Love's Illusion and Awakening

Lily is not an extremely beautiful girl, but she is very charming. Her eyes are clear and bright, a quality rarely seen in people who have been in society for a long time.

Lily has just started working. She is always a bit timid when speaking, but it's not the same as being weak. At work, she is a cheerful girl with a faint smile always on her lips. The man in the story is called Tom. He is of average build and has a very magnetic voice. Tom and Lily work in different departments. After Lily had been working for half a year, she called Tom for a business matter. Tom was very friendly, but this didn't lead to their acquaintance.

About a month later, when Lily was following up on a company business, she unexpectedly had a long conversation with Tom. Tom is very good at talking. He said to Lily, "You are a very sensible girl." Lily was surprised that someone could understand her weariness in such a short conversation. Although they work in the same company, up until now, Lily and Tom still haven't met in person.

But this inexplicable warmth led to more communication between them outside of work hours. Work begins, life goes on. Tom said to Lily, "Girls with cold hands are loved." Tom said, "Lily, we are so destined." Tom said, "Lily, I'll lend you my shoulder to cry on." Lily was happy to have someone understand her. She was delighted to have someone chat with her non-stop. But she was also nervous because everything seemed to happen so quickly.

Things that come too easily are often lost just as easily. Tom said, "Lily, let me treat you to a meal." Lily was excited but still refused. The next day, Tom said again, "Lily, wait for me after work, okay? I'll treat you to a meal." Lily really didn't know how to refuse this time. So after work, she waited for Tom by accident. Lily was very excited. She didn't know what Tom would look like. Would he be like the prince charming in her dreams, with a warm smile on his lips and sunshine in his eyes?

When Lily saw Tom for the first time, her heart was filled with panic. She never expected that Tom would have all the qualities she had imagined. He was handsome, sunny, and refined. Most importantly, he had the warm smile Lily had hoped for and the sunshine in his eyes.

At that moment, Lily was stunned and didn't know what to do. Tom smiled warmly and said, "It's freezing outside. Get in the car." Lily got into Tom's car in a daze. At the moment she saw Tom, she lost all her thoughts. Lily clumsily tried to close the car door twice but failed. Tom's smile was just right as he said, "Lily, you are so stupid."

When Lily heard Tom say this, instead of retorting as she usually would, she was touched deep inside. She thought it was great to finally be able to be stupid and naive in front of someone, without having to pretend to be strong. She could hear his gentle voice in her ears, filled with affection: "So stupid."

For the first time, Lily was at a loss in front of a man. Tom said, "What would you like to eat? I'll treat you." Tom said, "Are you cold? I'll turn up the heat." Tom said, "Why haven't I seen you in the company before?" Lily, in Tom's warm questions, felt like a child who had made a mistake and didn't dare to look at Tom's eyes. Her heart was beating like two rabbits.

Lily didn't know when Tom put his thick hand on hers. At that moment, Lily felt her heart skip a beat. The big hand was warm and made her feel secure. But Lily still shook off Tom's hand because everything was happening too fast. She thought it was like a dream.

Tom put his hand on Lily's again. Lily didn't know how much strength it took to shake it off again. But she still said softly, "Drive carefully."

That night's dinner must have been the most unforgettable one in Lily's life. Lily, who loves to eat, suddenly didn't know how to hold chopsticks or chew or drink the delicious soup...

Suddenly, Tom tightly held Lily's right hand and leaned his face closer to hers until it was against hers. He whispered in her ear, "Honey, do you like me?" At that moment, Lily was stunned. Tom, Tom, Tom. Lily repeated his name in her heart. Her face flushed red.

That night must have been the most glorious memory for Lily. She had unexpectedly met her prince charming. He affectionately scolded her, "So stupid." He called her "honey", a warm word only her parents had used before. Tom gently hugged Lily and said, "Honey, seeing your hands so frozen, I almost cried. Honey, after we get married, let's have a baby. Honey, do you like boys or girls? I am the only son in my family, so having a girl is not acceptable. Honey..."

Lily had never talked so softly with anyone before. She didn't know how Tom understood her weariness. She didn't understand how Tom saw the answer to her question in her eyes. Tom said, "Lily, do you like me?" Lily didn't answer, but Tom understood.

That night, lying in bed, Lily couldn't sleep. For a man, a prince-like man, a man she fell in love with at first sight. I think Lily in this story must be a girl with low self-esteem. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thought of a fairy tale: Cinderella.

In front of Tom, Lily saw herself as Cinderella. The prince's favor made Cinderella happy but also at a loss. A proud princess wouldn't think of such a fairy tale when she is happy. Lily asked Tom like a child, "Will Cinderella and the prince live happily ever after? Does fairy tale really exist in reality?"

Tom said seriously, "It will definitely." Just like when Lily was chatting with Tom before they met and said she was so cold and her hands were frozen. Tom said that girls with cold hands are loved. Lily asked stupidly, "Really?" Tom's answer was the same: "Definitely!"

Lily was completely smitten. By Tom's handsome looks, his perfect smile, and his gentle call of "honey"... Maybe it was also at that moment of first sight that she fell. Lily thought that God must have seen her being too tired and sent such a perfect prince into her life. It was God's kindness. She must seize this gift without hesitation.

Lily thought that they would miss each other like all couples and pour out their overwhelming longing every moment they were apart. She thought they could hold hands and take a walk on the street corner after work every day, eat noodles from the same bowl. She thought that just like in the fairy tale, the prince and Cinderella would live happily ever after.

However, reality is cruel. Tom seemed to be very busy every day. Tom said, "Lily, I'll be very busy recently. My dad has high blood pressure and is in the hospital. I have to take care of him. At the end of the year, there are many things to deal with at the company. But you have to believe me. I'll contact you when I have time." Tom said, "Lily, after I'm done with all this, I'll definitely spend more time with you."

Lily tried hard to hide all her longing. In her spare time after work, she spent all her time missing him, daydreaming, and being in a daze. Every look and every expression was filled with love for Tom. Love, it must be love that made a girl lose herself.

Tom rarely met Lily. Although they were in the same company, it seemed they had no chance to meet. Every night, Lily thought that at least Tom would send her a goodnight text. She would hold her phone stupidly and wait for the beep of the text message. But every time she woke up at night and saw the clock showing 2:30, 4:20; 5:30... She woke up again and again, disappointed again and again. Lily could only fall asleep truly after 5:30 because she knew that it was almost dawn and Tom wouldn't send a text message.

If Lily said she wasn't melancholy, it would be a lie. But Lily wanted to think more about Tom. Tom must be very tired taking care of his dad. Tom must be very busy with work. Tom must be thinking of her... One reason after another. Lily found reasons for Tom. Sometimes the reasons were very far-fetched, but only reasons could make her aching heart feel less painful.

Lily couldn't hold back anymore. She sent a text message to Tom telling him her sadness. She didn't understand why lovers in the same city had only met once. Lily said, "Tom, I've forgotten your face. I really want to see you every day. I miss you so much!"

Tom's text message was like this: "I understand, Lily. I'm sorry. I'll pay more attention in the future. Don't think too much. Be good!" Just a simple text message, but Lily was stupidly happy. Her prince understood. He wanted Lily to be good. Lily should be obedient so as not to cause trouble for her prince. The next day after work, Lily began a long and excited wait. Despite having a cold, her excitement didn't wane. At 8, 9, 10... When it was almost 11 o'clock, Lily finally called Tom. Tom said, "Honey, I'm drunk. Come and pick me up. I won't drive."

When Lily took a taxi and arrived, there were few people on the street. Lily stood downstairs of the hotel and called Tom, saying, "I'm downstairs." Tom asked her to go upstairs, but Lily didn't know how to step into that place full of bright lights. Lily said, "I'll wait for you downstairs."

Tom came down. It was the second time Lily saw him. It was a very cold night. Tom didn't wear a coat. There was a cigarette burning between his fingers. Lily threw herself into Tom's arms. It felt like a lost child finding home. So warm, so beautiful, and so sweet.

Tom said, "Honey, come upstairs with me. We'll go home later." Lily refused. Tom asked Lily to wait in the lobby and said, "Wait for me, okay? I'll be down soon." At that moment, Lily suddenly felt afraid. Or rather, she suddenly wanted to run away. Her prince wasn't drunk. She knew what was going to happen next.

After Tom went upstairs, Lily ran away. She thought that she came to see him in the middle of the night just to make sure he was okay. Since he wasn't drunk and she had seen him, what else was there to be dissatisfied with? At the moment she took a taxi and fled, Lily turned off her phone. She didn't turn it on until before going to sleep. She thought there would be a text message or a call from Tom, but seeing the silence after turning it on, she was very disappointed. She set it to silent mode and went to sleep. When she woke up the next day, there were two missed calls from Tom.

Lily couldn't help but call back. Tom said he was busy and hung up after saying a few words. At noon, when she saw Tom's instant messaging software online, Lily said, "I'm sorry. I wasn't feeling well last night." Tom was very angry. "You didn't care about me when I was drunk?" Lily said, "I'm sorry." But Tom seemed really angry. Lily blurted out, "Were you really drunk last night?" Tom logged off. Lily knew Tom was really angry. Tom, why didn't he understand that Lily really cared about him?

Lily chatted with one of Tom's colleagues during work and brought up Tom indirectly, saying that the guy was very handsome. Was he chased by many girls? Then she saw a sentence that almost made her suffocate: "Married man."

Lily didn't know what kind of mood she was in at that time or how she ended the conversation with that colleague. Lily only felt that her heart was broken. It was like broken crystal, scattered all over the place. She thought she could be indifferent, but the pain was so clear.

Lily felt like she was going crazy. The prince charming who she had fallen in love with at first sight and who had sweet words had already been labeled as someone else's. And in the eyes of the man she loved the most, what was she? That man who had whispered in her ear had suddenly thrown her into the eighteenth level of hell.

Lily was very angry, very sad, and very melancholy. Just like in all common plots, she questioned in a text message: "Tom, why didn't you tell me you were married?" After waiting in vain, Lily called Tom. When the phone was connected, her heart ached so much that she didn't know what to say. Tom said, "Hello, I'm busy. What's the matter? Speak quickly." When Lily heard Tom's voice, she felt so wronged. Tears seemed about to burst out. But she still held them back. Lily said, "Tom, why didn't you tell me you were married?" After a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, Tom said something unexpected: "Is it important?"

Is it important? Of course it is. It's very important for every girl. It's extremely important. At that moment, Lily was even desperate. She thought she could forget this man, a man she had only met twice. But Lily had overestimated herself.

Lily was heartbroken. She thought, let's meet this man for the last time and then cut off all ties. This decision was made a few days after she found out Tom was married. After work, Lily deliberately waited for Tom. She thought she would only take five minutes of his time and ask him what she was in his eyes and why he had deceived her feelings.

Lily sent a text message to Tom, saying that she was waiting for him in the shopping mall opposite the company to see him for the last time and it would only take five minutes. Tom's call came 30 minutes after Lily sent the text message. Tom said, "I'm off work. Your sister-in-law and mom are waiting for me downstairs. I have something to do at my uncle's house tomorrow. Let's meet another day." At that moment, Lily was like a child who had done something wrong and said, "Can I just take five minutes of your time?" Immediately, Tom scolded her over the phone, "Why are you like this? I told you your sister-in-law is waiting for me downstairs..." Lily couldn't hear what Tom said anymore. Tears gushed out...

At that moment, Lily suddenly understood. There had never been true love. Tom was just lonely and looking for excitement. Lily had just become his prey. What love, what fairy tale, what longing were all just legends, myths, and dreams.

But Lily really loved him. She didn't understand why Tom had deceived her feelings like this. Those sweet words and affectionate moments were all just lies he had casually uttered. When she woke up from the dream, the pain was so deep, so unforgettable, so real, and so unbelievable.

Lily was still too naive, too weak, and too attached to this man who had deceived her.

Lily said, "After the new year, I'll send you my wedding invitation." Saying this was just to prove in the most extreme way that this man still cared about her. Maybe this text message would make his conscience feel guilty. Maybe only a new life could make her forget this man she both loved and hated.

Lily was like a silly girl. Thinking like this, she was retaliating against life in a self-destructive way. At that time, Lily's heart was evil, gloomy, and extreme... But Lily really got engaged. The boy seemed very nice, with a shy face. He didn't have the manly charm of Tom, but he was a good guy.

Manliness is something Lily can't quite describe. It's a feeling. Standing with him gives a sense of security. It makes one feel at ease. It seems that his tall shoulders can bear everything that is about to happen. By his side, you don't have to think about anything. You just need to put your hand in his big palm and let him lead you forward.

After the holiday, when Lily went back to work, due to work reasons, she still had contact with Tom. Lily said, "I'm getting married soon." Tom said, "Don't talk nonsense." Lily said, "Really. My husband is very handsome. Will you come to my wedding?" Tom said, "What do you think? I definitely won't go." Lily said, "Is your sister-in-law beautiful?" Tom said, "Just an ordinary person." Lily said, "Tom, you should cherish your sister-in-law. Do you know? A woman who is willing to give you her whole life must be the person who loves you the most in this world besides your parents. She has bet her whole life on you. Don't let her lose." Tom said, "Don't talk about this anymore."

Lily was full of envy for the woman who could be by Tom's side. Occasionally, when they talked, Lily couldn't help but persuade Tom to be good to his sister-in-law. Lily asked Tom, "What's it like to be married?" Lily said, "I will be good to my husband and cherish him in the future." Tom would always be angry and say, "Can you talk about something else?"

Lily didn't hate Tom because she recognized that love can sometimes be a tangled web. She understood that Tom was in a complicated situation himself, torn between his responsibilities and his momentary lapse in judgment.

As time passed, Lily began to focus on herself and her own growth. She threw herself into her work, taking on new challenges and proving her worth. She also started exploring new hobbies and interests, discovering hidden talents within herself.

One day, while attending an art exhibition, Lily was struck by a particular painting. It was a vivid landscape filled with lush greenery and a sense of hope. As she stood in front of the painting, she felt a connection to it, as if it were speaking to her soul.

In that moment, Lily realized that life was full of beauty and possibility. She didn't need to be defined by her past experiences with Tom. Instead, she could create her own happiness and fulfillment.

With newfound determination, Lily started making plans for her future. She dreamed of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures. She also wanted to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the world.

As she embarked on this new journey of self-discovery, Lily occasionally thought about Tom. But instead of feeling pain and sadness, she now saw their encounter as a learning experience. She was grateful for the lessons she had learned about love, trust, and self-worth.

And so, Lily continued to move forward, living life to the fullest and embracing every opportunity that came her way. She knew that no matter what the future held, she was strong enough to face it with grace and courage.