It seemed she understood now.
That team called “Samuel,” renowned as a champion team said to have divine favor, was truly strong—strong enough to make people fear them.
“Even you are admitting it, so… they must really be powerful,” George said softly, his brows furrowing slightly.
No one could tell what he was thinking.
Ashton paused briefly, then swapped his perfectly cut steak with Avira’s less appetizing portion and began eating gracefully.
“Ashton… you’d make a great husband,” Avira Nassy said with a lazy smile, touched by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you…”
A soft glimmer appeared in Ashton’s eyes, like stardust scattering in the night sky.
“Mm…”
He smiled, pure and untainted.
When Avira is happy, I’m happy…
I want to pamper her endlessly…
And I want to make her the happiest person in the world…
George’s deep blue eyes flickered briefly as he watched the interaction between the two. But the emotion was fleeting, like a ripple on a still pond, gone in an instant.
“Avira Nassy.”
His clear, cool voice rang out, and Avira looked up, her vacant gaze holding a hint of confusion as she stared straight at him.
George Backer’s eyes, blue so dark they almost looked black, were like a bottomless spring, deep and solemn. Yet, there was a rare seriousness in them. “Let’s play basketball together.”
He had never been interested in basketball.
In fact, he had never shown interest in anything.
But…
When he saw that youth dunk a basketball with such effortless strength, when he saw her weaving through three defenders with complete ease, when he witnessed her powerful and flawless dunks… he felt the blood in his veins begin to surge.
Look…
At first glance, anyone would assume Avira Nassy wasn’t suited for basketball.
She didn’t have the height for it, and she seemed physically incapable of touching the hoop.
But many things in life are like that—impossible to understand until you try.
Maybe…
Maybe he saw an incredible force within her, something so awe-inspiring that he wanted to use it to find a breakthrough in his own lightless world.
Avira was momentarily taken aback.
She knew… George had many secrets. He always kept a distance from others, appearing cold and indifferent, as if nothing could ever truly interest him.
Whatever he hid in his heart, it was buried in a dark, impenetrable corner, away from everyone.
No one could uncover it, not unless he allowed it.
So she had never been confident he would join her.
But now…
He was actually agreeing to join the basketball club?
“Nassy, your basketball skills are impressive,” he said. His deep gaze shimmered with faint light, though it remained unreachable. “So I think if I played basketball with you, I might really learn to love it.”
Avira blinked a few times, then smiled faintly. “Mm… let’s play together.”
—
About ten minutes later, the cafeteria buzzed with excitement.
A boy walked in, and every pair of eyes turned to him.
His golden, slightly wavy hair gleamed under the sunlight, creating an illusion of softness. Even in a simple shirt, his elegance was hard to hide.
His bright blue-green eyes scanned the room intently before locking onto a specific spot.
His pale pink lips curved into a smile that seemed to outshine even the sunlight, and he walked decisively toward that direction without any hesitation.
Nothing else in the world existed in his sight.
“Someone pinch me… Am I hallucinating?”
“That’s… Orson Flynn! It’s Orson Flynn!”
“Why is Orson Flynn here?! This surprise is totally unfair!”
“He’s so handsome, ahhh!”
But Orson, the subject of all this excitement, paid no attention to the surrounding whispers. When he reached Avira Nassy, he wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her from behind.
“Avira, your man is here,” he announced.
In an instant, it was as if the whole cafeteria had gone silent.
Every sound ceased, and everyone stared in shock at his bold move, while Avira Nassy continued eating as if nothing had happened.
Even George Backer didn’t look up. Instead, he quietly observed her plate. “Is that all you’re eating?”
Her plate had barely any food on it.
“Hmm…?” Avira looked up, her eyes dazed and confused.
George gently wiped some sauce from the corner of her lips with a napkin. “You should eat more if you want to grow taller.”
The gesture was so natural, almost as if it was a casual act of care with no hint of romance.
Was that… George Backer?
Everyone in the cafeteria was dumbstruck.
The legendary heir of the Boldon Holdings, known for his cold and solitary demeanor, was wiping someone else’s mouth?
And the scene… it was breathtakingly beautiful!
“But… I can’t grow any taller,” Avira Nassy replied with a frustrated frown, her lips pursed. She continued to ignore Orson, who was still standing behind her.
“Avira, are you ignoring me right now?” Orson’s perfect smile seemed to freeze slightly.
Avira suddenly turned to face him.
Orson, still bent over her with his arms wrapped around her, found himself face to face with her. When she turned abruptly, her warm breath brushed against his cheek, and the fresh, clean scent from her recent shower made him feel momentarily dazed.
“Ah Orson…”
“…Yes?”
His voice was awkward, stiff, as he met her gaze.
“Why… do you always ask such obvious questions?” she asked, her tone carrying a touch of exasperation.
“…”
The clink of a silver fork on her plate broke the silence. Avira stood up, her gaze shifting to George. “Mm… after school, want to play basketball?”
“Mm.” George gave a slight nod.
“Alright… see you at the gym after school then.”
With that, she grabbed Orson’s hand and headed toward the cafeteria exit.
Ashton placed his silverware down and quietly followed behind her.
It was as if nothing else in the world mattered to him; everything around him was irrelevant, with only Avira Nassy existing in his world.
Watching their figures disappear, George tapped his long, pale fingers lightly on the table, a flicker of inexplicable irritation crossing his dark blue eyes.
He felt…
Unexplainably annoyed.
