Chapter 414: When People Court Disaster, No One Can Stop Them
Adrian Law held hands tightly with Cecilia Vaughn, and she glanced back at him with a smile. Then, like a child, she skipped towards the roasted sweet potato stall across the street.
Watching the untainted smile on the girl’s face, Adrian felt a warmth in his heart. He had never felt the details of life to be so genuinely beautiful before.
—Perhaps, as long as you can be by the side of the one you love most, have the simplest meal, and walk on the most familiar city roads, that is tranquility in time, peace in the world.
What grand wealth and power could compare to the little fairy’s every move that captured his heart.
...
Cecilia stood in front of the sweet potato stall and spoke with a bright smile.
"Boss, I’d like two servings of roasted sweet potatoes, the sweetest and the largest!"
"Sure thing!"
The old man saw such a pretty young girl, accompanied by a handsome guy, and couldn’t help but brighten up.
Hearing ’two servings’, Adrian was slightly surprised and wanted to ask Cecilia, but before he could speak, Cecilia, sensing his thoughts, reached out her finger to hush him.
"The other serving is for you. Okay, don’t refuse me~ I know you’ve never had roasted sweet potatoes from a stall before. You must try new things in life~"
"If it’s not tasty, you can give the rest to me!"
The girl’s eyes sparkled like fallen stars, even brighter than the night sky full of them.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say, my lady."
Moved, Adrian could only nod reluctantly yet indulgently.
However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Cecilia was certain she wouldn’t finish the second serving and was thus claiming both servings of sweet potatoes in a rightful manner.
...
The old man quickly picked out two of the largest sweet potatoes from the roasting barrel, their golden centers emitting an enticing sweet aroma that made one’s appetite grow.
As soon as Cecilia took them, she almost burned her hand, and Adrian quickly took both servings from her.
He even thoughtfully held them up near Cecilia’s mouth so she could easily reach the sweet potatoes she wanted to eat.
"Mmm! So aromatic and delicious!"
Cecilia took a big bite, her mouth full of sweet potato filling, and her pretty face instantly turned into that of a little cat.
Adrian didn’t feel embarrassed at all, instead, he took out a handkerchief to carefully wipe the stains from the girl’s mouth.
"Eat slowly, be careful not to burn yourself, or it won’t be worth it."
"Mm-hmm, rest assured! I have to take care of my mouth for the sake of food!"
Cecilia acted cutely, giving Adrian a playful smile.
...
The old man, even at his age, was shown up by these two young people. This golden love is indeed remarkable...
However, seeing that both Cecilia and Adrian had such good manners, he had a good impression of these young people.
"Um... young lady, did you forget something?"
The old man smiled kindly at Cecilia to remind her.
Cecilia was surprised and was about to say she hadn’t forgotten anything, but upon seeing the mischievous look in the old man’s eyes, she realized how terrible she had been.
"Ah, sorry! I forgot to pay just now!"
She had actually started eating after taking the sweet potatoes, forgetting to pay the old man, truly a blunder!
Luckily, the old man didn’t misunderstand them as wanting a free meal.
...
Cecilia searched herself and remembered she had only brought her phone in her haste to leave.
She looked at the old man with some embarrassment.
"I’m sorry... I forgot my wallet. Can I transfer the money to you via WeChat?"
These days, mobile payments are all the rage in Veridia, particularly in Stellerton, where even a pencil outside a school can be paid for with a scan.
With Starfall Bay’s advanced security, entering the community requires facial recognition, and entering a house requires iris and fingerprint recognition, so sometimes Cecilia would just head out with nothing but her phone.
...
The old man looked hesitant.
"So... young lady, you don’t even have twenty Golden Currency in cash on you?"
Cecilia shook her head sheepishly.
Looking at the sweet potatoes she had already taken several bites of, she felt a strange sense of guilt for freeloading.
"Sir, why don’t you wait for me, I’ll find a passerby or a shop to exchange some change with my phone. I’m not a scammer, I promise not to leave your sight, just give me ten minutes."
At that moment, Adrian suddenly stopped her.
"Cecilia, did you forget I’m here?"
"???"
Cecilia shook her head in surprise and saw Adrian casually take out his wallet, pulling out a few red-colored notes from it to hand to the old man at the stall.
"It’s too cold, sir, please go home early to rest."
Adrian casually placed the money down and pulled Cecilia away.
The old man dazedly watched the man’s back and then, realizing the bills were about to be blown away by the wind, hurriedly grabbed them and shouted.
"Young man, come back! You’ve given too much!"
A sweet potato worth twenty Golden Currency, yet this young man gave so much, it’s just too much to accept...
"Keep the change."
Adrian replied lightly, walking fast while pulling Cecilia along.
He could see the old man was an honest and hardworking person. Compared to those who beg on the streets despite being young, this old man, with graying hair, still earnestly set up his sweet potato stall on cold winter nights. If not for unfilial children, there must be other reasons why.
He wasn’t interested in redeeming someone else’s life, but maybe influenced by Cecilia’s kindness, he felt it didn’t hurt to extend a little help.
...
The old man couldn’t pursue them while minding the sweet potato stall.
He silently stared at the large bills, feeling an urge to cry.
Adrian appeared to be the type of successful elite who wasn’t easy to approach. Who would’ve thought beneath that cold exterior was a heart that could warm others?
—Thank you, young people, I wish you happiness.
...
Initially, they planned to go home right after getting the sweet potatoes, but after eating two, Cecilia was full of energy and wanted to explore. Passing the lakeside, she noticed it was frozen and wanted to test it like a child.
"Adrian, do you think the lake is frozen solid? Can I try stepping on it?"
The man chuckled helplessly.
"Are you looking for trouble? Stellerton isn’t the Northeast, Cecilia, the moment you put your foot out, you’ll probably fall in..."
Cecilia, however, was insistent, holding his hand: "Let me try, it’s okay, you can catch me if anything happens."
Adrian sighed, rubbing his forehead.
—Well, when someone wants to court trouble, no one can stop them.
Under the bright streetlights, Cecilia gave the man a bright smile and then quickly removed her shoes and socks, gently stepping onto the ice...