Chapter 984 

Lena drove down the road as night lights flickered on. The city streets were filled with people rushing home–not to work overtime, but to return to the ones waiting for them. 

Suddenly, she thought of the days she had lived with Aaron 

Every time she went home, he was always there. The moment she pushed open the door, she would either see him sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper or watching TV or be greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked meals. Back then, it hadn’t felt special, but now… the memory fell oddly comforting. 

Unfortunately, those days had been fleeting. Maybe it was time for her to find someone–a person to share simple meals with, someone to come home to after work, where a warm light would be on and dinner would already be set on the table. 

The more Lena thought about it, the less she wanted to go back to her cold, empty apartment–a place that was nothing more than a space to sleep. Even when she pulled up outside her building and saw the darkened windows, she couldn’t bring herself to step out of the car. 

But where else could she go? 

Her grandmother’s house? Home? 

She sat in the driver’s seat, unsure of where to go next. 

“I heard it’s going to snow! I’m so excited!” 

“Yeah, and they said it’s going to be heavy. I’ll drive you to work tomorrow–I don’t trust you going alone.” 

“Okay! If it really snows, wake me up early. Let’s play in the snow for a bit before work!” 

A young couple walked past, fingers interlocked, their happiness so contagious that Lena couldn’t help but smile. 

Tilting her head, she gazed through the window at the night sky. There weren’t any stars tonight. Maybe it really would snow. 

She couldn’t sit in the car any longer. If she stayed, she’d probably start overthinking everything to the point of questioning her entire life. 

So, she stepped out of the car, walked out of the residential complex, and hailed a cab to a bar. 

Because of her profession, she rarely drank. But tonight, for some reason, she felt like having a drink, like being in a crowded place to pass the time. 

She had never really understood why bars were always packed, but now… maybe she was starting to get it. 

Looking back on the past few years, nearly all of her time had been dedicated to humanity’s grand cause of reproduction. She had never truly enjoyed life. Now, she was grateful to her superiors for finally assigning someone to share the workload, giving her the chance to experience life’s vibrant colors. 

Perhaps it was true what they said–A setback might be a blessing in disguise. 

A loss always preceeded gain. 

At first, Lena simply ordered a bottle of alcohol and sipped it slowly, observing the different kinds of people in the bar while casually brushing off the occasional man who tried to strike up a conversation. 

After two drinks, she could feel the alcohol warming her blood. Her body started swaying slightly to the rhythm of the music from the dance floor. 

1/2 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 984 

“Hey, beautiful, want to dance?” 

A bespectacled man with a refined appearance approached her with an inviting smile. 

Though slightly tipsy, Lena remained clear–headed. She raised a finger and waved it dismissively. 

The man, unwilling to give up, asked, “Then how about I buy you a drink?” 

“Not interested.” Lena never minced words when rejecting people. 

Even after being turned down twice, the man didn’t seem upset. Instead, he pressed on. “Then is there anything I can do for you?” 

“Yes,” Lena said, pointing to the side. “You can leave me alone.” 

This time, his smile finally cracked. 

The next second, his expression twisted, and without warning, he grabbed a glass of alcohol and threw it straight at her. 

The sudden move caught Lena off guard, but she wasn’t one to be bullied. In an instant, she grabbed his collar and yanked him down hard. 

With a loud thud, the man tumbled forward, losing his balance. Seizing the moment, Lena snatched the drink from his hand and smashed it over his head.