“So, what brings you here?”
“Of course, I came to see you, senior.”
Nia recited her prepared lines, showing familiarity as if she had just met him yesterday. Dylan stood up.
“Since we have a guest, I’ll take my leave first.”
Seeing Dylan show no intention of staying made Nia feel both disappointed and anxious.
She had come specifically during lunchtime, but judging by his attitude, she felt her plans might fall apart.
How could she keep him by her side? As Nia racked her brain, Alan stopped Dylan.
“No, aren’t you both alumni? It’s been a while since you’ve seen Nia; you should talk. What are you going to do if you just leave?”
“Didn’t you see? Dylan is so prickly that I feel embarrassed to even start a conversation.”
Nia complained, seizing the opportunity.
“I heard the new rib restaurant that just opened is quite famous. How about we try it? No matter how busy you are, you should at least have lunch, right? So let’s go together.”
As noon approached, it was a good suggestion.
Alan nodded in agreement and stood up from his chair.
“Shall we? Dylan should come too.”
“Just go by yourselves.”
Dylan waved his hand in refusal and tried to leave the office. Alan stopped him once more.
“Come on! This is why people say you’re sometimes heartless, Dylan. It would be great to have lunch with Nia and share some fun stories since she’s here after such a long time.”
Dylan, who wasn’t particularly thrilled about reuniting with Nia, honestly felt no inclination to stay.
As Dylan hesitated, looking troubled, Alan urged him.
“Dylan.”
“Fine.”
Dylan reluctantly agreed. After all, he had to eat lunch, and he thought it would be less burdensome with Alan around.
Watching Dylan leave his office, Nia smiled triumphantly, having achieved her goal.
******
Originally, the three of them were supposed to go to the rib restaurant in Dylan’s car. Dylan, who had come out first, was waiting in the driver’s seat for the two of them, but Alan was nowhere to be seen, and only Nia climbed into the passenger seat. Dylan raised an eyebrow in displeasure.
“Why are you alone?”
His voice was dry and emotionless, and despite his probing tone, Nia maintained her smile and calmly fastened her seatbelt.
“Why? Don’t you want to go just the two of us?”
“Uh.”
Nia feigned innocence, but Dylan’s response was blunt. She shook her head as if to say he was impossible.
“I’m too scared to even joke around with you. Alan said he would be right behind us. He told us to go ahead. Something must have come up suddenly.”
Fearing that Dylan might change his mind and decide not to go, Nia explained in detail.
“If you don’t believe me, you can call Alan and check.”
However, when Dylan seemed to doubt her words, Nia quickly added. Dylan, furrowing his brow, looked at Nia and asked stiffly.
“But you! Didn’t you bring your car?”
“Can’t I just go in your car?”
“Uh!”
Nia felt a bitter taste in her mouth at Dylan’s cold attitude, but she didn’t show it on the outside. Instead, she responded cheerfully.
“But what can I do? I want to go with you.”
“Are you sick?”
Nia laughed out loud as if it were amusing.
“Isn’t that a bit too harsh for a joke?”
“I hope you won’t inconvenience others next time.”
“You’re really prickly. How come you haven’t changed at all?”
“Stop with the nonsense and just tell me where the rib restaurant is.”
His cold tone made her feel as if her body and mind were freezing. Nia tried to remain calm and told him the location of the rib restaurant.
“Satellite District, Flourmill Street…”
As Dylan entered the address into the navigation system, his hand paused for a moment.
Why there of all places?
It was far too familiar. The rib restaurant was right across from St Mark University Hospital.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
As Dylan seemed to be contemplating something, Nia asked curiously. Dylan brushed off her question lightly and started the car.
No matter how much he ignored her and treated her coldly, Nia, who had already made up her mind, was not easily discouraged or intimidated. She leisurely watched him drive, striking up conversations every time the car stopped at a traffic light.
“How’s Gia doing? It feels like it’s been a while since I last saw her. She must have become even prettier. But how did she end up marrying a third-generation Business magnate? I heard he’s the grandson of Chairman Bongolo from Donald Group, right?”
“If you’re curious, just ask Gia directly. But I don’t know if she’ll tell you.”
“Who was that woman back then? A friend? A sister? A girlfriend?”
