That light sentence was like a key, instantly opening a long-sealed gate in Nora's heart.
Her nose suddenly tingled, her eyes instantly reddened, and tears swirled inside her without warning.
Ethan had invited her to dinner more than once or twice; she wasn't crying because Ethan invited her, but because he treated her to noodles.
"You... How do you know..." Her voice was choked with a heavy nasal tone, looking up at Ethan, and finally tears fell. "How did you know I liked this?"
This question was asked with a sense of bitterness and deep confusion.
Ethan shrugged, speaking as calmly as possible: "Judging by your Appalachian roots, I guessed you might like this kind of taste."
He avoided the truth of memories from his previous life.
However, this seemingly reasonable explanation precisely struck the most vulnerable thread in Nora's heart.
Nora nodded vigorously, tears falling like broken pearls into the steaming bowl.
For the first time, she opened her heart so openly in front of Ethan, her voice carrying distant memories and deep sorrow: "When I was little, when my father was still alive... Every month on payday, he'd take me out to eat. That bowl, with a fried egg, plus the extra toppings he couldn't bear to eat and always picked out for me... Those are my happiest and most joyful days."
Her voice grew softer and softer, filled with a warm longing for the past.
"Later, Dad left... The sky at home fell. To support my education, my mother worked from dawn till dusk selling produce at the market, her hands covered in calluses, and she barely earned much money a month. Life at home suddenly became tight... I never got to eat out, let alone with so many good toppings."
She sniffed, trying hard to control her emotions, but the tears still wouldn't be held back.
"I... I studied desperately just to prove myself and get into a good university, but..." This was a hardship she had kept deep in her heart, never mentioned to anyone.
For the first time, Nora opened her heart so much in front of Ethan. Her family situation and psychological state were things she had never told anyone before.
Even during her three years of high school, she was always on her own. Even though she had been with Ethan for a while and felt he treated her well, she hadn't explained it in detail. Mainly, some things need to settle into place. And since Ethan happened to take her out to eat today, the story naturally came out smoothly.
Although Ethan used to say she was ugly and said he only helped out of pity, she vaguely felt that Ethan was lying.
She stubbornly believed that Ethan must have liked her a little bit too.
Although she's ugly... No, in fact, she wasn't ugly at all; in fact, she was very beautiful, though he didn't know about it.
Just as she was immersed in overwhelming grief and grievance, almost drowning herself, Ethan's gentle voice picked up her words: "I know. I know your college tuition was scraped together by the folks back home. Otherwise, you might really not have been able to come here, right?"
"Huh?" Nora looked up at Ethan's face.
Ethan met her surprised gaze, his gaze calm yet carrying a heavy sense of commitment, and continued, "Don't worry, from now on, I'll be here. You can eat whenever you want, and add as many toppings as you want. Food and a roof... There will always be one."
A few more light, casual remarks.
But this time, Nora could no longer control herself.
Long-held grievances, hardship, ununderstood loneliness, and the complex, indescribable feelings for this person surged forth like a breached dam.
She felt a tightness in her chest, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, an unprecedented sense of relief and the warmth of being understood swept through her.
She felt she was finally understood and cared for.
Previously, Ethan had taken good care of her, but she always thought he only saw her as a pitiful person or as a classmate.
But today, he actually said this, and she was truly moved.
She wanted to cry out loud, to have a good cry.
Just as she lowered her head and sobbed, her shoulders trembling slightly, a warm hand gently reached out, tinged with a hint of hesitation.
His warm fingertips carefully touched her damp cheeks, gently wiping away her tears...
She was stunned, and when she came to, she saw Ethan wiping her tears.
Her face instantly flushed red.
An uncontrollable heat rushed up to the top of her head!
The flush spread rapidly before the naked eye, burning from her cheeks all the way to her neck, even her tiny earlobe turned like ripe cherries.
She froze there, forgetting to cry, forgetting her grief. The whole world seemed to be left with only the burning warmth on her cheek and the focused face before her.
At that moment.
The shop owner passed by carrying some vegetables. Seeing Nora's reddened eyes and the tear stains still on her face, she immediately frowned and half-reproached, half-jokingly said to Ethan, "Oh my, young man, what's wrong with you? Look how much you made your girlfriend cry! That's not going to do, you have to coax her properly!"
Ethan was slightly taken aback, then showed a slightly apologetic smile and said, "Yes, yes, you're right. We had a bit of a quarrel. It's fine, I've already apologized. It'll be fine soon..."
The owner nodded, said nothing more, and turned to go into the kitchen.
Nora was completely stunned.
She awkwardly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, while a storm surged in her heart.
Girlfriend? He actually didn't deny it?
Her gaze was full of curiosity and confusion; she couldn't understand why.
I'm so ugly now... Wearing this look, being called his girlfriend — didn't he feel ashamed? Having an ugly girlfriend is embarrassing for any man.
The main thing is, she's not his girlfriend either!
She knew that maybe he just wanted to explain because he found it troublesome, maybe he just loved to lie, but no matter what, she felt an inexplicable warmth in her heart...
This must be what it feels like to be cared for!
It was truly wonderful.
Her eyes couldn't help but start to heat up again.
She felt utterly useless, wondering why she wanted to cry again...
At this moment.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Ethan, clearly impatient, pulled her out of her chaotic thoughts and tapped his fingers on the table: "Tell me, are you going to stop? There should be a limit to crying, right? If you keep crying, I'll just pay and leave! Also, are you still eating this bowl? If you don't eat it soon, it'll turn into a lump!"
There are 130 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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