Chapter 533
533
Aria didn’t expect him to still be bothered. It was both helpless and amusing.”Come here. I’ll tell you.”
Owen suppressed the smile tugging at his lips, closed his book, walked over, and sat beside her. He naturally took her hand and held it.
Aria said, “Next time you want to ask something, just ask. Don’t make me guess.”
Owen leaned lightly against her shoulder. “Then tell me about yourself.”
Aria asked, “Just giving you a starting point. Say whatever you want.”
Owen said, “Well, let’s start with what Johnny said about you picking up strays.”
Owen added, “That’s just a jumping-off point. Feel free to talk about anything you like.”
Aria chuckled. “One time, during a mission, I helped a young boy who was being bullied. He insisted on following me. I had to threaten to kill him before he finally backed off.”
Later, she went to a bar to meet Johnny. The boy followed her there, so Johnny saw him.
Owen played with her fingers. “My Madelyn is so kind.”
That little boy had probably grown up by now.
No wonder Johnny teased her about “picking up a guy.”
As they talked, Aria casually told Owen how she met Vanessa and Johnny. Then asked, “What about you?”
Owen’s childhood was boring. Aside from a few memorable people and his roommates, most of it was a blur.
His teenage years were mostly studying and training.
Aria heard all this and commented, “With how you look, you call that boring? I don’t believe it.”
“No one ever wrote you love letters?” she asked curiously.
T
Owen really didn’t remember much, though he vaguely recalled something. “I paid my deskmate to write back and tell them to focus on their studies. Then I let them know that if they sent me another love letter or tried to confess, I’d report them to the teacher. Once word spread, the girls just chased after other good-looking guys instead.”
Owen had a reputation for being a top student. Teachers placed a lot of importance on him.
He was recommended early for university and wasn’t on campus much afterward.
Aria didn’t expect such a tactic. “You really broke their hearts.”
Reporting to the teacher was brutal.
14
Owen wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. “I was being pure and virtuous, keeping myself clean for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be good enough for you.”
Aria ruffled his hair. “Well done.”
He said, “Thank you, sugar
mama.”
1/2
533
Sunday was a make-up school day. Derek messaged Aria: [Aria, I want to introduce someone to you. They’re very good at neuromorphic computing and totally reliable.]
[Stardew Cafeteria is closest to you. We’ll meet there. But I couldn’t book a private room, so we’ll have to sit in the main dining area.]
Aria replied: [Ok.] and headed over.
At the entrance, Arthur was being pushed inside by Derek.
Arthur turned his head. “Exactly who am I meeting?”
Derek gave a mysterious smile. “Someone important to your future.”
Arthur asked, “You’re not setting me up on a blind date, are you?”
Derek. “Come on. Do I look like that kind of guy?”
Normally, Derek wouldn’t bother hiding it if he were introducing his sister. But over the past month, he had tried multiple times to get Arthur to meet Aria. Every time, Arthur had dodged it.
Once or twice could be a coincidence. Seven or eight times? Definitely something fishy. It was clear Arthur was deliberately avoiding meeting her.
So Derek didn’t tell him in advance this time.
Better to just let them meet face-to-face. It was easier to clear up any misunderstanding.
Aria was already seated by the window, a few dishes arranged on the table.
Derek called out, “Hey, Aria!”
Aria looked up.
Arthur froze in place, staring straight at her.
He thought, ‘Crap, I’m busted!’ Derek totally set him up.