Roxanne had been in poorer conditions, so she was used to eating at dingy restaurants. However, Lucian was used to eating at five-star restaurants.
His frown deepened as he stopped beside her and glanced at the restaurant she was talking about. It was clear that he didn’t like it at all. This particular restaurant looked cleaner than the others, but Lucian still thought its cleanliness wasn’t up to standard.
Roxanne said calmly, “This is the cleanest restaurant we can find here.” With that, she went up the steps. Lucian’s brows creased, but he ended up going after her.
It was noon, so the restaurant was pretty crowded. Their appearance attracted the attention of the crowd in an instant.
Roxanne seemed used to it as she found a seat and sat down. However, Lucian’s frown deepened, showing that he was on the verge of losing his temper.
Roxanne quickly assured him, “We’re obviously outsiders. It’s only natural for them to feel curious.”
Right then, the owner of the restaurant approached them with a warm smile. “Ah, you must be new to the area. You’ve certainly made the right choice!” He gave them the thumbs-up. “We take pride in our establishment, which is the cleanest restaurant in town, and our food is nothing short of delicious! Just look how crowded it is here!”
Roxanne gave him a polite smile. “Yes, I can see that.”
Hearing that, the owner grew more enthusiastic. He handed them the menu and proceeded to engage them in conversation. “You two certainly look like a couple. What brings you to our little town?”
Roxanne’s hands paused in her action of flipping through the menu as she looked at the man sitting across from her instinctively. It seemed that Lucian had accepted the restaurant, as he had returned to his usual composure and was leisurely browsing the menu.
Perhaps he looked too overbearing, for it felt as though they were in a five-star restaurant even though they were eating at a random restaurant.
“You’ve gotten it wrong…”
Roxanne looked away from Lucian and tried to explain to the owner. The owner flatly rejected her explanation, saying, “It’s impossible. I saw the two of you holding hands when you walked in. To be honest, you both are quite attractive. I’ve noticed the two of you since you arrived on our street!” To prove himself, the owner tapped Roxanne’s suitcase. “This belongs to you, right? I saw this man taking it from you! He acted as though he had done this so many times.”
He then proceeded to reveal their interaction along the way. The customers in the restaurant couldn’t help but sneak glances at Roxanne and Lucian as they entered.
The owner’s words only added to their curiosity, causing them to stare at the couple openly. Some got curious and asked, “Are you guys. celebrities here to film something?”
Knowing she couldn’t persuade the owner to think otherwise, Roxanne explained in exasperation, “We’re not celebrities. We were passing by, and our car broke down.”
The owner finally stopped talking. Relieved, Roxanne quickly ordered, “I’ll have squid ink pasta and a salad, please.” She then glanced at Lucian, afraid he couldn’t accept these dishes.
Lucian turned to the owner. “I’ll have the same.” The owner nodded and left to prepare their food. Lucian swept his gaze across the crowd, and they looked away guiltily.
“They don’t have any ill intentions. Don’t behave like this,” Roxanne advised helplessly. Lucian turned back to her and regarded her darkly. “Have you been here previously?”
He had a feeling that Roxanne was familiar with this place. Roxanne was taken aback. Knowing what he meant, she chuckled and explained, “No. I haven’t been here exactly, but I have experienced something similar. When I first went overseas, I had the opportunity to accompany Professor Lambert on various. medical consultations. We often had to trek up mountains to gather herbs for our treatments, which was quite an adventure!”
That was why Roxanne didn’t show any disgust for the town and felt at ease there. Lucian’s eyes darkened when he heard her answer. He thought that this area was bad enough and did not expect her to tell him she had been to worse places.
She had been through a lot over the past six years. If I hadn’t acted that way, would she still be with me? Would she have been spared from all the difficulties and struggles she had gone through?
Knowing he felt guilty, Roxanne said solemnly. “I wanted to do these things because they were meaningful to me. I didn’t feel the least bit tired doing it, so don’t take it the wrong way.”
Back then, Professor Lambert gave me a choice: remain in the lab or venture out and experience new things. I chose to take the leap of faith and explore the unknown, and I would not trade that decision for anything in the world. The trips I went on not only provided me with a wealth of knowledge but also irreplaceable memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Had I stayed in the lab, I would have missed out on the invaluable lessons and experiences that I gained from the trips.
However, Lucian’s face was still dark. Roxanne helped him with the utensils. “I know you’re used to dining at expensive restaurants, but I’m sure you’ve never experienced a taste quite like this before,” she said encouragingly. “It’s really quite delicious.”
She then began eating. A wave of guilt washed over Lucian’s heart when he noticed how natural she looked. It wasn’t that he couldn’t get used to the environment. He just felt that she deserved to eat at a better restaurant. He was completely unaware of the many hardships and struggles that she had experienced over the last six years.
They were slurping their pasta when Roxanne’s phone rang. Roxanne’s gaze shifted to the caller ID on her phone before she shot a quick, apprehensive look at Lucian. It was clear she was unsure whether to answer or not.
Sensing her gaze, Lucian immediately knew who it was. “It’s Jack, isn’t it?” Roxanne nodded. “I told him I might be late, so he’s probably calling to find out what happened. I’ll head out to answer it.”
She got up, ready to leave. However, Lucian stopped her. “You can answer it here. It’s related to work, anyway.” In other words, he was saying that Roxanne had no reason to hide from him if it was a work call.
Roxanne returned to her seat and answered the call. “Mr. Damaris.” Jack’s tired voice rang out. “I’m sorry. I was busy with the medical consultation and just got a chance to look at my phone. What happened?”
Roxanne explained that her car broke down halfway. She didn’t mention Lucian was with her. Jack assumed she was alone and expressed his concern.
Roxanne explained gently, “I’m fine. The car is being repaired, and I believe it will be ready soon. You don’t have to worry.” Jack still sounded concerned. “Do you need help? Should I ask someone to pick you up?”
Roxanne glanced at Lucian Lucian’s head was lowered as he focused on eating his pasta. He didn’t seem to have heard them.
“No need. I think it will be done soon. You should hurry up and treat the elderly people. I’ll join you after I’ve arrived,” Roxanne rejected his offer calmly.
Jack didn’t insist and reminded her, “All right, then. If something crops up, remember to give me a call.” Roxanne agreed. After the call ended, she grew anxious.
Jack sounded exhausted, so she assumed that they were swamped with work. She felt compelled to go there to lend them a hand. “How long will it take for the car to be done?”
Lucian stopped what he was doing. “Let me ask.”
He pulled his phone out to call the service center. The call was answered shortly after.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.