"How was your class today?" he asked softly.
"Good. How about you?" she replied.
??
His eyes sparkled. "Good too. Everything went well."
Suddenly she hesitated.
She wondered if she should tell him she might see Ted at noon. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him, but she wasn't sure if it was true.
What if she told Joshua, and it turned out to be a false alarm?
"What are you thinking?" Joshua stroked her hair.
"Well... I just want to ask if you know that mom will come to live with us," she spoke.
"Mm, grandpa called me yesterday," he said, nodding. "I'm relieved mom will take care of Randy."
Most crucially, Hazel would have more time to stay with him.
"I heard that a new Italian restaurant is very good. Let's try it." He started the car quietly.
"Ah? Not going home?" She looked at him in surprise. "Randy?"
"Mom is looking after him."
"But I have to go back to study!"
"You should take a rest after studying and eat some delicious food to keep healthy."
She was speechless.
"Honey," he looked at her sadly, "We haven't had a date for a long time. Don't you want to be alone with me, eh?"
Looking at his deep eyes, she felt that her whole heart was softened! However, she could not resist because Joshua looked at her as if he were a spoiled boy!
"Good…" She seemed bewitched and agreed at once. Then, suddenly, her face changed slightly, and she turned sharply to look out of the window.
"What's the matter?" He slightly raised his eyebrows and asked.
She had just felt that there seemed to be malicious eyes falling on her body, but when she turned her head around to see, she could only see the students of the tutorial class leave one by one; there seemed to be nothing wrong.
Hazel frowned despite herself.
What was the matter with her lately? Was she paranoid? Was she suffering from postpartum depression?
She was immediately embarrassed. How could she possibly suffer from postpartum depression? How could she be depressed when she had a good life without any stress or worries? She must be too free these days, so her imagination ran wild.
"No... Nothing." She came to her senses, smiling faintly. "It must be my illusion."
He nodded without saying much and drove away with her.
Soon, they reached the restaurant Joshua had booked. They could watch the best view of the imperial capital from here at night.
Hazel was happy to be alone with Joshua. However, Joshua's phone rang twice, and he looked down at it several times.
She didn't feel comfortable.
She didn't want to let herself care about Joshua's abnormal behavior these days, but she could not pretend not to see it.
"Is it from the company?" she asked.
"Yes," his eyes flashed, and he simply turned the phone off, "nothing important.? Let's continue eating."
She hesitated for a moment and then said, "It seems the company has been very busy lately?"
He smiled faintly. "Yes."
"Do you need me to return to the company to help you for a while?" she asked.
"No, Hazel," he said softly, holding her hand. "I can handle that. But, believe me, if you just focus on what you want to do, that's the best way to help me. I'll give you a surprise in a couple of days."
"Surprise? What surprise?" Her eyes lit up as she asked happily.
"I told you it was a surprise." A smile curved his lips as he said, "So, of course, I can't tell you now."
Joshua hadn't intended to say anything about it, but he clearly sensed that Hazel wasn't happy these days, so he told her that to reassure her.
Hazel was more curious. She kept sweet-talking him, "Tell me, Honey, my dear. I really want to know."
His face was inscrutable."It's a secret."
She pestered him for a long time, but Joshua didn't say anything, so she had to give up at last.
But there was still anger in her heart.
When Joshua drove her to the tutorial school the next day, she looked unhappy.
"Drop me off here. You go to the office." Hazel forced a smile as the car pulled up before the school gate.
"Honey," said Joshua in a low voice, taking her hand rather helplessly, "are you angry with me?"
"... No." She eventually denied it. Although Joshua didn't tell her and thus, she was unhappy, what really upset her was that he didn't kiss her last night.
He had been acting abnormally like that for days, so there was panic in Hazel's heart.
"Give me a week," Joshua whispered. "In a week, I'll show you the surprise."
"Good." Hazel smiled, kissed him on the cheek, and got out of the car.
As soon as Hazel got out of the car, she saw Paul waiting at the school gate.
She frowned. Hadn't he given up?
Seeing a girl in her class pass by, Hazel stopped her in a hurry, "Linda Smith, what a coincidence. Let's go in together."
The girl named Linda gave her a surprised look, but soon her cheeks turned red, and she nodded, "... Good."
As Paul Lopez watched Hazel approach, he took a quick step forward. "Hazel."
Hazel and Linda talked, walking right past him like they didn't notice him at all.
His face darkened, and he finally followed them.
After entering the classroom, Hazel and Linda sat down together.
Paul tapped on Linda's desk impatiently. "Girl, can I change seats with you?"
Hazel looked at him, frowning unhappily. How long would this man pester her?
"... no, you can't," Linda refused.
Hazel was somewhat surprised. She chose Linda, not only because she happened to be passing by, but also because the girl with thick glasses seemed to be very gentle and timid. Hazel remembered that apart from briefly introducing herself in class, Linda had never spoken to anyone yesterday.
But now this shy girl actually turned Paul down?
"Why?" Paul looked even unhappier.
"I don't want to!" Linda flushed as if it had taken all her courage to say these words.
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