Chapter 260
Isabella Sullivan enjoyed the gardens and sampled the mung bean cakes, feeling completely content.
Early the next morning, the couple set off to return to the neighboring city.
Sophia Sullivan personally saw them off at the train station.
Stone Macmillan arrived, slightly out of breath.
"Professor Sullivan, letters from your readers sent to the publishing house. They asked me to pass them on."
Isabella's eyes lit up.
This was her first time receiving fan mail.
It was a thick stack, feeling substantial and heavy in her hands.
...
Back home, the sunlight was just right.
Sophia stripped the bedsheets and duvet covers from two rooms for washing.
By late October, the summer heat had gradually faded, replaced by a refreshing autumn breeze.
She organized her closet, putting away summer clothes and hanging out autumn wear.
By the time she finished, it was already two in the afternoon, and she hadn't eaten lunch.
The refrigerator only held two tomatoes.
Sophia sighed, resignedly changing her shoes to go out.
She needed to go grocery shopping.
"Heading out?" She ran into Alexander Laurent just after going downstairs.
"Yes, grocery shopping." Sophia nodded.
"Perfect, I'll join you."
Alexander turned and fell into step beside her.
"What are you buying, Professor?"
Alexander averted his gaze. "Which supermarket are you going to?"
There were three nearby.
All within walking distance.
Sophia named one. "Is that okay?"
Her question was deftly sidestepped.
Alexander: "That's fine."
A few minutes later, they entered the supermarket.
The old neighborhood was convenient, with all amenities close by.
Apart from the lack of elevators and the buildings being a bit old, everything was good.
Sophia walked ahead, Alexander pushing the cart behind her.
She stopped, he stopped.
Maintaining a half-step distance, like an ordinary couple.
The crabs in the seafood section were plump and fresh.
Sophia didn't care for spicy crab, finding it too much trouble, but she loved crab roe buns.
"Miss, the crabs are fresh. Want some?"
Sophia nodded. "A bag, please."
"You got it."
She bent over to select crabs, her hair slipping forward and nearly touching the water.
She straightened up quickly, wanting to tie her hair, but found no hair tie on her wrist.
She sighed, remembering the gray claw clip in her bag.
She'd bought it at the night market yesterday.
She gathered her hair and clipped it up.
It was loose, but at least it was out of the way.
Sophia continued picking crabs.
Her happiness lasted less than five seconds—
Her hair came completely loose.
She was speechless.
Alexander took the clip. "Stand still."
"...Okay." Sophia obeyed.
The man gathered her hair, twisted it up, and secured it firmly with the clip—all in under thirty seconds.
Sophia shook her head slightly. It held steady.
"Professor, have you known how to do that for a long time?" she asked quietly.
Alexander: "Second time. Yesterday was the first."
Sophia: "..."
She was a little defeated.
The crabs selected, Alexander took them to be weighed.
Sophia also bought several pounds of flour and handed them to him.
He took them naturally.
They worked together seamlessly.
After weighing the items, they bought vegetables, meat, and eggs.
Passing the household goods aisle, Alexander stopped. "Need to buy anything here?"
Sophia remembered her body wash and laundry detergent were running low. "Yes."
While she selected body wash, Alexander was also putting things into the cart.
Sophia glimpsed towels, slippers, hooks...
The shopping cart was piled high like a small mountain.
At checkout, Alexander paid without hesitation. Sophia didn't argue, just asked him to keep the receipt to settle up later.
Alexander nodded, gesturing for her to wait outside. "It's crowded here."
"Okay." Sophia left through the exit lane.
Soon, Alexander emerged carrying three large bags.
Sophia reached out to help, but the man stepped back, avoiding her. "No need, I've got it."
"But there's so much..."
One bag held groceries, the other two held household items each.
Clearly separated.
"...Are you sure you don't want me to carry one?" Sophia asked again.
"No."
Men really did have better stamina. Alexander carried the bags up seven flights of stairs without even sounding winded.
Sophia took her two bags and placed them by the door, then asked Alexander for the receipt.
"Ahem—" The man cleared his throat lightly. "It wasn't much, don't worry about it."
"That won't do. Is the receipt in one of the bags? Mine don't have it. Professor, let me check your bags..."
He recoiled as if shocked, avoiding Sophia's gaze.
Sophia: "?"
"...It's not in there. I'll calculate the total and text you. You can transfer me later."
"That works too." Sophia nodded.
But...
Why had he dodged like that?
Was he afraid she'd see inside his shopping bags?
Was there something in there he didn't want her to see?
The doubt flickered through her mind, but she didn't dwell on it.
She carried her bags inside to cook.
So hungry...
She simply boiled a bowl of noodles, adding a fried egg, ham, and greens.
It looked good and tasted delicious.
A full bowl later, she was satisfied.
After resting for ten minutes, she rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen.
Kneading dough, letting it rest, picking out crab roe...
Two hours later, the crab roe buns were ready.
She steamed four batches, over thirty buns, enough to last a while.
...
Meanwhile, Alexander entered his apartment and breathed a sigh of relief.
He glanced at the shopping bag. Why did he feel like a thief?
It wasn't like he'd stolen anything!
He shook his head wryly and took the items out of the bag.
Towels, slippers, hooks...
These weren't the main point.
The main purchase today was—
Underwear.
That's why he didn't dare let Sophia touch the bag.
Perhaps it was instinctive embarrassment, perhaps shyness, or more likely, a guilty conscience.
The moment she reached out, his whole body went numb.
Thankfully...
He'd reacted quickly.
Alexander sat down, took out his phone, and sent a text—
[Receipt total 542. My share 263, your share 279]
Sophia, playing on her phone while waiting for the buns, replied instantly:
[That little? You didn't buy much.]
[Towel, slippers, underwear, hooks, dish soap. Just these, right?]
These cost over two hundred?
Alexander: !