No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

Cedric and Noelle both remained silent. He reached for the utensils on the side. His long and defined fingers made every action graceful.

"What are you staring at?"

He placed the bowls and utensils before her, and Noelle turned to meet his gaze. "With looks like that, how can I not look?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to compliment me while throwing in a subtle jab?"

"No, you're really handsome."noveldrama

"Am I your type?"

Noelle, caught off guard, dropped the utensils from her hand. In a slight panic, she bent down to pick them up.

Had he noticed something? Or was he just messing with her?

She grabbed the utensils, but Cedric took them from her and replaced them with his own, setting them in front of her. Then, he grabbed a fresh pair from the side.

Noelle didn't answer his question, and he didn't press further, acting as if he hadn't asked it at all.

Cedric glanced at her, watching her focus on her phone. He teased her intentionally because she'd been getting too close to Magnus.

Before he could say anything, the waiter entered with the food. As the dishes were set on the table, Noelle's stomach growled.

She eagerly picked up her utensils and focused on eating.

Cedric quietly watched her, saying nothing. However, he did notice that the food was all to his liking.

They ate in silence.

After Noelle had eaten her fill, she stopped, feeling much better. Only then did she realize Cedric had already finished his meal and was now watching her with composed eyes.

Noelle felt a little self-conscious. "What are you looking at?" She grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, but it was clean.

Cedric placed a hand on the table. "Feeling better?"

"Mm, much better."

"The question you ask Magnus. I can answer that."

Noelle froze momentarily, then looked at him with anticipation and unease.

Cedric noticed her expression and added, "His family's always been against him playing games, especially his mother. If anyone could get him to quit the competition, it would be her."

He had never thought to ask Magnus to back out.

Noelle was taken aback.

Magnus's mother? The distinguished Mrs. Greene from the prominent Greene family? But that didn't seem right... maybe she'd misunderstood.

"Are you disappointed?"

Cedric caught the disappointment on her face.

Noelle shook her head. "No, it's getting late. Let's go."

Cedric stood and glanced at her. "Is winning the competition all you care about?"

"Even if I want to win, I wouldn't resort to those kinds of tactics."

Cedric agreed, but the question still seemed odd. He didn't press her for an answer, though.

They walked to the cashier, where Cedric scanned the code to pay.

Noelle lagged a step behind. "Didn't we agree that I'd pay?"

"Mm, you treat, I pay." Cedric didn't see anything wrong with the arrangement.

The owner smiled and said, "Of course, your boyfriend should be paying. You two

make a perfect pair-handsome man, beautiful woman."

Cedric didn't offer any explanation as he lowered his head to complete the payment.

Noelle couldn't help but glance at the owner. Just as she was about to say something, someone called her name from behind. "Noelle, is that really you?"

Xenia walked in, quickly glancing at the two of them.

Her tone was smug. "You're on a date and came to this dump? How shabby! My boyfriend, Justin, is taking me to L Bistro. Only people of status go there.

"Just becoming a member requires a deposit of ten million."

Noelle was momentarily stunned.

L Bistro? The name sounded vaguely familiar.

She glanced at Cedric from the corner of her eye.