Samuel wouldn't stop his tomfoolery for one minute, and Ella couldn't get a bite in.
"Have some more." Samuel repressed a tormenting smile. "Let me help you for a change." He picked up the chicken from the table, and waved it near her open mouth like a bee trying to find an opening in a window.
Ella snatched the chicken out of his hand, and popped it in her mouth. "I can take care of myself," she said, crunching down with satisfaction. "Mr. Shao, will you go home now?" She swallowed and pushed her plate away out of satiation.
"No, I won't. Not while there's still food on your plate," he insisted.
"No, no, no... You don't need to. I don't have time to finish it. Samuel, please go home. Hurry up." She truly did not have much time for these breakfast shenanigans. There was still the makeup to be finished and then there was the costume department, all before she would ever step onset.
She finished the porridge, took out a tissue, and wiped her mouth. It was time to get ready.
Samuel saw her quick movements and deliberately slowed down. He picked up the egg roll, ate it by himself, and then said, "Okay. Go back to your own business."
Ella turned around, annoyed. She sat back down. He was eating her food. "Samuel, I was going to save that."
"Wasting food is shameful."
...
Samuel finished the egg roll in a minute. He stood up and said, "Call me when you're done. I'll come pick you up."
Then he pinched his mouth with a serviette, tidied up the grease paper and KFC boxes on the table, and walked towards to the door.
"Wait, Samuel," she shouted.
"Hm?" He stopped and twisted around.
She stood on her toes to reach his lips and kissed him delicately. "Drive safe, babe."
He held her and kissed her hair. "Don't worry about me, honey."
After they hugged it out for some time, Samuel finally left.
Ada came right back in after he left as if she'd been listening. She stood facing Ella, who was staring dreamily away. Ada looked at the sweet smile on Ella's face, before traipsing over to shake her around the shoulders. "Ella, hurry up. We need to go."
"Hm! Okay!"
Ella turned to her reflection in the mirror. The sweet smile remained pinned to her face. Ada had embarrassed her, so she went for her phone and scrolled through it to kill time.
The name "Lola" on WeChat reminded her of the phone call last night.
She sent a message to Samuel. "I want to get together with Lola's and Anna's family tomorrow night, can you come?"
Three dots indicated he was typing. "Okay," he replied after a while.
"We'll take Jerry and Jane with us."
"Alright honey."
Ella switched off the phone and let Ada finish her makeup. All she was thinking was... Samuel.
The Riverside Restaurant.
The Riverside opened in the middle of the year. It was Lola's pride and joy. The interior decór was in the traditional Qing-era style. Many antique pieces were displayed along the walls and in the windows.
All the waiters wear dull red cheongsams, and they are as pretty as flowers.
"Welcome! Welcome!" Two waiters received Samuel and Ella when they appeared with their children.
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