Alice was never really a lively girl growing up. In fact, you could say she was quite reserved, not one to express or laugh easily.
Throughout her life, she never really had any close friends. Most of her time was spent studying, which often felt monotonous and tedious. Given her family’s status, she naturally exuded an aura of a well-bred lady. Given this background, her reserved personality was expected.
The first time she met William, she wasn’t very friendly. However, in just a few days, her attitude towards him underwent a dramatic change.
When William teased her about being narcissistic, Alice didn’t get mad. Instead, she shrugged it off, and asked in a lighthearted manner, “So, Master, do you want me to find out more about Evelyn for you?”
William sat there, expressionless, looking at Alice. Raising an eyebrow, he replied without any sign of embarrassment, “What do you think?”
Alice stuck out her tongue, assessing William. She touched her chin thoughtfully, and said, “Master, with your looks and aura… easily an 8 out of 10! It seems Evelyn has a good impression of you. All you need now is to find common interests or topics to discuss.”
Taking a pause, Alice asked, “What did you talk about with Evelyn last night?” ．ｔ
“What did we discuss? Nothing really,” William replied. “I read my book, she did her things. What’s there to talk about?”
Alice was momentarily at a loss for words.
She’d thought that by giving William and Evelyn some alone time, they would engage in a delightful conversation. Yet, William’s reply was, ‘What’s there to talk about?’
Alice finally blurted out, “You could sit next to such a beautiful woman and just read a book?”
“Why not?”
Why not?
His response was so nonchalant.
If someone like him could get a girlfriend, it would truly be a marvel.
Alice took a deep breath, “Master, for the sake of your love life, I’m not leaving tonight! If you don’t know what to talk about with her, I’ll chat with her. You just listen in, and when we discuss something interesting, chime in. This will help you get closer.”
“Okay!” William didn’t object. Indeed, he wasn’t sure what to discuss with Evelyn, and having Alice there could be helpful.
“What should we have for dinner?” Alice took out her phone, ready to order some takeout.
William, engrossed in his book, replied, “I ate a lot on my way here. You eat.”
He had some cash on him and had sampled various street foods after attending a class in the afternoon. Now, he wasn’t very hungry.
“Alright! I’ll order two milk teas. I wonder what flavor Evelyn likes,” Alice said as she ordered. Since William declined, the second drink was naturally for Evelyn.
William, uninterested, continued reading. Milk tea? Was there any tea he hadn’t tried before?
After ordering, Alice sat opposite William and messaged Evelyn, asking if she had eaten, what flavor of milk tea she liked, and when she would be arriving.
For a solid twenty minutes, William didn’t utter a word or even raise his head.
“Master, you didn’t act like this last night, did you?” Alice inquired.
Irritated by the disturbance during his reading, William frowned and shot Alice a look.
Under his intense gaze, Alice felt as if she had done something wrong, like a mischievous child. She pursed her lips and stared back.
To her, although she addressed William as ‘Master’, they were practically peers. Being silenced by just a look was something she had never imagined before.
William realized he might have intimidated her. Taking a gentle breath, his eyes softened, “Don’t be scared. I just don’t like being disturbed when I’m reading.”
Alice pouted, “Don’t use that look when you’re with Evelyn in the future. It’s really intimidating.”
William nodded and continued reading. He was aware that he could appear intimidating when angry. Yet, he felt he had controlled his temper rather well. If one were to go back thousands of years, his anger wouldn’t have been as simple as merely startling someone.
The ambiance in the bookstore felt a bit heavy. It wasn’t until Evelyn arrived that Alice finally took a deep breath. She had barely dared to breathe moments ago. Initially, William seemed quite approachable to her, but that recent icy glance almost traumatized her.
“Evelyn, you’re here,” Alice greeted enthusiastically as she stood up upon seeing Evelyn.
“Yes, hi Alice. I just finished class.” Evelyn glanced at William, noticing him engrossed in his book again. “Is he always this studious?”
“Have you had dinner? I can order something. What would you like?” Alice took out her phone, ready to order food.
After a bit of polite back-and-forth between Evelyn and Alice, they decided on fried fish sticks and a vegetable salad. They continued discussing how that particular restaurant’s fish sticks tasted.
At this point, William finally looked up and said to Evelyn, “If you like fried fish sticks, I’ll bring some tomorrow evening.”
Both women fell silent.
Alice stared at William, taken aback by his sudden interjection.
“Maybe you shouldn’t. It sounds like a hassle,” Evelyn replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. The gesture seemed a bit too intimate for their current relationship.
“It’s no trouble!” William responded directly, “I’ll bring it tomorrow. From now on, let’s have dinner here in the evening.”
“Great! Sounds good to me,” Alice exclaimed, surprised by William’s assertiveness. She hadn’t expected such a straightforward approach from someone she perceived as romantically clueless. She didn’t even give Evelyn a chance to refuse. And honestly, Alice was excited at the idea of tasting William’s cooking.
Evelyn was at a loss for words and didn’t know how to decline, so the decision was made.
William resumed his reading, while Alice and Evelyn engaged in lively conversation, discussing all sorts of topics. Having interacted before, their conversation flowed easily and seemed intimate.
Although William appeared engrossed in his book, he was actually listening intently to every word Evelyn said. He made a mental note of all her preferences: the movies she likes, the shade of lipstick she wears, her favorite flavors, and foods. While others might need to jot down such details, William’s memory was impeccable.
Fried fish sticks, a preference for spicy food, and a dislike for Brussels sprouts.
He had decided on tomorrow’s menu.
Alice sneaked a glance at the quiet William, thinking to herself that he was truly clueless about relationships, probably doomed to be single forever. Little did she know that William had everything meticulously planned out.