?<strong>Chapter 924:</strong>


    She recognized Kyson’s tendency to order excessively. Despite her improved financial circumstances, she still felt ufortable with food wastage. The idea of spending extravagantly on a meal only to leave most of it uneaten continued to unsettle her.


    When the dishes arrived, it became clear that Kyson had indeed ordered abundantly. However, the restaurant distinguished itself not only through its authentic vors but also with artfully small portions—each dish presented as a delicate, single-bite offering.


    Carrie sampled dozens of these miniature creations, which together provided approximately the same sustenance as a single te of spaghetti would have delivered.


    With no server present in the private dining area, Kyson took on the role of host, eagerly narrating the cultural and culinary significance of each dish for Carrie’s benefit.


    Despite his earnest attempts to engage her with this specialized knowledge, Carrie found her attention drifting repeatedly, the experience resembling a particrly tedious academic lecture.


    After noticing her mind wandering for the umpteenth time, Kyson finally asked with concern, “I apologize, is my chosen topic too monotonous?”


    He shrugged, looking somewhat helpless, and added, “I’ve always struggled with social grace around women, especially someone as beautiful as you. Even in Marina’s absence, it seems I’ve managed to spoil this dining experience.”


    Carrie smiled gently, responding softly, “No, it’s genuinely interesting. I just tend to be reserved. I’m better at listening attentively than engaging in animated conversation.”


    “I understandpletely,” Kyson said. “I don’t have many remarkable qualities, but I certainly enjoy talking. Even without your active participation, my conversational flow remains undeterred.”


    After this exchange, Kyson shifted from his straightforward culinary exposition to a more interactive approach, steering the conversation toward the movie script they had discussed earlier.


    Carrie noticeably became more verbally responsive and engaged.


    Kyson privately exhaled with relief, grateful that his social awareness hadn’tpletely failed him and that he had managed to recognize and address the conversational imbnce in time.


    After dinner, Kyson and Carrie exited the private dining room, which featured a distinctive sunken floor.


    As Carrie pulled the door open, she lost her bnce and began to tumble backward. Her fingers grasped desperately for the door frame, but found only empty air.


    “Be careful.” Kyson moved swiftly, catching her arm from behind and stabilizing her without letting her copse fully against him. At that precise moment, a woman passed by the doorway, trailing a cloud of overpowering perfume.


    The stranger instinctively nced inside, drawing both Carrie’s and Kyson’s attention upward. Their gazes connected, and Carrie immediately recognized Alethea.


    Inwardly, she groaned with frustration, thinking that her luck had truly abandoned her, leaving her to encounter this pretentious, self-proimed heiress once again.


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