Chapter 169
After a moment of awkward silence, Soren’s expression changed slightly as he said, “Alright then, let’s eat.”
He got up and returned to his seat.
I lowered my head, secretly sighing in relief. But almost immediately, a pang of regret crept in, leaving me a little saddened…
I didn’t have the courage to look at him, but after a brief silence, I mumbled, “I’m sorry. I know you’re doing this for my own good, but right now, I just can’t…”
I couldn’t bring myself to accept his kindness–nor did I feel worthy of it.
Yet, I had no idea how to put that into words.
Fortunately, he seemed to understand.
With a gentle tone, he said, “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I acted rashly just now.”
Hang on… Did Soren just apologize to me?!
In shock, I quickly looked up. “No, not at all! You haven’t done anything wrong! You’re a really nice guy, and you’ve helped me so much!”
Just like that, we became more formal with each other again, a subtle distance settling between us.
Even so, I felt strangely at ease.
Lunch was quiet for the most part, with only some lighthearted banter here and there–nothing serious.
By the time we were nearly finished, I’d completely relaxed slipping back into treating him like an ordinary friend.
Taking the initiative, I finally brought up the real reason for our “date.” “I’ll let you try out the prototype when we get to my studio later. It shouldn’t take long. You’re not in a hurry, are you?”
Soren had just finished eating as well. He set down his utensils and looked at me. “Not at all. I’m pretty free these next few days.”
“I see. That’s good.”
I nodded, then got up from my seat. “Let’s go—someone else seems to be waiting for our table.”
It was the café’s peak hour, and business was booming despite the simplicity of the food they served.
We left the café and took the elevator down, neither of us saying a word until we reached the ground floor.
There was no need to drive since my studio was just across the street, so we waited by the pedestrian crossing.
I pulled out my phone and pretended to be busy, hoping to fill the silence and avoid any awkwardness.
Suddenly, Soren grabbed me and pulled me toward him, shouting, “Look out!”
Caught off guard, I stumbled into his arms just as a courier on a scooter zoomed past me.
“Are you alright?” Soren asked, his expression filled with concern.
It took me a moment to regain my composure. As soon as I realized where I was, I quickly pushed myself away
from him.
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 169
“I–I’m fine, thank you,” I stammered, avoiding his gaze as thanked him profusely.
At that moment, I noticed the crowd around us beginning to move.
“Oh look! The light’s turned green already. Come on!” I said, turning away.
I hurried ahead, still too embarrassed to look back at him.
His long strides quickly closed the distance between us, his presence unmistakable even in my peripheral vision. The street buzzed with activity–pedestrians, cars, and motorcycles weaving through the chaos. Yet, Soren’s striking physique and refined demeanor made him effortlessly stand out in the crowd.
I even overheard a young woman whisper, “Wow… He’s so handsome! I’m in love!”
I agreed with her completely, but at the same time, a pang of insecurity crept in.
Someone like me could never deserve to be with someone as perfect as him…
When we reached my company building, I guided Soren to a separate elevator to avoid drawing attention from other employees and sparking unwanted rumors.
The elevator would take us directly to my private studio, though the route was a bit of a hassle.
After a while, we finally arrived.
I pressed my finger against the scanner and pushed the door open.
Turning to Soren with a smile, I said, “Welcome to my studio, Mr. Kenway. Please, come in.”
I deliberately used a lighthearted tone to ease the lingering awkwardness between us.
Soren stepped inside with a smile, his eyes scanning the space as he began to explore the studio.
Chapter 170
+25 BONUS
Chapter 170
