By the time Luca Hale returned to Ashford, it was already ten o’clock at night.

After spending the entire day on the road, he was starving.

Knowing there probably wouldn’t be any food waiting for him at home at this hour, he parked the G-Class by the roadside and headed toward a bustling night market nearby.

The aroma of grilled meat, stir-fried noodles, and sizzling spices filled the air.

Rows of food stalls lined both sides of the street, their bright lights cutting through the darkness while groups of diners laughed and chatted over drinks.

Luca found a small fried rice stall, ordered a large portion, and sat down.

A few minutes later, a steaming plate was placed in front of him.

After taking a bite, he couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

Even with his newly acquired Master-Level Culinary Skills, he had to admit one thing.

Anyone capable of running a successful late-night food stall in Silver Province definitely had real talent.

Sometimes, a Michelin-starred restaurant wasn’t nearly as satisfying as a random roadside stall that had spent decades perfecting a single dish.

The food carried something expensive restaurants often lacked.

Soul.

Luca had only finished half his meal when a loud crash suddenly echoed from the barbecue stall next door.

Bang!

The sound instantly attracted everyone’s attention.

Luca looked up.

A bald man covered in tattoos stood beside one of the tables, his face twisted with rage.

In front of him sat a young couple.

The atmosphere was explosive.

"I knew something was wrong lately!"

The bald man glared at the woman.

"Julie, so this is what you’ve been doing behind my back?"

Without warning, he grabbed a beer bottle from the table and smashed it against the ground.

Crash!

Shards of glass scattered everywhere.

The next second, he slapped the woman across the face.

Smack!

"You like pretty boys like this, don’t you, you slut?!"

The woman named Julie let out a cry and covered her cheek.

The bald man then pointed at the young man sitting opposite her.

The young man wore glasses and looked more like an office worker than someone used to street fights.

"You!"

The bald man jabbed a finger into his chest.

"Do you know she’s my woman?"

"You’ve got some nerve trying to steal my girl!"

The bespectacled man immediately panicked.

"Brother, I really didn’t know!"

He hurriedly raised his hands.

"Julie told me she didn’t have a boyfriend!"

Hearing that explanation, Luca finally pieced everything together.

’So that’s what’s going on.’

Apparently, the woman had been dating multiple men at the same time.

Interesting.

Luca took another large bite of fried rice.

Honestly, this drama was more entertaining than the food itself.

Soon, a crowd began gathering around the scene.

After all, nothing in the world could stop ordinary people from watching a good spectacle.

The number of spectators doubled within minutes.

Everyone stretched their necks forward, afraid of missing even a second of the excitement.

Fortunately, before things escalated into a full-blown fight, someone secretly called the police.

Not long afterward, several officers arrived.

The arguing trio was escorted into police cars and taken away, bringing the drama to an abrupt end.

Only then did the crowd reluctantly disperse.

Luca finished his meal, paid the bill, and continued his journey home.

By the time he arrived, it was nearly eleven o’clock.

Click.

The key slid into the lock.

The door opened.

The familiar scent of home immediately greeted him.

Luca looked around at the modest apartment and smiled.

"Finally back."

The house wasn’t large.

The furniture wasn’t luxurious.

But the moment he stepped inside, an indescribable sense of comfort settled over him.

This was home.

"Son!"

Mother Hale appeared from her bedroom wearing pajamas.

The moment she saw him, surprise filled her face.

"Why didn’t you tell us you were coming back?"

"It’s so late. I thought someone was trying to break into the house!"

Father Hale also emerged from his room.

He walked over and patted Luca’s shoulder firmly.

"You’ve lost weight."

"Hehe."

Luca grinned.

"Mom, Dad, I missed you guys so much."

He immediately wrapped both of them in a hug.

For the first time in a long while, his smile was completely genuine.

Father Hale pushed him away with a look of disgust.

"You’re already a grown man. Can’t you act a little more mature?"

His tone sounded harsh, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t hide a smile.

"Your son just got home and you’re already criticizing him?"

Mother Hale shot her husband a glare before grabbing Luca’s arm and inspecting him from head to toe.

"My son is so handsome."

"Of course he is."

Father Hale puffed out his chest proudly.

"Look at who his father is."

That wasn’t entirely false.

Back in their younger days, Father Hale and Mother Hale had been considered one of the most attractive couples in the village.

What a superficial society.

Suddenly, Mother Hale seemed to remember something.

"Oh right!"

She hurried toward her bedroom.

"Perfect timing. You’re back just in time."

Luca blinked.

"Mom, what’s going on?"

Before Mother Hale could answer, Father Hale spoke.

"Your Third Aunt stopped by recently."

"She said she knows a good girl and wants to introduce you."

"Since you just broke up with your girlfriend, your mother agreed."

Luca froze.

"...What?"

A blind date?

He never expected something like this to happen to him.

"Mom!"

He immediately raised his voice.

"I already have a girlfriend. Don’t trouble Third Aunt."

Unfortunately, Mother Hale didn’t believe a single word.

You broke up a few days ago and suddenly have a new girlfriend?

Who would believe that?

Clearly, her son was just trying to escape the blind date.

A moment later, she hung up her phone excitedly.

"Tomorrow."

She nodded decisively.

"It’s settled."

Then she turned toward Father Hale.

"Go buy extra groceries tomorrow. The whole family will be coming."

Luca rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Mom, do you really have to be this enthusiastic?"

There was no point arguing.

Everyone in the Hale family knew exactly who held the highest authority.

Mother Hale’s decisions were final.

"No enthusiasm?"

Mother Hale crossed her arms.

"You’re already twenty-five."

"If you don’t hurry up, I’ll become an old woman."

"You should get married while your father and I are still healthy enough to help take care of the children."

Like many parents of her generation, she valued family and grandchildren above almost everything else.

And now that Luca’s career seemed to be doing well, she had even fewer concerns.

In the end, Luca could only surrender.

It was just a blind date.

It didn’t mean they would actually end up together.

---

The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, Luca was dragged out of bed by Mother Hale.

The entire morning disappeared in a blur of chores.

Cleaning.

Washing vegetables.

Cooking.

Setting up tables.

Before he knew it, noon had arrived.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

Mother Hale immediately poked her head out from the kitchen.

"They must be here!"

"Son, hurry and open the door."

Luca walked over and pulled the door open.

The first person he saw was Third Aunt.

Behind her stood three strangers.

A middle-aged couple and a young woman.

The young woman stood quietly at the very back.

She was fairly attractive, and judging by the situation, she was clearly today’s blind-date candidate.

"Good afternoon, Third Aunt."

"Luca!"

Third Aunt’s face lit up.

"You’ve become even more handsome since the last time I saw you."

Then she immediately began making introductions.

"Come, come."

She pointed toward the middle-aged couple.

"These are Julie’s parents."

Luca nodded politely.

"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie."

Then Third Aunt pulled the young woman forward.

"This is Julie."

She smiled proudly.

"Pretty, isn’t she?"

The moment the woman stepped fully into view, Luca stared for a second.

Something felt strangely familiar.

Then it hit him.

His expression became slightly odd.

’Wait...’

’Julie?’

’The Julie from last night?’

Wasn’t this the exact same woman who had been caught between two men at the roadside barbecue stall?

The very same "player" whose relationship drama had provided free entertainment with his fried rice?

For a moment, Luca didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.