Chapter 40
12
“No,” Leslie replied indifferently.
“Alright then.”
Aurelia swiftly entered the kitchen and left Leslie in his daze.
In this world, perhaps only his mother, Linda, was willing to wait for him at such a late hour. Leslie glanced at the lady in the apron bustling around in the kitchen and felt a sense of puzzlement.
Aurelia had just met her ex–boyfriend, Seth, and now she was back here trying to please him. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person she was.
Thinking about Seth made Leslie’s mind flash back to the image of the two embracing carelessly on the busy street. His face darkened immediately, and he turned to enter the bedroom, slamming the door shut.
The loud bang of the closing door made Aurelia poke her head out of the kitchen.
She pondered, “What’s going on?”
“He hasn’t looked too well since he returned. But wasn’t he fine in the morning? Could it be something related to work?”
While she immersed herself in her thoughts, the water on the stove had boiled. Aurelia hastily proceeded to prepare the ravioli. After salting the water, she dropped the ravioli inside and waited for them to be cooked.
In the meantime, she grabbed a pot to prepare a broth using a chicken soup base. She then sprinkled in some chives and parsley. Soon, a hearty bowl of ravioli in broth was ready.
Carefully carrying the bowl out of the kitchen, Aurelia encountered Leslie emerging from the bedroom. His unexpected appearance surprised her.
Although she had been staying at Leslie’s place for almost a week, Aurelia had barely interacted with him in this house. This was her first time seeing Leslie in his casual home
attire.
The loose–fitting clothes subtly accentuated his tall and muscular physique. Paired with his attractive face, he exuded a charmingly laid–back vibe.
Leslie walked over with his hands in his pockets and glanced at Aurelia. “Isn’t it hot?”
Aurelia regained her senses and felt a sudden scalding heat on her palm.
“Hiss… Hot, it’s hot.” She quickly put the bowl down and pressed her fingers against her earlobe.
Leslie walked toward the dining table and looked at the bowl of ravioli served in front of him. The clear broth and plump ravioli with a touch of chives and parsley made the dish look. appetizing.
Did she make this?
“No way. How could she have the time to make these while being with her ex–boyfriend? It was probably just bought to please me,” thought Leslie.
His expression remained indifferent. However, when he glanced at Aurelia, he couldn’t shake off the inner turmoil he felt.
Under the warm light, Aurelia, with her hair tied into a ponytail, was holding her earlobes with a slightly wrinkled face. She exhibited a subtle coyness. It was a stark contrast to the usually calm demeanor she had while discussing their cohabitation agreement.
“Fool,” Leslie bluntly stated, leaving Aurelia bewildered.
“Why is he insulting me?” she wondered. Her eyes widened as she prepared to respond. However, Leslie grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the kitchen.
It wasn’t until the cold water splashed onto her hand that she snapped back to reality. She then looked awkwardly at Leslie, who was fixated on the bowl containing the minced meat filling in the sink.
“You made the ravioli?” Leslie questioned.
“Yeah,” Aurelia replied and nodded in confusion. “I made quite a lot and stored them in the fridge. If you ever return from overtime feeling hungry, just take them out and cook it. You…. Can cook, right?”
As Aurelia shifted her gaze to Leslie, their eyes met. At that moment, she felt the grip on her wrist tighten. The warmth of his hand seemingly shielded her from the cold water.
She attempted to pull away slightly, but Leslie’s grip only grew firmer.
