Inside the narrow space of the room, the aroma from the small kitchen beside the bed wraps everything in a thin, mouthwatering veil. At that moment, Julian steps out of the bathroom, and ting ting—his phone rings, as if inviting him into yet another conversation filled with "mini dramas."
Julian sits down on the bed. His damp hair falls loosely, partially covering his handsome face. A few drops of water cling to his hair, falling one by one, like the last stubborn raindrops after a heavy storm.
The glow from the screen reflects in his eyes, making him narrow them slightly.
"Welcome to the 'People Full of Drama Club,' founded by Siu Siu (Sunny Hoan)!"
They really made one? And even named it 'full of drama.' How ridiculous, Julian thinks. Even he never expects that someone like him ends up surrounded by such sincere friends.
"Hey, what are you doing? Are you done showering?" Skylar's voice pulls him back to reality.
Julian puts his phone aside and nods. "Yeah."
"Then I need a favor."
"Mm."
"Go invite Brother Nathan to come eat with us."
Julian stays silent for a long moment. Then he stands up and walks out. Skylar continues cooking calmly, completely unaware that "danger" is slowly approaching.
Ting ting ting
The sound from Julian's phone sparks Skylar's curiosity. She plates the food carefully and sets everything on the table, neat and ready for dinner. Her eyes drift to the glowing screen that reads 'You have +99 unread messages,' leaving her puzzled. Who on earth does Julian chat with that much?
Meanwhile, Julian stands in front of Nathan's door. Just as he raises his hand to knock, the door opens slightly. Nathan pokes his head out, smiling.
"Young Master, what brings you here?"
Julian feels uneasy the moment he sees that expression. "Dinner."
"I'm sorry." Nathan slowly closes the door. "I'm preparing some things, so I won't be able to eat with you and Little Sky tonight."
The door shuts completely, leaving Julian frozen in the hallway, his mind unsettled. He quickly heads back.
Bang!
Julian swings the door open. Skylar, sprawled lazily on the bed, jolts in shock.
"Where's Brother Nathan?" she asks.
Julian hesitates, then pulls her toward the dining table and stuffs a piece of chicken into her mouth. Skylar is about to question him further, but the food instantly captivates her. She eats happily, and Julian eats as well.
"Why doesn't he eat with us?"
Julian sighs. "Nothing ever stops that curiosity of yours."
"Just tell me."
"He's doing something bad," Julian replies calmly.
"Mm." Skylar nods repeatedly, completely unaware of anything strange.
A moment later, realization hits her.
The rice in her mouth sprays everywhere.
"Cough—cough—cough!" Skylar chokes violently, pounding her chest.
Julian panics. His limbs move chaotically, unsure what to do.
"Cough—cough!"
"I—What should I do? Ah, right! Water! Water, water, water!" Julian hurriedly pours a glass so full it spills onto the floor. He rushes it to Skylar, and in an instant, the glass is snatched from his hand and emptied in one gulp.
A few minutes later, Skylar looks better. She leans back in her chair, relaxed like a lazy cat. She glances at Julian.
"So… what kind of bad thing is he doing?"
"You'll find out later," Julian says calmly, placing a shrimp into her bowl. "Eat faster. We might not sleep peacefully tonight."
Though she doesn't understand, Skylar nods and continues eating.
30 minutes later…
"Done eating?" Julian asks. His hands move skillfully as he wipes his mouth with a napkin, every motion refined and "aristocratic."
"Do you always eat this properly at formal dinners?" Skylar eyes him with open judgment. From her perspective, having time to eat is already a blessing—wiping her mouth afterward sounds like a luxury.
Julian says nothing, only nods.
There is no joy in his eyes when he answers, and Skylar notices it immediately. She falls silent.
The air turns cold in an instant. Feeling guilty, Skylar decides to break the atmosphere by… cleaning up the dishes.
Knock knock knock…
"Can you open the door for me?" Skylar says.
Julian stands up and walks over calmly. Skylar peeks out as well, and a bad feeling washes over her.
Not because of Nathan's smile.Not because of Julian's earlier words.
But because of the thick stack of papers in Nathan's hand.