251 A Strange Man
âYouâve eaten my ...â
Isabella paused for a moment and asked, âHave you ever eaten the dishes cooked by Slike?â
Cedric replied, âYes, and I like it. My father even invited Mr. Slike to my house as a private chef, but he refused. I still remember the reason was that his daughter wanted more people to taste his unparalleled cooking.â
â
âDaddyâs dishes are the best! Isabella is so happy!â
âThank you, my dear. Eat more!â
âDad, could you cook for mom, our neighbor and all the children in my kindergarten? I hope everyone knows that my fatherâs cooking is the best!â
âSure. Dad will open a big restaurant and let everyone taste it, okay?â
âYes! Daddy is the best!â
.....
â
The memories crashed into her mind suddenly. Isabellaâs hands trembled with excitement. She bit her lip to calm her voice and said âItâs incredible. Mr. Cedric and Slike are friends.â
Cedric was noncommittal. He picked up the teacup and sipped his tea. He looked at Isabella with a deep gaze, âOur relationship is much more than that. My father was also engaged in construction design this year. At that time, the design philosophy of Slike Restaurant adopted a very multidimensional design concept and even won a grand prize. Therefore, my father especially took me to visit. Thatâs why we can be friends.â
âThat design concept has won an award...
Isabella suddenly discovered that there were too many things that she did not know.
âYes.â
Cedric looked at her deeply and said, âThat designer and Slike have been good friends for many years.â
Then, he smiled casually, âAnd coincidentally, like you, the designerâs last name is also called âSmithâ, a very rare last name.â
Isabella tightened her grip on her knee.
âBy the way, that designer is now the head of Smith Design. His name is Carl Smith. Have you heard of it?â
Cedric continued to add some details and asked her a question.
Isabella stuttered, âI donât know that kind of powerful person...â
Isabella lowered her eyes to hide the fear in his eyes. She said, ââSmithâ is not a very rare last name. Itâs just a coincidence.â
Isabella wondered, âI am so unlucky. Unexpectedly, he knew both Carl and my father. If he revealed this to Carl, I will be killed.â
âNever give sincere advice to people of ordinary friendship! I am a fool. I told my secret to someone who had only met once.â
The waiter knocked on the door and brought in the freshly cooked pheasant. So Cedric stopped talking.
Isabella heaved a sigh of relief and changed the topic. âMr. Cedric, thank you so much for worrying about me. Have a taste. Octavio has been praising the pheasant here.â
She used the plate to give Cedric a few pieces of chicken. As she thought of something, she withdrew the plate and used the chopsticks to pick it up again before handing it over.
Cedric smiled and wiped his hands with a napkin. âMiss Isabella...â
âEat quickly! It tastes better when it is hot!â
Isabella was afraid that Cedric would bring up the topic again, so she lowered her head to eat hurriedly. But the food was too hot. She was scalded as soon as she took a bite and hurriedly covered her mouth with a napkin.
âAre you scalded?â
Cedric fished out the ice from the nearby can, picked up a piece, and walked over to Isabella. âDonât rub it, take some ice.â
âThank you.â
Isabella took the ice directly.
The decoration of Small Bridge Restaurant was retro design. The eating place was a low table and mat, like a Japanese-style tatami, sitting on the ground to eat. Therefore Cedric sat next to Isabella directly and handed her ice.
Isabella eased the burn on her mouth and realized that Cedric was sitting a little closer to her. She said hurriedly, âThank you, Mr. Cedric. Please continue to eat.â
What she meant was for Cedric to quickly return to his seat.
Cedric said gently, âItâs OK. Iâll help you hand over another piece of ice later.â
âIâm fine.â
Isabella spat the ice in her mouth into a napkin to prove that she was really fine. Seeing her red and swollen lips, Cedric said, âI wonât tell anyone about our conversation. You donât have to be so nervous.â
Isabella felt that he had been completely seen through by the other party. He frowned and nodded.
The tortured hour of mealtime ended. Cedricâs car had arrived, so they went downstairs.
âMy God! Miss Ghost!â
The moment the driver got out of the car, he looked at Isabella in surprise.
âGhost?â Isabella pointed at the tip of her nose in confusion, âAre you talking about me?â
Cedric reprimanded, âJoey, donât be so rude.â
Peter kicked Joey and said, âYou talk too much!â
Peter looked at Isabella and said warmly, âHow can such a beautiful young lady be a ghost? My brother has a screw loose. Please donât mind.â
Isabella puffed up her cheeks. âIâm fine. The ghost is more beautiful than a human. I think he praises me.â
After saying that, she sat in the back seat of the car.
Cedric smiled and sat in the car too.
âMr. Joseph, where are we going now?â Peter asked.
âWhere is the crew?â Cedric asked Isabella.
âIt is in my collage, Richmond Arts University.â
Cedric nodded and said, âGo to Richmond Arts University.â
Isabella was stunned and said, âJust take me to the bus stop in Peace City.â
Joey said âNo way!â
He added, âMr. Joseph is a gentleman. He cherishes every beauty. And he is very nice to every lover.â
Isabella was speechless.
âYou foolish, what are you saying!â
Peter slapped Joey on the head, âMr. Joseph never had a lover! He takes his feelings very seriously. If he loves a girl, he will marry her.!â
âSo Mr. Joseph wants to marry Sara, Vivian, Diana, and Katyusha!â
âYou foolish, just shut up!â
Isabella was speechless and thought, âItâs just a playboy. She doesnât care.â So she took out her phone to see if Joseph had called. Cedric cleared his throat and said, âSorry, they might have misunderstood.â
Isabella smiled hypocritically and said, âItâs OK.â
She added, âCompared to the ghost, itâs much better to be your âloverâ. In their eyes, I am a human being at least.â
Cedric smiled, âI see that youâve been picking up your phone. Is there something urgent?â
âNo, my boyfriend went abroad last night. I want to see if he has arrived safely.â
âI see.â
Cedricâs eyes flickered and said, âUnexpectedly, your relationship is pretty good.â
âWhy would Mr. Cedric think that our relationship is bad?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Cedric curled the corners of his lips and said, âSorry.â
Isabella felt that Cedricâs tone and expression were a little strange. She was on guard and no longer spoke. The two of them remained silent the entire way.