Lucas and I stared at each other.
He took a step back and stammered, “A–Alice, you… you…”
I let out a slow breath and decided to strike first. “Weren’t you guys supposed to be off at some competition?”
Lucas stared at me, completely dazed.
Then Calvin slid in with a smile, casually stepping between us.
“Alice, we were just studying earlier. We’re here for dinner and continue studying later.”
Lucas suddenly cut in. “What about you? Are you the woman who has dinner with my brother?”
I nodded. “Is that a problem?”
Just as the tension hung in the air, a soft voice came from the corner. “Lucas…”
He seemed to snap back to himself and went over to pull the girl close. “Let me introduce-”
“Your girlfriend?” I cut in with a smile. “She is, right? You two look great together.”
Lucas just looked at me, his expression unreadable.
Calvin’s amber eyes flicked between me and Andy. After a pause, he smiled–dimples showing, sharp canines peek- ing out.
“Alice, were you with Andy just now?”
He looked so innocently curious.
The room went quiet again.
“We just ran into each other,” I said honestly.
Andy chuckled, not confirming or denying anything.
I was puzzled.
Excuse me? What kind of reaction was that? He was making it sound like we were having a secret affair.
I instinctively glanced over at Eric and met his calm, steady gaze.
“Why are you staring at Eric again?” Lucas gritted his teeth, his grip tightening until the girl in his arms went pale.
Then he turned and asked. “Eric, why were you having dinner with her? Is it a blind date?”
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Chapter 6
Eric shot him a cold, sharp look. Lucas reluctantly shut up.
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It wasn’t until then that Hugo, who’d been quietly watching from the side, adjusted his gold–rimmed glasses and grabbed the girl’s arm. “Let go,” he said to Lucas. “You’re hurting her.”
Lucas let go instinctively.
Hugo wrapped an arm around her waist and walked her out.
As he passed by me, the gentle–looking guy nodded at me. “Hey Alice, it’s been a while.”
Then the two of them left.
Lucas stood there for a moment, face dark, then finally followed.
That left just Andy and Calvin in the once–crowded room.
I looked at Calvin. “Everyone else is gone. You’re not going with them?”
Calvin gave me a bright smile, but there was a hint of playful complaint in his tone. “So you’re kicking out, but not Andy? That’s unfair, don’t you think?”
I glanced at Andy.
Then rubbed my temples and looked at Calvin again.
I had no idea what these two lunatics were plotting.
“Then take him with you,” I said.
Calvin blinked, then walked over and patted Andy on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Andy didn’t move.
Calvin sighed. “The cake for Talia’s birthday hasn’t even been cut yet. Why are you still here, crashing Alice and Er- ic’s date?”
Andy ignored him and sat down right next to me.
I was taken aback.
Calvin froze, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Dude, are you here for a free meal? Our private room has food, cake, and livelier.”
While things were quiet, I calmly looked at Calvin.
He was still the same—always wearing that bright smile. But unlike before, when he used to act cute around me, he seemed a lot more normal now.
I sat back down and took a sip of tea. “Since Andy doesn’t want to leave, why don’t you go back first, Calvin?”
He paused for a couple of seconds, the smile on his face fading a little. “You’re still spoiling Andy, huh?”
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Chapter 6
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“But,” Calvin changed his tone, flashing that familiar smile again, “no matter what, you can’t let him stick around and ruin your date, right?”
The waiter began serving dish after dish.
Andy still made no move to leave.
Eric, on the other hand, calmly straightened his cuffs and stood. “I’ve got a lot to take care of at the office. I’ll head back.”
“See you, Eric!” Calvin said cheerfully, waving with a grin.
Eric came over to me. “I’ll take you home?”
I was stunned for a second. “Sure.”
“You’re not going back to the office?” Andy suddenly stood up and stepped beside me, locking eyes with Eric. “I’ll take her.”
“No need,” I quickly waved my hand. “You kids go have fun. Isn’t it someone’s birthday? Don’t keep them waiting.” Calvin stood back against the wall, arms crossed, wearing that polite smile like he was watching a show.
Eric ignored it and just walked out with his long legs.
I grabbed my bag and followed him.
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