Ashley Shaw planned to go over at five, arriving twenty minutes before dinner started, which wasn’t impolite, and it also wouldn’t be awkward for staying too long.
With three hours left, she was calculating where to spend them when she received a message from Cillian Xavier.
"The account is unclear. How about you buy me a cup of coffee?"
Ashley Shaw closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then calmly typed a word: "Okay."
The reply came quickly: "Treehouse Café near school. I’ll wait for you."
Ashley Shaw’s mind automatically associated with the price of coffee at the Treehouse Café.
A cup was 58.
Astronomical.
Her heart ached.
She clenched her phone tight, even unwilling to spend three yuan on a bus ride, and went straight to the destination on a shared bike.
But when paying, she noticed it was four yuan.
Goodness gracious.
Her heart ached even more.
Forget it, just consider it exercise.
Ashley Shaw paid, locked the bike, and pushed open the café door.
The bell on the door jingled.
There weren’t many people in the café, and she immediately spotted Cillian Xavier sitting by the window.
Today, Cillian wasn’t wearing the school uniform he wore yesterday; instead, he wore a white shirt and slacks, faintly resembling a future "Mr. Grant Jr."
Ashley Shaw walked over expressionlessly.
Before entering, she had already dialed "110" on her phone, prepared to call the police if Cillian tried any funny business or bullied her.
"Cillian," she greeted.
"You can just call me Archie. Sit," he said.
He gestured to the seat opposite him and waved a waiter over: "I’ll have a Blue Mountain without sugar. What about you?"
"Just a glass of water, thank you."
She pulled out a chair and sat down, her view perfectly overlooking the high school basketball court.
A group of people were sweating freely on the court.
"Are you sure you don’t want anything else?" the waiter confirmed again.
"No need," Ashley said.
Cillian looked up at her: "Not a fan of coffee? Should we switch to another place?"
"Here is fine. You drink yours."
She feared other places would be more expensive. She wasn’t in a position to leisurely sit down for coffee like Mrs. Prescott.
Even when she was still Mrs. Prescott, she hadn’t enjoyed many leisurely afternoon teas.
Soon, a fragrant cup of coffee was brought over.
But Cillian wasn’t really there for the coffee; he merely took a sip and set it down.
"Ashley, can I call you that?"
"A name is just a label, call whatever you like."
Hearing Ashley Shaw’s voice so polite it bordered on cold, Cillian couldn’t help but curl his lips slightly.
"Then I’ll call you Ashley. What I’m about to say next may feel abrupt, but I think if I don’t say it, there might not be another chance in the future."
Ashley Shaw lifted her eyelids.
The boy across from her continued —
"Actually, I’ve liked you for a while, or rather, I’ve been uncontrollably paying attention to you."
"I’m not good at confessing, so I’ll just ask directly."
"Would you be willing to give me a chance, and let us start as friends?"
Ashley Shaw smiled slightly.
"Then I’ll ask directly too. Cillian Xavier, do you find this amusing?"
"Find what amusing?"
"Playing tricks with Warren in such a way, is it fun for you?"
Cillian was taken aback but quickly understood.
"You think I’m in on it with Warren, playing you?"
"What else?"
Cillian picked up the coffee and took a big gulp, as if suddenly unable to bear it anymore.
"Ashley Shaw, every word I said came from my heart. It has nothing to do with Warren. He doesn’t even know I asked you out today."
Ashley Shaw’s eyes briefly showed surprise.
"If you don’t believe me, I can prove it to you over time."
"..."
Ashley Shaw opened her mouth, quite surprised inside.
The boy’s eyes didn’t lie. His seemingly indifferent face was full of earnestness.
The look in his eyes was like how she used to look at Warren Prescott.
She knew this gaze too well.
It was indeed sincere.
"I..."
She hadn’t expected this, and after digesting the fact that Cillian liked her, she carefully picked her words to speak: "Thank you, Cillian. But... I’m sorry, we probably can’t even be friends."
"Why?"
Ashley Shaw twirled the water glass in her hand, intending to clarify everything at once.
"Cillian, people are different. Like you and me, we are not from the same world."
"You are the prestigious young master of the Xavier Family. Once you graduate, you might become Mr. Grant Jr., someone who can decide the fate of others with a single word."
"Your starting point at birth is an unattainable height for people like me in a lifetime."
"As for me... you say you like me, but how fragile can that liking be faced with reality? People change. Even if you promise now that you’ll like me for a lifetime, the future could hold unpredictable events beyond your control."
"I have tried hard before and failed, which taught me one lesson."
"People should stay among those from the same world."
Ashley Shaw paused, saying, "Maybe what I just said might be incomprehensible for you at your current age, but you will understand it in the future."
Cillian laughed.
"Aren’t we the same age?"
"... I wasn’t referring to our biological age."
"You find me immature?"
"No."
"I’ll prove to you that my feelings aren’t as fragile as you think. I....."
"Bang—"
A soccer ball suddenly flew over, directly shattering the glass window behind Ashley Shaw.
Glass shards flew toward her, and she instinctively ducked her head.
However, her earlobe got cut slightly, bleeding.
"Are you okay?!"
Cillian quickly stood up to check.
Ashley covered her ear and shook her head gently, "I’m fine."
Since earlobes aren’t very sensitive, she didn’t feel much pain.
"Are you alright, customers?"
A waiter rushed over, anxiously stomping as they saw blood seeping through Ashley’s fingers.
"What’s with those students? Why are they kicking the ball this way!"
"Terribly sorry, customers, today’s coffee is on the house for you."
Ashley thought she was unfortunate, but hearing this made her feel lucky.
"Okay, thank you."
"No need to thank us; it’s the least we should do. Let me move you to another seat and bring two fresh coffees?"
Ashley glanced at Cillian, who was needlessly looking outside the window.
She directly asked, "Are you still drinking?"
Cillian only then retracted his gaze.
"No, let’s go to the hospital."
The waiter next to him added, "The medical expenses can be reimbursed."
"It’s not that troublesome, it’ll stop bleeding soon. Cillian, I have other things and need to go in a hurry. Think over what I said just now."
Saying this, she ignored Cillian’s attempts to insist and walked straight out.
Just then, a bus arrived, and she stepped onto it.
As the bus passed by the court, she faintly saw a familiar figure.
But the bus moved too quickly for her to get a clear look.