<b>Chapter </b>368


    Leo flipped open his wallet and fished out a card, casually cing it in front of his sister. “Here, go wild with this one,” he said with an easy grin.


    Mirabe was about to hand Leo the menu when his gesture stopped her cold. She looked up at him, her face a canvas of question marks.


    Clearing his throat, Leo added, “If you’re short on cash, just tell me, okay?”


    The eyelids of Mirabe’s mouth twitched fiercely. Did she look like she was out of money? She was just trying to be frugal for crying out loud!


    She pressed her fingers to her temples and sighed, “I don’t need it.” There was a hint of resignation in her voice. She then proceeded to ignore his generous offer, ordering four dishes and soup before passing the menu back to the waiter.


    Leo watched with a mix of admiration and mncholy as Mirabe declined the card. If this were Summer, she’d have snatched up the opportunity and gone on a shopping spree by now, he mused.


    Mirabe couldn’t read Leo’s mind, but his goofy expression was enough to make her shake her head slightly. How did such a goofy guy be a top–tier celebrity in the entertainment industry? Was he cheating life or what?


    “You can take off the mask, Leo. We’re pretty secluded here, and you won’t get recognized,” Mirabe mentioned, noticing the mask still covering his face.


    Snapping back to reality, Leo peeled off the mask and stuffed it into his pocket. His curiosity piqued, and so he asked, “How did you stumble upon this ce? And who’s this Knox the waiter mentioned?”


    Mirabe exined nonchntly, “A friend introduced me to it a while back. I got lucky and scored a token from the owner. That’s it.”


    Leo touched his nose thoughtfully. Clearly, it wasn’t just about the token. The waiter’s attitude had hinted at something more. But he had to admit, the ce was quiet and private.


    “Try the pastries. They’re not half bad,” Mirabe suggested, pointing to a te on the table.


    Leo eyed the sugary confections warily but still took a bite. To his surprise, he admitted, “They’re actually pretty good.”


    “Enjoy them,” Mirabe said with a faint smile, her lips barely parting.


    Soon after, the waiter brought out the dishes, though the soup was still pending. The presentation was simple yet elegant.


    “The dishes look light,” Leomented.


    “The cuisine here is light but nutritious, perfect for someone who uses their voice as much as


    <b>10-28 </b>


    you do,” Mirabe exined while serving him a portion.


    Leo watched her attentively, an internal sigh escaping him. “My status as a protective brother is in jeopardy,” he thought. He lowered his head and focused on his meal.


    Back in the kitchen, Vincentdled the finished soup into a bowl, ready to serve. The waiter reached for the tray, but Vincent waved him off, “I’ll take it to them.”


    Every week, Vincent took a day to learn cooking at the restaurant, always seeking feedback from customers to improve. The ma?tre d‘, however, frowned at the idea. He knew of Vincent’s culinary pursuits, but this particr soup was for the youngdy in the private room–Mirabe. Recalling her blunt critique of Knox, he worried she might be too forthright and said, “Mr. Vincent<b>, </b>perhaps skip the soup this time. Let’s focus on the next dish.”


    Vincent peeled off his gloves, barely ncing up as he replied, “It’s fine. I’ll return to the kitchen after delivering the soup.”