Chapter 423

Sophia Sullivan was about to politely decline.

Sebastian Evans spoke softly.

"Grandmother prepared this specially. Don't disappoint her."

Sophia immediately found she couldn't refuse.

At half past eleven, Sebastian arrived right on time.

Sophia went to the entrance to greet him personally.

"You didn't need to come out. I could have found my way in."

"You wouldn't have been able to get in."

After passing through multiple identity verification checkpoints, Sebastian understood what she meant.

"The security is much stricter than before?"

He had been here on the day of the unveiling ceremony. His memory was that it wasn't this complicated.

Sophia nodded. "I readjusted the security levels."

"A requirement from above?"

"Not entirely. But it's better to be cautious."

Sebastian expressed his understanding.

"Brother, isn't the company busy? You still made a special trip to deliver food."

"No matter how busy, I had to come. It's a task Grandmother assigned."

"What task?"

They walked into the living area.

Sebastian opened the insulated bag and took out two thermal containers.

The food was still steaming hot.

He laid out the dishes one by one, then took out the utensils.

"The task is to supervise you until you finish every last bite."

Sophia looked at the table full of dishes. Six full courses and soup, all her favorite flavors.

"It smells amazing…"

Sebastian chuckled lightly. "Grandmother has been studying cookbooks every day recently. She said she's afraid her skills have gotten rusty after so many years out of the kitchen. She's been practicing on Grandfather and me."

"Grandfather says we're all benefiting because of you."

Sophia couldn't help but laugh. "How is that true? But there's so much…" She looked at the dining table. "I really can't finish all this."

A thought suddenly occurred to her—

"Brother, have you eaten yet?"

Sebastian paused slightly. "Not yet. Grandmother was afraid of delaying your meal. She made me leave at ten."

Sophia: "…"

This was far too biased.

Fortunately, Sebastian was broad-minded and never计较 these things.

"Eat together then. There's no way I can finish all this by myself. Let's not waste it."

"I only brought one set of chopsticks."

Sophia handed the chopsticks to him.

"Then what will you use?"

"A spoon is fine for me."

They sat facing each other.

Halfway through the meal, Sophia received a door access request notification.

"Who would come at this time?"

She picked up her tablet and opened the surveillance feed.

"Professor?" She was somewhat surprised.

Sebastian's motion of picking up food with his chopsticks halted. "Alexander Laurent?"

"Yes."

Sophia directly approved the request and activated the voice function. "Professor, you may enter."

"Alright. Are you in the lab area?"

"In the living area. Come straight here."

Two minutes later, Alexander Laurent appeared at the entrance to the living area.

He saw the two of them having their meal.

Sophia stood up to greet him. "Professor."

"Mr. Evans is here too? What a coincidence." Alexander's gaze turned to Sebastian.

Just then, Sebastian also looked up at him.

Their eyes met. The air instantly grew still.

"Would you care to join us, Professor Laurent?" Sebastian was the first to speak.

"Thank you…"

He was clearly about to refuse.

Sebastian thought, at least he knows what's appropriate.

But the next second—

"I haven't had lunch yet, actually."

Alexander calmly accepted the invitation.

Sebastian's eyes darkened slightly. "Apologies, but we don't have any extra utensils."

"There are disposable utensils in the cabinet." Sophia stood up to go get them.

She left in an instant.

Alexander sat down opposite Sebastian, his eyes sweeping over the full table of dishes. "Quite a spread. It looks good."

Sebastian gave a light laugh. "Is the lab not busy, Professor Laurent? You have time to come for a meal?"

"Not pushing any deadlines at the end of the year. It's relatively quiet. As for joining the meal… It would be impolite to refuse your kind offer, Mr. Evans."

Sebastian: "…"

"Though you, Mr. Evans, must be very busy at the group at year's end? You found the time to come?"

"Bringing Sophia a meal. I'll always make time, no matter how busy."

Alexander smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about the term of address.

Sebastian frowned, then decided to be direct.

"Alexander Laurent, are you in love with Sophia Sullivan?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone was utterly certain.

Alexander countered with a question of his own. "And what is your身份 for asking this? An ordinary man? Or her brother?"

Sebastian was taken aback. "She even told you that?"

Alexander: "That statement makes me even more certain you were deliberately misleading me before."

Sebastian neither confirmed nor denied it.

"You didn't ask clearly yourself. Who can you blame?"

Alexander's gaze was sharp. "How does Mr. Evans view his relationship with Sophia Sullivan? Is it something you find difficult to talk about? Is that why you intentionally let people misunderstand?"

The corner of Sebastian's mouth lifted slightly. "So you really did misunderstand? You thought Sophia and I were together? But what does that have to do with you, Professor Laurent? Why do you care so much? What's the reason?"

The question circled back to the beginning—

Alexander Laurent, are you in love with Sophia Sullivan?

Sebastian: "You don't have to answer. But there's no need to change the subject."

Alexander: "You haven't answered me—"

What身份 are you asking this question with?

Sebastian: "Does the answer differ based on those two identities?"

"Of course." Alexander's expression was calm. "If it's as an ordinary man, I have no obligation to answer an overstepping question. We are not close."

Sebastian: "…"

"But if you are asking as her cousin, as her family, I will tell you truthfully."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "You are in love with her."

"Yes." Alexander admitted frankly, his gaze clear. "I am in love with her."

Sebastian felt a surge of anger. Suppressing his fury, he sneered. "You finally admit it!"

Alexander seemed slightly puzzled. "Is being in love with someone something difficult to talk about?"

Sebastian was momentarily speechless.

In that moment, he actually felt a trace of envy for Alexander Laurent.

He envied his ability to speak his heart aloud.

He envied that his love was so open and bright.