Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 127: Making Progress

At that moment, Scarlett Shaw was already on a plane to Cloud Harbor. After landing, she turned off airplane mode and saw Julian Ford’s message—just a simple "Mm," as flat and emotionless as ever.

In love, when two people aren’t on the same wavelength, it’s really a tormenting thing.

Given Julian Ford’s temperament, Scarlett wasn’t surprised by this kind of reply.

But not being surprised doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have feelings about it.

Especially when she thought about how she’d been feeling down for so long over this, while the other person was acting like nothing ever happened, that kind of gap just made Scarlett feel even more uneasy, so she didn’t bother replying to Julian Ford anymore and threw herself completely into meeting clients.

After Julian Ford’s plane landed in Capitoline, their WhatsApp conversation still stayed at the point where she said she was going to Cloud Harbor and he replied with those two words.

Julian Ford glanced at the time and sent, "Made it to Cloud Harbor?"

Beside him, Ryder Bell, who flew back to Capitoline with him, teased, "Your girlfriend didn’t come to the airport to pick you up?"

Julian Ford: "She’s on a business trip."

Ryder clicked his tongue, "You two haven’t seen each other for almost ten days or half a month. Look at you, so cold. Haven’t you missed her at all?"

"How I think is none of your business."

Julian Ford replied, unfazed.

Ryder sighed.

Julian Ford shot him a cold glance.

The two had just reached the baggage carousel when Ryder picked up his suitcase and said, "I won’t be staying in Capitoline for long. When’s your girlfriend coming back? Let’s grab a meal—I want to see her for myself."

"About a week."

"Too bad."

Ryder said regretfully.

He stole another glance at Julian Ford’s calm, handsome face and couldn’t help but remark, "You really don’t react at all, huh? When people first fall in love, they can barely handle being apart a day or two. But you... steady as a rock. Must be tough on your girlfriend—she can’t even get a shred of emotional value out of you."

"Problems aren’t solved through emotion." Julian Ford shot Ryder a cold look. "And you talk too much."

Ryder: "I stand up for justice, helping your girlfriend find closure, playing judge for her."

"What happens with my girlfriend is none of your concern."

Julian Ford tossed out the words coldly, grabbed his luggage, and walked out of the airport without a backward glance.

Ryder was stunned, over and over again, by those four words, "my girlfriend."

Those words coming out of Julian Ford’s mouth were rare and strange.

Tsk.

Ryder couldn’t help but smack his lips.

Julian Ford being in an actual relationship—he was surprised, but as a guy himself, he knew it’s hard for men to change. With someone as naturally aloof as Julian Ford, him losing his head for love? Might as well believe pigs can fly.

But for a second there, Ryder wasn’t sure if he imagined it.

He felt like, in the midst of Julian Ford’s cold vibe—like he didn’t care about anything—there was a subtle something different, something that had never been there before.

...

Cloud Harbor.

Ever since Julian Ford’s short, utterly bland "Mm" left a small wound, Scarlett Shaw focused hard on her work, throwing herself single-mindedly into meeting clients.

As for Julian Ford’s follow-up message, that vaguely caring "Made it to Cloud Harbor?", Scarlett answered in kind, copying him with her own "Mm."

Of course, compared to his breezy, casual tone, Scarlett’s "Mm" was full of resentment.

She only copied the surface.

But although Scarlett was quietly sulking, she didn’t expect her cold, businesslike boyfriend to notice.

After all, even when she was right in front of him, he might not pay attention to her feelings.

Now, with a thousand-plus kilometers and a phone between them, expecting Julian Ford to comfort her was as good as dreaming.

Scarlett’s trip this time was mainly about maintaining relations with several partner companies in Cloud Harbor, discussing future directions and the economic outlook. Pressure wasn’t high, and things were going smoothly.

She met three clients in the first two days and had a conference to attend, but because of timing, that was in two days.

So, she suddenly had some free time.

When she came out of the office building, spring rain was falling, drizzly and chilly with the coolness of early spring.

Compared to Capitoline, Cloud Harbor was damp and cold, the air thick with sticky, wet rain.

This kind of weather was the worst for making people feel irritable.

Scarlett called a car, and while waiting, absentmindedly opened WhatsApp to check her chat with Julian Ford.

These past couple days, she’d been busy with work, short on time, and truthfully, her mood played a part—she couldn’t stand Julian Ford’s ever-calm, unruffled demeanor, so she didn’t bother replying to his later greetings.

It was obvious, with Julian Ford’s temperament, if Scarlett didn’t reply, that would be the end of it.

And as for Scarlett, still feeling petty, she certainly wouldn’t make the first move to talk to him.

So, just like that, she initiated a cold war with Julian Ford—one-sided and inexplicable.

She refused to believe it—Julian Ford wouldn’t possibly make her lose her appetite and sleep over him, right?

The spring rain kept falling.

It was rush hour, and the five-minute wait for her car became ten minutes. Seeing time drag on, Scarlett canceled the ride and dashed through the rain to the nearby subway station.

The wet droplets that had been soaking her disappeared the moment Scarlett stepped into the rain.

She sniffed, catching the familiar, cool scent in the air.

Suddenly, she froze, looking up into Julian Ford’s calm black eyes beneath a black umbrella.

"You’re finally learning—a real pro at sulking now."

Julian Ford spoke quietly, his voice matching the rain falling at that moment.

It landed in Scarlett’s heart, sending ripples through her.

"Why... did you come to Cloud Harbor?" Scarlett lowered her gaze, restraining the joy that bloomed inside, and asked softly.

Julian Ford held the umbrella in one hand, took her other hand with his free one, and said as they walked, "Seriously, is there anyone who can go half a month without seeing their boyfriend and survive?"

Scarlett was taken aback.

The hand Julian Ford held was trembling ever so slightly at the fingertips.

The rain kept falling, the clouds were dark, but somehow, a faint, warm light slipped out from deep inside her heart.

When Julian Ford led her to the car, as he opened the door, his arm was suddenly yanked—under the deep black umbrella, Scarlett pressed her slender body into his broad chest and left a cool kiss at the corner of his lips.

Like rainwater brushing skin.

Scarlett pulled away quickly, her amber eyes sparkling with laughter as she hugged him, sly and confident:

"Julian Ford, what you just said—can I translate that to mean you were the one who actually couldn’t last half a month without seeing me?"

Julian Ford stared at her for a few seconds.

Then said quietly, "If that’s how you want to understand it, I don’t mind."