Chapter 78 Her and Alex's Pure Friendship
Alex's face looked very unpleasant as he kicked a chair and sat down coldly, glaring at her.
Katherine nonchalantly ate barbecue, then suddenly smiled and offered a skewer to Alex's mouth, teasingly raising her eyebrows and saying, "Give it a try?"
Alex hesitated, showing a hint of interest as he slowly opened his mouth.
Katherine swiftly retracted the skewer, taking a big bite herself, chuckling, "Alex, didn't you say you didn't want any?"
The ease on his face had once again turned stern. His eyes squinted, exuding a menacing aura. He excused, "Are you playing with me?"
Katherine shrugged, handed him a new skewer from the plate, and claimed, "Alright, no more teasing. It's not hygienic for us to share one, so I'll treat you to a new one. Try it; it's delicious."
With the previous experience of being teased, Alex was cautious this time, watching her closely before accepting.
This time, Katherine was genuinely offering him a taste without retracting.
Seeing Alex take the skewer from the barbecue stall, Leander quickly intervened, "Mr. Melville, you can't eat this kind of unclean food."
Katherine glanced at Leander, dismissing his concern, saying, "You guys do as you please. I'm just sharing."
Leander twitched the corner of his mouth; whatever Ms. Galatea ate was none of his business. But Mr. Melville had never eaten this kind of thing from childhood to adulthood. What if it upset his stomach...
''Mr. Melville...'' Leander called out.
Alex waved his hand, signaling him to step aside and mind his own business.
Leander sighed inwardly, unable to interfere further, wary but silent.
Alex observed Katherine eating the barbecue and delicately took a bite of the skewer, chewing gracefully.
Katherine, leaning in with a mischievous smile, asked, "Alex, how does it taste? Delicious, right?"
Alex nodded slightly and answered, "Not bad."
"See? I told you!" Katherine felt triumphant and replied. She teased, "But Alex, you seem to be trying barbecue for the first time, being so refined. Barbecue stalls have their table manners; you need to eat heartily to enjoy it truly. Like me!"
Refined eating habits? How dare she mock him like that!
Alex, with a dark expression, watched Katherine's carefree eating, feeling a strange stir within.
Alex felt it was hard to be mad at Katherine when he observed her eating without any concern for manners.
She was unlike those affected women who always maintained a poised and refined demeanor in front of him.
"Katherine, your twenty skewers are ready!" The stall owner called out and brought a plate of skewers over. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Alex sitting with Katherine.
"Oh! This young man is even more handsome than the last one you brought, Katherine! You're really lucky, surrounded by such handsome guys!" the owner said lightly.
Katherine chuckled, "It's okay."
The stall owner fetched a bottle of soda from the ice bucket, offered it to Alex, and then said, "First time here, Sir? Enjoy a complimentary soda. If you like our food, make sure to bring Katherine here often."
Alex glanced at the soda, feeling uncomfortable with the warmth and unwarranted generosity. When he was about to decline, Katherine cheerfully interjected, "Thank you, we'll definitely come back often."
The stall owner smiled and went back to work.
Alex narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are you close with the stall owner?"
Katherine nodded, then answered, "Yes, we used to come here often for late-night snacks."
"You?" Alex inquired.
"Just... with my friends," she then answered.
Suddenly, Alex remembered the stall owner's comment about the previous man being handsome. So she took another man here? That guy was her friend?
Alex furrowed his brow and inquired, ''Friend or Ex?''
Katherine shook her head honestly and explained, ''Not my ex. It's embarrassing to admit, but I've been single all this time and never had an ex. I just come here with friends from school and friends I've grown up with.'"
Alex's dark pupils darkened, and then asked, "A friend? The one who gave you the button?"
"Not him!" Katherine replied without hesitation, and then paused, "Wait! Alex, how did you know someone gave me a button?"
Alex remained expressionless, coldly stating, "Coincidentally, I was nearby that day."
Katherine recalled the graduation day incident when a younger student approached her while she was walking with Alex in the hallway.
Yes, Alex had indeed been nearby.
"He's just my school junior. We don't usually keep in touch. He said the button was a keepsake, and I was surprised by the trend of gifting buttons. It wasn't anything valuable, so I accepted it," she then explained.
Alex's eyes lit up slightly as he raised an eyebrow, "So, you don't know what it symbolizes?"
Katherine blinked in surprise and then asked, "What can a button symbolize? I have no idea. I'll look it up."
She reached for her phone to search.
Alex stopped her by holding her hand and the phone, saying, "There's no need to look up trivial matters. Finish eating, and let's go home."
"...Oh, okay," she then agreed.
Katherine found Alex's behavior a bit odd today but didn't dwell on it, focusing on finishing her barbecue. Finally Katherine was full. She let out a satisfied burp, feeling both content and uncomfortable.
After being teased by Sherry all day and going hungry, she couldn't help but overeat at night, now feeling too full to stand up.
As she tried to rise with difficulty, a large hand suddenly reached out in a gentlemanly manner.
Katherine hesitated, and then looked up to see Alex gazing at her with a hint of helplessness. She found it difficult to stand up on her own, and then accepted Alex's help, holding his hand to get up.
Once on her feet, Katherine thanked him and attempted to retract her hand. But Alex didn't let go, leading her towards the car.
Katherine couldn't retrieve her hand, awkwardly saying, "Alex, hold on, I haven't paid yet!"
Alex nodded towards Leander to settle the bill.
Unable to pull her hand back, Katherine felt a flutter in her heart. Alex's rough, strong hand enveloped hers firmly, not hurting her but preventing her from pulling away.
"Look at that handsome man, picking up his girlfriend at the barbecue stall!" one client said.
"Her boyfriend is not only handsome but also so gentle and caring. I'm envious and speechless," other clients chimed in.
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