CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: IS THIS LOVE?

In the evening, the sky was filled with red clouds.

Angela Austin held Victoria Sinclair’s hand as the two leisurely walked along the road after work.

The street was quiet and there were few pedestrians.

"With my salary, let’s go out for a big meal," Angela said, her smile as bright as a blooming peach blossom.

Getting paid really makes a difference; even walking feels like floating.

Victoria whispered softly, "Don’t waste your money. Save it, and you’ll know its importance when you need it."

Angela pouted, "You’re just like my mom."

"Hey, good daughter."

"Oh, get lost." Angela couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her hand and holding it tighter.

Victoria chuckled softly.

Angela observed her expression, "You seem very happy. Did your issue with Mr. Eugene get resolved?"

"No." Victoria’s smile slowly faded, "He won’t divorce."

Angela snorted, "Pfft, men, they all have some issues."

"He certainly has a lot of them," Victoria also couldn’t help but complain.

"He doesn’t love you, won’t divorce you, and is always so cold to you. He’s definitely a fraud, probably just gay."

"I don’t think his orientation is a problem," Victoria said uncertainly.

At the subway entrance, the two stopped, and Angela indignantly said, "He’s the one with the problem. You’re so pretty and have such a nice figure. If I were lying next to you, I couldn’t help but want to touch and kiss you. How can he, with all his energy, resist?"

"We sleep in separate rooms!"

"That’s why I say he has a problem."

"He’s a bit of a germaphobe."

"You’re fair-skinned and clean; there’s nothing dirty about you."

Victoria gave a bitter smile and released her hand, "Go ahead and catch the subway, I’m heading home."

"Why go home so early? Let’s eat out; it won’t cost much, just a few hundred."

"I need to make time to study. My brother owes millions in debt, and I want to save some money so I can help if he needs it."

Angela patted her head, "You’re such a filial sister! Go on, bye-bye!"

"See you tomorrow." Victoria waved to her and took a different path.

The street lamps cast a dim glow, and the night was slightly cool.

Victoria walked toward the apartment complex.

Passing by the supermarket, she decided to go in and buy some vegetables to cook dinner.

As she stepped through the entrance, she heard a familiar male voice behind her.

"Victoria Sinclair!"

She turned around and saw Eugene Vaughn approaching in a casual shirt and pants. No matter what he wore, he always looked handsome and graceful.

Probably thanks to his outstanding height and looks, he stood out particularly on the street.

Unexpectedly, she ran into him at the supermarket entrance.

Victoria felt a slight tension but gently asked as he approached, "What are you here to buy?"

"The fridge is quite empty," Eugene replied casually and walked past her.

She had never gone grocery shopping with him before, so if they didn’t shop together, she would just head home.

Turning around and going home might seem too intentional.

Shopping together could be awkward if they had nothing to say.

Victoria hesitated but followed behind him.

Eugene pushed a shopping cart and slowed his pace.

There weren’t many people in the supermarket.

Entering the daily necessities section, the atmosphere was somewhat dull and they walked quietly for a while.

Eugene suddenly stopped at the shower gel shelf and softly asked, "What brand of shower gel do you use? It smells nice."

"Hmm?" Victoria was startled and looked up at him.

Did he smell it in the bathroom or from her?

Eugene paused for a few seconds and said, "I want to try a different brand."

Victoria felt a bit puzzled, walked to the corner, picked up the shower gel she usually used, and handed it to him.

He took it smoothly, didn’t check the ingredients, and placed it directly in the cart.

They moved to another aisle, and he asked again, "What about shampoo?"

Victoria was confused, "Change that too?"

He explained lightly, "The one at home causes hair loss."

Victoria looked at his thick, dark short hair, thinking a little hair loss shouldn’t matter!

She didn’t say it aloud, grabbed the shampoo she usually used, and handed it to him.

Eugene didn’t take it, gestured with his eyes, indicating she should put it in the cart.

Victoria placed it in the cart, her clear, lively eyes sparkling with a slightly hazy beauty as she quietly watched him.

Eugene met her gaze, looked away after a few seconds, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, and pushed the cart forward.

Victoria followed his pace again.

Passing the snack aisle, Victoria saw the hand-peeled bamboo shoots in the distance and started to salivate.

Eugene grabbed a few packs of hand-peeled bamboo shoots and placed them in the cart.

Victoria felt a bit moved.

Remembering the class reunion with Sterling, Eugene seemed to know her preferences quite well.

"Victoria Sinclair."

Eugene called her.

Victoria quickly sped up and responded in a soft, gentle voice, "What’s up?"

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything is fine!"

"There’s no dish called that!" Eugene said, walking and glancing at the fruits and vegetables in the basket.

Victoria chuckled lightly, pursed her lips, and thought for a moment, "Something quick and easy."

"I’ll cook; no need to worry about that."

"Besides cooking noodles, you can’t make anything else."

Eugene suddenly stopped, and Victoria, walking while looking at vegetables, didn’t notice and bumped into him.

Eugene turned, held her arm.

Victoria stepped back, touched her forehead, and apologized, slightly embarrassed, "Sorry about that."

Eugene’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze deepened slightly, "You walk in front of me."

"Okay!"

"There are cooking videos online; I’ll learn as I go. What do you want to eat?"

Victoria thought, since he’s not working today and has been idle at home, why be polite if he’s cooking for her?

She said, "I want savory dumplings."

Eugene frowned in confusion, "Aren’t dumplings sweet?"

"I want savory ones."

"Dumplings are sweet, usually with a sugary filling."

"If you make them by hand, they can be savory," Victoria patiently explained.

Eugene’s inner perfectionist surfaced, "Dumplings should be sweet."

Victoria lowered her eyes, her voice wilting like a drooping flower, deflated, "Never mind, I’ll just have noodles."

With that, she walked forward.

Eugene took large strides, grabbed her arm, took out his phone, "I’ll check what ingredients are needed for savory dumplings."

Victoria gave a gentle smile, her eyes curving as she looked at him, "The main ingredient is glutinous rice flour, mix it with some water into small balls, and add any preferred toppings. I like bamboo shoots, lean meat, oysters, small shrimp, and shredded white radish. What about you? What do you like to add?"