Urban System in America
Chapter 229 - 228: I left my superhero cape at home

Chapter 229: Chapter 228: I left my superhero cape at home

Ellie, who had been teetering on the edge of a breakdown moments ago, blinked rapidly and straightened up like someone trying to regain control of a runaway shopping cart. Her pink cheeks faded into a bright, bubbly grin as she bounced back into her usual energetic self.

"Yup! My dad works in a pretty big bank, and he got transferred to LA. Suddenly I was trading tea for avocado toast and rain for smog and palm trees," she said cheerfully, flashing a grin at Rex. Then she pointed playfully at Lena. "But this one never called me back unless it was to brag about meeting those famous celebrities."

"Well, clearly someone was living their best life," he said, his tone teasing but friendly.

"You have no idea," Ellie shot back with mock exasperation. "Meanwhile, I was dealing with new environments, college midterms, American fast food, and guys who thought ’British accent’ meant I must be royalty."

Lena chuckled, relaxing slightly as the tension melted back into easy banter. "You did enjoy the attention, though. I remember that one time you pretended to be a duchess just to get free dessert."

Ellie gasped in faux outrage. "Hey! That waiter offered it on his own! I never said I was royalty. I just... didn’t correct him."

Rex laughed. "Noted. So you’re cunning, dramatic, and food-motivated. I like you already."

"WOOOW! Where did you get such an understanding boyfriend, Lena?" Ellie teased, nudging Lena with a dramatic waggle of her brows.

Lena nearly choked on air. "H-he is not my boyfriend!" she blurted out, hands flailing defensively before she caught herself and tried to regain her composure. Her voice dropped into a lower, more controlled register. "He’s just... a friend. A very helpful friend. Who sometimes shows up at the right time. That’s all."

Ellie gave her a pointed look, then slowly turned to Rex with an exaggerated wink. "Right. ’Just a friend.’ Totally buying that."

Rex smiled generously, his tone warm and sincere as he stepped in to ease the tension. "We really aren’t," he said casually, glancing between the two girls. "In fact, we just met today."

He paused, the smile on his lips deepening. "But... I think we were destined to cross paths. I helped her, and she helped me. Funny how that works sometimes."

His words, calm and smooth, carried an odd weight of honesty that made Ellie blink. Her teasing grin faltered just slightly, replaced with a spark of curiosity as she looked between Rex and Lena.

Lena, on the other hand, stood frozen for half a second before quickly schooling her features into neutrality again. But there was a flicker in her eyes—something thoughtful, almost uncertain—before she cleared her throat and changed the subject.

"So," Lena said with a sharp pivot in tone, clearing her throat and pasting on a light smile, "what were you talking about before, Ellie? Something about being dragged here against your will?"

Ellie lit up at the prompt, throwing her hands up in mock frustration. "Ugh, yes! I was having the perfect lazy evening—face mask on, hot chocolate in hand, and a true crime documentary lined up—when suddenly, my dad barges in and drops the bomb: ’Put on something nice, we’re going to a party.’"

Rex raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Sounds like a dramatic rescue mission."

"More like a parental abduction," Ellie said with a groan. "He didn’t even tell me where we were going. Just that it was some big-deal event and I had to smile and make an appearance. Said it was good for networking—whatever that means."

Ellie muttered, "But damn, I only realized after we got here that this whole thing was a matchmaking trap. Humph! Have those twisted melon-faced creeps even looked at themselves in the mirror? Just because you’ve got a bit of dirty money doesn’t mean you can land this Ellie." She tossed her hair dramatically and crossed her arms with flair, before her eyes landed on Lena with an impish glint.

"But hey," she continued, voice dripping with exaggerated affection, "maybe it wasn’t a total loss after all. Who would’ve thought I’d find you here, my darling Lena!"

With that, she lunged forward, pouncing on Lena and mashing their cheeks together with exaggerated enthusiasm, rubbing them side to side like an overexcited golden retriever discovering its long-lost sibling. "My precious old roomie! Still soft and squishy as ever!"

Lena yelped, flailing helplessly as Ellie mushed her face like dough. "Ellie—stop! You’re going to smear my makeup!"

"Beauty is temporary, friendship is forever!" Ellie declared dramatically, still clinging.

Rex, watching this chaos unfold, simply shook his head with a grin. ’And here I thought this party only got degenerate freaks.’

"Okay, enough about us," Ellie said, finally releasing Lena and turning her attention back to Rex with a playful gleam in her eye. She rested a hand on her hip and leaned in ever so slightly. "Let’s talk about you, handsome. Mind giving a proper introduction? Because it seems like not even our dear Lena knows who you really are."

She shot a mischievous look at Lena as she said it, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.

Lena tried to act uninterested, brushing an imaginary speck off her dress, but even she subtly perked up her ears. Honestly, she was curious about Rex. She’d been too caught up in the whirlwind of the evening to ask him much about himself, but now—with Ellie leading the interrogation—it was the perfect opportunity to learn more without looking like she cared too much.

Rex smiled, taking his time as he slid his hands into his pockets. "Well, since I’ve clearly walked into an ambush disguised as a conversation... fine, I surrender. Me? I’m just a regular guy—studying at UCLA next door, majoring in business administration. I read a lot, try to survive on instant noodles, and occasionally get mistaken for a model by very optimistic tourists. I’ve got a knack for ending up in strange places, like this one tonight. Call it fate or bad GPS, but hey, it got me here."

Ellie blinked, then raised a brow with mock skepticism. "That’s it? No mysterious backstory? No secret double life? You’re too pretty to be that boring."

Rex chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint. I left my superhero cape at home."

(End of Chapter)