“That’s very likely. Or should we just give it a try and see how it goes?”
Phoebe’s eyes were sparkling, “How can we try it?”
Was it possible to give such things a try?
Florence gave it a thought and a vixen-like smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She then pulled Phoebe close and whispered something into her ears.
After hearing that, Phoebe’s face became reddish with embarrassment as a blush formed on her cheeks.
“Isn’t that too embarrassing?”
Florence winked hard while nudging Phoebe’s shoulder, “Don’t you want to experience it?”
Phoebe was so shy that she darted off in the outside direction.
She of course wanted to try it!
Florence looked at how feminine Phoebe was and found herself in a good mood. Her best friend was going to be together with her elder brother.
For those two who were kind and decent people, they could finally attain happiness.
It was great.
She walked away with a big smile on her face following after Phoebe’s steps.
After ten minutes, Florence and Phoebe came into the little garden.
Stanford who was having afternoon tea saw them coming and his gaze became perturbed. His gaze lingered on Phoebe for a moment.
Florence walked towards him with a smile, “Stanford, you’re finally not busy anymore?”
“Yes.” Stanford nodded, “All I am doing is waiting for Kieran to reach home.”
Florence flashed a smile, “We are just loitering around here and we are a little thirsty. Can we share the afternoon tea with you?”
Stanford said with affection, “Do you think I will say no if that’s what you want? Come sit here.”
Florence dragged Phoebe to sit down by the table and she even purposely made sure that Phoebe was seated just beside Stanford.
Stanford took up the tea pot and poured a cup of tea for both Florence and Phoebe.
He began gracefully, “This is yellow mountain tea, and it’s a little bitter. If you can’t get used to the taste, I will ask someone to change it.”
“I can drink this. I like something a little bitter too.”
Phoebe raised her cup and took a tiny sip.
The first impact of the taste was very bitter, but after a while, there was a faint fragrance slowly filling her mouth. This was a good tea.
Stanford watched Phoebe drinking her tea and there was something moving in his eyes. This was his favorite tea, and she liked it too.
This sensation somehow put him in a good mood.
Florence looked at the tea in front of her and found herself hesitating. She didn’t like bitter tea as she only liked sweet stuff.
Florence didn’t take her cup but instead she looked around her and said with a fabricated astonishment, “Hey, these flowers are blossoming in such a great state.”
Upon hearing that, Phoebe knew that Florence was going to shift into her act according to their script. She couldn’t help but start to feel nervous.
Her wary gaze avoided Stanford as she followed suit and scanned her surroundings.
She nodded in agreement, “Yes, they indeed look nice. It just so happens to be the season of flowers blossoming at the moment and right in front here you can even see some roses.”
“There are roses too? Then you should bring me and take a look at it. I love roses the most, because it signifies beautiful love.”
Florence looked at Phoebe with smiley eyes and said, “Phoebe, don’t you like to watch Korean dramas? I remember you saying that you like a particular scene where the protagonist confessed to the female lead by carrying a huge bouquet of ninety-nine roses. There is even a ring in the middle of those roses.”
Phoebe’s face started to turn red as her eyes stole some glances at Stanford before she retrieved her gaze.
She replied,, “Yes, that’s my favorite scene in a Korean drama. It’s very romantic.”
“Hmm, does that mean that if someone were to propose to you with ninety-nine stalk of roses, you would agree to marry him?”
With her eyes lighting up, Phoebe nodded lightly.
“Yes.”
As her thoughts wandered, she stole a glance at Stanford and saw that he was holding the tea pot with a graceful posture while pouring tea.
His movements were noble and majestic, and his expression was composed and serene.
There seemed to be no excitement on his face, and he seemed to be not so invested in her conversation with Florence.
He didn’t seem like he was going to buy any roses.
Phoebe’s unsettling heart began to race with uncertainty. She wasn’t that confident that through a mere few words, she was able to test Stanford and find out about his feelings for her.
At least, she could discern nothing from him at the moment.
Florence saw her elder brother who was dense and oblivious and felt a headache coming to her. She pressed her temples and wondered what he was thinking in his head.
Things had developed into such a state, but would he prepare some roses and made his proposal?
Florence wasn’t sure.
However, she didn’t give up just yet. She took a sip out of the bitter tea and immediately spat it out.
“Damn, this is really bitter.”
She pushed the tea cup away from her and said to Stanford, “Stanford, I don’t want to drink this. Can you change another tea?”
Stanford who was pouring tea froze in mid-air but he didn’t show any signs of impatience.
He took out his phone and ordered, “Come in with a change of sweeter tea.”
Whatever his sister wanted to drink, he would do his best to satisfy her.
Very soon, one of his underling came over with brand new tea leaves and a new set of tea utensils.
Stanford was about to boil the tea again but Phoebe suddenly reached out and grabbed the handle of the tea pot.
“Let me try it. I am kind of interested in boiling tea but I never get the chance to give it a go.”
Stanford who was going to hold the tea pot retracted his hands immediately.
He complied merrily, “Alright.”
Phoebe took the tea pot and first poured some boiled water into it. Then, he rinsed the tea leaves and began boiling tea.
After some procedures, it was obvious that she was very unfamiliar with some steps. She even needed to ask about the details to solve her confusion and to rectify her steps.
Stanford answered her very patiently.
As if not very rest assured about her awkward movements, he couldn’t move his eyes away from her so that he could detect any signs of accident happening.
As expected, he was right on the mark.
When Phoebe wanted to pour tea again, her hand slipped and some of the hot tea was about to spill onto her hand.
“Look out!”
Stanford had very fast hands as he grabbed the handle of the tea pot from Phoebe’s hands and pulled her hand away.
The tea sprinkled onto the tray.
Phoebe was stunned as she watched their hands locking together.
His palm was huge and warm as if some fire was burning silently from somewhere within.
Stanford furrowed his brows slightly and made sure Phoebe’s other hand was not burnt before feeling relieve and letting out a sigh.
He then took away the tea pot from Phoebe’s hand and said, “Let me do it.”
His tone was overbearing and authoritative.
Phoebe sat there with her butt glued to the chair while watching Stanford. Her eyes were glowing, and there were butterflies in her stomach.
“Cough cough.”
Florence saw that Phoebe was awestruck at him so she reminded Phoebe about this with a cough.
They couldn’t forget about what they had set out to do.
Only then did Phoebe returned to her senses and she stared at Florence awkwardly while nodding lightly.
Although she was attracted by the opposite sex in front of her, she didn’t forget her real goal here.
Stanford was very brisk and duty-like with his tea-pouring movements, which indicated that he had done this multiple times normally. He was graceful and a sight to behold.
He poured two more cups once again and pushed them to Phoebe and Florence.
“Thank you.”
Phoebe looked at the steaming cup of tea and tried to raise the cup without thinking. However, her hand was shaky and the tea overflowed a little onto her fingers.
“Ah, painful.”
Phoebe called out in pain.