Chapter 378
Yes, He Likes Sophia Sullivan
Linshi?
Sebastian Evans was momentarily stunned.
His gaze flickered towards Sophia Sullivan.
He quickly spoke into the phone. "Grandpa, I have an urgent matter to handle. I'll be back later. Please and Grandma, try to stay calm. The doctor said you must avoid extreme emotional swings."
"Alright, you handle your business. We found her anyway. And you actually know her."
Sebastian: "I know her?"
"Yes! Your aunt, she goes by Isabella Sullivan now. She's the author of 'Seven Days'! Remember that time at Kinokuniya Books? She was having a book signing upstairs, and we were right downstairs. It's all my fault. Your grandmother wanted to go up, but I said no. We missed her just like that..."
"And Sophia... no wonder I felt such an immediate fondness for that child. It was blood calling... Heaven had it planned all along. We found her in the end..."
"A-Seb? A-Seb? Are you listening?"
The old man kept talking, but Sebastian only heard a dull ringing in his ears.
He didn't catch another word after that. Only one sentence echoed relentlessly in his mind: "Your aunt is the author of 'Seven Days'."
Sophia's mother was his long-lost aunt?
He looked up at the sky, his expression completely blank.
Until—
"Sebastian, are you okay?" Sophia's puzzled voice reached him.
The call had ended long ago, but he still held the phone to his ear, frozen, his expression dazed, like a lost child.
"...Sebastian? What's wrong?"
Sophia didn't know what was said on the call, but his sudden pallor made her heart clench.
Sebastian slowly raised his head.
Helplessness, shock, self-mockery... a tumult of emotions swirled in his eyes.
Sophia had never seen Sebastian like this.
"What happened?" she asked again, her gaze worried.
He mechanically raised a hand, giving a weak wave, as if all his strength had been drained. His face was terrifyingly pale. "...It's nothing..."
"Sophia... I have to go..."
"Sorry... I can't drive you back... I'm sorry..."
She watched him get into his car, utterly distraught.
He mistakenly put the car into reverse instead of drive, fumbling to correct it.
He drove off without even turning on the headlights.
Sophia: "?"
What was that about?
But inwardly, she breathed a secret sigh of relief.
She had always been aware of Sebastian's feelings. He never hid them.
Before, he'd said things like "let's be together" or "be my girlfriend" half-jokingly. Each time, she had deflected with a joke of her own.
But today was different.
The city lights, the blue roses, the fireworks display – everything showed Sebastian's serious intent.
This wasn't a joke anymore.
If he had formally confessed, she would have had to formally reject him.
Though her answer was clear, rejecting someone who had helped her so many times would inevitably hurt him. Sophia felt the pressure.
Fortunately...
He didn't say it.
She didn't want to lose this friend.
She gathered the spent fireworks, disposed of the trash, and prepared to leave.
The bouquet of blue roses was truly rare.
Taking them home to put in a vase would be nice.
She placed the flowers on the back seat and drove away.
At 8:30 PM, Sophia parked her car.
She carried the flowers towards her apartment building.
It wasn't too late yet. The stalls along the alley were still open.
She bought two baked sweet potatoes.
The potatoes were scalding hot.
Holding the flowers, she carefully peeled one and took small bites.
After just a couple of bites, she glanced up and saw the man standing in front of her building.
Alexander Laurent insisted on night runs, often exercising even in the cold.
But today... he wasn't wearing workout clothes?
He wore a tailored overcoat, his expression slightly serious, as if waiting specifically for her?
"Professor." Sophia approached with a smile.
Alexander's eyes held a smile, but it froze the moment his gaze landed on the blue roses in her arms.
"Did you go out?"
"Not really for fun. I picked up my repaired car from the dealership first, then went to a piano recital."
"These flowers... are quite special."
Sophia's eyes lit up. "Professor, look closely. Do you see what's special about them?"
She offered the bouquet for him to inspect.
He looked down, studying them for a moment, then reached out to gently touch a petal. "...Naturally cultivated?"
As expected of a former biology expert, he saw the essence at a glance.
"Mhmm!"
"Where did you get them?" he asked.
Sophia hesitated for a second, then told the truth. "Sebastian gave them to me."
Alexander's eyes darkened. "Why did he suddenly give you flowers?"
"It's my solar calendar birthday today..."
"He celebrated your birthday?" He paused, remembering something. "And you went to the piano recital together?"
"...Mhmm."
The man's thin lips pressed into a tight, controlled line.
His hand, hanging by his side, slowly clenched.
Sophia handed him a peeled sweet potato, its honey-orange flesh steaming. "Would you like some, Professor?"
"...Yes, thank you." He reached out and took it.
"Let me hold the flowers, it's awkward for you..." Sophia had finished her own potato and reached for the bouquet to free his hands.
"It's fine, I'll hold them. You even peeled the sweet potato for me."
He said this, holding the flowers in one hand and eating the sweet potato with the other.
As they walked upstairs, Alexander suddenly spoke—
"Sophia, we've known each other for over a year now, right? I remember when you first moved in, just getting over your previous relationship. You were so downcast."
Thinking of her past self, Sophia also felt a wave of emotion. "Yeah. Even though I'd decided to break up, and knew it was the best choice, the withdrawal was unexpectedly tough."
"Fortunately, it's all in the past. I remember you saying time is the best healer. No need for self-pity or anxiety. Just leave everything to time, and the wounds will eventually heal."
Alexander: "And have you moved on now?"
"What?" Sophia was startled, turning to look at him.
Alexander repeated, "Have you moved on from that previous relationship?"
"Of course!"
The past was like the wind. Unconsciously, she had long since let it go.
"Then..." The man paused for a beat. "...have you considered starting a new relationship?"
As he asked this, Alexander's heart was tight.
This wasn't a casual question.
A few days ago, for Sophia's lunar calendar birthday, he took her to the factory workshop.
Seeing that jar of crushed diamonds, she asked him why he gave her the necklace.
In that moment, his mind went blank, and he blurted out it was for her birthday.
Later, on the way home, he thought it over and felt his answer was too careless.
So he wanted to answer again, and take this chance to express his feelings.
Yes, he liked Sophia Sullivan.
He liked her very, very much...
So much that his heart raced at the sight of her, and her voice filled him with joy.
So much that even in his dreams, he was unrestrained and knew no moderation...