Damian froze, staring at Saphen as if he were looking at a flower filled with poison yet carrying a scent so enticing it was almost impossible to resist.
He took a deep breath, trying to make the smile on his lips appear more relaxed than ever. "So what do you think, Saphen?"
As if he had regained his confidence, Damian suddenly leaned forward, deliberately closing the distance between them. "Do you want to try it with me, just a little? You'll definitely like it."
Saphen simply stood there. His eyes, always curved as though he were smiling, revealed no clear emotion. His voice was far too calm for someone with eyes that beautiful and seductive. "Step back unless you want to be kicked in the crotch."
Damian laughed. "You're really not very loyal, Saphen."
Saphen began counting slowly. "One, two,..."
Hearing the seriousness in Saphen's tone, Damian had no choice but to back up. He tried to appear unfazed, but he couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes. He looked at Saphen like a pitiful little puppy that had accidentally fallen into the water, drenched and miserable. "Do I really not have any chance at all?"
Saphen waved his hand. "I'm not here for romance."
Damian interpreted that as meaning Saphen was here to work, not to flirt. But only Saphen knew what he truly meant. He had no intention of forming any lingering attachments in these mission worlds.
Once the mission was completed, he would leave.
Regarding this, 6677 praised Saphen with great enthusiasm!
What could be better than a master who wouldn't fall into messy emotions?! It could practically see its future promotions and raises shining clearly before its eyes!
The atmosphere at the store seemed odd that afternoon. Damian looked gloomier than usual, and Saphen didn't order lunch.
But soon, the other employees learned why.
The chime at the door rang. A man walked in from outside. His clothes were extremely ordinary, but his presence was anything but. Even with a mask and hat covering most of his face, the single glance of his sharp eyes made it obvious he wasn't simple.
Damian instinctively frowned. He felt a sense of threat, especially when he saw the man carrying a lunch box and walking toward Saphen.
Under the astonished gaze of everyone present, Saphen's eyes visibly curved, squinting in a bright smile. The man—who looked cold enough to be intimidating—also lowered his head beside Saphen as if whispering something. Then the two of them went into the break room together.
Silence. Shock. Wide eyes. And then everyone simultaneously turned to stare at Damian.
For the first time, Damian's face showed no smile. He looked a bit irritated as he gave a cold laugh at their stares. "What? Why are you all suddenly looking at me?"
Meanwhile, inside the break room—
Saphen removed Cain's hat. The blond strands sticking to Cain's forehead from sweat were clearly visible. Saphen couldn't help but gently brush them aside.
Cain felt the faint chill at Saphen's fingertips brushing against the lingering heat of his skin.
He shivered slightly, instinctively grabbing Saphen's wrist and pulling it down just a bit.
Saphen didn't seem to mind. With his free hand, he took out a packet of wet wipes and said softly, "You worked hard. Thank you. It must be hot out there."
Cain glanced at the pack of tissues between them, picked it up out of habit, then casually set it aside. "It wasn't hard."
By then, Saphen had already opened the lunch box. "Have you eaten?"
Cain shook his head. "You eat first. I'll eat when I go back later."
Hearing that, Saphen tilted his head to look at him and smiled. "You were that eager to bring me lunch, huh?"
Cain pressed his lips together, then suddenly lifted both hands to cup Saphen's cheeks, turning his face toward the food. "Eat. I'm not your lunch."
Saphen lowered Cain's hands. Hearing those words, he narrowed his eyes and licked his lips. "Actually..."
As if predicting exactly what Saphen was about to say, Cain immediately covered his mouth.
But at that moment, Cain couldn't help freezing.
He felt Saphen's soft lips purse slightly against his palm before placing a gentle kiss on it—light as a butterfly.
Cain practically jerked his hand away, fingers curling into a tight fist. He frowned at Saphen, and even with the naked eye one could see his face turning red—whether from anger or embarrassment, it was impossible to tell.
Meanwhile, Saphen behaved like a cat whose prank had succeeded. He took a bite of the food and exclaimed, "Oh, it's as good as always."
He licked his lips, then lifted a spoonful toward Cain with a smile. "Try some."
Cain pressed his lips firmly together. Under Saphen's amused gaze, he suddenly shot to his feet and said quickly, "I'll come pick you up tonight."
Without another word, he strode out of the room.
Watching Cain's hurried steps, Saphen couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Cain heard that laugh and nearly tripped over his own feet.
Saphen really, truly loved teasing people—naturally and effortlessly. Cain hated how easily he wavered every time Saphen teased him. He always wondered whether Saphen behaved the same way with others out there.
The girls at the shop... and that guy who clung to Saphen all day... Did Saphen treat them the same way too?
Cain suddenly felt an overwhelming weight, and the frantic beating of his heart seemed to slow down.
He lowered his gaze to his palm, as if he could still feel Saphen's gentle kiss lingering there.
Cain's eyes darkened. He bowed his head, burying his face in his hand, taking a deep breath through his nose, and inhaled the faint scent of gardenia that still clung to his skin.
Saphen… Saphen…
Do you even know how I feel? Or do you know, yet still tease me like this on purpose?
Cain put on his hat and pedaled away quickly.
Owen, just stepping off his car, felt the wind brush across his face, catching a glimpse of a figure swiftly speeding away on a bicycle.
He couldn't help frowning slightly. Looking over, he saw only a rapidly fading silhouette along the road.
The subordinate beside him noticed Owen's furrowed brows and hesitated for a moment before nervously asking, "Director, is something wrong?"
Owen frowned but eventually shook his head and walked straight into the store.
He thought perhaps he had just been too busy with work recently. Still, that figure on the bicycle looked very much like Cain.
Both Cain and Owen were heirs to prominent families, but Cain was far superior. Moreover, Cain was a workaholic—there was no way he would leave the office to ride a bike around here, dressed like that. Impossible. Cain's style was always a three-piece suit, all year round.
Owen thought to himself, unaware that Cain's loyal bodyguards were almost scouring the entire city at that very moment. They were only missing a small coincidence that might make them run into each other.
And that day… they would have to wait until the next script of events unfolded… the day Cain remembered everything…