Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Hope’s POV

Levi dragged me away before Marie could continue teasing him, ignoring the question she threw his way. I barely had time to react before he opened another door inside the restaurant, leading me into a separate room.

The moment I stepped inside, surprise immediately settled over me again.

The room was spacious and warm, tucked away from the noise of the restaurant outside. Soft yellow lighting illuminated he wooden walls, and framed photographs covered almost every inch of the space.

Some were old family pictures. Others looked like snapshots taken during celebrations and holidays.

Marie appeared in almost all of them, smiling brightly beside different people I assumed were relatives, friends, or longtime staff members.

The entire room felt lived in. Loved.

Then, my gaze landed on one particular frame. I stopped walking and stared at Levi’s photo. It was much bigger than the others hanging nearby, positioned near the center wall.

In the picture, he stood alone on the ice rink with his hockey stick lifted high into the air, both fists clenched triumphantly. Confetti scattered around him while bright arena lights illuminated his face. Although the photo looked extravagant, the most striking thing about it was his smile.

It was bright and carefree. He looked genuinely happy.

I found myself staring at the photo longer than I intended. There was something almost strange about seeing Levi like that. These days, it felt like he rarely smiled at all.

“Stop looking at it.”

His grumpy voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I turned toward him and found him already seated near the low table, leaning against the chair while waiting for the food. The annoyed expression had returned to his face again, though it looked weaker now somehow.

I pointed toward the frame.

“When was this taken?”

Levi sighed but still answered anyway, “My first championship.”

My eyes instinctively drifted back toward the photo.

“You looked so happy.”

He looked at me for a moment before resting his chin against his hand.

“You’d be happy too if you won your first championship, wouldn’t you?”

“I guess.” I muttered softly.

Honestly, it wasn’t just the happiness I noticed in the picture. It was freedom. The Levi in that frame looked lighter somehow. Back then, it felt like hockey, itself, made him happy.

Now… I remembered watching last year’s finals from the stands. Even after winning the championship and earning MVP, he

15

C

2

|||

11:48 Wed, Jul 15 A

Chapter 39

didn’t look nearly as excited as the player in this photo.

If anything, he looked tired.

I quickly shook the thought away before smiling lightly.

35 voucher

“Anyway,” I said, deciding to shift the mood before things became too serious again, “how did you and Marie meet?”

Levi pursed his lips. I could practically see the internal debate happening in his head.

Tell me? Not tell me?

I waited patiently while he stared at the table. Eventually, he let out a deep breath.

“It was my first year around this district after college,” he started.

“Back then, I used to go to the university cafeteria and just eat whatever they served. However, when I moved near here, I didn’t find anything to my liking. None of the food tasted right.”

I listened carefully.

“I found Golden Lotus while walking around one night,” he said. “I liked their porridge.”

“Marie recognized me,” he continued. “She said she liked hockey and kept giving me extra side dishes whenever I came here.”

A faint scoff left him.

“In the end, I just kept coming back.”

My smile widened without me realizing it.

“What?”

Levi narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously.

“I think that’s the most I’ve heard you talk in one sitting,” I admitted honestly. “You must really like Marie.”

He scoffed softly, but he didn’t deny it.

The realization made me smile even more.

For someone who constantly acted cold and detached, Levi actually formed relationships quietly in the background. People just probably never noticed because he wasn’t expressive about it.

Just then, the door opened. Marie entered carrying a massive tray filled with steaming dishes stacked dangerously high. But judging from how steady she moved, this definitely wasn’t her first time balancing an impossible amount of food.

“You should’ve told me you were coming,” Marie complained as she carefully placed the dishes onto the table one by one. “I could’ve prepared more of your favorites.”

My eyes widened slightly as the food continued appearing in front of us.

There was soup, stir-fried dishes, dumplings, vegetables, rice, braised meat-

“Marie,” I said immediately, “I think this is already more than enough.”

She laughed proudly.

Chapter 39

“Well, Levi came here before a practice game,” she said knowingly. “So I figured he really wasn’t playing today.”

Levi sighed tiredly and grabbed a plate.

“I’m resting.”

Marie placed a hand over her chest like she was about to faint from shock.

“Oh my god.”

I lau

her reaction.

Yes.”

she exclaimed. “You’re voluntarily resting?”

egan piling food onto his plate without looking at her.

Marie stared at him like she had just witnessed a miracle.

“You?” she continued dramatically. “The same Levi who treats sleep like an inconvenience?”

Levi ignored her.

Marie gasped again.

“This is historic

35 vouchers

I bit the

myself from laughing. Honestly, hearing someone casually expose Levi like this was

denly rest now?” Marie continued suspiciously.

moving for a second. Then for a quick second, he turned his head toward me.

dn’t say anything, but the look alone made heat creep up my neck.

Meanwhile, Marie covered her mouth, hiding her smile. Levi glared at her, making her raise both hands in surrender.

“I won’t say anything,” she promised with a knowing smile.

I blinked in confusion, looking between the two of them.

What exactly were they implying right now?

Before I could ask, Marie clapped her hands together.

“Anyway,” she said brightly, “I’d love to stay and chat, but orders are piling up outside.”

turned toward me warmly.

njoy the food, Hope. And tell me immediately if there’s anything you don’t like.”

I shook my head quickly.

“I’m sure everything tastes amazing already.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify