Raise Love-85-Does he like her a bit?

Aria blinked, then lowered her head in embarrassment.

What was she hesitating about just now? How could she hesitate over such a thing?

That thought that had come to her so naturally without any warning set off an alarm in Aria's mind.

These days, she had unconsciously received so much indulgence from this person that she had developed an unconscious thought that she should sit next to him.

Aria took a deep breath, silently repeating "No, I can't" in her mind, and quickly adjusted her mindset that was gradually tilting towards him.

Ryder saw the change in her expression and the corners of his mouth curved up.

Cute little thing.

Realizing that she was being laughed at, Aria felt awkward for a couple of seconds. Then, she simply pretended not to hear that soft laugh and coughed lightly.

She asked everyone, "Do you all want to drink beverages, or beer?"

"Beverage."

"Beverage, please."

There was still one person who hadn't spoken.

"..."

Aria had no choice but to raise her eyes and meet those pitch - black peach - blossom eyes again. They were like an abyss, yet the tenacious brightness in them was impossible to ignore.

"Ryder," she asked him, "What would you like to drink?"

Ryder looked at her for a couple of seconds, raised his brow, and smiled lazily. He even deliberately drawled, imitating her tone, "So you still remember me."

Aria: "..."

"Drink—" He pronounced the word slowly and melodiously, the end of the word tinged with a mischievous and teasing tone that made Aria's heart skip a beat.

He was clearly teasing the little girl.

Finn Alvarez couldn't stand it anymore and cursed in a low voice, "Fuck."

Aria looked at Ryder, her almond - shaped eyes bright.

Ryder stared at her, smiling with his lips curved. Finally, he said, "Coke, then."

"..."

Coke?

Aria nodded and said softly, "Oh." After asking everyone what they wanted to drink, she called the waiter and ordered the beverages.

After that, she sat quietly waiting.

She sat upright, her legs merge together, her hands folded on the table. She didn't look at her phone, just stared at the tabletop with her eyelashes down, as obedient as a little kid who listens to the teacher and doesn't dare to move.

It was not until the meat slices and side dishes were served.

The waiter skillfully and orderly arranged the trays on the dining table.

They had ordered a set meal for four. When making the dipping sauce, Aria slowed down and lowered her head to prepare her own.

She also secretly observed Ryder from the corner of her eye.

To her surprise, she found that he didn't eat coriander. He directly avoided it, along with the several small condiments next to the coriander.

——The edges of those small condiments were accidentally stained with small coriander leaves.

She pursed her lips, hiding the faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

Maya Brooks was a disaster in the kitchen. Her self - care ability was extremely poor, and her cooking was abysmal.

Aria used to tease her, saying that God must have put all the points on her appearance.

Maya Brooks would look at her haughtily and say that she didn't understand. Beautiful girls should be pampered by boys, and of course, they wouldn't go into the kitchen and endure the cooking fumes.

She was a delicate girl who knew what she wanted.

Aria would just smile.

What she was thinking in her heart was that Ryder was good at cooking.

She had remembered the noodles he cooked for a long time.

If he had a girl he liked, someone as good as him would surely be a competent and caring boyfriend.

These days, she couldn't help but have some illusions. Ryder seemed to be very good to her and was quite special. She could feel it.

Occasionally, she even thought that he was getting jealous for no reason.

Did this mean that he perhaps... just a little bit, it didn't matter if it was not much, liked her?

She was nervous in her heart, yet dared not think too much, afraid that she was being overly sensitive.

Aria looked up at her best friend in the distance.

She didn't have the courage to ask Maya Brooks for an analysis.

Maybe she would be poked hard on the forehead and educated, being used as a negative example. Maya Brooks would be angry at her lack of determination and tell her not to get close to men.

Especially men like Ryder, who would bring misfortune.

Indeed, secretly loving him was hard.

But she didn't feel unfortunate.

He had given her a lot of tenderness inadvertently, and this tenderness and kindness were enough to support her through several springs, summers, autumns, and winters, until now, standing in front of him.

No matter what the final result was, she always wanted to say "thank you" to him.

For teaching her tenderness and helping her grow.

Especially during that period when she thought life was difficult, when she was self - doubting and felt that she was really, really bad.

Aria's eyes curved slightly. Her calm and beautiful face was soft and gentle, as if washed by time, exuding a sense of tranquility.

In today's noisy and complex society, people are mostly impetuous. The young are especially so, with their hearts floating in the air, unable to settle down.

Girls are particularly special.

Ryder was easily attracted to Aria's unique temperament, even unconsciously. For example, right now.

His eyes were idle. Although he was preparing his dipping sauce, he was absent - minded, his mind on the little girl beside him.

Finn Alvarez, who had quickly and neatly prepared his dipping sauce, passed by behind him expressionlessly, his eyes mocking, and the corners of his mouth slightly curved.

He left a rather sarcastic smile.

——"Taking so long to prepare a dipping sauce. You scoundrel, you're so good at flirting with little girls when you're in love."

——"I'm speechless. Speechless, speechless, speechless."

Ryder looked at him with a half - smile, silently mouthing: Get lost.

Finn Alvarez felt like calling the police.

Report, officer. There's someone here trying to abuse a dog.

The officer would say, be good and eat more dog food.

Maya Brooks and Aria had always had similar tastes. So every time they had hot pot, Aria was in charge of preparing the dipping sauce. Today was no exception.

After Aria prepared her own, seeing that Maya Brooks hadn't come over yet, she bent down and took another bowl from the cabinet. ωＷω.ＧoＮЬ.οrＧ

Just as she scooped a spoonful of sesame paste into it, she heard a sound beside her.

The person beside her made a slow, soft "tsk" sound, lowering his voice.

Aria's hand holding the spoon paused. She turned her eyes.

At this time, there was no one else around. They had just arrived at this time, and the area around the condiment counter was quite empty.

Ryder was holding a half - prepared dipping sauce, his eyes downcast, slowly scooping something into it with a spoon.

It seemed as if that slightly provocative "tsk" sound hadn't come from him.

"..."

Aria was silent for two seconds.

Maybe she had heard wrong.

After all, not far from the condiment counter, about a meter away on the side, there was also a dining table.

The people at that table seemed to be classmates. There were four of them, two boys and two girls, chatting and laughing while eating.

She took a serious look at Ryder again. He really didn't seem like he had made the sound. So she continued to scoop the sesame paste.

However, the next second.

"tsk."

Aria: "......"

Is it you, Ryder?

Stop pretending. I've already noticed!

The person remained calm, as steady as an old dog. Aria simply put down the spoon, wanting to know what he was up to.

After looking at him for a moment, she called him, "Ryder."

The boy turned slightly, looking down at her with an arrogant air. If it weren't for the dipping sauce in his hand getting in the way, he probably would have put his hands in his pockets.

He raised his brow slightly and replied arrogantly, "What?"