Chapter 308 A Strange Dinner
<b>75 </b>
+8 Pearls
When we arrived at the restaurant, the atmosphere was quiet and elegant, with candlelight flickering as if the ce had been reserved in advance.
Adler pulled out my chair like a gentleman, and I sat down. The candles on the table gave off a warm glow, the air filled with an intimacy that made my heartbeat stumble slightly.
Asphodel let out a low chuckle. <i>You </i><i>really </i><i>put </i><i>effort </i><i>into </i><i>choosing </i><i>this </i><i>ce</i>.
Eren, however, didn’t get out of the car. He mysteriously told us to go inside first.
A few minutester, he came hopping in, carrying a shoebox–sized package and arge bouquet of… white chrysanthemums.
I stared at the flowers, nearly fainting on the spot.
Adler froze as well, a flicker of awkwardness shing through his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected this either.
Holding the chrysanthemums high, Eren beamed like a little sun. “Muse, may you always be as fresh and beautiful as chrysanthemums!”
His fruity pheromones filled the air, sweet as honey, masking the odd smell of the chrysanthemums.
I paused for two seconds, smothered myughter, and epted the bouquet. “Thank you, Eren, I like it very much.”
I quickly set the flowers aside. His surprise had left me a little dazed.
Asphodel chuckled softly. <i>That’s </i><i>quite </i><i>the </i><i>gift</i><i>. </i>
Excited, Eren opened the box. “I collected gemstones from all over the world to make Muse a one–of–a–kind photo frame!”
I looked down. Inside was a gold–edged frame holding one of my casual snapshots. The background had been cut into small blocks, iid with multicolored natural gemstones. The sharp facets sparkled–luxurious, yet with a touch of gaudiness, like the creation of a nouveau riche.
I could tell how difficult it must have been to grind all those stones to the same size. The leftover fragments alone were probably worth a fortune.
My hands trembled slightly as I hesitated whether to ept it.
<b>11:00 Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>
Chapter 308 A Strange Dinner
(75
+8 Pearls
Refuse? He had put real thought into this.
ept? The gift was far too extravagant.
I nced at Eren. His eyes shone with pride. “Muse, you like it so much you can’t even speak, right?”
Adler cleared his throat gently. “Leslie, it’s Eren’s heartfelt gift. Compared to his life, this is nothing.”
Eren nodded firmly. “That’s right, it’s nothing at all!”
His fruity pheromones grew stronger, urging me to praise him.
After a few seconds ofposure, I smiled and nodded. “Alright, I like it very much. Thank you, little Eren.”
I ced the frame beside the bouquet. Candlelight danced on the gemstones, dazzlingly bright.
But looking at the flowers, the frame, and the candles together, something felt off, like something stuck in my throat.
I nced at Adler. He turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
Asphodel nearly burst outughing. <i>This </i><i>father </i><i>and </i><i>son</i><i>—</i><i>each </i><i>one </i><i>knows </i><i>how </i><i>to </i><i>put </i><i>on </i><i>a </i><i>show </i><i>better </i>than the <i>other</i><b><i>. </i></b>
<b>Leslie’s </b><b>POV </b>
The candlelight swayed in the restaurant, reflecting off the gemstone frame in glittering shes.
I kept my head down, quietly eating, doing my best to ignore the strangeness lingering in my chest.
Adler had once revealed his feelings to me, but I had no choice but to pretend nothing had happened, carefully avoiding any sensitive topics.
The meal didn’t fall into awkward silence. From time to time, he served food to Eren and me with a natural air. Yet I could still sense his gaze lingering briefly on me, warm but probing.
My grip on the fork tightened slightly as I kept a calm front, feigning ignorance.
After dinner, Adler drove me home.
Inside the nanny van, Eren curled up on the seat, sound asleep. His fruity pheromones drifted like citrus candy in the air, so sweet it almost made meugh.
<b>11:00 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>
Chapter 308 A Strange Dinner
<b>75 </b>
+8 Pearls
Adler carried the box with the gemstone frame, standing beside the car. His presence was steady, tinged with apology. “Eren brought chrysanthemums. He probably just likes white ones. He didn’t mean anything else.”
I smiled lightly, keeping my tone casual. “It’s fine. He’s just a kid.”
Adler’s lips curved, his gaze soft. “Next time, roses. Would you like that?”
His voice was light, yet it felt like he was testing me.
A jolt ran through me. Roses?
Those were flowers lovers gave.
I curved my lips, answering evenly. “I prefer cacti.”
He raised a brow and lowered his head with a softugh, as if unbothered by the jab. “Hmm, I’m good at catering to people’s tastes.”
His tone remained gentle, unreadable.
I said nothing more and headed toward my apartment.
Behind me, the car’s headlights stretched my shadow long across the pavement. The candlelit dinner still lingered in my mind–strange, yet subtly stirring.
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