Even with the air-conditioner on full blast, their thin summer clothes were soaked. Sweat trickled down their foreheads as if they had just emerged from the water.
Leonardo moved his kisses from her lips down her neck, but Summer suddenly stopped him.
“The meal!”
“I prefer to eat something else first.” His voice sounded husky as he moved down to kiss her hand. It was so light and gentle yet passionate at the same time, as though he would not give up until she removed her hand.
Her face was flushed, but she did not let him have his way. Reaching out to push his head away, she said, “You either eat the food or go home.”
The hair on her forehead was drenched in sweat, and her cheeks were a tinge of pink. She was alluring. Leonardo swallowed hard, then buried his face in her shoulder and started to bargain with her.
“I’ll just eat a little.”
Summer was half-crying, half-laughing upon hearing that. She, of course, objected to it. After sorting themselves out, they sat at the dining table and dug in.
The dining and living area shared the same space in the one-bedroom unit. The dining table was small, and Summer did not specially cook what he liked, just her everyday dishes. Also, she did not eat much due to a lack of appetite. Leonardo was the big eater now.
He was eating a lot and very fast but not making a pig out of himself. Instead, he looked elegant. Personal aura was something you could perceive but not describe. Even though she knew that the man in front of her was unpredictable and cranky, his charm was unconcealable.
After she finished her meal, Summer leaned back in her chair, watching him. It had been a long time since they last sat down and had a meal together. Taking a closer look at him, she found that his face was a little pale, and he had also lost some weight since she last saw him.
Still staring at him, Summer could not help asking, “Have you had a regular meal at all?” She suddenly became self-conscious and pursed her lips. “I just…” She could not finish her sentence.
Leonardo looked up at her, his black eyes sparkling with joy. Why was he so happy when they were just simple words of concern?
“Yeah, but outside food doesn’t taste as good as the food you make,” Leonardo said matter-of-factly. Flattery was not his strength, but it sounded like sweet-talking to her ears.
“You should leave after you finish,” she said, looking down.
“I’ll wash the dishes first,” he said after staying silent for a while.
“No need…” Before Summer finished her sentence, Leonardo stood up. He cleaned the table and then took the things into the kitchen. She got to her feet, trying to stop him, but just then, someone knocked on the door outside.
Who could it be at this hour of the night? She peeked through the spy hole and saw that it was Jessica.
She opened the door and was full of surprise. “Jessica, why are you here?”
Jessica’s expression indicated that she was clearly tired. She had just finished work and traveled over straight away. Kicking the carton on the floor, she said, “Someone from the production team brought some litchi back from his hometown. He gave me two cartons, so I brought you one on my way home.”
She went in while she spoke, while Summer squatted down and carried the carton of litchi back into the house.
“You didn’t have to do this. It’s late now. I could have gone and collected it from you.”
“The last time I checked, you didn’t even have a car. I have to pass by your place, anyway.” Jessica collapsed on the sofa.
Leonardo called out from the kitchen. “Summer, the dishwashing liquid’s run out!”
The kitchen was right beside the front door. When Jessica came in, she was talking to Summer, so she did not realize that someone was in the kitchen.
There was a moment of silence as Jessica turned to look at Summer, giving her a knowing look that said, “You’re having an affair.” Summer found it amusing. Before she could explain, Leonardo emerged from the kitchen. He told Summer that she was running out of dishwashing liquid, but he got no reply. Hence, he came out.
He saw Jessica just as Jessica saw him. He was wearing a pink floral apron… Jessica had accompanied Summer shopping when Summer first returned to Hoover City. At that time, Summer was still depressed. It was then that Summer bought the apron, therefore Jessica recognized it.
A big guy was wearing a white shirt and black dress pants with a pink floral apron on the outside. He was rolling up his sleeves while he was walking out of the kitchen, and it was supposed to give off a “family feel”. Yet, it somehow just did not feel quite right on Leonardo. The apron did not make him look gentle; he still appeared mean.
Jessica bounced up from the sofa and greeted him. Leonardo acknowledged her and then turned to look at Summer.
“Where’s the dishwashing liquid?”
The atmosphere felt weird.
“Inside the cabinet.” Summer glanced at Jessica as she went into the kitchen. “Let me get it for you.”
The countertop in the kitchen was narrow, so Summer kept most of her stuff in the kitchen cabinet. She took the dishwashing liquid out and looked up at Leonardo.
“You… You might want to go home first.”
“Let me finish this.” Leonardo took the dishwashing liquid from her, face impassive. Walking back to the sink, he washed the dishes. He had never done this chore before and was doing it clumsily. But, he was at least diligent.
After he was done cleaning up, he left immediately.
Jessica witnessed the entire process until Leonardo left. She felt like she was in a sleepwalking state. “So are you guys separated or not separated?” Jessica became confused.
“We’re not staying together.” Summer opened up the litchi carton.
“That means you two still love each other?” Jessica tried to sound her out.
Summer hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah.”
She fled abroad not because she did not love Leonardo anymore. It was because she did not want to be controlled and lose herself just because she loved a person. She wanted to be treated equally in the relationship. She could not let Leonardo control her.