CHAPTER 195: CHAPTER 195: HE WILLINGLY TAKES THE LOWER PLACE

Silas Hawthorne looked at Serena Sterling; at this moment, it seemed as though there was only the two of them.

The breeze gently played with her hair, and the warmth from his palm conveyed an unusual sensation.

It brought forth a feeling of slight strangeness.

Silas suddenly smiled.

A truly handsome smile, full of joy in his eyes.

He didn’t stand up; instead, his eyes were filled with affection.

He saw it.

For the first time these past days, he saw in her eyes the spark of attraction.

Not just being touched, not just compatibility, not just the feelings of friendship.

It was genuine attraction.

An attraction towards him.

Even if it was just a fleeting moment, it was enough to make him happy.

If loving someone means being humble, even in the dust, he was willing to be in the lower position willingly.

Serena saw Silas’s smile.

For the first time these past days, she saw him smile so handsomely.

Not his usual gentle elegance, but his eyes were full of intense affection.

Not faint, but very intense; this was the first time in these days she had seen the sense of invasion and possession in his eyes.

It made her feel inexplicably shy.

Not daring to meet his gaze again, she turned her head, avoiding his gaze.

Silas had already stood up, standing beside her.

His tall figure loomed over her petite frame, capable of enveloping her completely in his embrace with one hug.

He just lowered his head and looked at her.

Watching the wind play with her hair, noticing the delicate lashes as her eyes lowered.

Suddenly, he had the impulse to embrace her.

But he held back.

Finally, he simply said, "The temperature tonight is quite nice, and the breeze is refreshing. Shall we walk some more?"

Serena nodded.

Then, she saw his broad hand opening before her eyes.

The lines on his palm were densely intricate.

She slightly parted her lips, hesitated, then lifted her hand and placed it in his palm.

He tightened his grip on her hand, eyes full of smiles.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at his face.

The two of them kept holding hands, walking for quite a while, then they passed by a snack stall.

The stall was run by a couple, busying around. Nearby, within a small trolley laid a mosquito net, where a child was sleeping.

The couple was bustling, yet the child slept soundly.

Serena glanced over, and Silas said, "Shall we have some cold noodles?"

"Alright," Serena replied, having drunk quite a lot of wine earlier; after walking for a while, she indeed felt a bit hungry.

So the two of them bought two servings of cold noodles and sat on a stone block, eating with disposable chopsticks.

Serena looked at Silas and couldn’t help but laugh.

Silas, while eating, mumbled and turned to look at her.

His eyes were filled with confusion, clearly asking—what’s up?

Serena looked at Silas.

On his wrist was a Patek Philippe watch, wearing a custom-tailored suit, with cufflinks made of expensive gemstones, immaculate from head to toe, now squatting on a stone block beside her eating cold noodles with disposable chopsticks.

"Nothing," she laughed and said, "Just suddenly feel you are quite down to earth."

No longer the unattainable jewelry mogul she used to see, but now a man sharing cold noodles beside her.

The distance seemed much closer.

Silas swallowed the cold noodles in his mouth: "Previously while drifting at sea, sometimes the food was scarce, so I ate anything available."

He said, "Things on the ship were preserved easily, hence every time we docked, we would head to shore to savor the good food."

"Every small snack felt exquisite to me."

As he spoke, he took out a tissue paper to wipe the sauce off her lips.

"But, I believe the best cuisine is still our varied domestic dishes."

Seemingly recalling something, his expression slightly tensed, and his mouth corner twitched a little.

"What’s wrong?" Serena took the tissue from his hand herself to wipe, and asked curiously.

"Just recalled the dark culinary arts of two certain individuals..." Silas said.

Orion and June’s cooking skills truly weren’t that great.

Serena understood his meaning, nodding in agreement.

The last time she visited Hawthorne Manor, she witnessed Orion’s culinary skills when he insisted on showcasing a signature dish, which ended with a steamed egg looking like honeycomb briquette.

While eating cold noodles and chatting about other matters, the night breeze gently blew, making the two look very harmonious.

Nearby, the couple finally finished the snacks and went to check on their child in the back, quietly talking about something.

No one noticed an inconspicuous black Rolls-Royce parked not far away.

Xander Linton looked at the freshly snapped photos in his hand, feeling helpless.

Originally, he intended to claim credit after Serena delivered Seraphina home.

Today he initiated the vote, a tool capable of amplifying public opinion while promoting the Blue series.

But as he waited at the welfare house, he witnessed Silas tying her shoelaces and now sharing cold noodles.

"Certainly looks like a match made in heaven..." Xander sighed.

"Thought returning quickly was fast enough, didn’t expect you, Silas, the sly old fox to be one step ahead!"

Xander flicked through the photos one by one, then glanced over those two who had finished eating cold noodles now tossing away the trash.

"I can’t be the only one feeling annoyed." Xander stated, directly looking up a specific contact and sending these photos.

...

On the other side.

Julian Lawson had already returned to his apartment.

Lying alone on the sofa, gazing at the pale ceiling.

These past few days, he kept pondering the same question.

Precisely the one posed by Shayla Randall that day, the reference given by her.

If he really could only make her sad, should he let go?

"Buzz buzz."

His phone vibrated twice.

Julian picked up the phone and saw the messages from Xander.

Xander: Can’t be the only one seeing this; sending it for you to see.

Followed by several pictures.

Photos of Serena with Silas together.

She was smiling happily in the photos.

His fingers gently stroked her smiling face in the picture, his heart ached.

Still couldn’t do it.

She can only belong to him; he couldn’t bear seeing her smile like that with someone else.

He couldn’t take it.

...

Meanwhile.

Silas had already brought Serena home.

This time, he escorted her upstairs.

To prevent any sudden intrusion like Julian’s occurrence previously.

As he watched her prepare to enter her door, he suddenly spoke: "Serena."

Serena turned around: "Hmm?"

"I’d like to move our third meeting sooner, is that alright?" he asked with a smile.

Serena nodded: "You decide."

"Alright." He said, "I’ll send you the time and place."

"Okay." Serena nodded in response.

"Then." Silas reached out, paused for a moment but still touched her cheek, "Good night."

Serena looked into his deep eyes: "Good night."

Serena went inside her home, and Silas descended the stairs, then he noticed Julian a distance away.