Haoran also frowned as he tried to remember the people inside the elevator. There was an impatient overweight man carrying documents, a young girl with a casual appearance, a middle-aged couple with their daughter, and an elegant lady in her 30s.

He only knew Goose was a woman because the hacker had told him before, but he didn't know her age or what she looked like. He also had no idea whether Goose was living in Paris or visiting. This was a very pleasant coincidence.

Haoran asked for his laptop and wrote a reply message.

[Thank you for the kind advice, Goose. It was nice seeing you today. I hope we can meet properly next time. I really want to buy you a drink.]

Goose didn't reply.

"Maybe she's busy," Haoran said to Emma. "Later, once we're back in Singapore, I'll ask if Goose's willing to give lessons for you to learn about hacking."

"Thank you," Emma replied. "Do you still have a headache? Why didn't you rest? Didn't you say you were going to lie down?"

Haoran nodded. "Right, sometimes I get migraines when I overthink."

"What are you thinking about?" asked Emma, not understanding.

Haoran looked at her with disbelief.

'Emma's really insensitive,' Haoran thought in amusement.

He smiled faintly as he shrugged. "Of course I'm thinking about you and how we can find your parents."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Emma was stunned while she stared back at Haoran without blinking. Her topaz eyes seemed to pierce Haoran's head, trying to read his mind. Unfortunately, Emma still couldn't read his thoughts.

"You... were thinking about my problem until you got a migraine?" asked Emma in a skeptical tone. "Why?"

It was Haoran's turn to look puzzled. 'Why she asks me? Of course, it's because...'

"Because you're my friend," Haoran answered in a firm but gentle tone.

For some reason, Emma felt like she had just heard her father's tone of voice. Kaoshin Stardust always talked in a firm but gentle tone. 

She really missed her father; she really missed her mother. 

Here, she could survive and live well while searching for them because of this young man beside her.

If she hadn't met Haoran on that first day of school, Emma was sure her life would remain uneventful and lonesome like in the orphanage. She wouldn't be able to finance this study trip to Paris. Emma also wouldn't be friends with Alex and the other boys. She'd still struggle alone, reclusive, while trying hard not to attract attention as she searched for answers about her parents. But ever since that first day, and in the present, she was so grateful to have met Haoran.

"Just a friend?" Emma asked.

She stared at Haoran—sitting next to her—with a curious expression. She had heard from Alex that Haoran liked her, but Haoran had never said anything about his feelings to her. He made hints about it by taking her to dinner to celebrate her birthday last week. But that was it.

Haoran's lips curved up when he heard Emma's blunt question. Somehow, his headache vanished, and his face turned beet red.

"Also, I like you. So—"

Before the young man had finished speaking, Emma lifted the laptop on Haoran's lap with her power and moved it to the table. In the next second, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her eyes naturally closed as she leaned her face close to Haoran's, and finally—her lips touched his.

Haoran's pupils dilated for a split second but a moment later, he responded to Emma's kiss, placed his hands around her waist. His eyes closed as his lips claimed hers.

'Emma, I really like you.'

Emma gasped. She realized it was impossible for Haoran to say anything because their lips were sealed against each other. But clearly she heard Haoran's voice.