At noon, when Dolores was cooking, Stella went to the kitchen to help her.
Dolores said, “The kitchen is quite small. Why are you here to make it so crowded? Just wait outside.”
Stella said with a smile, “Ms. Anderson, could you please make a bit more soup?”
“Can you finish all?”
“I...” Stella rolled her eyes. “My friend also wants to drink it. I want to share the soup with him later.”
Dolores knew clearly who her “friend” was. She didn’t answer but put more water into the pot. She said indifferently, “Just up to you.”
Stella held back her laughter. “Okay, Ms. Anderson. I’ll wait outside then.”
Dolores hummed.
In the yard, Stella supported her chin with one hand, curling up her lips into a smile. She finally knew why Clarence always affirmed with his lips but denied in his heart -- he inherited the character from someone.
After lunch, Stella put the soup into Dolores’ insulation pail, took it, and walked slowly to the hotel.
Nathan showed her to the door of Clarence’s room. “Ms. Radomil, Mr. Conrad now... I’m afraid he wouldn’t want to meet you.”
Not to mention Stella, he didn’t see anyone.
Stella said, “It’s alright. I just want to talk to him very quickly. If he doesn’t want to see me, I’m fine with it.”
Nathan nodded. “Okay. Ms. Radomil, please call me if you need anything.”
Then he left this battlefield-going-to-be as soon as possible.
Stella pressed the doorbell and called, “Mr. Conrad, can you hear me?”
She heard no response from the inside.
After a few seconds, Stella pressed the doorbell again. She raised her voice. “Mr. Conrad, I bought you some fish soup. If you don’t come out, I’ll finish it myself.”
There was still no response.
The wretched man was so calm.
After a few minutes, Stella said in disappointment, “Mr. Conrad, since you don’t want to meet me, I’m taking off. I’ll go to a place where nobody could find me, so you wouldn’t be bothered...”
Before she finished her words, the locked door in front of her was opened suddenly. Clarence looked at her expressionlessly. “Are you done?”
Stella looked quite depressed. “I came here to say the last goodbye to you, Mr. Conrad. Thank you for being so broad-minded and not getting even with me all the time.”
Clarence didn’t look at her at all, snorting. “You said I’m dignified, domineering, and bullying last night. Now I’m broad-minded.”
“Nah. I didn’t say that someone was Mr. Conrad. Well, if you insist on thinking so...”
“Enough,” Clarence interrupted her impatiently, “What on earth do you want?”
Stella raised the insulation pail in her hand and fawned him, “I heard you haven’t eaten since last night until now, so I deliberately deliver this to you, Mr. Conrad.”
Clarence crossed his arms on his chest, leaning against the door and looking at her expressionlessly. He didn’t have any intention to let her in.
He stared daggers at her, and Stella felt a sense of guilt under his gaze. She looked away awkwardly. “Mr. Conrad, please don’t misunderstand. I want to thank you for helping my brother.”
Seeing that Clarence remained silent, Stella added, “My brother told me that he has gone back to university now. Thank you so much for your help. Mr. Conrad.”
“Since you’ve known it, do you think a bowl of fish soup is enough to repay this favor?”
Stella was speechless.
She knew that he might not want to take the soup but only made an excuse.
Stella withdrew the soup. “I see. Mr. Conrad, it’s not enough indeed. Let me think about what else I can do to repay your favor. I won’t hold you up for so long then. Please have a good rest, Mr. Conrad.”
She turned away before Clarence said something.
“Stop.”
Stella looked back with a smile. “Mr. Conrad, anything else?”
He titled his head and took a look at his room, and then turned around and walked in.
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not completed yet right?...