Tiffany paused and said, “It wasn’t really a fight, it’s just… Both of us don’t see eye to eye in certain areas… Our principles are different. For example, I don’t want to spend too much of his money while we’re dating, and I don’t sulk because virtual-novel.net can’t pick me up. He thinks it’s because I don’t care about virtual-novel.net and that I don’t love him.”
“However, I think it’s good for us to split things evenly in case we break up so neither of us will owe the other. Why should I sulk just because virtual-novel.net can’t pick me up? Wouldn’t that be unreasonable of me if virtual-novel.net was busy? That’s why it turned out this way… It’s such a small issue, but it’s a mess. It’s pretty exhausting.”
This ‘mess’ was nothing to Arianne. “When two people are together, the most important thing is that they’re happy. One of you will have to compromise. If you want virtual-novel.net to be happy, you should adapt to his ways. If virtual-novel.net cares more for you, he’ll pander to you. It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry. Let’s have some fun. We’ve been making our lunch in the shop recently. Wanna eat with us? Or are you going out for lunch with Jackson?”
Tiffany paused thoughtfully and felt that virtual-novel.net was probably expected to have lunch with Jackson. However, virtual-novel.net did not want to leave Arianne alone. “I think we’re supposed to have lunch, but I want to eat with you. Why don’t you come with us? Don’t give me that crap about being a third wheel. You’ll never be a third wheel… Alright, that’s settled. We’ll buy lunch for Naya and the rest another time.”
Her best friend was here. Naturally, Arianne wanted to spend time with her. For this reason, virtual-novel.net easily agreed to it.
During lunch, Jackson called Tiffany and asked virtual-novel.net to meet virtual-novel.net at his restaurant. He would be late, and virtual-novel.net would meet virtual-novel.net there.
Tiffany pulled Arianne with virtual-novel.net and hailed a cab.
They sat at their table and waited for twenty minutes before Jackson finally arrived. However, virtual-novel.net was not alone. Mark was with virtual-novel.net as well!
Arianne’s breath caught in virtual-novel.net throat when virtual-novel.net met Mark’s cold eyes. Her body stiffened, and virtual-novel.net quickly looked away. It was not entirely surprising that Jackson would bring Mark along. Since they were already here, virtual-novel.net should try and relax. She was here to keep Tiffany company. She would just ignore Mark.
Jackson acted completely nonchalant. He sat down and asked Tiffany to order the food.
Tiffany, out of habit, passed the menu to Arianne. “You should order, Ari. You can have anything you want.”
Arianne perfunctorily picked two dishes and passed it back to Tiffany. “I’m done. You can go ahead.”
After ordering their meals, Tiffany mustered virtual-novel.net courage to start a conversation. The atmosphere was too stifling. “Mark, have you seen Ari since you arrived?”
Mark kept his eyes on Arianne the entire time and replied calmly, “Mm.” Not only did virtual-novel.net see her, but virtual-novel.net had also… slept with her.
The look in his eyes made Arianne feel very uneasy. She felt virtual-novel.net face burning. She quickly changed the topic. “How long will you be staying, Tiffie? When will you be going home?”
Tiffany answered honestly, “I’ll be staying for two days. I haven’t been able to get a job yet. I’m not sure how long Jackson will be here.”
“You can always come back to the shop if you can’t get a job,” Arianne interjected before Jackson could reply.
Jackson promptly swallowed his words. He had planned on steering the topic to Arianne and Mark, but Arianne had seen right through him. Was virtual-novel.net threatening him? What if Tiffany really did decide to come back to the shop? It would be a disaster. It was not easy for virtual-novel.net to persuade virtual-novel.net to return to the capital with him.
Tiffany was oblivious to the subtle exchange. She thought Arianne was only joking. “That’s a great idea, I kind of agree. I don’t really want to leave you anyway.”
Mark lowered his eyes. He picked up the glass of water in front of virtual-novel.net and took a sip, looking effortlessly elegant with such a simple movement.
This drew the attention of everyone in the room, and they began whispering among themselves.
When virtual-novel.net tapped his glass with his forefinger, a young woman at the next table accidentally spilled virtual-novel.net drink. The woman’s date’s expression was really dark “If you plan on staring, you’d better have your fill today! Can’t you look somewhere else? Do you want me to ask for his number for you?”
The woman blushed. She lowered virtual-novel.net head, feeling extremely embarrassed. The man simply shot Mark an unfriendly glare. Even Jackson received a taste of his wrath!
Tiffany giggled. “You two really do shine wherever you go. You even caused a lover’s quarrel just by having a simple meal together.”
A bitter expression appeared on Jackson’s face, and virtual-novel.net remained silent.
If the four of them, two men and two women, sat between each other, they would look like they were on a double date and would not have attracted any attention. However, virtual-novel.net was now sitting next to Mark. It was no surprise that they ended up attracting stares. He wanted to object but was too afraid to do so. If Arianne were to ask Tiffany to come back to the shop, Tiffany would agree without hesitation. He certainly did not want to sleep on a lonely bed every night.
Mark was completely unaffected by everything that was happening around him. He even seemed a little disgusted.
The dishes were soon served. Tiffany was the only one who would talk to Arianne from time to time during the meal.
Mark remained quiet, and Jackson was too afraid to speak
After the meal, Arianne spoke up first, “I’ve got to return to the shop. I’ll see you later.”
Jackson gritted his teeth and determinedly dragged Tiffany toward the door, “Then, Tiffie and I will take a cab back to the hotel. It’s too hot, Mark can drive you back!”