Chapter 554 How Did You Do It
Elara's body went rigid, her red lips pressed into a thin line, and there was a flicker of unease in her eyes.
Jesse noticed her silence and gently nudged, "Right?"
"So what if you're right?" Elara tried to squash the anxious and mixed feelings swirling inside her. "Even if you didn't mean to, you still ended up taking my first kiss. The fact remains."
Jesse just stared at her.
Elara's grip on her cup tightened without her realizing it.
When did Jesse's presence get so intense?
Elara felt like she was about to lose it.
"Yeah," Jesse seemed to have figured something out and found her point valid, "You're right."
Elara was taken aback, stunned.
Jesse stood up and took the cup from her hand. "Hot or cold?"
"What?" Elara was still in a daze.
"Didn't you want some water?" Jesse asked.
Elara blinked. "Cold."
"Got it." Jesse fetched her a glass of cold water.
He handed it to her and casually mentioned, "I'll be home with you for the next two weeks. Wherever you need to go, I can take you."
"What do you mean?" Elara was puzzled.
Jesse didn't spell it out, "I've cleared my schedule for the next two weeks. You can plan whatever you want."
"You're not going to the office?" Elara asked.
Jesse shook his head. "Nope."
"You're not joking?" Elara felt like she was dreaming.
Jesse replied, "Nope."
Elara pressed her lips together, feeling like this was unreal.
From what she heard from Mark and Daphne, Jesse was a workaholic, always buried in work.
But looking at the Jesse standing in front of her, all serious and clear-headed, it felt like something had shifted.
"Don't you love your work?" Elara asked, "Why the sudden change?"
"We just started dating, so I want you to have a good experience," Jesse said, finding an excuse.
Elara didn't know the real reason, but she was sure it wasn't that.
Jesse felt a bit awkward under her gaze but stayed calm. "Don't you want me around?"
"We don't need to be together all the time when dating," Elara indirectly refused. She didn't want Jesse to put off his important work because of her. "You go to work as usual. I'll reach out when I need you."
They weren't real lovers.
If Jesse stuck around every day, he'd start seeing it as a chore.
Eventually, it would really become a chore.
It would be hard for Elara to get into his heart and make him like her.
"You can't cook." Jesse found another excuse.
"I can't cook, but I can still order takeout, right?" Elara said seriously, "I lived alone before moving in with you."
Back then, when she was abroad, she wasn't as adapted as she is now, but she still managed.
Elara stared at him. "Are you hiding something?"
"No," Jesse didn't tell the truth.
"Then why did you suddenly clear your schedule to stay with me?" Elara pressed. "You weren't like this before."
"I didn't have a girlfriend before," Jesse's answer was straightforward.
Elara asked, "Really?"
"Yes," Jesse answered immediately.
"If you're lying to me, I'll never be happy in my life," Elara's eyes were clear, and she spoke in a light tone.
Jesse frowned a bit. Who'd gamble with their future like that?
Seeing him stay quiet for too long, Elara pushed, "What do you think?"
"No, I don't think that's acceptable," Jesse, being the serious guy he was, took such words to heart.
"Then be straight with me," Elara didn't want him treating this like a checklist. She wanted to guide him into a real relationship. "Why'd you push your work aside to stay with me? This isn't like you, Mr. Workaholic."
Jesse stayed silent.
Elara stared him down. "Not talking?"
"I want to protect you," Jesse finally caved under her questioning. "Mark told me some guy from a blind date was harassing you. I want to help you get rid of this trouble."
"Why?" Elara asked.
"What?" Jesse was confused.
"Why do you want to protect me and help me out?" Elara pressed on.
"Because you're good," Jesse was straightforward. "You helped me before, now I want to help you."
She figured he'd say that. After a few seconds of looking at him, she made up her mind. "I can handle this myself. You don't need to help me."
"But..." Jesse tried to argue.
Elara cut him off, "No buts."
"Okay." Jesse immediately backed down.
Seeing him like this, Elara really wanted to reach out and ruffle his hair. He was just too cute.
"After this, go back to work as usual. If there's really any trouble, I'll call you," Elara didn't want him messing up his life plans because of her, "Got it?"
Jesse nodded, but despite his words, he still made some arrangements.
After their talk, Elara went back to her room and called Mark, asking why he told Jesse all that stuff.
She told Mark it was just friends chatting and venting. She kept it from Jesse, knowing his seemingly cold exterior masked a deeper seriousness than anyone else possessed. The truth proved her right.
"I told him to help you, of course. Jesse's always been clueless about relationships. Who knows when you'll be able to make a move," Mark adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke seriously.
Elara told him, "Don't meddle in the future."
"Okay," Mark agreed quickly.
Elara added, "Enjoy your honeymoon with your wife. Bye."
Mark stopped her. "Wait."
Elara responded coolly, "What?"
"Jesse asked me before what it means when a girl always wants to kiss someone. I guess someone is pursuing him," Mark spoke seriously, completely unaware that Jesse and Elara were already living together, "You need to step up your game."
Elara smiled, "No need."
"Why?" Mark was puzzled. Wasn't she back specifically for Jesse?
"That girl is me," Elara proved to Mark that she didn't need his help. "I'm living in his house now. I just kissed him."
Mark was completely stunned. Afraid he heard wrong, he asked again, "You're not joking?"
"Want me to send you a photo?" Elara's voice had a playful edge.
Mark paused for a moment and then believed her.
He pressed his lips together and tentatively asked, "How did you do it?"
If he remembered correctly, Elara had just returned not long ago. They had only met at his wedding a few days ago.
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