As I passed by Sophie Summers' office, I noticed Lucas Steele emerging with a grim expression, his face ashen, a faint trace of reluctance lingering at the corner of his mouth. Hah, it seems he's had a setback. A surge of satisfaction stirred within me, for some inexplicable reason, I found delight in seeing him upset, as though a strange pleasure coursed through me each time he seemed discontent.

I couldn't quite place why I held such disdain for him; he always struck me as insidious, like a venomous snake, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice, as though poised to strike at any moment. It reminded me of that incident when he sent me to find Lydia. I never understood whether it was his idea or if he had discerned Sophie Summers' intentions, but regardless, I didn't wish to dwell on it now.

Just as these thoughts lingered, my phone buzzed with a WeChat message from Celeste Harrington.

"Ryan, are you busy?" she asked.

"Just a bit. It's not too bad," I replied, though a flutter of unease gripped my heart.

"Remember, after work, come home with me," her voice carried a hint of playful affection, as though reminding me of something important.

"Are you sure? I'm practically a penniless man," I joked, attempting to ease the tension within me.

"Ryan, didn't I tell you? As long as we're together, those debts won't matter," she responded, her words firm and warm, bringing a surge of comfort to my chest.

I wasn't certain about Celeste Harrington's family situation, and I didn't want to pry, so I simply replied,"Alright."

At that moment, I looked up and saw Sophie Summers standing by the small door between the secretary's office and hers, her face as cold as ever, her gaze fixed intently on me. She didn't speak, merely observing me in silence, as if pondering something. I instinctively touched my face, feeling a slight unease.

Without a word, she turned and walked away. I was left puzzled—what was going on with her today?

The entire morning passed uneventfully. She hadn't assigned me any tasks, and I found myself drifting through the hours—taking occasional trips to the restroom, smoking a cigarette, chatting with Celeste Harrington on my phone. Finally, it was lunchtime, and as I made my way to the cafeteria, I spotted Celeste Harrington waving at me,"Ryan, over here!"

I walked toward her, a small flutter of excitement building inside me—after all, she was now my girlfriend, and I'd never really had a girlfriend before."I've already gotten your food," she said, smiling as she gestured for me to sit, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Wow, that's so thoughtful," I said, feeling a wave of gratitude. Having a girlfriend felt wonderful.

She placed all the fatty meat from her plate onto mine,"These are for you."

I stared at the pile of greasy meat, my lips twitching."Is this your way of getting back at me?"

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"Mm-hmm, that's what you get for giving me that big piece of fatty meat last night. I'm still full of it," she replied, trying to look serious, but the smile tugging at the corners of her eyes gave her away.

I shook my head helplessly."Come on, don't be all lovey-dovey. Look, so many people are watching us!"

"What's it to them?" she said with a dismissive shrug, her tone playful and bold.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate?" I whispered, though secretly a sense of pride swelled in me. After all, it felt good to show off having such a beautiful girlfriend.

"Let them envy and hate," she said confidently, her gaze unwavering, as if she couldn't care less about the attention.

Just then, Theo Westbrook passed by, holding his tray. He paused for a moment, as if about to speak, but then prepared to leave.

I called out to him,"Theo Westbrook, you came over and now you're leaving, what's going on?"

Theo Westbrook smiled innocently and said,"I dare not disturb you two who are in love." Then he left, leaving Celeste Harrington and I smiling at each other.

"Ryan, how about we go see the light show tonight? It's the last evening," she suddenly suggested, her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.

"Sure," I nodded, already filled with a sense of excitement for the evening ahead.

Just as I was eating, I heard the sound of high heels walking beside me, and a soft hum. I didn't look up.

The entire afternoon, I pondered whether I should bring a gift to Celeste Harrington's home. However, I was at a loss as to what to purchase. Anything too expensive was beyond my means, while something too cheap would seem inconsiderate. My mind was a maelstrom, unable to concentrate on my work. The files on my desk stacked higher, but I only absently flicked through them, my thoughts filled with visions of potential gifts—fruit baskets, imported chocolates, fine wine… but each idea was swiftly dismissed.

At that moment, my phone buzzed. I quickly reached for it and saw a message from Celeste Harrington:"Wait for me in the parking lot after work."

I quickly responded,"Should I go buy some gifts first? Wouldn't it be disrespectful to the elders if I had nothing in my hands?"

She sent me only a winking face emoji.

I stared at the emoji, feeling more uneasy. What did it mean? Was I expected to figure it out on my own, or had she already taken care of everything? My thoughts became more tangled, my emotions stirred like a tempest, unable to settle.

After work, I arrived at the parking lot on time, still unsure whether I should have bought a gift. From a distance, I saw Celeste Harrington approaching, wearing a light blue dress that made her appear all the more fresh and enchanting. Her steps were light, like a breeze that swept away the tension in my heart.

"Ryan, what's on your mind?" she asked as she drew near, her eyes mischievously glinting, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

"I was thinking about what gift to buy," I confessed, though a hint of unease lingered in my voice.

She smiled warmly, her gaze soft as flowing water."You don't need to worry so much. My parents are very easygoing—they won't care about such things."

"But..." I still felt uneasy. After all, it was my first time meeting her parents, and nerves inevitably stirred within me.

"Don't worry. With me by your side, they won't make things difficult for you," she reassured me, her tone unwavering, as if her confidence could calm my anxieties.

"Should we still go to the mall then, just to pick something up?" I asked, still feeling the need to buy something, though my mind was conflicted.

"Silly, get in the car," she said, taking my hand and leading me toward a MINI. With a press of the key fob, the car lights blinked and a cheerful beep echoed in the air.

After we got in the car and lit the engine, she said to me,"Don't worry about the gift, just look at the back."

I turned and saw a pile of items in the back seat."When did you buy these?" I asked in surprise.

She smiled and said,"I went to buy it when I went out to do some errands in the afternoon."

A wave of relief washed over me, and I sighed deeply."You are truly thoughtful."

"Of course, I'm your girlfriend," she teased, winking playfully, her tone brimming with pride.

"But..."

"No buts. It doesn't matter whether I buy it or you do. It's the same either way," she said with an air of unshakable certainty.