Chapter 73
Stephen thought for a moment before saying, “I’ll also have a mushroom soup.”
Noticing there wasn’t a soup dish on the table, he figured it would balance the meal.
Even Lily looked surprised this time.
“You two really have similar tastes! Miss Rivers actually ordered that earlier–it hasn’t even arrived yet. What are the odds?”
Her words made Stellar feel a little awkward.
She quickly shoved the menu into Lily’s hands.
“Madam Bailey, I’m starving. Hurry up and get the food going!”
Lily chuckled knowingly but didn’t say anything more as she walked off, leaving Stellar and Stephen sitting across from each other in an unexpectedly quiet moment.
The atmosphere between them turned…. oddly subtle.
Suzy, o
on the other hand, was thoroughly entertained.
She cleared her throat dramatically before grinning.
“You know, they say that if you want to test compatibility in a relationship, just see if two people can enjoy the same meals. By that standard, you two are practically a match made in heaven!”
A flicker of amusement passed through Stephen’s eyes, but he didn’t deny it.
Stellar, however, quickly tugged on Suzy’s sleeve under the table, her expression unusually serious.
“Don’t joke about that. It could affect his reputation.”
After all, he already had a girlfriend.
If rumors spread, it would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Suzy raised an eyebrow in interest.
Meanwhile, Stephen hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Reputation?
So, she was worried about how his image would be affected?
The thought was almost armusing.
Breaking the brief silence, he said smoothly, “Other people’s opinions don’t matter to me. Who I am and who I choose to spend time with isn’t something for them to judge or define.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted back to Stellar, lingering on her with a trace of something unreadable.
“And I think you’re remarkable,” Stephen continued, his voice steady and sincere.
“Choosing to break past limitations and return to your studies takes both courage and strength. That alone is proof of your determination.”
For the first time, he set aside any preconceived notions and openly acknowledged his respect for her.
Chapter 71
+25 BONUS
Stellar blinked, surprise flickering in her bright eyes.
She always assumed Stephen disliked her.
His attitude in their previous encounters had been… complicated.
Therefore, she hadn’t expected him to give such a straightforward and genuine compliment.
It seemed she had misjudged him after all.
“Thank you, senior. I’ll keep working hard,” she said with a sincere smile.
Suzy watched their exchange, the curve of her lips deepening.
This clueless girl.
She finally gotten rid of that scumbag, and now she was sitting across from someone infinitely better, yet she had no idea what kind of opportunity was right in front of her.
Casually, Suzy raised an eyebrow and chimed in at just the right moment.
“Stephen, meeting here today must be fate. I hope you’ll keep an eye out for Stellar. She’s independent to a fault- never complains, never asks for help.-
“Honestly, I worry about her getting taken advantage of.”
“I will,”
His unwavering tone took even Suzy by surprise.
Before anyone could dwell on it, the food arrived, and the conversation naturally settled as they began eating.
The spicy braised fish had a bold, smoky flavor, distinct from the usual regional cuisine–a true taste of coastal southern cooking
As Stephen took his first bite, the bold spices and rich flavors stirred a long–forgotten memory from his childhood.
That year.
He had been bound in a dark, suffocating room, convinced he wouldn’t make it out alive.
Then, like a beam of light cutting through the shadows, a little girl had appeared.
She grabbed his hand and led him away, running with him through the night.
Two frightened children, escaping for an entire day and night, their stomachs twisting with hunger.
Eventually, they stumbled into the back kitchen of a small restaurant, sneaking in while no one was looking.
Desperate, they devoured an entire plate of spicy braised fish–down to the very last drop of broth.
It had been the most wretched moment of his life.
A memory wrapped in fear and exhaustion.
And yet, what remained imprinted in his mind wasn’t just the fear.
It was her.
The girl’s bright, starry eyes, gleaming with determination had burned themselves into his soul, and even now, he couldn’t forget them.
Chapter 73
25.BONUS
Ever since that day, that dish had carried a significance beyond just taste–it had become a symbol of survival, of something lost yet unforgettable.
His gaze drifted across the table, landing on Stellar as she quietly ate.
Something in his chest stirred.
For a split second, her face overlapped with the girl in his memories.
But… that was impossible.
Stephen frowned slightly, pushing the strange feeling down
He had searched for that girl once.
But no matter how hard he looked, he never found her.
