Chapter 20
They split up at the bar's entrance.
Alice watched Simon hop into a taxi and take off.
Stretching and yawning, Alice pulled out her phone to check the time. She was thinking about grabbing a bite when David's call came in.
These days, seeing "David" pop up on her screen just made her annoyed. Something bad was probably coming.
She picked up, and David's voice was calm, almost too calm. "Where are you?"
For some reason, his tone gave her the chills, like an invisible knife was at her throat.
Alice mumbled, "Simon got wasted, so I came to the bar to pick him up. I was just about to head home."
She felt irritated after saying that.
She hadn't done anything wrong, just helping a friend. Why did she feel like a kid caught sneaking out?
"Go home," David said, then hung up.
After cursing at her phone for a bit, Alice flagged down a taxi and headed home.
As soon as she walked in, she smelled something delicious.
There was a thermal lunchbox on the table, but David wasn't in the living room. She heard noises coming from the kitchen.
Alice peeked into the kitchen and saw David with his sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular arms, cooking something.
It was weird seeing David, who was usually so uptight, cooking.
Alice snapped out of her thoughts and said cautiously, "David, I'm back."
David had already noticed her.
He might've sounded mad on the phone, but he wasn't. When he returned to the villa and found it empty, it was exactly what he expected.
He never expected her to be a goody-two-shoes.
"Go eat," David said.
The food wasn't made by David, and it didn't look like takeout. It must've been packed from a restaurant, and it was her favorite.
After a bit, David brought a bowl of soup to the table.
Putting the oven mitts aside, David said, "This is a nourishing soup I had the restaurant chef make. It's perfect for someone recovering from an illness. Make sure to drink it all."
Alice looked at the bowl, which was bigger than her face, and felt uneasy.
"David, I can't finish this." If she drank this soup, she'd be too full for dinner.
David also thought the portion was a bit much.
He suggested, "Then drink half now, and I'll reheat the other half for you after work."
Alice replied, "So, in the end, I still have to finish it, right?"
Propping her face on one hand, she glanced between the soup and David. "David, how about we each have half?"
David was taken aback.
"You see, you were close to me yesterday. You might've caught my illness but it hasn't shown up yet. Just to be safe, we should each have half of this soup!"
With that, Alice'd made up her mind. Before David could object, she dashed to the kitchen, grabbed a bowl, and split the soup.
"David, did you come back just to have lunch with me?" Alice leaned closer, smiling. "David, how can you be so nice?"
Before she finished, David tapped her forehead and glanced at the dishes on the table. The message was clear: go wash the dishes.
Alice thought, 'Nice? I should withdraw what I said.'
David sat in the living room, replying to emails. He glanced back at the kitchen and smiled.
He found Alice's look of suppressed anger pretty cute.
After about ten minutes, David headed back to the office, leaving the big house with just Alice again.
Alice was used to being alone and didn't mind.
In the evening, when David came home from work, he told her, "I have to go on a business trip for a week."
Alice blinked, "And then?" She felt like David had more to say.
David pursed his lips. "I'll arrange for a driver to take you to and from school. During this week, don't get into fights or cause any trouble."
David sighed, "If you manage that, I'll bring you a gift."
Alice agreed immediately, "Okay!"
The next day, Alice's school time clashed with David's flight, so he couldn't take her to school, and she couldn't see him off at the airport.
Sitting in the classroom, with the teacher droning on, Alice rested her chin on her hand and stared out at the clear blue sky. She suddenly felt very bored. Whether at school or at home, it seemed like no one was waiting for her.
It seemed like no one needed her.
The bell rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She stuffed her textbooks into her backpack and stood up. The next second, her way out was blocked.
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