Kay maintained a composed expression as if he had no ulterior motives, making Scarlett Whitaker wonder if she was overthinking things.
Scarlett had to keep her legs bent upward with the large baskets on either side of the backseat. Every bump in the road made her wobble, and she nearly fell backward at one point. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms tightly around Kay’s waist.
It was late summer, and Kay was only wearing a thin shirt. Scarlett’s touch, even through the fabric, was soft and warm.
Although Scarlett couldn’t see his face, Kay’s lips curled into a smile.
“Hold on tight!” he said, his voice betraying a hint of amusement he couldn’t hide.
Scarlett pressed her lips together, feeling as though she was being teased by a younger man.
Two hours later, they finally arrived in Harborfield. Kay hadn’t even had breakfast before waiting for Scarlett, and his stomach grew audibly. Scarlett, however, had managed to grab some leftovers at the Miller household before leaving, but it was hardly enough to keep her full.
“Let’s eat first,” Kay suggested.
The streets of Harborfield were noticeably wider than those in Greenfield County, and the buildings were taller, the overall size of the city far grander. Exploring the entire city in one go was impossible. Unlike in Greenfield County, where small business owners operated discreetly, Harborfield ’s vendors were unapologetically bustling with activity.
They turned onto a street dedicated entirely to food.
Rows of stalls offered an array of delicacies. There were also familiar staples like noodles, congee, soy milk, and fried dough sticks. Foods from all over the country could be found here.
Scarlett inhaled deeply, the enticing aroma making her stomach growl louder.
She couldn’t help but reflect on her misfortune in her past life. When she was young and building her career, breakfast was an afterthought, eaten only to stave off hunger, with no attention paid to quality or taste. Later, when she had money, she became too busy with work. By then, her metabolism had slowed, and she restricted herself to a single cup of coffee each morning to maintain her figure. Eventually, life’s circumstances reduced her to Scarlett, who could only dream of food but had no money to buy it.
Now, faced with this street of delicious food, her empty stomach yearned for it all.
Kay’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“What do you feel like eating?”
Scarlett glanced at him, her mind racing with options as the lively scene around them beckoned.
