No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1767 - 1367: Arnold Simmons Extra (133)

His voice became particularly gentle, "Do you want to hear a story?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Hannah turned her head to look at him, meeting those jet-black eyes tinged with a smile. "What kind of story?"

"A fairy tale." He smiled and rubbed her head gently, "Little kids who can’t sleep always love to hear them."

Hannah pouted, "I’m not a little kid."

She had already come of age two years ago.

Arnold Simmons reached out and wrapped her, along with the blanket, into his arms. She was so delicate and small, with soft white cheeks, smooth black hair, and a pretty, obedient demeanor like a doll. "Even when little kids grow up, they can still listen to fairy tales."

"Alright then." Hannah lowered her head to look at his hand, its defined knuckles, slightly protruding bones, and faintly visible veins, perfect like a work of art.

She couldn’t resist placing her hand over his, rubbing her fingertips lightly against the back of his hand, her smile full of satisfaction and joy. "Go ahead, tell me."

His deep, slightly husky voice carried a coaxing tone, like moonlight filling the courtyard, kissed by a gentle breeze infused with the scent of flowers.

By the time the fifth story ended, the glass of water on the table had already been emptied.

The little girl in his arms had fallen soundly asleep, her head resting on his shoulder like a soft, fluffy cloud, breathing softly with her eyes closed.

Outside the window, the moon climbed higher, casting frost-like light across the ground. The wind made the shadows of trees sway gently, and occasionally, a few distant dog barks could be heard.

Soon, the silence returned once more.

Arnold Simmons carefully lifted the sleeping girl out of his arms, placed her onto the bed, and tucked her in.

The small bedside lamp was switched off, plunging the room back into darkness.

At six in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and people in the neighborhood were already out for their morning exercises. Sanitation workers with bamboo brooms swept the streets, the rhythmic "swish swish swish" sound approaching and then fading away.

The chilly morning wind carried dampness, birds chirped from the trees as if holding an early meeting, and whenever someone opened a window, they scattered away in an instant.

After spending several days in the old house, Arnold Simmons went to meet the Simmons Family.

Hannah didn’t know the specifics of what Arnold discussed with the Simmons Family.

But she understood clearly that from today onward, Arnold Simmons would just be Arnold Simmons.

He would no longer be a side character villain in someone else’s story, no longer bound by his past.

Before leaving Ocean City, Arnold brought Hannah to meet his old friends.

Seeing the two of them walk in hand-in-hand, a few of the guys were still visibly shocked, but Francis Evans showed no surprise at all and said to Hannah, "The first time I met you, I knew this boy Arnold Simmons was bound to fall."

Some people always feign indifference, acting casual and nonchalant, but deep down, they had already fallen the moment they laid eyes on someone.

By the end of the gathering, Francis Evans sought out Arnold and asked, "Do you plan to stay in Capital City or return to Ocean City?"

Leaning in a shadowy corner, Arnold’s gaze lingered on Hannah’s smiling face not far away. "Wherever she wants to stay, I’ll stay with her."

The holiday ended quickly.

In the post-New Year period, Hannah spent most of her time in the lab. Her mentor valued her highly and had brought her into his experimental team early on, making her the youngest member among senior students.

While Hannah was busy, Arnold was equally occupied.

Many weekends and holidays passed without them being able to see each other, and even on the rare occasions they reunited, they couldn’t spend the entire day together as they used to.

Such circumstances soon became fodder for gossip.