Inside the private dining room, enveloped by the ample warmth, Cohen's pale face regained some color after drinking a bowl of hot soup.
His appetite was good, and he ate a large steak.
Only after he had almost finished eating did Bardle speak leisurely, "Where are you staying tonight?"
Cohen, sipping from his half-bowl of soup, mumbled two words, "Your place."
"?....."
"Just kidding."
He put down the bowl, his eyes curving, "A hotel for now. I need to be a little reserved."
Bardle stared at him, grinding his teeth slightly.
This kid was quite something, not nearly as well-behaved and docile as he appeared on the surface!
"I'm full."
Bardle stood up first. "Put your coat on.
I'll take you to a hotel."
Cohen slowly put on his down jacket and wrapped the scarf around himself, covering most of his face.
Bardle found it amusing. "You're this afraid of the cold?"
"Mhm, don't want to catch a cold."
"Then why not wear a hat?"
He lifted his bright eyes.
"Left in too much of a hurry, forgot."
Bardle was truly disarmed.
He ruffled his hair.
"I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
Cohen leaned slightly into the warm palm, his eyes sparkling like starlight.
"Will we see each other tomorrow again?"
It felt like a feather had lightly brushed his heart.
Bardle quickly withdrew his hand.
"Yes, but you'll have to wait until I get off work in the afternoon."
"I'll wait for you."
"Mhm."
The hotel was booked by Bardle.
He helped Cohen wheel his suitcase into the room and instructed gently, "If you need anything, call the front desk, or call me. I'll have someone arrange it."
Cohen nodded.
"Got it."
"Rest early. I'm leaving."
"Wait a moment."
He stopped him, went to open the suitcase, rummaged through it, and pulled out a gift box, handing it over.
Bardle raised an eyebrow.
"What's this?"
Cohen smiled, his eyes curving.
"Christmas present."
He was stunned for a moment before remembering... today was Christmas...
He looked at the gift box held out before him, his throat feeling a bit tight.
"I didn't get you a gift."
Cohen shook his head.
"It's fine. I just threw this together casually."
Bardle didn't take the gift.
Instead, he grasped the slender, pale wrist and pulled Cohen into his arms for a brief, light hug.
Cohen's eyes widened, freezing in place.
After just a few seconds, Bardle stepped back, took the gift box, and said, "Thank you."
"You're... you're welcome..."
"I'm leaving. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Bardle left the hotel and sat in his car.
Instead of starting the engine immediately, he first opened the gift box.
Inside was a palm-sized sketchbook.
It was filled with chibi drawings of Bardle: in the elevator, leaning against the doorframe, handing over a small cake, sitting in the car...
Cohen had seemingly drawn nearly every moment he'd seen Bardle during those two days at the resort.
The warmth of the sketchbook traveled from his fingertips, sending a numbing heat straight to his heart.
After a long silence, Bardle slowly smiled.
And he said it was just thrown together casually.
Little liar.
After flipping through it twice, he placed the sketchbook on the passenger seat.
A pleased smile lingered on his lips as he drove away.
Early the next morning, Cohen, still hazy with sleep, was awakened by his phone ringing.
Groping around, he found his phone and answered.
A deep, pleasant voice came through.
"Still not awake?"
He closed his eyes, burrowing deeper into the blankets, and muffled an "Mhm."
"I ordered breakfast for you. Get up and eat something before going back to sleep."
"Not hungry. Not eating."
"Cohen, be good."
The slightly coaxing tone made the tips of Cohen's ears turn red.
He threw the covers back and mumbled, "Fine... I'm getting up..."
Bardle, sitting in his office, only hung up after hearing the faint sounds of him getting out of bed.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
Assistant Boyd pushed the door open.
"Boss, Cade is here."
Bardle reined in his smile, then picked up a folder from his desk.
"Let him in."
"Okay."
After Boyd left, Cade entered, holding a gift box in his hand.
He smiled and called out, "Bardle."
"Coming here so early, is something wrong?"
Cade placed the gift box on the desk.
"Here, a belated Christmas gift. I wanted to treat you to dinner last night, but you were busy. Consider this making up for it."
Bardle glanced at it, his expression indifferent.
"Mhm."
Cade looked a bit disappointed.
"Aren't you going to open it? I picked it out carefully."
"I have a morning meeting soon."
He pressed his lips together.
"Alright. I'm heading to the office too. Are you free for dinner tonight?"
"I have plans."
The light in Cade's eyes dimmed completely.
"Then... whenever you have time. I'll go now."
"Mhm."
Cade went downstairs, the gloom still on his face.
He had barely taken two steps out of the elevator when he overheard two receptionists chatting quietly.
"The boss seems to be in a really good mood today! I greeted him this morning, and he actually nodded back at me!"
"No way! Really? You weren't seeing things?"
"Really! In novels, when the domineering CEO acts out of character, it's often because he's fallen in love. Do you think the boss might be..."
"Shh, shh, shh! Don't talk about that during work hours."
"OK, OK..."
Cade glanced at the two women, who had resumed their professional smiles, frowned tightly, and walked out of the HR building.
....
In the hotel suite, Cohen, no longer sleepy after breakfast, finished a drawing, changed clothes, put on his down jacket, wrapped his scarf, and went out.
He bought a bouquet of flowers at a nearby florist, took a taxi, and went to the suburban cemetery.
The sky in B City was gloomy.
After getting out of the car, he searched for a while based on his fuzzy memory before finally stopping in front of a specific tombstone.
The woman on the tombstone was named Zara Julian, her smile radiant.
The gentle curve of her eyes was identical to Cohen's.
Zara Julian died giving birth to him prematurely due to massive hemorrhaging.
He had never met her, and couldn't conjure even a fragment of memory about his mother, no matter how hard he tried.
Cohen crouched down, brushed off some dust, placed the flowers, and began talking idly to the tombstone about his and Kerry's life in Y City over the past few years.
He only stood up to say goodbye when light snow began to fall from the sky.
Just as he left the cemetery and was about to hail a cab, his phone rang.
He sat on the edge of a flower bed and answered the call.
"Hello?"
Bardle detected something in his voice.
"Why do you sound so nasal?"
Cohen sniffled.
"It's really cold outside."
"You went out? Where did you go?"
"The suburban cemetery. To visit my mom."
Bardle frowned.
"Just wearing one down jacket?"
"Mhm. Bardle, it's snowing. It's so cold."
"Are you done?"
"Mhm."
"Take a taxi back immediately."
He glanced at his phone screen.
"It's 11:30. Do you have a lunch break?"
"I do. Come over. I'll buy you lunch."
"Can't get a taxi."
He shook the snow off his legs.
"Come pick me up."
Bardle laughed.
"Cohen, you said you came back to B City to chase me. Why does it feel more like you're giving me the chance to chase you?"
Cohen laughed too.
"Are you coming or not? If not, I'll find my own way back."
"Wait half an hour for me."
"Okay."