Chapter 123
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institute it was finally time for her The next day, after spending most of her time at the research institute, it was finally time for her meeting with Stephen.
With the prepared documents in hand, Stellar headed to their agreed location.
Pushing open the door, she was surprised to find herself in an underwater restaurant.
A domed ceiling arched overhead, and curved glass walls surrounded the space, allowing the deep blue sea to stretch out before
her.
Sea turtles, whales, flounders, and countless other fish she couldn’t name drifted effortlessly above her, creating a mesmerizing,
dreamlike scene.
It felt as if she had stepped into an entirely different world beneath the ocean, leaving her momentarily spellbound.
“You really do like it.”
A deep, magnetic voice rang out from nearby.
Turning her head, Stellar met Stephen’s gaze–dark, steady, and unreadable.
In that instant, she recalled the message he had sent the night before, casually asking if she liked the ocean and marine life.
At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it and simply replied that she did.
So, this was what he had been planning.
Quickly regaining her composure, she walked over, and Stephen, ever the gentleman, pulled out a chair for her.
Settling into her seat, she smiled teasingly. “I never took you for someone with such a taste for the finer things in life, Mr. Ward.”
The usual tension of discussing business seemed to dissipate, and she found herself unexpectedly at ease.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Stephen replied smoothly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“But we have plenty of time to change that.”
Stellar blinked, momentarily wondering if there was a deeper meaning behind his words.
But just as quickly, she dismissed the thought.
He had a girlfriend, after all.
Someone as straightforward as him wouldn’t be implying anything… would he?
It was probably just a casual remark, nothing more.
“Of course,” she said lightly..
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Chapter 123
“Friends should get to know each other better.”
Stephen let out a low chuckle.
She was still clueless, wasn’t she?
With that thought, Stephen smoothly shifted the conversation to the project.
Once they got down to business, both of them quickly focused.
Stellar found working with him surprisingly effortless.
Maybe it was because they shared the same field–she barely needed to explain anything in detail.
Stephen followed her train of thought with ease, understanding concepts quickly and responding just as efficiently.
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In just thirty minutes, they resolved all the key issues, and somehow, they had even managed to enjoy a pleasant meal together.
As they ate, surrounded by the slow–moving fish, Stellar found herself captivated by the unique setting.
Whenever she came across a species she couldn’t recognize, Stephen would explain.
“That’s a parrotfish. They’re a bit aggressive and tend to chase other fish. They’re very territorial.”
“That one’s a type of jellyfish–there are countless varieties, each with its own unique shape…”
“And that’s a sea dragon…”
Stellar was surprised at the breadth of his knowledge.
It wasn’t just the sky he understood–he seemed to know just as much about the ocean..
She admired that kind of intelligence and found herself wanting to learn from him.
After the meal, Stephen offered to drive her back, but she politely declined.
“My friend invited me out, so I’ll just head there from here. No need to trouble yourself.”
He didn’t insist.
After saying goodbye, Stellar made her way to the club they had agreed on and quickly spotted Suzy sitting in a corner, nursing a drink.
She sighed, walked over, and took the glass from her hand, setting it aside.
“I just got here, and you’re already drinking alone? What if you get wasted?”
Suzy arched a perfectly shaped brow and smirked. “Please, I could drink a hundred and still be standing.”
Then, with a sigh, she added, “Work’s been stressful–I just needed to unwind. Anyway, you came alone? Why didn’t you ask any of your family members to tag along?”
Choober 3
The sudden topic shift was a little awkward.
