?Chapter 1074:


    He sounded exactly like a young man dipping his toes into romance, brimming with curiosity.


    If Jeff had been just another guy, Ste probably would have turned him down without a second thought. But when she met his earnest gaze and remembered his words about her being his only female friend, saying no suddenly felt unnecessary. So she agreed with a small nod.


    At a quiet little diner near the institute, Jeff pulled out a chair for her and even suggested dishes he thought Ste would enjoy. To Ste, it all looked like Jeff rehearsing how to treat the girl he actually liked, so she decided to y along and offer a few pointers.


    Jeff lifted the menu, tilting his head toward her. “Is this good? Not too in, right?”


    Ste gave an approving smile. “It’s perfect. Girls notice when a guy pays attention to details like that.”


    At her words, a faint, pleased smile tugged at Jeff’s lips.


    While they ate, Jeff spoke in an easy, curious tone. “I bet you were pretty popr in college, huh? Any interesting dating stories?”


    Ste paused, sifting through her memories. Other than Marc, there hadn’t been anyone she had shared that kind of closeness with. And Marc—well, that part of her life felt like a distant chapter, one that had already blurred around the edges.


    “I mostly buried myself in research back then,” Ste said with a faint smile. “Not much of a love life to talk about.” She made sure to steer clear of mentioning Marc.


    Then Jeff asked casually, “What about now? How did you and Mr. Briggs meet?”


    At William’s name, Ste’s expression stiffened for a heartbeat before she smoothed it over.


    “From work. He was my boss at the time, and he still is now.” Ste quietly noted that William had always been her direct superior. Unlike everyone else at the institute, she had never addressed him by his academic title.


    Sensing the subtle tension in her tone, Jeff smoothly redirected the conversation toward himself.


    “The girl I like… she kind of reminds me of you. She’s really independent and confident. I just don’t know how to get closer to her.”


    Missing the hint behind Jeff’s words, Ste gave it some thought before answering. “Women like that appreciate respect more than pampering. Help her when she needs it, but don’t try to make choices for her.”


    Jeff listened carefully, a quiet smile ying on his lips, as if he already understood more than he let on.


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    They had talked about plenty by then, so the rest of the meal passed in silence as they focused on their food. Jeff didn’t ask any more questions.


    When dinner ended, Jeff walked Ste back toward the research institute.


    The sunset painted the path in warm gold, their shadows stretching long and close together on the pavement—close enough that, from afar, they might have looked like a couple. At the entrance, Jeff met her eyes with quiet sincerity. “Thanks for the advice today, Ste. It really helped me out.”


    Ste smiled and gave his shoulder an encouraging pat. “Good luck with your crush, Jeff. Just remember, you can’t make someone love you. If she doesn’t feel the same, you have to learn to move on.”


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