Chapter 7

“Knock knock knock—”

After three regular knocks on the door, Sela Wash turned the doorknob. The hot air from inside the private room rushed out at her, along with the aroma of hot pot and the sweet scent of ice cream. When she looked up, she was instantly stunned—two women were buried in their food, with messy hair and sauce stains all over their faces. They looked completely unkempt.

And the woman who was struggling with the enoki mushrooms seemed increasingly familiar. Sela Wash narrowed her eyes and took a closer look. A cold, mocking smile appeared on her lips— wasn’t that Evan Thorne, the same woman who bumped into him in the elevator and even tried to kick him with her heel?

Great! It was like searching everywhere without finding anything, only to get it effortlessly when it came to me on its own. Since it came to me voluntarily, don’t blame me for being straightforward.

Sela Wash adjusted her shirt buttons, suppressing the teasing look in her eyes. She walked straight over to Evan Thorne and sat down next to her, with such naturalness that it seemed like the two of them were acquaintances.

Evan Thorne was busy stuffing the enoki mushrooms he’d fished out of the hot pot into his mouth when he suddenly noticed Black Rose Reeves standing beside him. She carried a faint, cool scent that didn’t match the aroma of the hot pot at all. Instinctively, he looked up. When he saw who it was, the enoki mushrooms almost flew out of his mouth.

It’s him! That icy-cool colleague from the elevator!

Evan Thorn quickly wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue, trying to remain calm as he said, “Hello, we meet again.”

After saying that, she lowered her head and continued to struggle with her hot pot. But in her mind, she wondered: How come he’s here? Could it be he’s also here to eat hot pot? But looking at his tailored suit, he certainly doesn’t seem like someone who would come to a place like this.

Sela Wash, however, said nothing. She simply looked at her with a half-smile—in the dead of winter, sweating from the hot pot, with hair stuck to her forehead and sauce on her face, she resembled a silly, yet endearing little cat that had stolen something to eat.

Sitting across from her was Nash Hampton. From the moment Sela Wash entered the room, Nash felt something was off. Although it was her first time meeting Sela in person, she had seen his photos from her father, so she knew he was the man she was supposed to meet on a blind date. What shocked her, though, was that her blind date sat down next to her best friend as soon as he entered, acting as if they knew each other very well.

“Xiaoxiao, you two know each other?” Nash Hampton couldn’t help but ask, her tone full of surprise. She had thought that Evan Thorn would have to help her hold things together today. To her surprise, Evan Thorn actually knew her blind date.

“Hmm, colleagues from the new company,” Evan Thorne said without even looking up. Suddenly remembering that he hadn’t told Nash Hampton about changing jobs, he added quickly, “Oh, right. I forgot to mention it. I’ve changed companies. I’ll explain more to you later.”

As she spoke, she continued to fish around in the hot pot. Then she casually asked, “By the way, Nash Hampton, is your date still coming? I hope he wasn’t scared away by all these people. If he doesn’t show up, we’ll be full by then, and we won’t wait for him.”

“Already…” Nash Hampton couldn’t finish his sentence, stunned by what he saw before him.

Sela Wash reached out her hand. Instead of shaking hands with her supposed date, she hugged Evan Thorne who was standing next to her, in a natural and affectionate manner. Evan Thorne froze instantly, and the chopsticks in his hand fell onto the table with a loud “snap”.

Sela Wash then looked at Nash Hampton with a pleasant expression, a gentle smile on her lips. She spoke affectionately, “Hello, I’m Sela Wash. I’m your date for tonight’s blind date.”

After saying that, he turned his head, looked down at Evan Thorn, who was completely astonished, and spoke in a softer voice, blinking innocently. “Dear, what a coincidence! Your friend turns out to be someone I’m supposed to meet on a blind date.”

Evan Thorn stared blankly at Sela Wash, his mind completely empty.

What’s going on?!

How did this cold and arrogant colleague in the elevator suddenly become so gentle? He even called her “darling”? And he’s actually Nash Hampton’s blind date partner?

She rubbed her eyes, wondering if eating hot pot had given her a headache. But when she saw the mischievous gleam in Sela Wash’s eyes, she suddenly realized—this guy did it on purpose! He definitely tried to trick her on purpose!

And Nash Hampton was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t say anything for a long time. After a while, she stammered, “You… you’re Sela Wash? Sela Wash, the crown prince of NK? The serious Sela who lives with Mom Lin?”

The two families were neighbors in their early years. The parents got along very well. As time went by and each family became more successful, they saw each other less often. But they still kept in touch from time to time. In Nash Hampton’s mind, Sela Wash always seemed reserved, serious, and never easy to smile. How could she have such a gentle and affectionate side?

This contrast is even more shocking than hearing that cats and dogs got married!

Sela Wash watched Nash Hampton’s astonished expression, her smile growing deeper. Yet, she continued to look at Evan Thorn gently and said, “I don’t know why you’re so surprised, but I am indeed the Sela Wash you mentioned—that ‘serious Sela Brother.’”

Evan Thorn finally came back to his senses. All he could think about was: It’s over, completely over! She’s actually gotten involved with NK’s crown prince?!

She tried to remember carefully. She and Sela Wash had only met twice in total. Once, they bumped into each other in the elevator. Another time, she encountered him in the elevator on her way home from working late. Other than that, there was no other interaction between them. When exactly did she offend him? Why was he treating her like this?

Nash Hampton managed to hide her astonishment and continued eating her hot pot as if nothing had happened. But her eyes kept sneaking back and forth between Evan Thorn and Sela Wash. She knew Evan Thorn all too well. From her panicked expression, it was clear that there was definitely something going on between those two!

Evan Thorne also noticed Nash Hampton’s gaze. He inwardly groaned—today was going to be a difficult day, no doubt. But for now, the most important thing was to get rid of that “pig’s foot” that Sela Wash had placed on her waist!

She cleared her throat, forcing a stiff smile on her face. Looking at Sela Wash, she said slowly, “Your hoof… oh no, I mean, your hand, could you please take it off my waist? Your Highness!”

Sela Wash looked at her flushed face—whether it was from eating hot pot or shyness, he couldn’t tell. The teasing in his eyes grew stronger. He deliberately tightened his hold around her and asked, raising an eyebrow, “What are you going to do if I don’t let go?”

“You dare!” Evan Thorn trembled with rage. He had seen shameless people before, but never anyone quite this brazen!

“What if I dare? What if I don’t dare?” Sela Wash turned her head and gave Nash Hampton a polite smile. “Could you please step outside for a moment? My ‘dear’ and I need to handle some private matters.”

Nash Hampton paused for a moment, then quickly nodded. “Uh, okay.”

As she put on her coat, she gave Evan Thorne a wink, but Evan Thorne was too busy trying to break free from Sela Wash’s grip to notice. Nash Hampton, helpless, pretended to be careless and knocked her handbag to the ground.

“Oh no, it fell.” She knelt down and gave Evan Thorn a hard kick under the table. When she met Evan Thorn’s puzzled gaze, she mouthed, “I’m right outside. Just shout if you need anything!”

After saying that, she didn’t wait for Evan Thorn to respond. She grabbed her bag, stood up, and walked out, closing the private room door behind her.

The private room fell silent instantly, with only the sound of the hot pot bubbling and the awkward atmosphere between the two people remaining.

Evan Thorn yanked Sela Wash’s hand away, stood up abruptly from his seat, and glared down at her angrily. “You’re such a weird person! Sometimes you act like everyone owes you money; other times you’re smiling all the time. Are you sure you’re not schizophrenic?”

She took a deep breath and continued, “Also, I don’t know you at all. I don’t even know who you are, and I’m not interested in you either! Please stay away from me!”

Sela Wash leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and looked at her with a half-smile. “Which eye of yours saw me showing any interest in you?”

“If you’re not interested, then stop touching me!” Evan Thorn crossed his arms, looking like a fussy kitten. “I don’t care if you’re interested or not. We’re strangers anyway. I didn’t do anything to you. So please stop acting annoyingly in front of me! If I can’t deal with you, can’t I just avoid you?”

Didn’t provoke him?

Upon hearing this, Sela Vosh didn’t get angry but instead smiled, a cold smirk appearing on her lips. “Are you sure you haven’t provoked me?”

Evan Thorn was stunned, the anger on his face instantly freezing. What on earth had she done to provoke him?