Chapter 67: What a Coincidence
As Vivian Lowell spoke, the expression on Julian Faulkner’s face gradually relaxed.
He smiled and said, "If you think it’s too hard, I’ll just help you."
"Mm-hmm!" Vivian Lowell nodded. Seeing the traffic thickening on both sides of the road, she said, "Okay, let’s stop chatting for now. There are more cars, so you should focus on driving!"
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the Faulkner Group.
Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner returned to their respective companies, each busy with their own work.
As noon approached, Vivian Lowell set aside her work, leaned back in her chair for a long stretch, and pulled out her phone to scroll through her Moments.
Just then, she saw a message from Eleanor Rhodes.
"The pet hospital has been so busy lately! Ever since that whole ’Raincoat Man’ incident, we’ve had so many more people visiting! A lot of them are adopting cats, too!"
"Vivian, I want to hire an assistant, someone to focus on the kitten adoptions. They’d also help take care of the kittens day-to-day—refilling their water and food, and managing our X account and all that!"
After the last incident, Eleanor Rhodes realized that the videos she had casually filmed of rescuing kittens were getting a great response online.
It was the perfect opportunity to call on people to care for stray cats and to promote their "adopt, don’t shop" message.
Because of this, several cat food and litter companies had also contacted Eleanor Rhodes. They said they were willing to partner with her; if she could provide some publicity, they would send a monthly supply of cat products.
Eleanor Rhodes hadn’t agreed right away.
Even though the supplies were free and would ease some of her financial burden, she wanted to vet them first.
She would only agree if the products were genuinely good and kept the cats healthy.
Vivian Lowell thought Eleanor Rhodes was doing the right thing.
"Tanya, if you’re too busy, you should definitely hire someone. It would be best to find someone with experience raising cats who loves animals. That way you can lighten your workload."
Eleanor Rhodes didn’t reply right away; perhaps she had gone to lunch.
Vivian took the opportunity to put her phone down. Just then, the young woman from the front desk knocked on her door. "Boss, a few of us are heading to the fast-food place downstairs. Do you want to come?"
"Or I could bring something back for you?"
’A fast-food place?’
Vivian ate fast food fairly often. This particular place had a wide variety of dishes—braised chicken and rice, an assortment of small side dishes, and various kinds of noodles.
They even served steamed buns for breakfast.
The only thing was, most of the food was made from pre-prepared ingredients. It was all about convenience, so the taste was just so-so—edible, but nothing more.
It was cheap, though, so plenty of people working nearby ate there.
"I’m in the mood for duck blood and vermicelli soup."
Vivian was suddenly craving the duck blood and vermicelli soup from the cafeteria at Aethelburg University. The savory broth with duck offal and delicate vermicelli was just perfect for someone who couldn’t handle spicy food.
"Uh..."
The receptionist sounded a little troubled. "I’m not sure if they have that. Boss, I can go check for you."
"Oh, no need."
Vivian smiled and shook her head. "I was just thinking out loud. You guys go ahead and eat. I’ll head downstairs myself and see what I can find."
"Okay, Boss."
With that, the receptionist turned and left.
The office gradually fell quiet.
Vivian sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling traffic below and wondering what else there was to eat nearby.
Just then, her phone rang.
Vivian glanced down and saw it was a call from Julian Faulkner.
’Hm?’
’Why is he calling me?’
Vivian was a little surprised. She answered, and Julian’s voice came through. "Come down to the underground garage. I’m waiting for you by my car."
’The underground garage?’
’Is it about the banquet tonight? Are we leaving already?’
Vivian glanced down at her standard business attire. ’This doesn’t seem very appropriate for a banquet...’
But she hadn’t brought a change of clothes.
She had been planning to find time this afternoon to go shopping for a suitable dress.
"What’s wrong?"
When Vivian didn’t answer for a long moment, Julian’s voice came through the phone again.
Vivian paused for a moment before replying, "Okay, I got it. I’m on my way down now."
After hanging up, Vivian went downstairs. When she found Julian Faulkner in the underground garage, she asked, "Where are we going?"
"To get lunch."
Julian’s reply was succinct. Vivian really wanted to suggest they avoid anything too spicy. She felt a pimple forming and was feeling a bit run-down.
However, Julian looked like he already had a plan, so Vivian kept her thoughts to herself.
After weaving through streets wide and narrow, the car turned into a small alley and pulled over to the side of the road.
This seemed to be one of Aethelburg’s old alleyways. The people coming and going all spoke with a pure local accent, making it feel almost as if they were near Silvermere.
’Why did Julian bring me here?’
Vivian was a little surprised. It was true what they say—the best food often comes from small, unassuming places.
But the place Julian had brought her to was exceptionally inconspicuous.
"Over here."
Julian led the way, quickly guiding Vivian around a corner where she saw numerous small tables set up on the street.
Throngs of people were gathered around the tables, eating bowls of noodles.
’Wait, are those noodles?’
Vivian froze. She looked up at the shop’s sign and saw the words: "Authentic Corhaven Duck Blood and Vermicelli Soup."
"..."
Vivian was floored. She’d seen countless shops with signs that claimed "Authentic XYZ," but they were almost never any good.
’This place...’
’Is Julian sure this place is any good?’
But seeing how busy it was, and smelling the faint, fragrant aroma wafting from inside, Vivian found herself wanting to give it a try.
"Have a seat!"
An older man came out to greet them. He led Vivian and Julian to a table that had just been vacated, wiped it down with practiced speed, and asked, "What’ll ya have?"
Julian spoke up first. "Two bowls of duck blood and vermicelli soup. No spice, no scallions, extra cilantro, please. Thank you."
!
Vivian shot another surprised glance at Julian.
Vivian actually loved spicy food; she just didn’t want any right now because she was feeling run-down. And it was true—she absolutely hated scallions and loved cilantro.
’How did Julian know all that?’
’He couldn’t possibly know!’
’She’d never told him her preferences. How could he possibly know?’
’Could it be... that Julian has the same tastes as her?’
’He doesn’t like scallions and loves cilantro?’
Vivian couldn’t think of any other explanation. Concluding that her own theory was the most plausible, she said to Julian, "What a coincidence."
"I can’t believe you were craving duck blood and vermicelli soup today too, and that our tastes are so similar!"
"..."
Hearing this, Julian looked up and gave Vivian a slightly baffled look.
Vivian was confused. ’Why is he looking at me like that? Could our little coincidence have made him unhappy?’
Unable to figure it out, Vivian decided to just drop it. When the soup arrived, she took a deep, appreciative sniff and exclaimed, "This aroma! You can tell it’s the real deal just by the smell!"
"Mm."
Across from her, Julian also picked up his chopsticks with an elegant grace.
Honestly, the sight of a man as ethereal as him—a "flower on a high peak," so to speak—in a tiny alleyway, sitting at a wobbly old table propped up by books and eating duck blood soup... it was a bit surreal.
’Er, it’s not that there’s anything wrong with him eating in a humble place.’
’It’s just... he looks so noble, like someone who doesn’t easily descend to the mortal realm. Right now, he looks like a god she’d dragged down to earth with her.’
’Eat, just eat!’
Too embarrassed to look at Julian any longer, Vivian lowered her head and started eating.
After finishing the soup, Vivian was thoroughly satisfied. She mentioned to Julian that she didn’t have an evening gown for the banquet and needed to go buy one.
Julian listened, nodded, and said slowly, "No need. I’ve already had Vance Wyatt prepare one for you. It will be delivered to you shortly."
"See if it fits and if you like it. If not, you can still go buy one."
!
’He even took care of that!’
Vivian felt a flicker of warmth at his thoughtfulness!