Chapter 371 The Mysterious Stella

Looking at her composed demeanor, Lucas was slightly surprised. “Why do you seem like nothing happened?”

“Because nothing did happen,” Arabella replied with a casual smile, urging him. “Let’s go ahead and order.”

Seeing she was unbothered, Lucas decided not to dwell on the unpleasantness with Ruby and focused on selecting dishes with Arabella.

“By the way, you’ve missed quite a few sessions lately. Are you thinking of making them up soon?” Lucas asked.

Arabella thought for a moment. “Perhaps in a few days. I have some matters to take care of over the next couple of days.”

“Anything I can help with?” Lucas instinctively offered.

“No, it’s just some work–related things,” Arabella explained with a smile.

“I see,” Lucas said, not pressing further.

Soon, their food arrived.

“Let’s eat. Make sure you get enough,” Lucas said, gesturing toward the dishes.

“Alright, let’s eat,” Arabella replied, picking up her fork.

The two chatted lightly as they ate, finishing their lunch rather quickly before leaving the restaurant.

“Next time, it’s definitely my treat,” Lucas said with a hint of playful complaint.

Arabella couldn’t help but chuckle. “In a couple of days, once I wrap up my tasks and get back to a regular routine, I’ll give you call. We can have another meal together then.”

“Deal,” Lucas said, finally satisfied.

“The art gallery isn’t far from here. Let’s walk,” Arabella suggested.

“Sounds good,” Lucas agreed.

“What styles of painting do you usually like?” Lucas asked curiously.

“I enjoy many styles, but I tend to paint landscapes more often myself,” Arabella replied.

Lucas‘ face brightened. “You like landscapes? I prefer them too!”

It turned out they not only shared an interest but even favored the same genre.

“Do you paint often?” Arabella asked.

Lucas shook his head. “Haven’t picked up a brush in a while. Honestly, talking about it now makes me want to start again.”

a

He then looked at Arabella and suggested, “How about we go sketching together sometime?”

“Uh… I think I’ll pass for now,” she said. From now on, if she went sketching, she’d prefer to go alone–definitely not with company.

1/3

Chapter 371 The Mysterious Stella

Thinking back to the awkward incident when she went sketching at the waterfall with Matthew, she felt a fresh wave of exasperation.

+5 Free Coins

“Why not? Don’t you want to go with me?” Lucas asked, sounding a bit disappointed, especially since they had just connected over the topic.

“It’s not that,” Arabella explained awkwardly. “It’s just that I’ve been quite busy lately and might not have the time.”

“Then I’ll wait for you!” Lucas‘ eyes lit up. He didn’t mind waiting at all.

Arabella forced a smile. “If you want to go, you should just go. You don’t have to wait for me. We can plan something for another time when we’re both free.”

For now, she had absolutely no desire to go sketching anytime soon. It wasn’t about the company–she just wasn’t in the mood.

But Lucas wasn’t deterred. “It’s fine, I’m in no rush. Whenever you’re free, just let me know. I’ll be ready.”

As long as she wasn’t actively avoiding him, he was happy to wait.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Arabella could only sigh inwardly. Well, as long as he’s happy. She just really wasn’t feeling the sketching vibe right now.

As they talked, the two arrived at the entrance to the art exhibition.

“This is a showcase for emerging artists. All the works here are from new talents who have gained recognition in the last couple of years…” Arabella began explaining the exhibition’s theme to Lucas.

Lucas asked eagerly, “Is Stella’s work featured here?”

“You know about Stella?” Arabella was surprised.

“Of course! She’s the most enigmatic rising artist. She has a very limited output, and her pieces almost never appear on the open market because they’re all private commissions. On top of that, whether she even accepts a commission depends entirely on her mood,” Lucas elaborated enthusiastically. “And you know what’s even more intriguing? No one has ever seen what she actually

looks like.”

Listening to Lucas praise her alter ego so effusively, Arabella felt a twinge of self–consciousness and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“She’s not that famous, is she?” Arabella muttered.

“Well, how to put it…” Lucas thought for a moment. “The general public might not know her name, but anyone active in contemporary art circles certainly does.”

In his opinion, anyone with a genuine interest in painting had probably heard of her.

“I really hope her work is here today,” Lucas sighed. “Even if I could never own one, just getting to see it would be incredible.”

“Then you’re in luck. Her paintings are actually here today,” Arabella told him directly.

Even if she couldn’t reveal her identity, letting him know her work was on display should please him.

Sure enough, Lucas was delighted. “Really? That’s fantastic!”

“You admire her work that much?” Arabella asked with a light laugh.

Lucas declared proudly, “Absolutely. I’m sure you’ve heard of her too. Aren’t you curious to see her pieces?”

“…” Arabella could only smile and agree. “I would like to see them.”

“See? Everyone is interested in her work,” Lucas said, a note of regret in his voice. “It’s just a shame she’s so reclusive. I’d love to meet her someday.”

“Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the future,” Arabella said casually, attempting to sound reassuring.

“I hope so,” Lucas said, turning to her. “If she ever makes a public appearance, let’s go see her together.”

Arabella offered a slightly strained smile. “Let’s just go inside.”