After finishing hot pot, the four of them headed back to school together since it was on the way.
When Nora Scott went to get the car, Eduardo and Montague dutifully waited by the side, standing like they were bidding farewell to a leader.
Pedro Langley took a phone call, and when he came back, he noticed the two standing obediently, paused, his expression shifting slightly, and walked directly towards them.
Seeing him approach, Montague greeted him in a weak voice.
When with Nora Scott, Pedro Langley’s presence was strong but just right, projecting a sense of calm.
But at that moment, he was not holding back, his aura was unleashed, and his eyes were no longer gentle and friendly. His gaze was sharp, like blades of ice cutting through, causing chills down one’s spine and paralyzing courage till nothing was left.
The wind whipped his coat, fluttering in the dim light, every curve painted with a chilliness and sharpness.
He seemed like a different person.
The cold wind was piercing, and Montague felt himself teetering, unable to stop trembling.
Even the chatty Eduardo dared not act up after being swept by Pedro Langley’s icy gaze.
In no time, Pedro Langley stood in front of them.
Their faces turned pale, unclear if from the cold or fear.
Then, they heard Pedro Langley speak in a calm, matter-of-fact tone—
"Name your price for the mechanical table."
Startled, the two lifted their eyes, but upon meeting Pedro Langley’s cold gaze, they quickly lowered them again.
When Nora Scott drove her car over, she glanced outside.
The north wind howled, shadows of trees swayed, and the street was desolate.
Montague and Eduardo stood in front of Pedro Langley, heads slightly bowed like obedient students listening to a teacher’s scolding.
The car window slid down, Nora Scott leaned out slightly and saw Pedro Langley approaching, making his way to the front passenger seat.
"Goodbye, Senior Scott."
From a distance, Montague and Eduardo waved goodbye to her, gone was their earlier casual and enthusiastic demeanor, replaced by obedience and restraint.
Though curious, upon hearing Pedro Langley get in the car, Nora Scott raised her eyebrows and said, "Goodbye."
The window closed, and Nora Scott drove towards the north gate of the campus, leaving.
Montague and Eduardo watched the car depart into the distance.
Montague: "Weren’t we planning to ask for her contact info earlier?"
Eduardo: "Let’s drop it, it could be the end of us."
Just as the car left the campus, Nora Scott asked, "Weren’t we supposed to split the bill?"
The hot pot restaurant kept up with the times, allowing QR code payments on the table. After the hot pot meal, Nora Scott found the bill already settled. Montague and Eduardo had suggested splitting the bill, but Pedro Langley said that wasn’t necessary, so it was clearly him who paid.
With others present before, it wasn’t appropriate to bring it up.
Adjusting her seatbelt, Pedro Langley spoke unhurriedly, "This one doesn’t count."
"With others there, it doesn’t count." Pedro Langley replied lazily, turning his gaze to her profile, adding, "You can treat next time."
"..." Is this even a thing?
Thinking it over, there didn’t seem to be a logical flaw.
Yet, something felt off.
"Are you sure you’re not picking a fight?" Nora Scott asked, rather calmly.
Pedro Langley frowned, "What makes you think I would pick a fight?"
Because you’re petty.
Secretly grousing, Nora Scott didn’t say it out loud.
Having seen Pedro Langley’s scheming side, in hindsight, he never really harmed her. If he truly wanted trouble, she probably wouldn’t have appeared in the entertainment industry past nineteen.
After considering this, Nora Scott relented, "Alright, I’ll treat you to a meal another time."
Pedro Langley agreed without any hesitation.
On the way back, there was a traffic jam, and it wasn’t until after nine in the evening that they reached near Cloudwater Haven.
Looking past the buildings along the road, Nora Scott spotted a large supermarket chain, paused, and thought of stocking up on supplies.
Mulling it over, Nora Scott said, "I need to go to the supermarket. Why don’t you take the car back?"
Assuming he had things to buy too, Nora Scott nodded and drove to the supermarket parking lot.
At this hour, there weren’t many customers in the supermarket, but just in case, Nora Scott took out her sunglasses and put them on.
At the entrance, she grabbed a shopping cart, and as soon as she pulled it out, Pedro Langley naturally took it over and pushed it himself.
Surprised, she glanced at him, hands in her pockets, walking beside him.
It wasn’t often she visited large supermarkets, so once inside, Nora Scott glanced around, searching for what she wanted.
Pedro Langley noticed and asked, "What are you looking to buy?"
"First floor, turn right."
"You’re quite familiar?" Nora Scott was surprised.
Shooting her a sidelong glance, Pedro Langley replied leisurely, "My house is nearby."
No need to roundaboutly emphasize you’re not here to pick a fight.
With Pedro Langley being so familiar with the place, finding food became much easier. For some unknown reason, he seemed to know his way around the supermarket well, pointing out accurate locations for everything she asked.
While she was satisfied, Pedro Langley’s brows gradually furrowed upon seeing the pile of instant noodles, bread, snacks, and bottled water she gathered, his expression turning a bit sour.
What kind of life was she living?
Standing silently by the shelf for ten seconds, Pedro Langley couldn’t help but point out one of the biscuits to Nora Scott.
Planning to take a variety, Nora Scott was startled, she lifted her sunglasses and turned back, eyes full of astonishment and amusement.
Pedro Langley frowned slightly, feeling inexplicably odd under her gaze, he added, "It tastes better."
"You’ve had it before?" Nora Scott raised an eyebrow, interested.
"Do you like snacks?"
"Yet you’ve had them?"
"..." Would it never end?
Pedro Langley with a sullen expression pushed the cart towards the exit.
Hooking her finger around the sunglasses, Nora Scott chuckled lightly, taking the biscuit he recommended, she strode to catch up with him, tossing the biscuits into the cart as she passed by.
"I’ll trust you on this one."
She turned her head slightly, her brows and eyes relaxed, lips slightly curled, her voice laced with a smile.
As Pedro Langley focused on her, she had already turned away, but even the fleeting glimpse of her smile took away all his negative emotions.
He continued to follow her, letting her grab whatever she pleased, observing but saying nothing.
After a quick sweep, they pushed the cart to checkout.
The cart was full, except for a few daily necessities, it was mostly food.
"Aren’t you getting anything?"
While sorting through the goods at the checkout, Nora Scott suddenly thought of something and asked Pedro Langley in confusion.
Pedro Langley glanced at her, and when his gaze fell on a rack by the checkout, he casually grabbed a pack of chewing gum.
Calmly placing it on the counter.
Nora Scott: "..." Came all the way just for that?
After paying, Pedro Langley casually stuffed the chewing gum into his pocket, then helped Nora Scott with two plastic bags.
Total of three, he left the lightest one for Nora Scott.
Such doting behavior was envied by the cashier, yet Nora Scott was entirely oblivious, fingers hooking the plastic bag, walking beside him, paying no mind to Pedro Langley’s actions.
Same neighborhood, same building, same floor.
They walked together.
Once at the door, they split ways and entered their own apartments.
Hearing the quick sound of the door closing next door, Pedro Langley shut the door, the lights in the hallway and living room gradually lit up, he didn’t change his shoes, leaning against a wall in the entryway, he took out his phone to call Butler Loxley.
"Starting tomorrow, have Jack Carter come over to cook meals, three times a day."
"Yes." He responded crisply.
After a brief pause, Butler Loxley understood and replied with a smile, "Alright."