Chapter 1227 Playing with Emotions
D University, The Dining Hall
Stella had arrived early to secure their usual table, carefully selecting all of Emeric's favorite dishes. True to form, he appeared at precisely the appointed time—not a minute early, not a minute late, his punctuality as reliable as clockwork.
As he settled into the seat across from her, Stella pushed the steaming bowl toward him with eager anticipation. "I got all your favorites while they're still hot. You should eat before it gets cold."
"Thank you." Emeric set his textbooks aside and began eating with his characteristic methodical precision.
"Has Randy been particularly busy lately?" he asked between bites.
Stella looked puzzled. "Why do you ask?" Then realization dawned as she remembered their recent absence from practice sessions. "Oh! Charles is getting married, so Randy flew back to Country Z for the wedding."
"I see." Emeric nodded, though something flickered in the depths of his eyes—a shadow of disappointment he quickly suppressed.
Oblivious to his momentary vulnerability, Stella propped her chin in her hands with a dramatic sigh. "I'm leaving tomorrow too. My parents want me to join them for the celebration, and I'll be gone for several days—maybe longer."
"I see," he repeated, his expression remaining carefully neutral.
"Emeric, promise me you'll take care of yourself while I'm away. No more skipping meals because you're buried in your studies. Missing one meal won't kill you, but making a habit of it will wreak havoc on your stomach."
"I understand. Thank you for your concern."
His polite detachment only seemed to fuel Stella's determination. With characteristic boldness, she leaned forward and asked, "Will you miss me while I'm gone?"
Emeric's hand hesitated midway to his mouth, something unreadable flickering across his features. To deflect, he gestured toward her untouched meal. "I have obligations after this. You should eat."
Stella had expected this evasion and simply laughed, finally picking up her own utensils. Meanwhile, Emeric mechanically continued eating, his gaze fixed on the vegetables before him as though they held the answers to questions he couldn't voice.
After lunch, they walked slowly through campus toward the main gate. A gentle breeze caught the hem of Stella's dress, and Emeric found himself watching the fabric flutter with an intensity that surprised him.
As they passed through a grove of trees, he suddenly stopped and turned to face her, his expression unusually serious. "Stella, I need to understand something. Why do you attend my classes? Why do you bring me breakfast? Why do you constantly invite me to meals and introduce me to Randy?"
Any other girl might have blushed furiously at such directness, but Stella met his gaze without flinching. "Emeric, I've been pursuing you for months. Surely you can't have been completely oblivious?"
A flush crept up his neck, and for a moment, his composure cracked entirely.
Worried she might have overwhelmed him, Stella quickly softened her tone. "But don't feel pressured to respond right away. Everyone says patience is key in matters of the heart, and I'm prepared for a long campaign. I—"
"I accept."
Still caught up in her reassurances, Stella continued, "You don't need to rush into anything, I—" She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as his words registered. "What did you just say?"
Emeric held her gaze steadily, his voice clear and deliberate. "I said I accept."
The joy that flooded Stella's face was radiant. She let out a delighted squeal that sent nearby birds scattering. "I knew persistence would pay off! I knew if I just kept trying—"
"However," Emeric interrupted quietly.
Her elation faltered. "However what?"
"I don't think you truly understand what you're agreeing to." His voice took on a clinical quality, as though he were presenting evidence in court. "I'm twenty-three years old, from a working-class family. My father's medical bills have consumed our savings and left us with hundreds of thousands in debt. While I love music, I've never had formal training—everything I know is self-taught."
He continued, "I'm antisocial, have no friends, and lack the social graces most people expect. I can't offer romantic gestures or expensive dates. Between multiple jobs to service our debt, I'll have little time for a relationship. Eventually, you'll realize your mistake. When that happens, just tell me, and I'll step aside."
Stella hadn't absorbed a single word of his litany of shortcomings. Her smile remained brilliant, undimmed by his warnings. "None of that matters to me. I've worked too hard to win you over to give up now. I'm absolutely not backing down."
Emeric extended his hand with the formality of a business transaction. "In that case, I look forward to working with you."
Stella grasped his hand enthusiastically, completely unbothered by the clinical nature of their agreement. "The pleasure is all mine, Emeric."
He glanced down at their joined hands, then smoothly withdrew his and slipped it into his pocket. "I should walk you to your car."
"Yes!" Stella nodded eagerly.
As they continued toward the gate, she couldn't contain her generosity. "Exactly how much does your family owe? I could pay it off easily. My parents are quite generous with my allowance, and I've saved several hundred thousand over the years. It would be no trouble at all."
Emeric's expression darkened immediately. "I'll handle my family's debts myself. I may be poor, but I don't live off women."
"But there's nothing wrong with accepting help," Stella protested. "We're together now, so supporting each other is natural. Besides, a few hundred thousand isn't that much—I spend more than that shopping in a typical month."
"Nothing in life is 'natural' or owed," Emeric replied coldly. "Even married couples aren't legally obligated to assume each other's premarital debts. I'd prefer you never mention this again."
Seeing his resolve, Stella backed down gracefully. "All right, but promise me you'll ask if you ever truly need help. We're partners now—we shouldn't keep anything from each other."
Something shifted in Emeric's eyes as he murmured a quiet agreement.
At the university gates, the Reed family car waited with its engine running. As Stella moved toward the vehicle, Emeric caught her arm.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, turning back with concern.
Emeric's lips moved silently for a moment before he found his voice, his eyes fixed on the ground rather than meeting hers. "I want to ask Randy to take me as his student. Would you help arrange that?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
