?Chapter 57:


    As Rachel and Brian were about to leave the auction house, several journalists paused and eagerly captured the scene in the rain with their cameras. Caught off guard, Rachel whispered, “We’re drawing a lot of attention!”


    Brian, with a tone of nonchnce yet filled with assurance, responded, “I’m just holding my wife-to-be. Who cares what they think?”


    “Don’t forget, you told everyone I’m merely a manager of yourpany,” Rachel pointed out.


    “It doesn’t matter. This is just the type of scandal that fuels the press. They can spin their stories as they like.” He dismissed it with ease, showing no concern for the potential headlines.


    Walking slowly under one umbre towards their car, Brian deliberately reduced his pace. He squeezed her hand tightly, a gesture that was umon for him and often signified he was preupied or troubled by something.


    “What’s on your mind?” Rachel looked at him, concern evident in her expression.


    Brian slipped her hand into his coat pocket before he finally spoke up awkwardly. “No more sharing an umbre with that intern when it rains. Romantic walks in the rain? More like just cold.”


    Rachel couldn’t help but tease him, “He has a name, you know. Stop calling him ‘the intern.''”


    Brian gave her a look, one eyebrow raised. “Is that what this is about? You shouldn’t be under the same umbre with him, period.”


    Rachel meekly nodded in agreement. “Okay.”


    Brian was clearly not convinced by her brief affirmation. “Just ‘okay’? That’s it? You sound so indifferent,” he mocked her tone.


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    Rachel found herself at a loss for words. Wasn’t she simply mimicking his usual way of speaking? And now he was taking issue with it? “Let’s just head to the car,” she suggested, swiftly changing the topic.


    Brian resisted, holding back her hand. “Why the hurry? The rain’sing down so softly. Isn’t this a perfect moment for a romantic stroll?”


    Rachel retorted, raising an eyebrow, “I thought you just said it was too cold and not romantic?”


    At a loss for words, Brian momentarily froze.


    He then exined with a hint of arrogance, “I was talking about you and that intern. With you and me, it’s different.”


    The rain had left the streets gleaming, and the crisp air felt rejuvenating. The neon lights danced beautifully, illuminating the bustling cityscape.


    An idea struck Brian suddenly. “Why don’t we walk back?”


    Rachel expressed her concern with a hint of hope. “It’s a long way back. What if I get too tired?”


    In the scenes of TV dramas, the leading man would typically offer to carry his girlfriend. But Brian’s reply deviated from the script. “If that happens, Ronald can keep pace with us in the car. You can get in whenever you’re too tired to continue.”


    Laughing and chatting, Brian and Rachel meandered through the vibrant streets, hand in hand. Time swiftly passed, and they covered a surprising amount of ground without realizing it.


    The walk had unexpectedly stirred Rachel’s appetite, especially since she had skipped dinner. The air was filled with tantalizing scents from street vendors who had set up their stalls, causing Rachel’s mouth to water.


    She halted, pulling at Brian’s sleeve. “Brian, are you hungry?”


    Brian saw right through her. “Just tell me if you’re hungry. What would you like to eat?”


    Rachel’s eyes darted to a nearby stall. “Tacos!”


    Her response momentarily took Brian aback. However, reassured by her decisive tone, he agreed. “Alright, whatever you want.”


    A smile of satisfaction spread across Rachel’s face. She led Brian to a quaint small stall and took a seat. The setup included low tables and small stools.


    Such seating was fine for those shorter or ustomed to it, but for a tall man like Brian, it posed an obvious challenge.


    Rachel sensed a twinge of guilt. Noticing Brian’s hesitation, she quickly offered reassurance. “I know these seats are quite low. I’ll eat quickly so you won’t have to suffer too long.”


    Brian, looking around, proposed an alternative.


    “I’ll just stand. Is that alright?” Brian said, noticing several young women who had gathered nearby, all eyeing him with curiosity.


    With two universities nearby, the street was a lively student hub. During rush hour, Brian’s sharp features and polished appearance naturally drew attention.


    Standing by the roadside stall in his perfectly tailored suit and tie, he was impossible to miss—attracting nces from passersby. Realizing his conspicuousness, Brian reluctantly took a seat.


    What followed was entirely unexpected.


    As he awkwardly folded his long legs and settled down, the inevitable happened—a sudden crack sounded through the air. The seat beneath him copsed, breaking into pieces.


    He was caught off guard and nearly hit the ground. His quick reflexes allowed him to steady himself with one hand, narrowly avoiding aplete fall.


    Laughter erupted from the onlookers, amused by the sight of such a dashing man copsing a stool just by sitting.


    Rachel, unable to hold back, covered her mouth with her hand. It had been ages since she’dughed this heartily.


    Brian, annoyed, turned to Rachel with a fierce look. “Rachel Marsh,” he said, his tone dark and threatening.


    Despite her efforts to regainposure, Rachel’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “I’m sorry,” she replied, giggling behind her hand. “It was just so unexpected. I never thought it would actually break.”


    Brian looked unconvinced.


    Rachel tried to lighten the mood again. “It must be because you’re too charming. Even the stool couldn’t resist your charm and turned to jelly.”


    Brian responded with a weary stare. “I mentioned I preferred to stand, but you insisted on me sitting.”


    At that moment, the stall owner approached, chuckling with embarrassment. “I’m terribly sorry! That stool had a loose leg. I meant to remove it earlier. How odd that it ended up under you!”


    She quickly fetched the most robust chair avable. “Don’t worry, this one’s sturdy—it could hold a linebacker without breaking.”


    Brian seemed to brood over herment. Was he beingpared to a linebacker? He thought she ought to choose her words more carefully.


    While waiting for their food, Rachel leaned forward, her elbows on the table,pletely captivated by the vendor skillfully preparing the food. She appeared utterly engrossed.


    Brian, puzzled by her fascination, asked, “What made you choose this ce?”


    Rachel’s mind wandered to a distant memory. “Because, a decade ago, these tacos were the most affordable, hearty meal I could find here.”


    At that time, it was all she could manage, yet the owners always treated her generously.


    As she recounted these memories, a tear shimmered in her eye but didn’t fall.


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