While they were on the road, Rain turned to Alexander and asked, "How’s work?" He took a deep breath and murmured, "Different than before. I’m having a hard ti focusing..."
"Why?" she asked, studying his side profile. Alexander gave her a quick glance before putting his eyes back on the road, his frown deepening.
"Why? It’s because of you and how you’re always in trouble," he pointed out. Rain didn’t comnt on that, but she smiled, secretly liking the fact that she was on his mind.
"Why not change your line of work and beco my personal bodyguard instead?" she joked, grinning.
"Don’t be surprised if one day that actually happens," Alexander replied, his tone serious. Rain blinked, staring at him. Was he really serious?
"Anyway, can we stop by my apartnt?" she asked, quickly shifting the topic. She didn’t want to push Alexander’s buttons. He was so unpredictable, she might end up more surprised by what he’d do next.
"Alright," he answered, and Rain imdiately called Clifford.
"Yes, bring the comic books from the second shelf. We’ll be at the café in ten minutes," she instructed him.
"Rain, why don’t you just co here and get them yourself? Sanya’s not around," Clifford suggested.
"I don’t want to risk crossing paths with her, alright? Just bring them to the café," Rain insisted before ending the call.
Alexander glanced at her. "You and Sanya still aren’t talking?"
"She still hasn’t reached out to or admitted what she did," Rain replied bluntly.
Silence filled the car for a mont before Alexander asked, "What’s with the comic books?"
Rain explained the case she was working on, sharing how she was trying to get the victim to warm up to her. "Trust is essential. I want her to feel comfortable around ," she sighed.
"Not all lawyers are as considerate and compassionate as you. It’s admirable," Alexander praised, making Rain’s heart swell and her cheeks flush. "You’re doing good."
It felt good to be appreciated for her work.
"Right... How do you feel about eting ’Chubby’ in person?" she teased him.
"Right, I almost forgot about him. I should thank him personally for helping out. Though I’m still surprised at how small the world is. Who would’ve thought that the famous Chubby I’ve been trying to recruit for the company is your friend Clifford?" Alexander mused.
Rain chuckled to herself, amused at the thought of how the interaction between Alexander and Clifford would unfold now that they were eting face to face. They were practically best friends in the online black market, even if they didn’t realize it yet.
She could still rember how Clifford had always praised "Enigma" nonstop, and she was certain Alexander felt the sa way about "Chubby." Seeing them finally et in person was going to be entertaining, especially given how they usually bickered without knowing each other’s true identities.
When they arrived at the cafe, Rain spotted Clifford already seated at a corner table, flipping through one of the comic books she had asked for. As they approached, Clifford gave Rain a half-smile but quickly shifted his gaze to Alexander, his expression tightening.
Alexander’s mood seed to mirror Clifford’s. While both n had the appearance of being calm and collected, Rain could feel the tension in the air. They were like two magnets repelling each other, despite their intertwined lives online.
Rain suppressed a grin as she took her seat, letting the awkwardness linger a bit longer than necessary. It amused her how they could be such good terms in the online black market, as "Enigma" and "Chubby," yet act so cold in person.
"So..." Rain began, drumming her fingers on the table, "you two have finally t. In real life, that is."
Clifford rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yeah. I guess the famous ’Enigma’ finally has a face." He glanced at Alexander and added with a smirk, "Though I have to say, you’re not as intimidating in person as you are online."
Alexander crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And you’re not as ’chubby’ as your na suggests," he quipped, deadpan.
Rain almost choked on her laughter as Clifford shot Alexander an exasperated look. "For the record, the na has nothing to do with my physical appearance."
Alexander leaned back in his chair, a smug grin tugging at his lips. "It’s misleading. I had a very different ntal image."
Rain couldn’t hold back her laughter as she interrupted, "Well, Clifford is chubby after all! I used to call you that while pinching your cheeks! You were so cute, I couldn’t help myself!"
Clifford chuckled, a nostalgic smile crossing his face. "Yeah, you’re right. I got that codena because of you. Honestly, I miss those days when you’d always stretch my cheeks."
Alexander cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. "Let bygones be bygones, and don’t even think about asking my wife to touch your cheeks now or at any point."
Rain shook her head, amused by the tension between them, while Clifford groaned dramatically, though without real malice. It was the kind of banter between two rivals who had mutual respect, though they would never admit it aloud.
"And you’re exactly as annoying in person as you are online," Clifford shot back, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "The feeling’s mutual."
The back-and-forth bickering continued, but the tension slowly eased, replaced by sothing almost akin to camaraderie. Rain watched them with a knowing smile, sensing that despite their rivalry, they held each other in high regard.
After a beat of silence, Alexander finally said, "For what it’s worth, thanks for helping with that thing last ti."
Clifford shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant. "Don’t ntion it."
The silence between Alexander and Clifford lingered, but it felt less strained now. Rain glanced between the two n before deciding to break it.
"Alright, the comic books, please. Alexander and I need to head out—father-in-law is expecting us for dinner," she said to Clifford, holding out her hand.
Clifford nodded and handed her the paper bag filled with the comics. As Rain took it, she couldn’t resist asking, "How is she?" referring to her friend, Sanya.
Clifford sighed. "How else? She’s distressed. I don’t know why she’s struggling to confess and apologize, but you know how she is. She’ll co around eventually," he reassured. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her."
Rain nodded quietly, appreciating his support, but still feeling the weight of her unresolved issues with Sanya.
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