?Chapter 168:


    As Ellie expected, she calmly joined the end of the queue.


    Two more individuals lined up behind her the moment she stopped. When Ellie reached for her phone, she suddenly realized her hand… was entwined with Kaiden’s.


    Kaiden’s palm was bigger than hers, and his skin felt coarser.


    Feeling embarrassed, Ellie retracted her hand. Meeting Kaiden’s impatient gaze, she exined, “The shop opened yesterday. That’s why so many people are lining up. We’ll only wait for twenty minutes. If it’s not our turn to order, we’ll leave then, okay?” Her tone softened unconsciously during the negotiations.


    Kaiden nced at her soft, hopeful eyes.


    It was just a cup of milk tea. Why was she so invested?


    Kaiden couldn’t understand at all but condescendingly nodded in agreement.


    “Thank you!” Ellie didn’t expect things to progress so smoothly, prompting an instant, joyful smile.


    Kaiden was mesmerized by her radiant smile.


    She nced in a different direction and abruptly told Kaiden, “Help me hold our ce in line. I’ll be right back.”


    Before she could finish speaking, she had already walked away.


    Kaiden disliked ces filled with people. He had barely managed with Ellie’s presence earlier, but now he earnestly wished to clear the area.


    Where did she go?


    “Hey buddy, are you saving a spot for your girlfriend too?” The man in front of Kaiden enthusiastically turned around and asked.


    Kaiden cast a sullen nce at the man, exuding an air of “don’t mess with me.”


    However, the man was so oblivious, continuing to say, “s! I’m also in line for my girlfriend. Women are quite stubborn sometimes. Can’t she just buy any milk tea? Why this particr shop? I heard people who bought milk tea yesterday waited in line for forty or fifty minutes.”


    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m


    Forty or fifty minutes…


    Kaiden’s expression turned into a frown.


    The man answered a phone call. A few minutester, he hung up and resumed grumbling to Kaiden. “My girlfriend just called and asked if I saved her a spot to buy milk tea. Well, I’m already here. I just noticed, but why do you wear a mask? You look so handsome with a mask on. By any chance, are you a celebrity?”


    Throughout this time, Kaiden remained silent.


    When Ellie returned, she noticed his impatience, something his mask couldn’t hide. She overheard the young man saying, “Hey, dude, I’ve said a lot. Why is there no response from you? If you don’t want to talk, just say so.”


    “Sorry, he is dumb.” Ellie hurried over and apologized.


    “Who are you calling dumb? Huh?”


    Kaiden’s voice, low and cold, cut through the air as he gently pinched the nape of Ellie’s slender neck—a gesture carrying both romantic and threatening undertones.


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