The sweet feeling from the night before enveloped Luna Axton all night long.
When she woke up, that happy, sweet feeling was still there.
She opened her clear, bright eyes and turned her head, gazing dazedly at the balcony on the other side of the bed.
That was where she had chatted with Blaze last night.
She lay in bed for a while longer before getting up, ready for a great day. After freshening up, she headed downstairs.
The mont she reached the top of the stairs, she heard the voice of her aunt, May Ford.
"Still complaining the breakfast is too plain? I see you don’t want to be healthy anymore. You never have ti to exercise, and you’re secretly eating snacks behind my back. If you keep abusing your body like this, you’ll pay for it when you’re older."
’Aunt May must be talking about the mouse they found in Uncle’s study. I never expected my gentle, sophisticated aunt to be so naggy.’
"But, if you die first, would you have the heart to leave to live in this world all alone?"
The stern tone suddenly turned soft and coquettish. As an eavesdropper, Luna felt incredibly awkward.
’This is not a good ti to make an appearance.’
She stood frozen on the landing, afraid that any sound would interrupt her aunt and uncle’s "chat."
His wife had given in, her voice turning coy and full of reliance on him.
Mason Frost was a complete sucker for this. His tone turned flirtatious. "My darling May, don’t worry. I’ll start working out today. I guarantee twenty thousand steps a day to get my vigor back."
’Luna’s face burned. She was shocked. How could a renowned expert in liver disease talk in such a sappy, suggestive way?’
"Mmm, that’s my good boy, Mason. Keep up the good work," May Ford encouraged him.
’Goosebumps instantly broke out on Luna’s arms. This...’
’She...’
Luna looked from side to side. There was absolutely nowhere to hide.
Escape was impossible.
’I don’t know how long Uncle and Aunt are going to be having their private conversation. Maybe I should just go back upstairs?’
Just as she turned to leave, she ca face to face with an ambiguous smile.
Luna quietly clenched her fists.
’When did soone get behind ? I didn’t hear a thing. Was I that engrossed in listening?’
’No way!’
Blushing, Luna explained in a hushed voice, "I didn’t an to eavesdrop. I just got here as they were... in the middle of that."
Ethan Frost cleared his throat and said in a world-weary tone, "People in the honeymoon phase are always this sappy. You’ll get used to it."
"Mm, okay." ’What else could I do but agree ekly?’
It wasn’t until ten minutes later that Luna realized Ethan’s comnt wasn’t just about their aunt and uncle.
Ethan Frost slid quickly down the stairs, his shoes gliding along the edge of the steps.
Watching him, Luna thought of Assistant Frost in class and shook her head slightly.
’This family... As soon as the front door closes, it’s like they shed their professional skins. All that authority, grace, and refinent gets hung up on the rack with their coats.’
’The contrast is just too much!’
"Could you two show so consideration for , the single one, and for your pregnant cousin? Can you not be so lovey-dovey first thing in the morning?"
’Hearing this, Luna froze on the stairs. I really want to run back to my room and hide!’
"Luna? Luna’s awake?" May Ford said in pleasant surprise, her gaze falling on the top of the stairs. "There’s no one there! You little rascal, you lied to again!"
"Of course she’s embarrassed. She heard you two flirting first thing in the morning. She’s probably missing her husband now!"
Aaargh!
’If my cousin wants to talk about Uncle and Aunt, fine, but why did he have to drag into it?!’
’I haven’t even thought about Blaze Fairchild since I left my room!’
’My cousin is just talking nonsense.’
But since Ethan had already revealed she was on the stairs, she had no choice but to go down.
Facing the gazes of the three, Luna gave an awkward but polite smile. "Good morning, Uncle, Aunt, Ethan."
Ethan Frost raised an eyebrow. "No need to be so formal. Didn’t we just see each other?"
Luna faltered.
’I’m suddenly thinking my cousin being single is for the protection of all womankind.’
’He’s so blunt, his conversation topics change in a flash, and his tongue is just plain vicious!’
’His girlfriend would need a heart of steel, a quick mind, and an amazing sense of humor.’
’A woman that amazing would be too hard to find.’
"Co and eat breakfast." May Ford, wearing an apron, pulled out a chair for Luna. "Do you want a Chinese or Western-style breakfast?"
"Your mother told you eat a lot of variety but in small portions at Fairchild Estate. I’m not a professional chef, so I just made these this morning. The fried dough sticks are alum-free, so don’t worry. Just eat what you like. It’s okay if you can’t finish; your cousin and uncle can have the leftovers."
’Luna pressed her lips together. Making the dean and an assistant professor of Valoria dical College eat leftovers from a student like her... that was completely out of line.’
"Mom!" Ethan Frost protested. "Are you really that fond of having a daughter? My breakfasts for a whole month combined don’t have this much variety."
"Of course. Girls are precious treasures. As for you..." May Ford’s gaze on Ethan Frost suddenly sharpened. "Be honest with . How did you deal with that mouse yesterday?"
"If you’re so scared of it, why ask? It’s been dealt with, anyway." Ethan took a large bite of a fried dough stick, closing his eyes and chewing in bliss.
"When I was trying to sleep last night, it felt very noisy outside. I think I even heard a mouse going SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK. Fess up."
Ethan Frost replied, "What SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK? You must’ve heard the doorbell."
Hearing this, the hand Luna was using to sip her soy milk trembled slightly.
’Last night, Blaze Fairchild had stood at the gate to the Frost Family ho for over twenty minutes, but I’m positive he never rang the doorbell.’
May Ford’s expression tensed. She said sternly, "I’m a firm materialist. Don’t even think about trying to scare ."
"I know you don’t believe in ghosts, but I never said Ian was a ghost."
The mont Ethan finished speaking, Luna started to cough.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
The soy milk went down the wrong pipe.
Seeing what happened, May Ford rushed over to pat her back, while Mason Frost stood up to get her a napkin.
Only Ethan Frost remained unperturbed, continuing to eat his crispy fried dough stick.
’The last ti I had Mom’s homade fried dough sticks was years ago.’
’Tasting them again, they’re just as delicious as I rember.’
’They’re too good to let my little cousin finish them all by herself.’
With that thought, his chopsticks reached for the small basket of fried dough sticks in front of Luna.
He picked one up, dunked it in his soy milk, and took a bite. It was pure bliss.
"You little brat! Look at you, you made your poor cousin choke! No more for you."
May Ford took away Ethan Frost’s soy milk and fried dough sticks, one in each hand.
Luna finally stopped coughing. Her face was bright red, and her eyes were red-rimd and brimming with tears.
"Luna, drink so warm water. It’ll help," Mason Frost reminded her, nudging the glass closer.
Luna nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Uncle."
Seeing that she had recovered, May Ford brought her a new breakfast.
"We’ll skip the soy milk for now. Have so congee, and here’s so taro and purple sweet potato."
"Okay." ’Aunt May was being so thoughtful.’ Fearing that eating too little would disappoint her, Luna obediently agreed and had a little of everything.
May Ford and Mason Frost only continued with their own breakfast after seeing her start to eat.
"You ntioned Ian just now. What did you an?"
Luna’s heart leaped into her throat again at May Ford’s question.
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