Lydia and Austin took their leave after sitting with Michelle for a while. They had to go back to the library to study. Before they left, Leon specifically asked Austin to help Michelle with her studies.
Austin gladly agreed.
After seeing them off to the door and closing it, Leon returned to the living room to grill Michelle about Austin. "Austin seems like a good person. Where's he from? What does his family do for a living?"
Surprised by the interrogation, Michelle fired back, "Leon, why are you asking the same questions as my parents? When Lydia and Austin went to my home, my parents also asked me these questions."
"Austin has already been to your house?" It was the man's turn to be surprised. When Michelle nodded, his eyes gleamed with curiosity. To Leon, it seemed that the girl's parents also had a good first impression of Austin and wanted him for a son-in-law.
For a moment, he had thought the same of Austin—that he might be a good match for Michelle. But, for now, he was going to keep the boy under observation and learn more details about him.
"Michelle, since Austin has good grades, you should ask him for advice or to tutor you. Isn't the end of the semester approaching? Tell him not to only talk about key points. Maybe he can give you pointers like how to study better."
"I don't need so many details. Talking about key points is enough for me and, recently, I've been listening to my teachers properly." Michelle picked up the item Lydia brought her and reached in for something inside the paper bag.
When Leon heard her say that she was paying attention in class, he was relieved. He then noticed that she was holding something out in her hand. "What's this?" he asked.
Michelle handed the gift box to him with a sweet smile. "Happy Children's Day, Leon. This is my present to you."
Leon took another look at the square and brown gift box. It was tied using a lavender silk ribbon and topped off with a beautiful little bow, and dangling from the bow was a small card.
The card was folded in half but not completely closed so Leon could still see what was written on it.
"A Children's Day gift?" Leon murmured, his eyes wide in disbelief. He was still staring at the gift box, trying to make sense of the situation. "A gift for Children's Day?"
Did he remember it wrong?
Children's Day always fell on the first of June, right?
"Yes. I went shopping with my roommates yesterday and bought this for you. Happy Children's Day, Leon." Michelle shook the gift box a little which should have been the hint for him to take it.
Leon mused over whether he should accept the present or not. He hadn't celebrated this particular holiday even as a child so it felt a little strange to accept a gift now that he was all grown up.
If he was being honest, he was surprised by this unexpected act of kindness and feeling a little overwhelmed by the warmth blooming in his chest.
It was his first time receiving a gift on Children's Day.
He accepted the gift box and the warmth in his heart seemed to spread in his chest.
Amused, Leon asked, "Can I open it now?"
"Sure," Michelle said, looking at him expectantly. "I hope you like it. I only buy practical gifts."
Leon tugged the ribbon off and popped the lid of the box open. Inside the box was an electric razor.
A Children's Day gift should be appropriate for children but this razor was clearly for an adult.
Staring at the razor, Leon smiled and asked, "It is really practical. How much did it cost you?"
"Not much. Around two hundred," Michelle answered nonchalantly.
"Two hundred?"
The knowing amusement in Leon's eyes put Michelle in alert. She blinked and asked, "Leon, have you used this brand before?"
"No." That much was true. All the things he used were unique, but it didn't mean that he wasn't familiar with men's brands.
He could tell at a glance that the razor wasn't cheap, but it wasn't from a luxury brand either.
For him, of course, this particular gadget was something he could easily afford. For a student, however, it must have been expensive.
Michelle, on the other hand, could not seem to get tired of looking at Leon. Every moment she wasn't doing something else, she stared at him and sighed from time to time. "Leon, you are so handsome. How could anyone be this handsome? Leon, are you even human?"
"Yes. I am human." This conversation wasn't anything new. They had exchanged similar words many times before. By the time they realized it, night had already fallen. Outside, other residents had started turning off the lights in their homes.
"Well, it's time to sleep." Gesturing at her swollen ankle, Leon reminded her, "Tomorrow morning, leave the job of preparing breakfast to me."
"Leon, you're going to make breakfast?" Michelle's eyes were wide with excitement.
"I'll go out to buy breakfast instead." Leon stood up. "Where is the restaurant that sells your favorite rice noodles? I'll buy breakfast for you first thing tomorrow."
"Leon, that restaurant isn't open on weekends." Michelle got up as well. "That's why I want to stay here this weekend and make breakfast for you."
Leon looked pointedly at her. "I've told you before that you're not here to be my cook."
Not to be outdone, Michelle persisted, "And I've said that I only cook for family and friends. So what if I'm not a cook? I just want to make breakfast for you."
Faced with such a stubborn yet considerate girl, Leon didn't know whether he should laugh or worry.
"Would you cook for me for the rest of my life?"
"Why not? Are you going to abandon me?" Michelle swiftly replied, surprising the man.
"Of course not," Leon assured her, confident in his answer. With a girl like Michelle who was just so adorable and interesting, how could he refuse her?
The girl in question smiled, pleased with his answer. "In that case, I'll cook for you for the rest of your life. Good night, Leon. I'm going to bed."
Leon watched her back until her lovely figure disappeared behind the door to her room. A thin line of light escaped from the slight gap between her door and the floor. The man shook his head.
"You really don't know much about how the world works. How can you continue to cook breakfast for me when you get married in the future?"
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