Chapter 166
Sophia Sullivan and Sebastian Evans sat side by side at the stone table.
They were very close.
The girl was focused.
The man listened attentively, nodding occasionally.
Alexander Laurent watched from a distance.
He didn't miss that faint, almost imperceptible smile on Sebastian's lips.
Even from afar, he could sense the mating ritual.
His eyes darkened.
The next second, he took out his phone and called Quincy Evans.
"Alex? What's up?"
"Feel like getting bubble tea?"
"Huh?" Quincy moved the phone away and looked at the screen. "You okay? Why suddenly ask that?"
"My treat. You can ask the others."
Quincy immediately raised his voice—
"Professor Laurent is buying bubble tea! Raise your hand if you don't want any! Good, no one. So we all want some."
"I'll go buy it."
"Can't we just order delivery? Why go yourself?"
Alexander: "I'm already out. What flavors?"
"Which shop?"
Alexander named a store.
Quincy: "I want an Oreo milk tea, with fresh milk base, add taro balls, less sugar, no ice, extra cheese foam; Zoe wants…"
Alexander rubbed his temples: "Too complicated. Can't remember."
Quincy: "?"
Bullshit!
Professor Laurent, who never forgets anything, can't remember this?
Alexander: "Send your orders to Sophia Sullivan. I ran into her downstairs. We'll go buy it together."
"Okay! Sending it now!"
Quincy looked down and typed.
"Sent!"
He added a voice message: "Thanks, sweetie~"
Suddenly, he paused—
Wait.
Wouldn't it be easier to just send it directly to Alex?
Why go through all these hoops?
...
"Sophia Sullivan."
Both people in the pavilion looked up.
"Professor Laurent? What are you doing here?"
Alexander's expression was calm. "Just passing by."
Sebastian's smile faded. He stood up and extended his hand. "Professor Laurent. Good to see you again."
"Mr. Evans." Alexander shook his hand.
Their eyes met. One was detached. The other was languid.
The air suddenly grew tense.
"Mr. Evans is at the university today?" Alexander released his hand.
Sebastian: "Helping my professor with some matters."
Just then, Sophia received the message. She looked at Alexander in surprise—
"Professor, you're treating everyone to bubble tea?"
"Yes. The one you gave me last time was quite good. We'll go to that same shop today."
Alexander said the name of the shop.
Sophia nodded: "Okay, just give me a moment. I'll be quick."
"Alright."
The faint smile on Sebastian's lips froze completely.
Hearing the shop's name, his heart sank.
A suspicion surfaced in his mind—
"Professor Laurent drinks bubble tea too?"
"Didn't used to. Tried Sophia's. It was acceptable."
"Hot or iced?"
Alexander's lips curved. "Lukewarm."
"Anything special about the packaging?"
"The cup had a design of a Cupid's arrow piercing a heart. Their service is quite thoughtful."
Sebastian's anxiously waiting heart finally died.
It was indeed the one he bought for Sophia!
"All done." Sophia handed the notepad and pen back to Sebastian. "The reference answer was missing three details. I've added them in the margins. You can give this to Professor Murphy."
"I should get going now."
Sebastian forced a smile. "Okay. See you next time."
"Mm. Professor, let's go. That bubble tea shop is right across from our building."
She had been there last time when discussing things with Sebastian.
...
"The bubble tea is here!"
Zoe, Quincy, and Simon heard the news and came over.
"Thanks, Professor! Sorry for the trouble, Sophia!"
"Making two busy people run an errand for us is a sin!"
Quincy stuck in a straw and took a big sip. "Heaven~"
Zoe: "Is it really that good?"
Simon took his and Lillian's cups, thanking them with a smile.
Then he happily delivered Lillian's to her.
"Lil, your bubble tea."
"Oh."
Hearing that Sophia and Alexander went to buy bubble tea together, Lillian's mood instantly plummeted.
Simon was still chattering beside her—
"Lil, not going to drink it?"
"The cream cap will melt if you wait."
"Let me put the straw in for you."
Lillian couldn't take it anymore. "So annoying! Do you ever stop talking? Can you just be quiet for once?"
She stood up and left.
Simon scratched his head, looking at the untouched cup. "...You didn't say no when I asked."
Why refuse it now after it was bought?
What a waste.
Perhaps Simon would never understand.
This was an innate gap between them.
It had nothing to do with education or values.
It was a chasm carved by their upbringing and environment.
Lillian didn't refuse only because Alexander was the one treating.
She went to the hallway for some air.
Her phone suddenly rang. She answered—
"Hello."
"Old classmate, I found the apartment you wanted!"
"Really?" Lillian's eyes lit up.
"Took a lot of effort... The owners are an elderly couple. They weren't willing to rent initially, but their son's family ran into trouble and needed money urgently, so they agreed. It's just the price..."
"Money isn't an issue. Which unit?"
"Unit Three. First floor."
Alexander lived on the seventh floor of Unit One...
Too far away.
The light in Lillian's eyes instantly died. She replied flatly, "Any other units available?"
"...That's the only one right now. Rarely any rentals in this old complex. The other complex I recommended last time is pretty good too, I don't know why you..."
Just didn't like it.
"Miss, why don't you just tell me which unit you want to rent, and I'll go ask?"
Hah, renting an apartment was just an excuse. It was all about who she was after!
Lillian didn't detect the sarcasm. She thought seriously: "Can you look in Unit One? Fifth floor or above. Sixth floor would be best."
She originally wanted to say seventh floor, but Alexander and Sophia lived there.
The closest was the sixth floor.
The agent classmate laughed in disbelief. "Sure, I'll look for you." Yeah, right!
After hanging up, a voice suddenly came from behind—
"Lil, you're looking to rent?"
Lillian stiffened completely.
She turned around slowly.
Simon stood not far away, holding the bubble tea.
She had no idea how long he had been there, or how much he had overheard.