Chapter 1406 - 1402: Help! The Heartthrobs Are All Here
Chloe Winston didn’t make a big deal about treating Finnian to a meal in the group chat; she invited everyone privately, and didn’t plan on creating a new group either. First, everyone only met because of the variety show and hadn’t known each other for long. Second, her personality was pretty open and straightforward, and she didn’t like forming little cliques. A bit of distance was actually better for the development of friendship.
The next morning, the supermarket delivery guy brought over the fresh groceries she’d ordered online, along with ten sets of Scandinavia-style bowls, plates, and chopsticks.
The cleaning auntie was tidying up, so Chloe tore open all the packages for the dishes and chopsticks. Her hand brushed over the pretty glazed surface—brightly colored, Scandinavian-style bowls and plates. Just looking at the pretty tableware put her in a great mood; even her interest in cooking suddenly got stronger.
Chloe hadn’t bought a lot of ingredients. She planned to make four or five dishes herself, then have her assistant, Qiu, pick up three or four signature dishes from a Michelin restaurant outside. After all, she was hosting a meal for six or seven people, all of them super high‑profile stars and big shots in politics. The main dishes were better off being packed from a restaurant.
She’d thought Desmond Wood would arrive first, but unexpectedly, Finnian was the first one there, showing up at three in the afternoon.
Chloe was wearing a kitty‑print apron and a very homely gray cotton dress. When she saw Finnian arrive, she hurried over to get him a pair of disposable slippers, smiling as she said, "Finn, you’re really early."
"I’ve got nothing this afternoon, so I came over early to lend you a hand." Desmond Wood took in her dainty, sweet appearance—big, dark, bright eyes; a cute little silk clip in her hair; even the kitten printed on her apron looked adorably silly and soft. The smile at the corners of his lips deepened. Fierce or soft, cool or sweet—she really was a little treasure.
"The auntie’s leaving right after she finishes cleaning. I’d be here alone, running around like a headless chicken—so you’re just in time. Help me take a look and see what I’m still missing." Chloe said with a smile.
Finnian stepped inside and saw that in the huge dining room, the newly bought tableware had been laid out neatly. The little girl had only just moved in; a lot of things were still incomplete. Luckily, he’d brought four bottles of red wine, just in case Chloe didn’t have any at home—if they had to buy it last minute, they definitely wouldn’t get anything good.
Finnian set the wooden box of red wine on the dining table, glanced at the almost empty wine cabinet, and noticed there weren’t enough wine glasses either. He immediately called Desmond and rattled off a whole list, telling him to bring everything over when he came.
Desmond Wood had a schedule that afternoon and his timing was insanely tight. When he got Finnian’s call, he let out a tragic wail, hurried his assistant to go shopping according to the list, and then used his break to show off in the WeChat group.
"I can’t make it to Chloe’s place until six. None of you are allowed to go too early—wait for me."
"I curse you all to gain ten pounds, always eating together and never inviting me," Director Daniel was still wallowing in the fact that Constantine Stewart couldn’t make it to the recording of the fourth episode and was miserably trying to find a last‑minute guest. When he saw the message, he muttered bitterly.
"Director, you’re heartless. If we gain ten pounds, how are we supposed to stay in this industry?" Desmond Wood rolled his eyes and threw a dog emoji at him.
"Quit whining and go rush your schedule. Who’s got the time to wait for you? We’ll wait for you to come wash the dishes, that’s for sure." Wendy Starling said with a smile.
Constantine Stewart was stuck at home recuperating and couldn’t go anywhere. He was bored out of his mind, half‑afk in a game. When he saw the notifications in the group chat, his eyes narrowed slightly and his handsome face sank. Chloe’s days were looking pretty damn cozy, huh? He didn’t even have anyone to eat with at home, and she was over there inviting a whole gang of fox‑friends and dog‑buddies out every day?
Mr. Stewart suddenly stood up, his refined, handsome face tight, and went to change his clothes. Dinner at six, right? He was going too.
Chloe was so busy at home she barely had her feet on the ground. Luckily, she had Finnian helping out. A little after five, Kyla Zamora and assistant Qiu arrived with the signature dishes from the Michelin restaurant, and also brought a bouquet of tulips and a bouquet of lilies.
Charles Taylor and Wendy Starling had arrived even earlier, and the dining room instantly felt lively. Assistant Qiu was blatantly there to freeload a meal. She’d originally wanted to help, but Finnian firmly turned her down.
The moment the girl saw Charles Taylor, her feet basically refused to move. Sister Chloe was seriously badass—she even invited the Best Actor over to her place for dinner, sob sob sob.
"Your drool’s about to hit the floor and you’re not even wiping it," Kyla scolded her jokingly, then lowered her voice to ask about the situation in the kitchen.
"Sister Chloe is cooking, the diplomat is doing the prep work, and I was kicked out,"
"Aiya, Chloe’s still young, she’s at the rising stage of her career—she absolutely cannot start dating right now." Sister Kyla was like a nagging mom, anxious enough to jump up and down.
Charles Taylor, who couldn’t cook at all, nodded seriously. "Exactly. And with how special a diplomat’s job is, it’s not good for Chloe’s career."
If she really married a diplomat, Chloe’s career would basically be over. Charles Taylor felt an inexplicable pressure from this second rival who’d suddenly popped up.
"Worst case, they can just have a hidden marriage. It’s not like there aren’t plenty of officers married to celebs. There’s no ’no‑diplomat’ rule or anything." Wendy Starling was eating dessert off to the side as she laughed.
"Little goblin, you can even eat something that high in calories? If your agent finds out, they’ll hang themselves." Kyla watched her polish off several pieces of dessert in the blink of an eye and could already picture Wendy three pounds heavier.
"I’ve been on diet meals for a month; the reality show is insane. My body and my mind are under too much pressure—if I don’t eat, I’ll die." Wendy stuffed the last piece of dessert into her mouth, satisfied, and licked her fingers. She didn’t look anything like her usual glamorous public persona; she was like a half‑starved mermaid, draped over the sofa and weakly muttering, "I want to binge, I want to get married and have kids. Why did I have that brain fart and decide to become a celebrity back then?"
Everyone: "..."
"Sister Wendy, I binge every day. I don’t even go on diets." Chloe stuck her fluffy little head out of the kitchen, smiling as she twisted the knife.
"Chloe Winston, you’re about to lose me." Wendy was so provoked she jumped up to go smack her.
"Good sis, eat your fill tonight, we’ve got a top chef at the stove." Chloe quickly tried to make peace with a grin. She’d originally been the one who was going to cook, but somehow the job had ended up in Finnian’s hands.
Leaning on the doorway, Wendy watched the diplomat cooking inside—still elegant and ridiculously handsome even in the kitchen. She licked her red lips and complained resentfully, "Why is he even good‑looking when he’s cooking?"
"You like him? I can play matchmaker for you two," Chloe whispered, blinking at her.
"I don’t steal other people’s men. You keep this prime piece of eye candy for yourself." Wendy slowly crawled back to the sofa. Maybe it was age, or maybe she’d just seen too much of the rise and fall in the Entertainment Sector, but she was craving a normal life more and more—getting married, having kids, eating big chunks of meat, downing big gulps of wine. That kind of life was really something to yearn for.
Everyone laughed and joked around when the doorbell rang.
"That must be Desmond. Make him drink three cups as punishment for being late," Chloe said with a smile.
Assistant Qiu, acting as the diligent little worker bee, zipped over to open the door. The moment she did, she found herself facing Mr. Stewart in the doorway—188 centimeters tall, long and lean, refined and rakish, with three claw‑like scratches still visible on his handsome face. Her knees suddenly felt a bit weak for no reason.
Sis, help, another male god just showed up!