Chapter 47
Sophia Sullivan looked up at him. "Really?"
Alexander Laurent nodded. "Mm-hmm."
She took a deep breath. "Thank you. I feel a bit better."
A flicker of relief passed through Alexander's eyes as he saw her mood improve.
"Are you hungry? There's a good Sichuan place nearby."
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
The restaurant was famous for its spicy hot pot.
Alexander couldn't handle extreme spice, so he ordered a split pot.
The red oil broth bubbled and boiled, steam rising with an aromatic scent.
Sophia's spirits were still low, but the surrounding noise chased away some of the gloom.
Tender beef, crisp vegetables—even someone with no appetite felt tempted.
Outside, the rain poured down. Inside, it was warm and cozy.
Amid the laughter and chatter around them, Sophia gradually calmed.
She looked up. The man across from her had barely touched his food. His elegant demeanor seemed less about dining and more about keeping her company.
She remembered another rainy night when he had silently stayed by her side. Gratitude washed over her.
"Thank you... for today." She hadn't expected to end up in such an awkward situation. If Alexander hadn't shown up, she might not have escaped.
"That kind of scene is literally my nightmare."
Even if she tried not to care, how could she truly remain unaffected?
She snapped out of her thoughts and met Alexander's calm gaze. A light laugh escaped her. "Good thing you came. Like... a savior."
"Savior isn't the right word for this," Alexander said with an amused smile.
Sophia looked into his eyes behind his glasses, his words echoing in her ears—
"You are far stronger than you think."
It wasn't just comfort. It was affirmation.
Sophia paused, then suddenly laughed. "Your glasses are fogged up. Can you even see?"
The lenses were covered in a thick layer of condensation, looking rather endearing.
Alexander took off his glasses with a resigned sigh and wiped them with a tissue. "This is why I don't come to hot pot places often."
Sophia raised an eyebrow with a light smile. "So you don't like hot pot."
"It's not that I dislike it. It's just inconvenient."
He cleaned the lenses and put his glasses back on.
Sophia nodded, recalling that he never seemed picky during meals at home.
Alexander picked up some beef. "This is good. Try it..."
"Thank you, I can serve myself..."
Alexander had to return to the lab and only walked her to her building.
The rain had stopped. The ground was wet and chilly. Sophia shivered, instinctively pulling her coat tighter. She caught the familiar scent of sandalwood.
She looked down at the dark overcoat she was wearing and smiled.
She remembered Alexander was only wearing a thin sweater. He should be... fine, right?
The next day, hearing his constant sneezing, Sophia concluded: men aren't that much more resistant to the cold.
"The coat is at the dry cleaner. I'll get it back in a few days."
Alexander waved a hand. "No rush."
It was just a coat. He had plenty.
"I came back to get some clothes. Heading right back to the lab."
His voice was thick, and he wore a mask. His cold was clearly bad.
"Wait."
Sophia turned and went inside, returning with a thermos.
"Ginger tea I made yesterday. Drink it while it's hot."
At the mention of ginger, Alexander's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Sophia didn't notice and handed him a bag. "There's also cold medicine. The instructions are on the box."
Alexander rarely got sick. He paused, almost wanting to hand the thermos back.
But Sophia added, "After all, you caught this cold because of me."
He withdrew his hand.
He checked the time. He was almost late.
"Thank you. I'll drink it."
Watching his hurried departure, Sophia closed the door and went back inside.
Her thesis needed more work. She had been researching for days.
The original German books and papers Professor Watson gave her were full of technical terms that required careful translation.
Sophia was deeply immersed in her writing when her phone rang.
Interrupted, she frowned and answered.
"Hello?"
"I'm sorry about yesterday, but we need to talk in person."
It was Sebastian Evans.
Sophia was silent for a moment. She wanted closure too.
They agreed on a time and place. She hung up.
Ethan Roscente's angry face flashed in her mind. She shook her head, dismissing the thought, and returned to her thesis.
...
They met at the same café as before.
It wasn't far from MIT.
She pushed the door open. Sebastian was in his usual spot.
His back was to the door, but he seemed to sense her arrival, turning when the bell chimed.
His overcoat was draped nearby. Sebastian wore a Gucci dress shirt, the top buttons undone, revealing his throat and collarbone.
It drew stolen glances from girls at nearby tables.
Ignoring the looks, Sophia sat down. Sebastian asked what she wanted to drink.
She got straight to the point. "I'm here to make things clear."
Sebastian understood her meaning but wasn't annoyed. Instead, he smiled. "I meant every word I said."
Sophia frowned. "Then you should know I don't like you. There's no future for us."
Sebastian shrugged. "I've long understood there are no undefeated generals in this world. But a good outcome is what matters, right?"
He had always been persistent. Once he set a goal, he never gave up.
He was also patient. He could wait for Sophia to soften.
Just like how Ethan Roscente had persisted back then.
Didn't he succeed in the end?
If Ethan could do it, why couldn't he?