Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO
Chapter 48: Castle Central Square, Birthday Surprise (Part 2)

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Castle Central Square, Birthday Surprise (Part 2)

"Their stir-fried greens are amazing..."

The girl eagerly started chatting with Nora Scott.

Pedro Langley and the other guy let them take the lead, but when they exchanged glances, the atmosphere felt a bit awkward.

After sitting for a few minutes, snowflakes suddenly started drifting outside, the cold wind sweeping the snow through the secluded alley, yet the guests at the few tables outside continued to chatter, smoke, drink, and feast, seemingly unaffected.

In the midst of the swirling smoke and joyful laughter were elderly people, middle-aged individuals, women, and children, unknowingly forming a barrier against the wind and snow. Behind this layer, their own laughter and whispers, with their eyes and brows, revealed joy either for life or the holidays.

"Are you adjusting?"

After ordering, Nora Scott abruptly asked Pedro Langley.

Pedro Langley retracted his gaze from outside the glass door and replied, "It’s okay."

"As long as you get used to it," Nora Scott grabbed an empty cup, poured him a cup of barley tea with a thermos, and pushed it in front of him, "Once you start eating, you won’t care."

As she spoke with her head down, the dim light inside the shop fell on her brows and eyes, enveloping her in a soft gentleness.

"Mm."

Pedro Langley didn’t banter with her this time.

Nora Scott’s upbringing was vastly different from Pedro Langley’s. In places that made Pedro Langley rather uncomfortable, Nora Scott felt at ease, like a fish in water.

Moreover, she possessed a magical infectiousness, attracting people from various fields with her personal charm, blending them seamlessly without any awkwardness.

Just like she was familiar with the rules here and could navigate Virtue Retreat with ease.

Before long, Pedro Langley gradually adjusted to the environment and occasionally chatted with the two "temporary tablemates" - the unfamiliar couple.

A large plate of chicken and several stir-fried dishes.

The taste was indeed good, down-to-earth cuisine, carrying the flavor of everyday life, something you wouldn’t find in a high-end restaurant.

"Not a bad experience coming here, right?" Nora Scott asked him during a free moment.

"Mm."

Pedro Langley answered honestly.

For a moment, Nora Scott scooted closer to him, suddenly leaning by his side.

Pedro Langley stopped breathing for a moment.

The next second, he heard Nora Scott gently remind him, "Don’t eat too much, the noodles come last, mixed with the chicken’s gravy; that’s where the real taste is."

Her voice floated gently toward him, her hair brushing past his cheeks, ear side, and neck, fleetingly.

"...Mm."

Pedro Langley’s heart tightened, as he actually hadn’t clearly heard what she said.

After speaking, Nora Scott sat properly back and continued chatting with the couple.

Pedro Langley lowered his gaze slightly, his eyes flickering, in the corner of his eye, Nora Scott’s adept expression, unknowingly, his grip on the chopsticks slowly tightened.

Always so casual, treating everyone like that.

Did she know her casual actions could lead to such big misunderstandings?

*

The guests in the shop gradually left, transitioning from a noisy scene to a tranquil one.

The four of them talked happily, until around eight, when they were full and satisfied, bidding farewell at the restaurant’s door.

Having met by chance, they tacitly agreed not to exchange contact information.

"It’s snowing again."

As soon as they stepped out, the wind and snow hit Nora Scott in the eyes, and she lightly furrowed her brows.

Pedro Langley asked, "Want to take a walk?"

The cold wind blew onto her face, mixed with snowflakes, Nora Scott was a bit bewildered, "In this freezing weather, a walk?"

"It’s still early, we could walk off some of the food," Pedro Langley calmly said, "It’s rather lively tonight, we could take a trip to Castle Central Square and come back."

Nora Scott was a bit surprised, "You like crowds?"

"It’s human nature to enjoy the bustle."

"You’re quite philosophical."

With a lowered gaze, Nora Scott took out her phone.

She intended to check the time but found her phone’s battery was drained without her noticing.

Pedro Langley said, "It’s past eight."

After hesitating for quite a while, Nora Scott slowly said, "...Alright."

Although driving would take long, the walk wasn’t too far.

It’s like risking one’s life to accompany a gentleman.

Seeing her agree, Pedro Langley stepped toward the car parked by the roadside and took out a black baseball cap from the backseat.

Nora Scott had just approached when he flipped his hand and placed the baseball cap on her head.

At the same time, he reached down and took off the sunglasses she’d just put on.

"Don’t wear sunglasses, it’s bad for your eyesight."

Before Nora Scott could speak, Pedro Langley quickly gave his reason, and then he took out a few hand warmers for her, asking, "Do you need an umbrella?"

"No need."

The air here was dry, unlike the south; the snow melted as soon as it touched the ground.

Moreover, whether sharing an umbrella with Pedro Langley, each having an umbrella, or her having one alone, the scenario seemed quite awkward.

Pedro Langley tilted his head, "Then let’s go."

Pulling up her scarf, Nora Scott opened the hand warmers, tossed them in her pockets, and slowly followed Pedro Langley.

Snowflakes flew, the cold wind biting, the alley dimly lit, Pedro Langley walked upright, wearing a black coat, every line appeared as if ironed on. The white snow spun and fell on his hair and shoulders, in no time, a light frosted white settled, starkly contrasting.

The two of them walked for a while.

Suddenly, the atmosphere cooled, with no words exchanged, only the sound of the wind howling and voices drifting near and far were heard.

After turning a corner slowly, Nora Scott said, "Let’s chat about something."

Silence for too long felt a bit awkward given their relationship status.

Relaxing his brows, Pedro Langley turned his head to look at her, "What shall we chat about?"

"Anything."

The snow on the ground hadn’t melted and was topped with another layer, after freezing, it showed signs of slipperiness when stepped on.

Pedro Langley, already pondering topics, was taken aback when she mentioned it. He asked, "Still want to act?"

"I do."

Unexpectedly, Nora Scott answered swiftly.

It seemed she had already decided in her heart.

Feeling a slight stir, Pedro Langley asked gravely, "What role do you want to take?"

"As long as it’s not a ’female knight,’ anything’s fine."

Having debuted as a "female knight," both inside and outside the circle, her roles had been stereotyped, mostly confined to fantasy or martial arts dramas, with few exceptions.

Pedro Langley was about to speak, but Nora Scott chuckled and shifted the tone, "But for now, it’s not possible. Easton would worry."

"...Mm."

Pedro Langley restrained his thoughts.

As long as she wanted it, there was no rush.

...

After traversing several narrow, dim streets, they arrived at a corner where the view suddenly opened up.

The bustling square glowed with neon lights, the streets shimmering with colors, and crowded with vehicles and people walking side by side. Though the swirling snow and piercing winter couldn’t dampen their festive spirit.

Standing at the junction of the streets and alleys, Nora Scott raised her brows, "Where to stroll?"

"Just wander around."

Checking the time, Pedro Langley seemed a bit absent-minded, his gaze fixed on a central spot of the square.

Nora Scott paused, "Just walking?"

"Mm."

"Are you walking a dog?"

Amused, he kindly said, "Today is your birthday, don’t insult yourself."

"...Damn."

Yet, he took it further, smilingly saying, "Come, follow me."

"What a nerve!"

Nora Scott’s words carried a hint of menace, but the next moment, she sprinted after Pedro Langley.

The crowd was bustling, including tourists strolling, vendors selling flowers, balloons, and lanterns, street singers, or teenagers passing by on skateboards or hoverboards.

Unlike the narrow and shabby restaurant life, this was clearly another form of life.

Nora Scott found the young man’s electronic music performance interesting, but after stopping at the periphery for a while, she realized Pedro Langley was no longer there.

Paused amid the moving crowd, her gaze scanned around, and when her patience was running thin, she felt two gaze carrying hidden power. She focused and saw him by the fountain at the square center.

Amidst the throng, his gaze avoided everyone and everything and landed straight on her, enveloped in flames, for a moment, her heart seemed seared.

In the next instant, she strode over.

As she approached, the lights in the square suddenly changed, flashing in sync, attracting the surrounding pedestrians to pause.

Noticing the anomaly, she stopped, slightly tilting her head, amidst the chaotic snowflakes, squinting.

All the advertisement screens in the square, big and small, switched to the same display.

10.

9.

8.

...

Countdown.