Chapter 455 Outdoor Barbecue
Although there wasn't much conversation between them, Bella still felt uncomfortable and awkward.
Fortunately, after pouring her water, Sterling went to take a shower, even though he had already quickly rinsed off at the water park.
But as someone with serious cleanliness issues, he still felt some lingering discomfort on his body and needed another shower to feel completely at ease.
Soon the sound of running water came from the bathroom. With the rising steam, the whole room seemed to heat up.
Bella sat alone on the sofa, fiddling with her phone, but her eyes looked somewhat empty. She kept glancing toward the bathroom, her heart full of wariness and unease.
Being alone in a room with a man, she had to stay alert at all times. Thinking back to Sterling's sudden "interest" in the car earlier, she felt even more nervous.
The water finally stopped, and then Sterling emerged from the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. Water droplets still clung to his hair, sliding down his cheeks, making him look even more handsome and carefree.
But in Bella's eyes, this carefree attitude only made her more tense. She didn't know what Sterling would do next, or how she should respond.
Sterling seemed to notice Bella's tension. He sighed softly, then walked to the window and pulled open the curtains, letting the night view come into sight. He was trying to ease the atmosphere this way.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you." Sterling's voice was flat, as if making a promise to Bella.
Hearing this, Bella seemed embarrassed that he'd seen through her thoughts. She blushed slightly, then silently lowered her head and continued fiddling with her phone.
Seeing this, Sterling smiled slightly and said, "Always putting on an act."
They had agreed to have dinner. After Sterling called Colin, he went downstairs to wait for him and Anna.
But Bella and Sterling waited a full twenty minutes before Anna and Colin finally showed up.
Anna's face still carried a rosy flush, her shy appearance like a flower blooming in spring, making people's imaginations run wild. Although everyone knew what the two had just been up to, they tactfully didn't say anything, just exchanged knowing smiles.
Seeing this, Bella cleared her throat twice, trying to break the subtle awkwardness: "Where should we eat? I'm starving."
Hearing this, Anna immediately perked up. She had done her research and was waiting for this moment: "On a summer day like this, we should definitely have barbecue and ice-cold beer! That's what life's all about!"
When it came to food and fun, no one knew better than Anna. Her tone was full of anticipation and excitement, as if she could already smell the tempting aroma of barbecue and taste the refreshing beer.
Hearing this, Sterling and Colin both nodded in agreement. Barbecue and ice-cold beer really was the perfect summer combination.
They went to an outdoor street food place. Bella started worrying that Sterling wouldn't accept this kind of setting, since he didn't seem like the type to eat at street stalls.
But Sterling didn't say anything, which surprised Bella a little.
After the server carefully brought over the drinks, Anna couldn't wait to open some of them. She skillfully distributed the ice-cold beer to everyone, then looked at Sterling.
"Sterling, you've never been to a place like this before, have you?" Anna's words carried a playful curiosity.
Sterling smiled lightly. He gently swirled the beer in his hand, watching the foam slowly rise and fade, his lips curving: "That's right."
Street food stalls never appeared in Sterling's itinerary.
"Let me tell you, there's tons of stuff you haven't seen, eaten, or experienced," Anna continued, her tone carrying some pride and satisfaction. "I feel like people like you don't have much fun in life. Rich is rich, but that doesn't mean happy. This is real life—simple, direct, full of fun." Her words were filled with love for life and understanding of true happiness, naturally infectious.
Sterling didn't respond to Anna's comments. His gaze kept falling on Bella.
But as long as Bella was there, there was nowhere he couldn't be. As long as she was there, everything else around him became unimportant.
Although the environment here was indeed somewhat noisy and subpar for him, with Bella present, even in a place like this, he could stay contentedly.
Sterling's eyes revealed a barely noticeable tenderness—the kind that only showed when he looked at Bella.
Just as they were enjoying their meal, Anna suddenly had a whim and turned to Colin: "I heard that when men reach middle age they gain weight and get belly fat. Is that true? Will your abs disappear?"
Anna's words carried playfulness and curiosity, clearly very interested in this question.
Hearing this, Colin's mouth twitched slightly. He looked at Anna helplessly and answered with a smile: "If you keep making me this lazy, maybe. But under normal circumstances, that would never happen to me."
Colin's tone was full of confidence. Gain weight? Impossible. He had absolute control over his body.
Hearing this, Anna couldn't help but giggle. She reached out and lightly patted Colin's arm, her face showing a playfully annoyed smile: "Who said that? I don't want you turning into a pot-bellied middle-aged man."
Colin smiled and put his arm around Anna's shoulder, gently pulling her toward him, saying with a laugh: "Don't worry, for you, I'll always keep my abs in shape."
Bella couldn't stand their lovey-dovey behavior: "Are we eating or not? If you want to be all romantic, go home."
Anna just laughed carelessly, completely shameless.
Seeing that Sterling had been staying quiet the whole time, neither smoking nor eating much, just occasionally lifting his glass for a small sip, Colin felt somewhat disdainful.
Colin pulled out a half-empty pack of cigarettes from his pocket and casually tossed it to Sterling, saying with a teasing tone: "Don't be so uptight when we're out having fun. Relax a little."
Sterling glanced lightly at Bella, as if seeking her opinion. His eyes were full of gentleness and respect, clearly not wanting his behavior to make Bella uncomfortable.
But Bella didn't say anything, just pressed her lips together slightly. Still, Sterling didn't reach for the cigarette pack.
"You smoke it yourself," Sterling replied flatly.
Seeing this, Colin couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and patted Sterling's shoulder, his eyes full of teasing: "Whipped, huh? Looks like even Sterling has his henpecked moments." His words carried some joking tone.
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