Aiden Thompson held Grace Li's hand as they walked out of the restaurant. This time, it wasn't just a grip around her wrist—his fingers naturally intertwined with hers, a touch full of sweetness and intimacy. The warmth from his palm sent a jolt through her hand, and Grace Li's heart raced as if it might burst from her chest.

Outside the restaurant, there was a charming old street lined with retro-style buildings. Purple jacaranda trees dotted the sidewalks, their blooms still bright despite the late hour. The streetlights cast a warm, golden glow, filling the space with a peaceful, almost magical vibe. Most of the shops were already closed, and only a few people strolled lazily down the street, adding to the quiet atmosphere.

"Aiden," Grace Li finally spoke up, her voice a little shaky. "Where are we headed?"

Aiden stopped and turned to face her, his expression soft, yet his grip on her hand didn't loosen. Grace Li instinctively tried to pull away, but Aiden seemed to sense it and tightened his hold, not letting go. She sighed and gave up on trying to escape, then asked, "Didn't you have Ryan's birthday party to go to?"

"I did," Aiden said quietly. "But when I got there and saw you weren't around, I left early."

The way they stood—so close to each other, so intimate—made the air between them feel heavy with tension.

"How did you know I'd be here?" Grace Li asked, still confused.

"I asked Isabella Hsueh."

Grace Li paused. She remembered meeting Isabella on New Year's Day. Curious, she asked, “When did you and Isabella get so close?”

“We exchanged business cards last time we met,” Aiden explained casually. “We might not have much work overlap, but I thought it couldn't hurt to stay in touch. Plus, she's your friend.”

Grace Li hadn't expected Isabella to spill the beans about her whereabouts, but she didn't have time to dwell on that now.

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Were you on a blind date just now?"

Grace Li flushed at how blunt he was. “Yeah," she admitted, her voice a little embarrassed. "I was."

Aiden smiled, clearly amused. “So, I didn't interrupt anything serious, right?”

Grace Li smirked back. “What do you think?”

Aiden shrugged, his grin widening. "I don't think it was anything serious. You didn't seem all that into the guy."

Grace Li's heart skipped a beat. He was right, of course, but she quickly defended her date. “He's actually a good guy.”

Aiden pressed on, unrelenting. "What about me? How do I compare to him?"

Grace Li hesitated, her mind racing. She wasn't sure how to answer. “Well, uh... every person has their strengths and weaknesses. It's not really a fair comparison.”

Aiden wasn't done though. "No comparisons, huh? Alright then, just tell me about me."

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Grace Li's mind immediately filled with countless things she could say about him. She didn't even think before answering. “You're... really great. You're impressive.”

Aiden grinned wider. “So, how about making me your boyfriend?”

Grace Li froze. Her heart pounded in her chest. The question hit her like a ton of bricks. Everything was happening so fast, her thoughts scrambled. Could it be? The guy she had been thinking about for months was actually asking her out? But then a wild thought crossed her mind—was this some kind of arrangement? Was he just looking for her to take care of him?

Internally, Grace Li had imagined this moment in many different ways—whether it was a real relationship or something with strings attached—but now that it was happening, she felt paralyzed. She had always been the decisive type, but now she realized how unsure she was. She wasn't ready to jump in just like that.

"Aiden Thompson, I..." Grace Li stammered, "I don't think this is the right time."

“Why isn't it the right time?” Aiden asked, his voice gentle but persistent.

Grace Li thought fast. “When I was in elementary school, you were probably still in diapers.”

Aiden blinked, caught off guard. After a pause, he asked, “Does the age difference really bother you that much?”

Grace Li shot back, “Don't you mind?”

Aiden's eyes softened. “Of course not. I mean, the average life expectancy for women in the U.S. is about 79 years, and for men, it's 73. That's over a five-year difference. Our age gap is basically nothing. We might not have been born in the same year, but we'll probably live our lives out at the same time. That's a whole lifetime together.”

Grace Li felt her cheeks burn as she lowered her head, glancing at their still-joined hands. Aiden's words caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Her heart raced, and her mind scrambled to process everything.

She had never been in a serious relationship. In the past, when people confessed to her, she usually shut them down right away. But with Aiden, it felt different. Over the past few months, she had found herself thinking about him all the time.

“So, have you said that to anyone else?” she asked, a little hesitant but curious.

Aiden smiled gently. “Only to you, Grace Li.”

Grace Li felt a pang in her chest. “What about... that rich woman you've been hanging around with?”

Aiden smiled, a little teasing. “No one serious. But if you say yes, then I've got no one else but you.”

Grace Li's hand, already sweaty, tightened around his again. “Aiden Thompson, I'm... I'm really confused right now. I'm scared I'll make the wrong choice.”

Aiden paused, his expression turning more serious. “Grace Li, no matter what you decide, we can't go back to the way things were. After tonight, things won't be the same.”

Grace Li's breath caught. She looked up at him, not sure how to react.

“Don't worry,” Aiden added softly. “I'm not quitting my job. But if you say yes, we're taking this to the next level. If you say no... well, can you really act like nothing's changed after that?”

Grace Li's mind spun. She'd been feeling this tension between them for months, but neither of them had said anything. They'd kept pretending everything was fine, but now the truth was out in the open. There was no going back.

She took a deep breath, and then slowly, she let go of his hand, the warmth fading instantly. But as soon as she did, something inside her made her reach for his hand again, instinctively.

Aiden felt her response, and without a word, he pulled her into his arms. Grace Li's cheek rested against his chest, and she let herself relax in his embrace, feeling safe and secure. The warmth of his body was more comforting than she'd ever imagined.

She had never realized how much she longed for this feeling, how right it felt to be this close to someone. It was like everything she was unsure about melted away in his arms.

“Aiden Thompson,” she whispered, her voice small, “I'm scared.”

“I know,” Aiden murmured softly. “I can tell.”

“Am I shaking?” she asked, half-laughing.

Aiden chuckled. “Yeah, but you're not the only one.”

Grace Li could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong beneath her ear. It was like they were in sync, both of them feeling the same emotions. For the first time in her life, Grace Li wasn't so sure of everything... but somehow, that was okay.

After a moment, Aiden whispered, “Grace Li, have you made up your mind?”

She took a deep breath, then finally said, “I think... I think we're already in this together. Let's call it an adventure.”

She gave him a small, nervous smile, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Let's see where this takes us.”