The Female Leads Truly Loves You - Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Sometimes I need a bit of comfort too
“Let’s not, I have an exam tomorrow and I don’t want to sleep late and mess up my condition,” Sam replied without much hesitation.

Though the proposal was tempting—spending the night with a charming and uniquely positioned woman like her, who was also his boss’s sister, was certainly thrilling—Sam wasn’t looking to entangle himself with more women at the moment.

His connection with this woman was primarily because of Mia, and beyond that, any mutual attraction due to personality seemed a bit far-fetched. There wasn’t a strong enough reason to seek more from her, aside from learning some combat skills.

Aurora looked at Sam. “It’s just a simple exam, right? I remember Alice telling me you’re good at your studies. What’s wrong with sleeping late? You’re wasting so much time sleeping early.”

Sam chuckled. “No way, I’m still growing. Besides, why stay up late if it’s not for something meaningful?”

“Something meaningful? Sam, are you hinting at something?” Aurora smiled, stepping closer to him.

The sudden closeness, her inscrutable expression and gaze, made it hard for Sam to figure out what Aurora was thinking.

Faced with the increasingly ambiguous atmosphere, Sam chose not to ponder it. He took a step back.

“You’re thinking too much, Officer Aurora. There’s no hint, no probing. You’re a cop, and I wouldn’t dare offend you lightly. Alright, I’m off to take a shower.”

Sam walked past her to the changing room to shower.

Aurora, left standing there, watched the direction Sam had gone, a mysterious smile playing on her lips before she headed off in another direction.

The hot water soaked into Sam’s skin. After the bath, the bruises had faded significantly, and the pain was completely gone.

When Sam emerged from his shower, Aurora was still nowhere to be seen. Although he had already decided not to invite her over, out of politeness, Sam waited for her.

Aurora reappeared, now changed into her clothes. She wore the familiar attire of an urban professional woman—a stylish trench coat that made her look like the female lead in an adventure story, as if at any moment, a mysterious figure might start chasing her, leading the protagonist into a thrilling escapade.

“Thought you had left. You waited for me?” Aurora approached Sam, flicking her slightly damp hair.

Sam smiled. “Do I seem like the type to be so unkind?”

“Who knows? Maybe those who always smile have a cold, harsh heart.”

“Thanks for having such high expectations of me, Officer Aurora.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, then walked out of the combat club with Sam. Just before getting into the car, she had a thought.

“It’s still early, and you’re just going to sleep if you go home. How about we grab some late-night food?”

Sam was actually a bit hungry, especially after the intense workout. “Are you sure about eating this late? Might pack on the pounds, you know.”

Aurora replied with a hint of irritation, “Eat or not, it’s my treat.”

“Since you’re so sincere, it would be rude to refuse…”

“Less talking, get in the car.”

She almost dragged Sam into the car, her manner reminiscent of apprehending a suspect.

Aurora took Sam to a quaint little shop. The place wasn’t very crowded at the moment, filled with enticing aromas.

Sipping sodas, they appeared to be the only customers in the shop.

“Is reading really that fun for you?” Aurora asked, catching Sam off guard as he stared blankly at the light.

Sam looked at her curiously. “Haven’t you ever read a book?”

Aurora wiped her mouth, took a sip of her soda, and rolled her eyes with an air of elegance. “You’re the one who hasn’t read.”

“Why ask that question then?”

“Because I always thought your high school life was kind of special,” Aurora mused.

Sam chuckled. “What’s so special about it? Isn’t it the same for everyone? Classes, exams, holidays, rules to follow?”

Aurora shook her head. “Not every high schooler ends up having their teachers fall for them…”

“…I was a student, but I was already 18,” Sam said, taking a sip of his soda to ease the awkwardness of the conversation.

“So, that justifies your ambiguous relationships with many girls, huh? Is that your line of reasoning?” Aurora prodded.

Sam laughed in response. “I never denied it. But what does that have to do with your question?”

Aurora nodded. “It’s related because I believe that what makes memories precious is the people around us at the time. Not everyone has so many special women around them like you do. So I’m curious, do you find your school life interesting?”

Interesting? Just interesting? It was damn interesting. Sam didn’t even know which day he might end up killed by one of those female leads, or in what bloody and brutal way. How could that not be interesting?

Sam pondered for a moment. “First off, I don’t think it’s only the people around you that can leave you with precious memories of a time. It could be a breeze that was around you, or maybe one day you look up from your desk to see the afternoon sun, and when you come to, it feels like you’re in a completely different world and can never go back.”

Aurora blinked. “And what else?”

Sam smiled. “Secondly, everyone’s memories are special. It’s just that we’re often better at seeing the specialness in others and overlook the people and events around us.”

Aurora thought for a moment, then sighed softly. “It seems there’s nothing really special, at least in my memories. It feels like all I did was study and make a few friends… There aren’t many happy events, mostly just hopes and worries about the future.”

“That’s not too bad, it’s simpler that way.”

“What about you? What are your hopes and thoughts about the future now?”

Sam turned to look straight at Aurora. “Can I say that my childhood dream was to become a policeman?”

Aurora couldn’t help but snort with laughter. “Stop kidding me. At least from what you show now, it seems like you’ve completely forgotten your original intentions.”

“How can you say that… Do I look that bad?”

“Not really bad, just that you might be quite scary without the law to hold you back.”

“Same thing, sigh.”

Sam sighed.

Aurora then got up to pay the bill, timing it perfectly to avoid any awkwardness.

The parking spot wasn’t close, so they had to walk a bit after leaving the restaurant. The streets were not crowded, likely because the area wasn’t very bustling.

The moon hung solitary overhead, indifferently overseeing everyone in the world, yet it would leave no memories.

“Mia is a very lonely person.”

Listening to the unique sound of Aurora’s boots, Sam heard her say this.

Sam looked over, gazing at her beautiful profile. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Aurora nodded, then leaned against the curb and lit a cigarette.

“She’s been like that since she was little, the first time I saw her. She was frail, not very tall, and her health wasn’t great—it seemed like a gust of wind could knock her over. It was heartbreaking. When my father told me she would be my sister from then on… I told myself I had to protect her, take good care of her, make sure she was happy.”

She took a drag of her cigarette, her gaze settling on Sam through the smoke.

“When she saw me, she would just hide behind her mother’s back, too scared to look people in the eye. When I asked her name, she could barely answer. Her favorite thing to do was to lock herself in her room and fold origami cranes. Do you know what she said when I asked her why she folded cranes?”

Sam shook his head.

The woman smiled. “She said… if she folded ten thousand cranes, it would bring back the person she wanted to see. I asked her who she wanted to come back, and she said her father.”

Sam felt a pang of empathy but wasn’t sure how to offer comfort.

He asked curiously, “So, did she ever reach ten thousand?”

Aurora shook her head with a smile. “Of course not. Not because she couldn’t do it, but because she eventually understood that her father had made up his mind to leave them, and there was no possibility of him coming back. Origami cranes can’t speak, but people grow up. Growing up isn’t always a good thing because you start to understand some harsh realities and realize that not all wishes can come true in this world.”

Sam looked at her thoughtfully. “It’s hard to imagine that Mia and the little girl you described are the same person.”

Aurora exhaled a plume of smoke, which appeared especially clear under the cool night sky.

“It’s hard to imagine… At first, I really did everything I wanted to do. I successfully became very close friends with Mia, patiently listening to her troubles, caring for her feelings. Even though she wasn’t good at making friends or fond of social interactions, whenever there was a holiday, she was the first person I thought of. But I never anticipated that the accident later on would change everything.”

Sam leaned against the roadside railing, watching the cars speeding past on the road.

“But none of that was your fault, right? It could be chalked up to your father’s recklessness at the time, but why should you be blamed?”

Aurora shook her head, troubled. “I don’t know… Maybe because I’m directly related to my father by blood, and at that time, she was so engulfed in pain and paranoia that she felt she should hate the entire family? She hasn’t really told me why… But the goal is the same, isn’t it? If she’s willing to take a look at our father, then this family can be whole again. Whether she still hates me or not… it really doesn’t matter.”

Sam pondered for a moment, realizing he couldn’t jump to conclusions.

Sometimes people are childish and stubborn creatures. They might cling to some strange beliefs and insist on hating everything associated with them. Not because there’s a direct reason, but because they feel they must do so to prove their resolve, to express their utter hatred.

He turned to look at Aurora. “Some things need a bit of fate and destiny; rushing won’t help. Maybe there will be a chance for reconciliation.”

“I’ve always felt that you are that chance.”

“Then you think too highly of me, Officer Aurora.”

Sam felt a headache coming on, the feeling of being valued… wasn’t always comfortable.

Aurora stamped out her cigarette and then moved to stand beside Sam, adopting the same posture against the railing, but she also leaned her shoulder against his.

She seemed a bit weary as she squinted her eyes, then unexpectedly rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. “I don’t want to repeat those pleading words right now, I’m a bit tired. Can I lean on you?”

“I don’t mind, but is it really appropriate?” Sam responded.

Aurora just closed her eyes, leaning against Sam’s shoulder, letting the cold wind pass by, simply relying on his arm for support.

She spoke softly, “Sometimes I need a bit of comfort too… Sam, good luck with your exam tomorrow.”

Sam smiled. “Thanks a lot.”

“No need to thank me. So, can I have a little hug? I’m feeling quite vulnerable right now.”

“I was just saying thanks verbally, don’t push your luck, Officer Aurora.”

“I was just kidding around, teasing you a bit.”

“Ha ha ha ha…”

On such a night, countless people lay awake, burdened with endless thoughts, watching over the darkness.

And some just simply close their eyes, waiting for dawn.