Chapter 409
The two of them walked out of the office together, and their colleagues, who had been diligently working, all looked up, breaking the office's silence.
"Mr. Evans and Layla are having dinner together again," one gossiped.
"Don't talk about it. I just got scolded by Mr. Evans," the secretary said, making a shushing gesture.
"What's the big deal about talking behind their backs? As long as Mr. Evans doesn't hear it, it's fine. If we don't say anything, how would it ever get to Mr. Evans?"
"Exactly. If we can't be curious about our boss' private life, what's the point of coming to work?"
"Layla said she has a boyfriend."
"But have you seen her keeping her distance from Mr. Evans? As long as you're not married, you're single. Before marriage, you have the right to keep looking. Layla and Mr. Evans get along so well, always together. She must like Mr. Evans. Maybe she might dump that rich boyfriend for Mr. Evans one day."
"That's possible. Nowadays, relationships aren't just about material things. There's a need for emotional connection too. Besides, Mr. Evans is financially well-off. He might not be any worse than that rich guy."
"I think it's possible. They look great together."
"Do you think there's a man in this world who doesn't like Layla? Her charm is unbeatable. She should write a book on how to attract men."
"She doesn't need to attract men. They come to her."
"Why write a book? She's beautiful and talented with high emotional intelligence. No man can resist that."
"If you don't have her looks, nothing else matters."
"True, this looks-obsessed era is brutal."
"Did you see our colleagues' faces when we walked out? They were so curious but tried to act nonchalant. It was hilarious." Layla joked as soon as they left the company. "I really feel for them. I bet they're gossiping about us crazily right now."
"Aren't you not bothered by it?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, I don't care. I'm pretty laid-back and don't mind what others think, as long as they don't chatter in front of me. They can say whatever they want behind my back," Layla replied.
Brian admired Layla's composure.
The women Brian had interacted with before mostly had common flaws like being overly dramatic, gossipy, petty, and scheming. But he saw none of that in Layla. It was rare.
Even rarer was that Layla was only twenty-one. A young woman so mature was truly a treasure.
"What do you want to eat?" she asked.
"It's up to you," he answered.
Layla immediately felt troubled. "One of the three big dilemmas of modern young people."
"What?" he was confused.
"What to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner." Layla counted on her fingers for Brian.
Brian couldn't help but laugh. "I thought this wouldn't be a big problem for you."
"Are you calling me a foodie?" Layla laughed, her eyes squinting, and then she had an idea. "How about we go to the open-air market to eat?"
"An open-air restaurant?"
"Sort of. You'll see when we get there," she added.
Fifteen minutes later, Brian looked at an open-air food stall and asked Layla, half-amused, "This is what you called an open-air restaurant?"
"Well, it's open-air, even if it's by the road and not a romantic night view," Layla said with a serious face.
Brian was at a loss for words.
The food stall was bustling with business, and it took them a while to find a small round table.
Layla wiped the table with a napkin and introduced, "Don't be fooled by the small stall and its questionable hygiene. The ingredients are plentiful, and the taste is amazing, especially the chicken stew. It's quite famous."
In the dead of winter, nothing beat a piece of steak.
"What makes it so special?" he asked.
"They put some exotic spices. It's incredibly delicious," she explained.
Brian frowned, surprised by such an unusual dish. It didn't sound appetizing at all.
"Is it really that good?" he asked.
"Yes, the first time I tried it, I was hooked. It's salty, sweet, and savory. Once you try it, you'll definitely come back for more," she added.
"I don't think so." Brian shook his head.
Layla remembered the first time she brought Samuel here. He had also shaken his head in resistance, saying almost the same thing, but later he fell in love with it.
"You'll change your mind after you try it." Layla ignored him and ordered the steak and some oysters.
Soon, a steaming steak was brought to their table.
Layla took a deep breath. "Yes, this is the smell. It's so fragrant."
She eagerly served two pieces of the steak. "Quick, taste it while it's hot."
The steak was steaming.
Brian raised an eyebrow. "You mean taste it while it's scalding."
He thought Layla was trying to scald him.
"It cools down quickly, just chop it a bit." Layla expertly chopped her piece of steak.
Brian found Layla's eager expression incredibly cute. He usually didn't like women who were gluttonous, but Layla's actions made her look like an adorable little kitten. He suddenly felt an urge to pat her head.
The thought flashed through Brian's mind, and it felt too intimate.
Brian's ears turned slightly red.
"Mr. Evans, what's up with you today? You keep zoning out," Layla asked.
"Do I?" Brian snapped back to reality.
"Yes, this is the third time today." Layla, curled up on the low stool and chopped her steak while looking up at Brian with her clear, bright eyes, puzzled.
Brian felt guilty under Layla's questioning gaze. He couldn't admit that he was distracted because of her.
Fortunately, Layla didn't press further. She just said, "Don't think about work while eating. Enjoy your meal. It's not too hot now. You can taste it."
"Okay." Brian took a bite, and the taste was surprisingly delicious as Layla described.
What seemed like an ordinary steak, something he thought he could make himself, had a flavor that even five-star hotels couldn't match.
Layla gave a smug smile. "Isn't it delicious? I knew it. I have great confidence in this place."
"The taste is indeed good," he replied.
"If you like it, you can come here often," she continued.
Brian thought, 'I want to come here with you.'
Brian ended up having three pieces and eating several oysters. His stomach felt warm, dispelling the cold and the fatigue from a whole day's work. He felt energized like he could work for another twenty hours straight.
"It's rare to see you with such a good appetite. The steak is really something," Layla said proudly.
"I need to take a call," he said.
"Okay." Layla continued to taste her third piece of steak. As she was enjoying it, a tattooed, drunken man from the next table walked over. "Hey beauty, how about joining us for a few drinks?"