No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1695: Arnold Simmons Extra (61)
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"Don’t you have anything that makes you happy?" Hannah retorted.
There always is something, even if it’s raining for days, there’s bound to be a day when the sun comes out.
Arnold Simmons chuckled, gazing at her with his heavy-lidded eyes that smiled with a trace of subtle allure, "I’m quite happy when you treat me to food."
Hannah forced a smile, "Is your happiness that simple?"
"Otherwise?"
"Then from now on, if I treat you to something, you owe me a smile in return."
Arnold Simmons: "..."
It wasn’t long before their servings of stinky tofu were ready.
The taste was better and more authentic than anticipated. Fried in the pan, the stinky tofu had a crispy exterior with a fragrant and soft interior, drenched with sauce and sprinkled with fiery red chili—it was truly appetizing just to look at. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
By the time they finished eating, it was already eleven at night. The streets were almost deserted, the school gates were locked, and all was pitch-dark inside, devoid of the daytime bustle.
Arnold Simmons walked Hannah home, a rare quiet accompanying their stroll.
Hannah glanced at him and quickly figured it out.
She stopped walking, swung her backpack to the front, unzipped it, and dug inside.
Arnold Simmons wanted to ask what she was looking for, but the question was swiftly retracted before it reached his lips.
Neither of them spoke.
Hannah rummaged through the left compartment, then the right, and finally found two lollipops in the small pocket of her backpack.
It was hard to make out the colors in the night, but she remembered one was orange-flavored and the other grape-flavored.
Finding a spot under a slightly brighter street lamp, Hannah compared them and handed the orange-flavored one to Arnold Simmons.
Confusion flickered in Arnold Simmons’s eyes.
Hannah pointed at her mouth.
It meant that since they’d just eaten stinky tofu with a heavy mix of spices and some garlic, some aftereffects were inevitable.
Arnold Simmons got the hint, took the lollipop from Hannah, was about to say thanks, then closed his mouth again.
Hannah couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle, turning around to unwrap her candy.
For the rest of the walk, they were finally able to talk.
It was actually... pretty awkward.
The two exchanged a look and then both averted their eyes.
Arnold Simmons was a mixture of annoyance and irritation, Hannah was just downright embarrassed and amused.
"So I..."
"I..."
Both started speaking at once.
"You go ahead."
"You first."
Once again, they spoke in unison.
In the moment their eyes met, they both laughed.
Neon lights flickered on distant high-rises, but the city street below was only lit by dim yellow lights. Cars passed on the road, honking and kicking up dust.
"I... have arrived," Hannah pointed to the residential complex’s gate behind her.
Arnold Simmons nodded, "Alright, go on in."
After speaking, silence fell once more.
Hannah clutched her backpack strap and waved to him, "Then I’ll head inside."
There was a glistening smile in her eyes, as if the daytime heat was being blown in by the wind.
In the monotony of day after day, there will always be a day when you discover someone different—the kind of person who blossoms like fireworks under the night sky, captivating at a single glance, forever etched in memory.
As he watched her retreating figure, Arnold Simmons suddenly spoke up again, "Hannah."
She turned around, "Hmm?"
After a moment’s hesitation, he still said it, "Goodnight."
She paused momentarily, then smiling, she waved her hand, "Goodnight, and don’t forget to do your homework tonight."
Arnold Simmons: "...Okay."
Once the hustle of the school sports day on Friday was over, everyone plunged back into the busy pace of studying.
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