Chapter 167

"Lillian?" Simon called out again.

"...What is it?"

"Were you just contacting an agent to rent an apartment?"

Lillian's heart tightened, afraid he would press further. Her tone turned sharp. "Why do you ask so many questions? It's none of your business!"

A flicker of hurt passed through Simon's eyes, but he remained gentle. "I'm your boyfriend. Of course I care about you."

"I wanted a boyfriend, not a father."

"If you think I'm being too nosy... I'll talk less from now on?"

He was cautious, afraid of upsetting her again.

Seeing he didn't press about the apartment, Lillian relaxed internally. Her attitude softened.

"Give it to me—" She reached out.

"What?"

"That bubble tea in your hand. Isn't it for me?"

"Oh right! I almost forgot..." Simon smiled.

…

Another week passed in the lab. Finally, both sets of data were ready.

The pressure finally eased up.

On Saturday, Sophia gave herself a day off.

"Miss Sullivan, long time no see. Did you almost forget what I look like?"

Olivia pulled up beside her in a convertible Ferrari.

She rested her arm on the window, took off her sunglasses, and revealed her sparkling, peach-blossom eyes.

The wind tousled her voluminous curls. She wore a black utility jumpsuit with a statement belt, looking trendy and cool.

Sophia got into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. "How could I dare? I could forget anyone but my Queen Olivia."

Olivia pinched her dewy cheek. "Two weeks apart, and your mouth is so sweet. Did you sneak some honey?"

"No need to sneak. I'm naturally sweet."

"Yes, yes! You're sweet. Hold on tight. The queen is taking you for some good food!"

"Okay~"

"Clara, you're just too well-behaved. If I were a man, I'd marry you straight away!"

Then what use would that scumbag Ethan Roscente be?

Ugh! Bad luck!

Xigu Yuan, a recently popular Cantonese tea restaurant.

It had been rooted in Kyoto for years but recently went viral thanks to influencers. New customers flooded in, leaving regulars unable to get a table.

Olivia had made the reservation half a month in advance.

Roasted pigeon was their signature dish. Sophia ordered some appetizers first. The pigeon arrived after they finished those.

The skin was crispy without being greasy. A bite released juicy, tender, and springy meat.

Truly worthy of being the signature dish.

"This place has been in Kyoto for over twenty years. It was only famous among foodies until recently. These influencer visits blew its cover…"

Olivia first came here with her dad.

Thinking Sophia had been working hard on her experiments lately, and with the weather getting hotter, heavy, inflammatory foods wouldn't do. Light Cantonese cuisine was perfect!

"How's the taste? Good, right?"

Sophia nodded. "Mhm, delicious!"

The cooking was perfect, locking in the juices. The skin carried the smoky aroma of fruitwood charcoal.

Sophia even started pondering the recipe for the pigeon… She could try making it sometime.

She used to research recipes and cook mainly for Ethan.

After the breakup, she slowly discovered that cooking a good meal for herself or sharing food with friends was a joyful thing in itself.

Not to please anyone, nor to curry favor with anyone.

As long as she enjoyed it, whether it was cooking or anything else, it was pleasant.

"Clara… Thanks for last time. My brother said I made a scene while drunk?"

Mentioning that drunken episode, Olivia awkwardly rubbed her nose.

"It's all my mom's fault. She made me attend some 'young people's party.' It was clearly a matchmaking banquet."

Young men and women were lined up like goods on a chopping block, waiting to be chosen.

Nina White was great in many ways, just overly anxious.

She kept saying mismatched status leads to unhappiness, that experience proves love ultimately depends on economic foundation…

Olivia was fed up.

After last time, she made a three-point agreement with Ms. Bai. Matching status was fine, but she would pick the person herself.

In exchange, Nina White could no longer privately arrange matchmaking banquets or parties.

Sophia: "Pick yourself?"

"Right. As long as their family background isn't poor, my mom can accept it. Easy. I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Sophia blinked.

Olivia liked the "younger puppy" type. There were plenty of younger men in their circle… but ones who would dote on her, pamper her, treat her like a queen…

Were almost impossible to find.

With privileged backgrounds came natural arrogance. They're all from wealthy families; why should a man lower himself to pamper you?

Olivia coughed lightly, lowering her voice. "I have to pick, otherwise I can't交代 (explain myself). But I'm not picking a partner. I'm picking a合作对象 (collaboration partner)."

"Collaboration partner?"

"Yep. Many men and women in our circle are pressured into marriage. Since no one wants to follow family arrangements, we collaborate."

"How do you collaborate?"

"Put on a show in public, play the part. Behind the scenes, everyone does their own thing!"

This way, they can交代 (answer) to their families, avoid lectures, and use the cover to have fun outside. A win-win.

Sophia still advised her to think it through and not play with fire.

Olivia: "Don't worry. I know my limits."

When they were almost done eating, Sophia went to the restroom and paid the bill.

As they walked out, Olivia pouted. "I said it's my treat. Why did you secretly pay?"

Sophia: "I can't always let you pay. I'm not broke."

"Oh right. You're a little rich lady."

She reached out to pinch Sophia's cheek.

"Don't pinch, it hurts—We're in public. Less hands-on. It looks bad."

The two girls chatted and laughed, walking through the hall towards the exit.

"Professor Laurent, a moment please."

The words made them stop and instinctively look towards the source of the voice.

A group emerged from an upstairs private room. Mostly middle-aged, a few with graying hair. Almost all wore polo shirts and casual slacks.

They reeked of academia.

The young man at the center stood out.

He was tall and upright, with handsome, refined features.

He stood out like a crane among chickens amidst the portly, balding middle-aged men.

"Professor Laurent, I'll be counting on your endorsement for my new research proposal."

"Please also help with the experimental consumables I need to order."

"The project proposal from our lab, please give it your consideration…"

A crowd surrounded him, cupping hands and making requests, the scene was lively.

Alexander Laurent responded to each one, a trace of impatience already in his eyes. Suddenly, his gaze swept across the lower hall and landed on the two girls.

The next second, his brow smoothed.

"Apologies, everyone. My sister has arrived. She's right down there. I must take my leave. Goodbye."

Amidst their attempts to get him to stay, he strode purposefully towards Sophia and Olivia.