Love for One Night

Ch3: The Cat and Mouse Game (4)

The car suddenly left the main road and turned into a parking lot near the seaside.

It wasn't the best season for sea-watching, and the massive parking lot had only their car. Arden turned off the engine, and the abrupt silence after the roaring engine felt a bit disorienting.

Sandra stretched out her legs and relaxed her body.

An awkward silence filled the car.

Of course, the awkwardness was only on Sandra's part. Arden, on the other hand, gazed at her thoughtfully from behind his sunglasses, his lips slightly curled up as if he found something amusing.

Sandra tugged at the car door, but it was still locked.

"Do you want to run away from me that badly?" Arden broke the silence first. "I'm not going to eat you."

Who'd believe that?

Sandra retorted coldly, "It's dark, and you're still wearing sunglasses. What are you trying to prove, idiot?"

Arden's smile remained as he took off his sunglasses and casually tossed them onto the dashboard, still looking at her.

Sandra regretted asking him to take them off. It felt safer with a layer of protection between her and those eyes. Under Arden's gaze—his piercing, electrifying eyes that seemed to reflect some mysterious light—Sandra felt as if she were completely exposed.

Those eyes could charm the soul and steal one's life. That night, it was those very eyes, like the sting of a venomous spider, that paralyzed her body and will, making her fall so easily.

She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

From the start, she already felt like she was losing this battle.

Arden noticed, and in a seemingly casual tone, asked, "Did I hurt you when I threw you earlier?"

Sandra silently rubbed her waist.

"Let me take a look."

" Don't you dare touch me..." Sandra turned around, hands raised defensively, ready for a fight. But Arden didn't move—he just smirked and watched her.

Seeing her bristling like a little hedgehog, Arden couldn't help but burst out laughing, making Sandra's face flush with embarrassment.

Arden chuckled and explained, "It's just that last time, you threw me so hard... People have a natural sense of revenge. So when I saw you by the roadside earlier, I couldn't resist messing with you a bit. Surely you can understand that, right?"

Understanding didn't mean acceptance.

But then he added, "If my actions earlier offended you, I apologize."

His attitude left Sandra at a loss. If he had simply attacked her, it would've been straightforward. With her skills, she could have handled him easily. But him stepping back first left her in an awkward position, unsure how to react.

Sandra turned her head to look out the window, biting her nails.

Arden sighed dramatically, "I thought you wouldn't come tonight."

"You sent April to deliver that message. How could I not come?" Sandra gritted her teeth in frustration.

"What message?" Arden feigned innocence.

Sandra turned back, eyeing Arden's confused face with suspicion.

"April said if I didn't come, some people might be troubled because of it."

Arden fell silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

Sandra suddenly felt uneasy. "And also... she said, 'If you've done something, you should take responsibility.'"

Arden feigned realization, smiling and shaking his head. "Ryo asked April to say that because he was standing up for his friend. Don't blame him. Ryo insisted on having you come out to dinner to apologize to me in person. If he said something that upsets you, I apologize on his behalf. As for me, I won't hold you responsible. Back then, I just wanted to tease April. My actions were indeed a bit frivolous and caused a misunderstanding. I get that, and I don't blame you."

Shifting the blame onto Ryo while showcasing his magnanimity—such a clever move.

So it was all a misunderstanding. Sandra was left speechless. She had come filled with anger, determined to teach him a lesson and then leave. But the situation had taken an unexpected turn. Her anger dissipated, and she didn't know what to do.

Exhaling deeply, she relaxed her tense shoulders and mumbled an apology, "I was a bit impulsive that day too."

Arden shrugged, spreading his hands to show he didn't mind.

Suddenly, Sandra remembered something. "By the way, that dress..."

Arden generously dismissed it. "No need to compensate me."

Sandra glanced around the car enclosing them in its luxurious interior. "You must be quite wealthy. Do you do business?"

Arden shook his head. "I'm a college student."

"Oh?" Sandra was surprised. "Then your family must be rich."

Arden ran his hand over the steering wheel. "It's okay. But I bought this car with my own money."

"Really? How did you make it?" Sandra asked curiously.

Arden smiled meaningfully. "By dining with people."

In a way, Arden wasn't lying. He had accompanied investors and real estate developers for dinner. It was his first time handling such "business" independently. To be fair, it wasn't really him negotiating. Those people had known him since childhood and would show respect for his father even if not for him. Regardless, he still benefited significantly from it. Whenever he mentioned buying the car himself, he would grin with pride.

Unfortunately, Sandra didn't know the details and misunderstood him as a host in these supper clubs for rich women. She could tell his car was expensive, but didn't realize how expensive. If he really was a host, it wasn't that easy to buy a supercar like SVJ Roadster.

"Oh... that kind of work." No wonder he always had these seductive manners and was so skillful in bed. Luckily, he hadn't charged her that day—Sandra considered herself lucky.

For some reason, Sandra felt a strange sense of empathy. They were both students struggling in a foreign country, trying to support themselves. The ways they chose to make a living were different, but she didn't look down on him for it. Still, it was a pity—a handsome guy having to earn money from women seemed a bit sad.

Arden couldn't decipher the sudden sympathy on her face. "I heard from Ryo that you study art?"

Sandra corrected him, "Applied Arts and Design."

Arden sized her up and shook his head. "You don't look the type."

Sandra tilted her head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I thought art students were supposed to be... gentle."

"You're saying I'm not gentle?"

Arden laughed. "Maybe a shoulder throw counts as a form of performance art."

"Not even close." Sandra laughed too. "I heard from April that your school is big on performance art. Freshmen even ran around naked during orientation."

"You mean the fraternities." Arden pulled out his phone. "I've got photos from last year's orientation. Want to see?"

Sandra's eyes lit up. "Sure."