“My God, it’s you.” He looked equally surprised, his lake-blue eyes sparkling for a moment. “Gianna, I can’t believe we meet again.”
“Um… are you here to buy something too?”
“Yes, the chocolate here is very good.” He nodded and glanced at the counter, where some pastry samples and wrapped chocolate bars were displayed.
“Hello, sir, what would you like to order?” the clerk asked politely.
“Please give me a cup of coffee.”
He took a white porcelain cup and sat down across from Khanyi, starting a conversation with her.
After a few casual exchanges, he suddenly took out a red velvet box and gently placed it in front of her.
“I have a small gift for you,” he smiled at Khanyi, “to thank you for saving my friend on the train.”
“No, I can’t accept this!” Khanyi hurriedly refused.
“Why not open it and take a look? I guarantee you’ll like it.”
“No, no, it’s fine, I can’t accept it, thank you.”
“Look, a pair of earrings, they would suit you perfectly.” He opened the box himself, and she watched his movements, her dark eyes brightening as the box gradually opened. “Do you think it’s not expensive enough?”
“No, that’s not it.” She had indeed received more expensive gifts, like a platinum necklace set with diamonds, but she really liked these pearl earrings. Compared to the dazzling diamonds, she preferred the gentle luster and smooth curves of pearls.
“I don’t know if I should say this to you,” he lowered his voice slightly, looking directly at her, “but I’ve kept it with me, hoping that one day when I meet you, I could give it to you. I never expected this wish to come true.”
Khanyi was momentarily stunned; she didn’t know how to refuse such a request. His sincerity made her silent acceptance seem like agreement. In a daze, she accepted the gift. “Alright, thank you.” She placed the small velvet box into her handbag.
“You are like a pearl, pure, bright, and endearing.” His lake-blue eyes sparkled. Unlike their last encounter on the train, she was wearing a long light blue dress with delicate ruffles at the sleeves and neckline today, topped with a hat adorned with ribbon trim. Her fair skin resembled that of a porcelain doll, smooth and delicate, with a petite nose and charming lips. Besides her attire, there was one notable difference: today, her cheeks bore a faint blush like a delicate sunset.
Khanyi felt somewhat uneasy under his gaze, lowering her head, her small chin buried in the lace of her collar. His goodwill was so evident yet unspoken; he hadn’t confessed anything to her. However, if she were to refuse him outright now, it would seem overly sensitive. He sat just across from her, less than two meters away, close enough to see his handsome face, high nose, and gentle gaze. Yet he wouldn’t press her, maintaining a comfortable and safe distance.
“Have you seen your lover? Is he well?” Marcus took a sip of coffee, his tone as if inquiring about a close friend.
“Uh…” She nodded slightly, suddenly recalling her lie, casually saying he was a farmer, and now trying to backtrack, “He… is just very busy, there’s a lot to do on the farm since it’s spring…” Khanyi blinked her dark eyes frequently, struggling to continue; she admitted she wasn’t good at lying.
He nodded in agreement, his slightly squinted lake-blue eyes radiating a soft light. “Yes, it’s spring.”
“Marcus, why did you enlist?” After pondering for a long time, she finally asked.
“Gianna, I remember you asked me this question.” He smiled at her with just his eyes. “Did you forget on the train?”
“Did I?” She was taken aback.
“In fact, I didn’t really want to enlist. Perhaps I would be better suited to be a poet or a musician, as you suggested.” A faint smile curved his lips, and he chuckled lightly. “If I could write poetry and compose music.”
“Oh.” She looked at him, clearly misunderstanding him, judging him solely by her impression and making a mistake based on appearances. Yet she remained somewhat curious about him. “Is it due to family tradition that the younger generation enlists?”
“Actually, when my second brother graduated from the Army Command School, I was still very young. I only knew that he looked very heroic in his uniform and that he was excellent with a gun. He was the pride of my father, unlike my eldest brother, who was obsessed with the arts and did nothing. As for me,” he suddenly paused, something flickering in his lowered lake-blue eyes, “by the way, how is Teddy?”
“Um, she’s doing well, eating and sleeping all day, with nothing else to do,” Khanyi smiled, realizing she was the same way. “And she really likes you.”
