Chapter 1479


    "I''m not kidding." Maria was defenseless when she was teased by Leah. "Seriously, do you have


    any feelings for Ernest?"


    "What do you think?" Leah responded.


    "I just wanted to ask you."


    "He brings out the impulsive side in me." Leah answered seriously. "I wanted him as soon as I saw


    him."


    Maria felt like Leah was hardly the type of person to make these kinds of jokes, and she couldn''t tell


    if Leah was being genuine. She gave it a bit of thought and felt a little off.


    There was something fishy about Leah''s reaction.


    "Liam made a bet with me saying you wouldn''t be honest with me about your feelings. I opposed


    and said you would, but it seems like his guess was right," Maria sighed. "Leah, I thought we were


    friends, I really want to help you. Do you not trust me? Is that why you''re not being open with me?"


    Leah instantly burst intoughter and shook her head. "Maybe there was something wrong with my


    tone. Do you think I''m joking?"


    "Were you not?" Maria was surprised.


    "It''s the truth, Ernest is really my type. I''m really attracted to him, but what does it all mean? I don''t


    even know how he feels."


    Leah put on a sober expression. "But you don''t have to help me. If I need you, I''ll call for you. I''ve


    been reflecting on something these past few days, and I''vee to my conclusion. I like Ernest."


    "What you said just now, I really thought you were still joking with me." Maria was shocked by her


    response. "So, you actually like Ernest."


    "Yes, I do." Leah admitted carefreely.


    Maria was left stunned. She looked at Leah in disbelief. "Were you really not joking when you said


    that? You seriously have feelings for Ernest?"


    Leahughed again. "You usually appear as a clever person, has your IQ dropped to zero after


    getting together with Liam? You don''t believe me when I''m telling the truth and you doubt me when I


    make a joke, what am I supposed to do?"


    "It''s because your answer was so frank I couldn''t believe what I was hearing. It was too easy getting


    you to talk." Maria''s face was stered with skepticism.


    "You''re trying to wrangle the information out of me. I want to be truthful to you as a friend, and I''ll


    definitely need your help in the future as well. I still need a little more info on Ernest''s thoughts, but I


    can''t say for sure I know what feelings he holds in his heart. But you have to promise me to keep


    this a secret, you can''t pester him about any of this until I''ve confessed. Don''t do anything else,


    understand?"


    Leah expressed her thoughts earnestly and confessed to Maria about her true feelings.


    She knew this was an obstacle that no one could help her with, she could only rely on herself.


    "Oh my god, I''m touched by you. Okay, I understand your feelings." Maria could finally trust Leah''s


    words.


    "It''s not asplicated as you think," Leah smiled and said calmly. "It''s easy to spot the right


    person."


    "Leah, I''ll do whatever you need me to do. Don''t worry, I''ll keep an eye on my cousin while we''re in


    Ennd. If there''s any trouble, I''ll definitely let you know."


    "That''s the spirit." Leah nodded. "That''s exactly what I need. I don''t need anything else, you just


    need to keep him in check and ensure that he stays single."


    "No problem." Maria said. "Ernest doesn''t really take the initiative, so if anything happens I''m bound


    to figure it out."


    "I''m only afraid that because he doesn''t take the initiative, it''ll be harder to know what he''s thinking."


    That was a factor Leah was concerned about.


    "I''ll keep him in my sights," Maria promised.


    "Thank you."


    "Don''t mention it." Maria shook her head. "Then, shall we go back now? They must be waiting in


    suspense."


    "Let''s use the toilet first before we go back." Leah pointed in the direction of the restroom. "We''d


    give ourselves away if we actually need to use itter."


    "But I''m afraid I''ll feel guilty when I head back."


    "What''s there to be guilty of? If you really feel guilty justugh it off. I have a crush on someone but


    even I''m able to not show it. Why should you feel guilty?"


    "That''s true." Maria nodded in consideration. "Alright, I''ll do as you say, dear cousin-inw."


    Leah was a little flustered from being referred to as cousin- in-w. She blushed and said, "Stop


    calling me that, wait until I''m actually your cousin-inw, then you can say it all you want."


    "Haha, someone''s shy."


    "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?" Leah said in response. "Since I''ve taken a liking to him, you have


    to give it your all to make sure he''s mine,


    there''s no room for me to be shy."


    "I''ll be rooting for you!."


    The two of themughed together. After going to the toilet, they walked back with smiles on their


    faces. They opened the door to see the men on their faces with somber expressions, and their


    smiles widened at the sight.


    Both Ernest and Liam looked at the two girls in confusion. "What did they do out there? Why are


    theyughing like this?"


    Maria didn''t say anything and sat next to Liam with a big smile on her face.


    In typical Leah fashion, she asked unashamedly, "Why hasn''t the food been served yet? I''m


    hungry."


    Ernest was surprised and looked at Leah. "You didn''t have breakfast, did you?"


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "No, I didn''t eat anything," said Leah. "I don''t usually eat breakfast either, I''ll just have some


    midnight snacks tonight."


    "It''s not healthy to have snacks at night." Ernest replied coolly.


    "Oh. please." Leah turned her head and asked Ernest with a smile, "Ernest, why do you care so


    much about my snacking habits?"


    Her words made Ernest''s eyebrows shoot up. He took aposed look at Leah, and then shifted


    his gaze to Maria and Liam. All of them had indescribable expressions.


    He smiled and said, "It''s just a bit of advice. Of course, it''s up to you whether you choose to follow


    or not."


    "Thank you for the advice," Leah said. "I''m single, and time passes slowly at night. If I don''t have a


    boyfriend and I don''t allow myself somete-night snacks, how am I supposed to live?"


    "Haha!" Mariaughed out loud.


    Liam couldn''t hold in hisughter as well. Witnessing Leah''s over the top responses easily induced


    augh out of people.


    Ernest, however, felt a little embarrassed by what she said.


    His gaze fell on Leah. After a few beats, he asked, "Does the satisfaction of having a midnight


    snack make up for the dissatisfaction of not having a boyfriend?"


    Leah wanted to copse at that very moment.


    Liam and Maria wereughing. Maria leaned her head on Liam''s shoulders and couldn''t stop her


    own shoulders from shaking.


    Leah coughed lightly and said, "Don''t you know that people only desire two things in their life?"


    Ernest frowned and thought of what it could be and made his own verdict.


    "What are the two desires?" Maria asked with a smile.


    "Warmth and lust. You and Mr. Celebrity are already secured in those two departments, so you don''t


    need to think about anything else. But for me, the only pleasure I have is in eating." Leah said


    contemtively.


    The corner of Ernest''s mouth was outlined with a smile, and there was a hint of powerlessness on


    his face.


    He knew that Leah was different from the rest.


    At that moment, the waiters arrived with their dishes.


    Leah immediately flipped her behavior and transformed into a glutton.


    The sight of her eating was infectious, and it made everyone hungry for another serving.


    They dined in an enjoyable atmosphere. Leah would crack a few funny harmless jokes from time to


    time, and none of them could resist theirughter.


    After the meal, Liam paid the bill discreetly.


    Ernest felt cheated. "Didn''t I say I would treat?"


    "You can treat us next time," Liam said with a smile. "Maria and I will be leaving first. You can


    send Leah home."


    Leah looked at Ernest with a giggle and said, "Sorry for troubling you, Ernest."


    Ernest gazed at her.


    As they left the restaurant, Leah patted her stomach and said, "I''m so full, I''m going to take a walk.


    Do you want to head to the downtown market with me while our food digests?"


    "The downtown market?" Ernest was willing to tag along. "Well, I have nothing else to do. I''ll go with


    you."


    "Then let''s go!"


    They headed off to the downtown market together. The downtown market had a theme of nature


    and was a popr destination for girls in particr, not to appreciate the flora and fauna, but to


    browse the independent stalls selling handcrafted goods and little trinkets.


    Leah, however, had different ns. She wanted to see the turtles.


    She was fascinated by every single turtle stall.


    Ernest was astonished. "If you like turtles you can always buy one."


    "I do like them," Leah said, "but I don''t want to raise one. I''m just just kind of envious of turtles.


    They''re extremely slow, oh sozy, and they live a long life."