As Eva’s car drove away, Leslie’s car stopped before her.


    After getting into the car, she asked in confusion, “Mr. Synder, why did you invite me to lunch? Is there


    something wrong with the food I prepared today?”


    “No. It tasted great. They all wanted a bite,” Leslie said.


    “They? Your colleagues, you mean?” she asked.


    “Yeah.”


    “I’ll prepare a bigger portion tomorrow. You can share it with your colleagues.”


    She needed to cook anyway, so the portion didn’t really matter.


    “It’s fine,” he said.


    Leslie didn’t care about the others. It was his lunch, after all.


    The kitchen would be sweltering every time she cooked. Since Aurelia was naturally thrifty, she


    wouldn’t turn on the air conditioner in the living room whenever she was cooking.


    Leslie had Daniel ask around, but since the buildings in that residential area didn’t leave space for air


    conditioners in the kitchen, they would have to tear everything down if they wanted to install one.


    Aurelia would never agree to that. She hated being a nuisance and would likely feel guilty for the rest of


    the month if he proceeded with the instation.


    After giving it some thought, Leslie ced a fan in the kitchen instead.


    “Mr. Synder, the light turned red.”


    Aurelia’s voice interrupted Leslie’s thoughts.


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    Leslie stepped on the brake and nced at the countdown timer, momentarily stunned.


    He had been thinking about Aurelia all this while and even imagined her cooking for someone else,


    which upset him.


    It was an emotion he had never experienced before. Taking a breath, he turned his focus back to


    driving.


    Aurelia continued, “Mr. Synder. Since everyone at work already knows about our rtionship, why not


    invite your colleagues over for dinner this weekend?”


    Leslie paused and nced at her.


    “Why?”


    “Mr. Synder, I know you’re smart and capable, but is essential to maintain good rtionships with your


    colleagues. As a new product developer, you’re bound to have both admirers and detractors. If


    you’re unwilling to share even your lunch, others may think you’re too proud and sabotage you.”


    Aurelia experienced something simr in her office as well.


    During her internship, her mom would wake up early to make her lunch.


    Considering the small portion, she couldn’t bear to share it with anyone else.


    Hence, when her senior colleague wanted a bite, she refused.


    She thought it was her own lunch and had the right to refuse.


    By the end of the day, she was assigned a lot of extra work and had to stay until midnight.


    She suddenly realized something when she returned home, feeling hungry and exhausted.


    The following day, she prepared double the amount of lunch and sought out her senior colleague


    during lunchtime. She exined that she had already eaten yesterday’s portion and felt that sharing


    what she had eaten with someone else was rude.


    She then exined she had made a fresh batch.


    They all sat together as if nothing had happened, and her senior colleague even praised her cooking


    skills.


    She understood her senior colleague’s actions at that moment.


    For a whole week, she made double portions of lunch. Gradually, her workload returned to normal, and


    her senior colleague even offered her advice and assistance.


    She knew this was wrong but didn’t know what else she could do.


    In the workce, one must be careful in both actions and interactions.


    This was why she worried Leslie’s cold and direct nature might disadvantage him. If someone were to


    sabotage him, all his previous efforts would be in vain.


    After hearing her out, Leslie stopped the car and looked at her with mild surprise.


    “So, you’re inviting them to dinner for my sake?”


    “Yes.”


    Aurelia nodded, then added cautiously, “Did I… overstep? Or should we keep our rtionship low-


    key?”


    She chuckled awkwardly, feeling she might have been too meddlesome.


    “No, let’s do it this weekend. I’ll apany you to buy groceries on Saturday,” Leslie said.


    He felt a bit mncholic as he watched her smile.


    “Okay.”


    Aurelia hurriedly opened the door and stepped out of the car.


    As they headed to the restaurant, she thought about the dishes she should prepare.


    She was taken aback when Leslie led her into the restaurant, and they sat down.


    “This… Why is the restaurant like this?”


    The restaurant was connected to the adjacent jewelry store by a ss wall, and the dazzling array of


    jewelry on disy made the tes on their table sparkle.


    Aurelia wondered if people nowadays were ustomed to dining while staring at jewelry.