‘Wow, I’m excited.’ She opened the bag and took the perfume out. ‘Did you pick it out yourself? Or did your pretty secretary choose it for you?’

‘What are you talking about? I don’t have a secretary,’ Shoji said. ‘I bought it because the shop assistant said it was popular, and I like the name of the perfume. I hope you’re happy.’

Liyun bit her lip. Her expression mellowed. ‘Are you talking about James?’

James … Her mother had mentioned that name, hadn’t she? The one who had driven her here, since she no longer lived with her parents.

Shoji caught a glimpse of a ring on Liyun’s finger. A classic four-claw setting in white gold. The slim silhouette gave it a timeless elegance. Why hadn’t he seen it earlier? He gave her a clumsy smile. ‘Congratulations on your wedding.’

‘Not yet. We’re just engaged,’ Liyun said, breaking into a grin.

Ah. She wasn’t married. He wasn’t sure how he should respond. In the end, he simply mumbled, ‘Uh-huh.’

‘Anyway, thank you,’ she continued. ‘But you haven’t told me why you’re here.’

‘I had an assignment in Singapore, so I thought of visiting you,’ he lied. ‘It’s good to see you, healthy and happy. I’m glad you found someone.’

She nodded, but didn’t say anything.

‘Who is this lucky guy?’ Shoji asked. ‘Do I know him?’

Liyun shook her head. ‘Doubt it. He’s my junior college friend. We used to date before I went to Japan to study. I ran into him after I returned to Singapore.’ She touched the nape of her neck. The ring on her finger glinted. ‘I decided to come back after I left your place.’

So, she had left Japan after that. No wonder they’d never crossed paths.

‘He asked if I was willing to give our relationship another try.’ Liyun crossed her legs. ‘Since I wasn’t seeing anyone, I agreed. He’s a kind person, and he’s smart too. We’d broken up because I’d decided to study in Japan. We both felt a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work.’ She tilted her head as if she was thinking hard about what to say next. ‘I’ve always liked him. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with him.’

‘You haven’t changed, have you?’ Shoji said. ‘“There is nothing fundamentally wrong with him.” Only Liyun would come out with a statement like that.’

‘Not really, I think I’ve changed a lot.’ She shifted her position, leaning closer. ‘What about you? Has anything changed?’

He shook his head. ‘Not really.’

Both of them were quiet for a moment.

Eventually, she asked, ‘When are you going to return to Japan?’

‘Tomorrow,’ he said.

Liyun stared at Shoji but, again, said nothing. He took a good look at her. Liyun still had eyes that spoke her mind.