At the dinner table, Shanley''s face was clouded over, and he picked at his food with little interest.


    "Your soup, Ms. Payne." Dana set down the bowl, stealing a nce at the man beside her. My, Mr. Schwartz looked terribly upset. Wasn''t he just happily giving everyone raises this morning? Could he and Ms. Payne have had a fight? But...


    Dana tilted her head, her gaze shifting to the girl who was happily on her third serving of rice. Ms. Payne''s appetite certainly didn''t suggest she''d been in an argument.


    Sigh! The mind of a man in love was truly a mystery.


    "Dana, you can take a break now," Juniper said, stirring her broth.


    "Of course." Dana nodded and quietly left.


    As the dining room fell silent, Shanley finally put down his knife and fork. His eyes fixed on the young woman across from him, who was still engrossed in her meal. A faint smile touched his lips. "Juniper, shall we continue?"


    "Hmm?" Juniper looked up, meeting his deep gaze. Her delicate face was a mask of confusion. "Continue what?"


    Clearly, she had already forgotten what had happened just moments ago.


    Shanley''s initial flicker of disappointment faded. He reminded himself that his Juniper had never been a girl with high ''emotional intelligence.'' It hadn''t been easy to transition from being her guardian to being her boyfriend. It would probably take more time for her to understand the nuances of romance.


    Seeing how hungry she was, Shanley couldn''t bring himself to interrupt her meal any longer. He reached out and gently stroked her head. "It''s nothing. Just eat," he said softly.


    "Oh." Juniper lowered her head and continued eating, a triumphant smile ying on her lips.


    A few minutester, seeing the lingering gloom on the man''s face, Juniper took the initiative and ced a pork rib on his te.


    "Thank you, Juniper." Shanley''s lips curved into a smile, the shadows on his face vanishing in an instant.


    Juniper smiled back. This man, she thought, was actually quite easy to please.


    The next morning, just as Juniper finished breakfast and was about to leave, Melvin Steele showed up again. "I..."


    "Let me guess. You have business near Era University again today and just happened to be able to give me a ride?" Juniper cut him off, her tope unhurried "Oh, wait, not just me Me and J


    "No, I really do have business this time," Melvin said,ughing


    awkwardly at being found out


    brought desserts. vors you two haven''t tried before."


    "Alright then." Juniper''s eyshes fluttered. Without a moment''s hesitation, she took


    her bag from Shanley, her eyes shining. "Let''s go."


    Shanley chuckled helplessly. If the guy weren''t his future brother-inw, he''d


    seriously worry that Juniper could be lured away by food.


    "Let''s go." Melvin immediately took Juniper''s bag, sticking close to his sister like an eager puppy. "There are so many vors including your favorite, mango."


    "Really?" Juniper stuffed her hands in her pockets, listening to Melvin''s chatter. "You got J''s favorite, strawberry, too, right?" she asked slyly.


    Melvin smiled, a silent confirmation.


    "Are you serious about her?" Juniper turned her head to look at him.


    "Yeah," Melvin nodded, his expression as earnest as could be. "But I don''t think J likes me very much."


    "What makes you say that?" Juniper asked casually, a corner of her lip twitching.


    "She''s so formal with me when we talk," Melvin said, sounding hurt. He repeated for emphasis, "She''s incredibly polite and formal with me."


    "Oh." Juniper wanted tough, but for the sake of the desserts, she held it in.


    "J is just polite," she offered insincerely. "Being formal is normal for her." "Really?" Melvin wasn''t convinced.


    Juniper pursed her lips and changed the subject. "Come on, I''m going to bete." "Oh, right."