Chapter 363 Walking Alone At Night


    Can we be friends? Belle repeated his question in her mind.


    She thought to herself. "It''s just being friends. Why can''t we?"


    Of course we can. A faint smile appeared on Belle''s face as she answered inly.


    "In her mind, she was not that petty. They were just going to be friends, weren''t they? Anyone in the


    world could be a friend. It was verymon to make friends."


    "Thank you. Despite the short and simple answer, Sergio grew excited. The corners of his mouth


    turned up. A bubble ofughter then followed. ""Having an amazing friend like you is the luckiest thing


    that ever happened to me in my life."" "


    Is it that serious? Isn''t it a little excessive? Belle pondered internally.


    "Nevertheless, she kept her thoughts to herself. "


    "People should treat others with respect. Otherwise, it would be discourteous. She rationalized his


    behavior in her head. ""That is how he is with me now."" "


    It''s only one dinner. I''ll let him be.


    "Belle ordered a few light dishes. She didn''t know what his taste was, so she handed him the menu."


    "He stopped her by holding his hand up, and simply decided. ""I''ll eat whatever you order. Anything is


    fine with me. Plus, I like whatever you like to eat."""


    "Is that so? Belle was taken aback. He was quite easy-going. He was not picky about food and was


    rather nice to be around with. At least his behaviour was not as domineering as his appearance.  She


    had always thought soldiers were domineering and straightforward. While Sergio was straightforward,


    he was not domineering. The vibes he exuded were akin to that a neighbour would have, and that


    surprised Belle."


    Her first impression of him was that he was mild and unassuming.


    "If that''s the case, I shall order. She looked up at him with a faint smile on her rosy lips. It revealed her


    pTristany white teeth, whichplemented her sparkling eyes. "


    The gleam in Sergio''s gaze grew brighter.


    Don''t order too much. It''ll be a waste. He advised gently.


    "The son of an official was cautious about wastage? Once again, Belle was taken aback. She really


    couldn''t see it. The sons of other officials in Capital City were dependent on their wealth and would


    spend money like water, ordering everything when they go out. However, Sergio actually knew not to


    waste? It was a rare phenomenon among his type. "


    That was her second impression of him.


    "The meal did not seem to take too long nor did it seem short. They talked quite a lot. He repeatedly


    asked her what her ns were for the future, but she avoided the question. "


    She didn''t think there would be any more interactions between them. The meal they were having was


    just a formality. It was nothing special at all.


    "Can I have the bill, please? Belle raised her hand. "


    A waiter immediately came over with the bill.


    "How much is it? Sergio enquired, beating Belle to it."


    "Three hundred and eighty dors, the waiter answered clearly."


    Belle''s head bowed as she was in the process of opening her wallet.


    "Here, keep the change, Sergio told the waiter as he took four hundred dors from his pocket and


    handed it to him, as if he had long known how much the bill cost. "


    Thank you. The waiter took the money and left.


    "By the time Belle had taken out the money, all she could see was the waiter''s retreating figure. "


    "Mr. Xanthe, I don''t think it''s a good idea. I already made it clear that I''ll be the one paying for dinner.


    Belle was embarrassed. She put the hand she held the money with on the table, not knowing what to


    do with it. ""I''ll give you the money then."""


    She put the money in front of him.


    "When men eat with women, it''s natural for men to pay the bill. Sergio chided with a faintugh. He


    didn''t even nce at the money right in front of him on the table. ""Do you think I will still take your


    money?"""


    "This... Belle was at a loss. Indeed, as the son of a high-ranking official, he would not mind such a


    small amount of money."


    "If I continue to leave the money in front of a man like him, he might think I''m trying to humiliate him.


    With such a thought, she took the money back and chuckled. ""Thank you, Mr. Xanthe. I''ll buy you


    dinner next time, if there''s a chance."""


    "Sergio smiled softly and answered, ""That would be great. I''m just afraid you''ll forget me once we part


    ways."""


    "As soon as he said that, Belle felt he had seen through her. True enough, she had nned to forget


    him once they walked out of the restaurant. "


    "The truth was, she did not like making friends with men."


    "Remaining silent, she blushed "


    "Belle, can you call me Sergio? Sergio requested, full of hope, as they were leaving the


    restaurant. Hearing her call him ''Mr. Xanthe'' felt very distant and awkward. It made him feel


    ufortable. "


    "Belle looked up at him, grinning faintly as she nodded. ""Okay."""


    "Okay, thank you. Sergio returned the grin. ""I''ll take you home."""


    There''s no need for that. Let''s part ways here. I know this road very well. Belle shook her head and


    declined.


    "It is not safe for a woman to walk alone at night. Please let me take you home. Otherwise, I won''t be at


    ease. Sergio felt really unsettled about her walking back alone and insisted on taking her home. "


    "There''s really no need for that. I''ve already been used to walking alone at night, Belle replied


    indifferently as she looked up at the gloomy sky."


    "Her words left a bad aftertaste to his ears. For a woman to be used to walking alone at night, she must


    have experienced so much sorrow and helplessness. With that thought in mind, Sergio felt pity for


    her. "


    "You are used to walking at night because you have not met me prior to this. Now that you have, you


    won''t be walking alone at night anymore. Sergio stubbornly proimed before he took the lead and


    walked down the alley, leaving no room for Belle to object."


    "Belle was dumbfounded. She did not understand what he meant. In her opinion, she was a divorced


    woman with a child, and a man like Sergio should choose to stay far away from her. Although they


    were in a small town, once the news media finds out about it, it would be a stumbling block to his


    image."


    "However, there was nothing else she could do as Sergio insisted on taking her home. Since she


    couldn''t get rid of him, she let him be."


    "The pair of them walked down the alley, one after the other. When her courtyard was in sight, she


    refused to continue walking with him. "


    "Mr... Sergio, here will do. I can really get home by myself. It''s just right in front. After standing still to


    ponder for a long moment, she finally decided to call him by his name. It was actually somewhat


    awkward and strange to call him that way. However, at the thought of his request, she decided to do as


    he wished. "


    He stopped and looked back at her. The dark green military uniform shone brightly in the darkness.


    Even his noble stature could send a chill in one''s heart.


    "Seeing the unwillingness on Belle''s face, he grinned."


    She had called him by his name and that was enough for him. It really wasn''t far from her house


    anyway.


    Alright then. I''ll watch you enter your house from here. He agreed. chuckling.


    "There''s no need for that. Goodnight. Belle said nothing more. As soon as the words left her mouth,


    she thought about Jerry, who was waiting at home. She didn''t have the mood to stay any longer. So,


    she walked towards her house in a hurry."


    "Although she was walking at a brisk pace, she still felt his gaze on her. She dared not look back. The


    moment she entered her courtyard, she turned her head around. "


    "Under the dim street lights not far away, there he was, standing tall and straight. The ekeets on his


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    military uniform could be seen gleaming."


    He really stood there to watch her until she entered her house.


    "Despite having entered the house, she still felt uneasy. Seeing that Jerry had already fallen asleep,


    she calmed down. Then, a sudden thought struck her. She headed over to the window and peeped


    through the curtains to see Sergio''s figure retreating into the darkness."


    What on earth does Sergio want to do? Her brows scrunched together as she thought.


    "Or perhaps, he didn''t want to do anything at all. He just felt uneasy to let a woman walk home alone at


    night as he was a gentleman. Reasoning his behaviour to herself, her brows rxed. "


    "In the living room, Kate was still chatting with Bailey, and she didn''t feel sleepy at all. She was in good


    spirits that day, and the glow on her face showed it. "


    "Thest time Belle had seen her in such a good mood was more than a year ago. Therefore, she was


    a little surprised. Was it because Jerry had recovered or was there some other reason? However, she


    had never seen Kate being that happy when Jerry was energetic and lively. "


    "Just as she was thinking about it, she saw Kate waving at her."


    "Mom, it''s sote. Aren''t you going to bed? Belle didn''t understand Kate''s intention. Hence, she went


    up to her and asked with a smile."


    "How was the dinner? Kate asked, with joy in her eyes. "


    What do you mean? Belle looked at her with confusion.


    It was just a meal. Why would those sons of high-ranking officials care about a meal like that? How


    else could the dinner have gone?


    There was no spark in Belle''s eyes. Her expression wascking concern.


    The confusion and absent-mindedness of her daughter caused Kate to sigh and her eyes to turn


    bleary. She couldn''t understand what she was thinking.


    "Calvin had conquered her daughter''s whole mind and heart, which really was not a good thing. "


    "If Calvin and the Harvey family couldn''t show them enough sincerity, and couldn''t satisfy her, she


    would rather her daughter choose Sergio."


    "Do you not feel anything? Kate looked at her up and down with questioning eyes, as if to spot


    something."


    "Oh, the food was pretty good. Belle replied after thinking for a moment. ""In the end, it''s him who paid


    for it. It''s not my fault he rushed to pay."""


    "Belle was worried that Kate would me her for being impolite, so she made sure to exin herself. "


    "Hearing that, Kate beamed as she nodded."


    "Belle,e, have a seat. Kate pulled her to sit next to herself, and asked earnestly, ""Belle, do you


    remember what I told you before? If things don''t work out with Calvin, you have to give it uppletely,


    and find a good man to marry.""  "


    "After finishing her words, she stared at Belle''s face with eyes full of hope. "


    "After being momentarily stupefied, Belle understood what Kate meant. She couldn''t help but to let out


    a bitterugh. "


    "Mom, let''s leave this to fate. We''ll talk about it in the future. All I want now is to take good care of Jerry.


    She yawned, feeling very impatient. Both tired and sleepy, she really didn''t want to talk about those


    things."


    "No, we must n things out. You are already 28 years old. You must have a n B. Kate''s face


    darkened. ""I know what you''re thinking about, but time waits for no one. I don''t want to see you go


    through the same thing again. You should give some thought to what I said."" "


    "Kate''s face became very serious, not giving her any room to resist. "


    "Mom, what are you talking about? Belle was annoyed and speechless by Kate''s desperation. ""You


    can''t rush things like this, can you? Besides, marriage is not something you can force."" "


    "Kate quickly continued the topic Belle had started. ""It''s a good thing that you know it can''t be


    forced. Now that the opportunity has risen, you must seize it."""


    "Belle''s eyelids felt heavy. She looked at her mother, who was not optimistic about her remarrying


    Calvin. With an outstanding man like Sergioing into the picture, she started thinking about her


    marriage. She did not know whether tough or to cry about it."