The elevator doors slid shut. Cheng Kai turned to look at Aria. "Don't mind me. Let me treat you to a snack?"
Aria didn't know how to answer. She couldn't say she minded. But honestly, she just wanted to go home now. She didn't want to have a snack with Cheng Kai.
Aria struggled to find an excuse to decline. Then her phone rang. She apologized to Cheng Kai and pulled out her phone. She saw it was Maya calling. It felt like finding a lifeline. She quickly said, "Maya, I'm sorry I'm late. Wait for me there. I'll be there soon!"
She hung up and apologized to Cheng Kai. "Sorry, I have plans with my classmate. We're going shopping later. Can I take a rain check?"
"No problem. Another time then!" Cheng Kai didn't insist. He smiled.
When they reached the first floor, Aria said goodbye to Cheng Kai and walked out of the elevator. She breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known how to refuse him.
After walking out of the lobby, Aria called Maya back. "Maya, what did you want to see me about?"
"Who were you talking to just now? What's late? Wait for you?"
"That... a colleague just asked me out. I didn't want to go. I had to use you as an excuse!"
"Someone's pursuing you!" Maya laughed, as if she had discovered a new world. "Is that so?"
"What does he look like?" Maya was a member of the appearance association. That was what she cared about most!
"He's very gentle and handsome!" Aria answered honestly.
"What about his character?"
"Not bad. He helped me before!"
"What are you waiting for? Go for it!"
"What? I'm here to work, not to fall in love!"
"That doesn't stop you. You can fall in love and work at the same time. You think you're still eighteen and can afford to be reserved for a few more years!" Maya complained.
"Anyway, I don't want to. What did you call me for?" Aria asked, changing the subject.
"I almost forgot. Do you have time this weekend? Let's go shopping together."
"Okay! Didn't you mention it last time?"
"I just mentioned it last time, but I wasn't sure. This time I'm making a formal appointment with you, so you won't be booked up by some handsome guy in advance!"
"You think I'm that popular!" Aria laughed.
"Hard to say!"
"Saturday or Sunday? I won't work overtime. I'll go shopping with you."
"Alright, anyway, I called dibs first!"
"Okay!" After the call with Maya. Aria put away her phone and headed to a nearby snack bar. She was so hungry now. She couldn't make it back home.
She looked around, searching for food nearby. Then she saw a thief following a girl ahead. The thief's hand had already reached into the girl's bag.
Aria acted without thinking. She grabbed the girl's arm, pushed the thief aside, and said, "Maya, I'm sorry, I just got off work!"
The girl turned and looked at her in confusion. "What's the matter, miss?" she said.
The girl turned her head and looked behind her. The thief shot Aria an angry glare and walked away. The girl finally realized what had just happened. She checked her bag. Fortunately, nothing was missing.
"Thank you so much just now!"
"You're welcome. Don't carry your bag behind you. It's very dangerous!" Aria released the girl's arm and smiled. Then she turned and walked toward the nearby snack bar.
Aria ordered a bowl of vegetable noodles. She sat down at an empty table and waited. Just then, a girl sat down opposite her. Aria looked up and saw it was the girl from just now. She immediately laughed.
The girl was also very friendly. She greeted Aria. "What's good here?"
"It's my first time here too. I'm not sure! I ordered a bowl of vegetable noodles."
"It's my first time here too. I'll have the same." With that, she turned to the owner and said, "Boss, I want a bowl of vegetable noodles too."
The owner replied. Soon, two bowls of vegetable noodles were served.
"It looks delicious!" the girl said with a smile.
"Try it. It's my first time eating it too!" Aria laughed, picked up her chopsticks, and prepared to eat.
The girl then picked up her spoon and drank the soup. Then she took out her phone from her bag and made a call. As soon as it connected, she began to complain. "Brother, what time do you get off work? I've been waiting for you for over half an hour! No, there's nothing fun in the company! By the way, I was almost robbed by a thief just now. Thanks to a beautiful woman who saved me!"
Aria was sweating. And saved her! She just stopped the thief from stealing her bag. It wasn't a rescue!
It was hard to listen to someone on the phone. Aria lowered her head and focused on eating her noodles. She was starving to death right now. After eating the noodles, she suddenly felt alive again.
"Do you work around here?" the girl asked Aria as she ate.
Aria nodded. "Yes."
"My brother works near here too!"
Aria smiled. Besides that, she didn't know what else to say.
After a while, the girl's phone rang again. She picked it up and said, "Just a few meters ahead of the bus stop, the snack bar. See the red sign? Come in. I'll wait for you here!" The girl finished and hung up. Then she said to Aria, "My big brother is coming to pick me up!"
Aria nodded with a smile. It was really a happy thing to have a big brother. You could find him in a moment of danger. She had no older brother or sister. She only had a younger brother, born to her father and stepmother. She couldn't like him.
"Big brother—"
Aria lowered her head to drink her soup. Hearing the girl's crisp voice, she habitually looked up at the person coming in. She froze the next second. Then she stared blankly at the girl's big brother.
After a long moment, she awkwardly stood up and called out, "Vice President, hello!"
"Vice President? You know my brother?" Emma took her brother's arm, looked at Aria in surprise, and asked.
"You just got off work?" Evan didn't respond to his little sister's words. He looked at Aria and asked.
Aria nodded, embarrassed. She didn't expect the girl's big brother to be the Vice President!
"Brother, we're eating vegetable noodles. Would you like to order one for you?" Emma asked again.
"No. When you're full, I'll take you back!" Evan pulled out a chair and sat down in the empty seat next to Aria.
Aria was embarrassed. Her face turned red.