ She had just been trying to make use of the waiting period. She hadn’t expected Eleanor to show up, or that the manager wouldn’t call for her.
"Thank you for all your hard work, Tanya."
Vivian shot Julian a glance, and the two of them left the theater. Outside, Vivian saw the litter of kittens.
"Oh my god, these kittens are absolutely angelic!"