The knocking outside the door finally ceased.
Suzanne stayed in the study until midnight. She hadn’t eaten anything all day and started to feel weak
from hunger.
After everyone in the house had gone to sleep, she emerged from the study. She made her way to the
kitchen downstairs in search of food.
Cooking was never her forte, and whatever she made usually turned out unappetizing.
After rummaging the kitchen for a while, she couldn’t find any ready- made food. Left with no choice,
she reluctantly opted for two eggs, intending to make hard-boiled eggs.
Suddenly, she heard steady footsteps behind her.
She hastily turned back in rm, only to find Nathan approac With her face flushed with
embarrassment, Suzanne nervously shuffled her feet, distancing herself from Nathan.
“Why are you still awake?” Suzanne felt a pang of guilt as if she h been caught red-handed raiding the
kitchen like a naughty child.
Nathan wasposed, his gaze piercing as he approached and turned off the stove.
“I-” Suzanne’s hunger was evident, though the words remained lodged in her throat. She nced at the
stove, where the water for boiling the eggs hadn’t even heated up yet.
Without a word, Nathan scooped up the eggs and emptied the pot. You don’t like egg yolks, right? Will
two egg whites be enough for you?
Suzanne was taken aback by his consideration, touched by the way he paid attention to her
preferences.
“I can always cook two more,” Suzanne said softly.
Nathan cracked the eggs absentmindedly, his movements deft yet deliberate. Suzanne watched in
confusion, feeling somewhat out of
ce.
Nathan had a serious look on his face. He emitted a cold presence,
and his words were few.
Suzanne dared not disrupt his concentration. She simply observed as he skillfully prepared the food.
He whisked the two eggs until they were evenly mixed, added water, strained, and steamed them.
Then, he retrieved a steak and some lettuce from the refrigerator.
Suzanne was astonished to see him preparing more and more dishes. What shocked her even more
was that Nathan could act cook. His movements were skilled and practiced.
As Nathan continued, Suzanne’s stomach rumbled, and she licked h lips in anticipation. Emboldened
by curiosity, she ventured closer. Are you hungry too? Is that why you’re cooking?” she asked.
“I’m not hungry,” Nathan replied as he fried the steak. The aroma of rosemary and garlic wafting
through the air, making Suzanne’s mouth
water.
She asked as her gaze fixed on the dish, “Are you cooking this for me?
Nathan remained silent. He then took out some seasoning and asked in a gentle yet serious tone, “Do
you want it in or with ck pepper?
Suzanne’s eyes gleamed, and she blurted out, “ck pepper.”
Nathan instructed in a light yet serious tone, “Go sit outside and wait for a few minutes.”
“Okay,” Suzanne obediently responded, immediately turning to leave the kitchen.
She sat at the dining table, hands covering her burning cheeks, her heart still pounding. She couldn’t
understand why Nathan could be so calm and unaffected, as if nothing had happened that morning.
In contrast, she was always shy, nervous, and awkward. Her heart raced, and her cheeks flushed every
time she saw him. The ambiguous scene kept reying in her mind, making her feel extremely
unnatural, as if she had done something wrong.
Suzanne was lost in thought when Nathan emerged with three dishes. Diced ck pepper steak,
steamed egg custard, and sd.
Nathan ced the dishes before Suzanne and sat across The rectangr table was three feet wide,
neither too far no close, providing afortable distance between them.
An unusual silence engulfed the space.
Suzanne nervously picked up her fork, hesitating to pick up the She stole a nce at Nathan, who sat
casually with one hand res on the table. His gaze was prating as he silently observed her
moves.
Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
her.