Chapter 137
Aria’s POV
I hesitated, but the window to recall the message had already passed. Suddenly anxious, I sat there staring at my phone, feeling restless.
Would Aiden think I was being conceited?
Lillian noticed me fixating on my screen. “Got some eye candy on that phone p>
She leaned over for a peek, just in time to see Aiden’s reply pop up.
Lillian pulled back dramatically. Sorry, I shouldn’t have set myself up for punishment p>
She knew there’d be couple stuff, yet still looked. Serves her right!
I glanced at my phone anxiously, opening Aiden’s reply: “Ok p>
Just one word? Really?
Mr. Carter, are you sure you don’t want to say anything else? Maybe throw a compliment my way? Would that kill you?
I waited several minutes, but no follow-up message came through. Fine, I guess I was reading too much into things anyway.
I put my phone down and looked up just in time to catch the host on stage looking directly at me.
“Please don’t tell me they picked me,” I whispered to Lillian beside me.
Lillian pointed to the number in front of me. “Unless you’re not number 45, then no, they didn’t pick you p>
I shook my head frantically. “I can’t! I’m a married woman p>
But the temptation of a free tab was too strong. In one lightning-fast move, I shoved my number into Lillian’s hand and grabbed hers instead. “Lil, tonight’s bill is all on you p>
Lillian stared at my quick sleight of hand. Are those piano-playing fingers really meant for such trickery p>
“Money-making is money-making. No difference,” I I shrugged.
The host on stage, clearly stunned by my maneuver, blinked in surprise.
But being the professional he was, and since there was no rule against swapping numbers, he pretended he hadn’t seen a thing and turned his attention to Lillian. “So, miss, would you like to come up and exchange contact info with this handsome gentleman p>
I glanced up at the stage. I’d thought the host was exaggerating, but the guy actually wasn’t bad-looking and seemed well-dressed too.
I gave Lillian a forceful push. “Your lucky day, Lil! Go get him p>
For all her big talk, Lillian was completely useless when it came to actual flirting—a solid 0 out of 5.
With my push, she was suddenly caught in the spotlight. Her face turned bright red instantly.
With the spotlight following her, there was no turning back. Lillian had no choice but to trudge up and exchange contact information.
Thankfully, they only had to swap numbers with no other interaction required. After answering a few irrelevant questions from the host, she was allowed to return to our table. I could tell she’d never try to play relationship guru with me again.
I couldn’t help but grin wickedly. “So? How was it up close? Is he hot p>
Lillian was still flustered. “Didn’t look closely p>
“But you added him, right? Check out his profile! See what he’s like! What if he’s the one p>
Lillian had been single for so long that I actually worried about her sometimes. Sure, these random Valentine’s games were silly, but who knows when fate might strike?
She gave me a look, then reluctantly pulled out her phone.
They’d added each other right there on stage with the host watching, so there was no chance of rejection.
Lillian had barely opened the chat when a message came through: “Ms. Li, hope you don’t mind me asking, but is your friend single? My friend is single too and would like to add her. Would that be okay p>
I saw the message immediately and my face darkened. “Delete him! Block him right now p>
Seriously? Who does that?
Lillian felt equally annoyed and blocked the guy without hesitation.
We tacitly agreed not to mention it again and went back to enjoying the evening.
After about two more hours of folk music, around 9:30, Lillian said she wanted to head home.
I gave her a side-eye. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to check out cute guys?” Lillian gritted her teeth. “Aria, you better watch out for karma p>
I smirked fearlessly. “I’m not the one looking for guys. What karma could possibly hit me p>
“Who knows?” she teased. “Maybe Mr. Carter will show up any second now to take you guy-watching p>
When it came to teasing friends, Lillian was definitely a professional.
I was ready to call it quits after that awkward moment. “Let’s head out,” I told Lillian,
grabbing my purse. “Time to go home and get some sleep p>
I was waving the white flag. Completely surrendering to this whole Valentine’s disaster.
But the universe wasn’t done with us yet. We’d barely made it out the bar door when someone suddenly blocked our path.
“did you delete my contact?” The guy from the stage appeared in front of us, looking slightly offended.
Oh great p>
Lillian didn’t back down though.
“Yeah, I did. Got a problem with that? It was just a silly game, not actual matchmaking. Can’t delete someone I’m not interested in?
Rose.
The guy handled it better than I expected. Instead of getting angry, he just awkwardly rubbed “Was it because I asked for your friend’s contact information?
Lillian snorted. “You already know the answer, so why even ask p>
“It’s all a misunderstanding. Your friend might actually know mine p>
As he spoke, he glanced over our shoulders at someone approaching.
Lillian and I instinctively turned to look. A tall man wearing a baseball cap and black
face mask was walking toward us.
“Aria! “
That voice sounded strangely familiar.
I blinked once, and then found myself staring at a face I definitely recognized.
“Julian p>
Julian’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Sorry about the little joke with your friend earlier. No hard feelings p>
Hard feelings?
Lillian was Julian’s number one fan – what hard feelings could she possibly have?
I glanced sideways at Lillian, who, predictably, was too starstruck to speak.
I raised an eyebrow. “So it was all a misunderstanding p>
Julian nodded. “Did you two come here alone? How are you planning to get back? Taxi p>
“Yeah p>
I answered, giving Lillian a gentle nudge and whispering, “Pull yourself together.” Lillian was trying, but her legs weren’t cooperating.
Julian checked the time on his phone. “It’s Valentine’s Day. Getting a taxi might be tough p>
“That’s why we’re leaving early,” I explained.
“We can give you a ride. We drove here p>
Before I could respond, Lillian jumped in: “Sure p>
She immediately regretted her eagerness and tried to backpedal, “I
mean, faxis are
definitely hard to tonight, soft’s convenient fo
IM
you p>
Julian’s lips quirked upward. “It’s convenient.” He looked over at his friend. “Right p>
His friend’s mouth twitched slightly. “Of course p>
How could it not be convenient?
Right.
“Let’s go then. Our car’s just outside,” Julian said, pulling his mask back up.
I didn’t even have time to refuse. Fine, I guess p>
It really was difficult to get a taxi tonight anyway.
We all left the bar and approached their SUV.
Julian’s friend was quick to figure things out. “Miss Li, you live near Emerald
Gardens, right p>
Lillian, who had been about to get in the backseat, had to redirect to the front passenger seat. “Yes, you have a good memory, Mr. Wei p>
“It’s alright p>
I sat in the backseat with Julian beside me.
We kept a good half meter between us, but I still felt awkward.
I pulled out my phone, intending to text Lillian, when Julian removed his mask. “Has
your leg recovered well, Miss Jiang p>
I glanced down at my right calf. “The doctor says it’s fine now p>
“Are you planning to participate in the Meinar Competition this year p>
I was surprised he knew about that. “I haven’t decided yet p>
“There’s no rush. It’s just getting started anyway p>
“Mm-hmm p>
I murmured in response, looking down at my phone.
It was almost ten o’clock.
Why hadn’t Aiden sent me any message yet?
It was Valentine’s Day after all!
Wouldn’t a simple “Happy Valentine’s Day” be appropriate?