Chapter 14 - Dinner at a Michelin Restaurant (2/2)
”Not yet...”
”Oh ... didn't you go to swimming lessons in school?”
”That's different,” Finland protested quickly.
”Why?”
Finland did not answer.
Caspar suddenly thought of something. He squinted his eyes and brought his face closer to Finland to see the girl better. ”You... have you never slept with a man?”
”Geez, I have never had a boyfriend. And even if I have one, I will not sleep with him,” Finland said curtly. ”Who do you think I am?”
Finland knew the cultural differences between Westerners and Asians. For westerners, having sex before marriage was normal; for Asians it was not. She did not know how many women Caspar had slept with nor did she care. She did not, however, want Caspar to think of her that way.
She was born without a father, and the last thing Finland wanted was date a handsome European man and get pregnant out of wedlock like her mother. If Caspar only wants to sleep with her, then Finland had set her heart to make this dinner their last meeting.
She didn't want to get too attached to Caspar because, she realized, they lived in such different circumstances. It would seem almost impossible that Caspar wanted a serious relationship with her.
”Why are you angry? I asked because in this modern times, many people are in casual relationships. It's nothing to be mad about.” Caspar shrugged, ”A girl as beautiful as you, I think, must have had many lovers.”
”Thanks. I don't have time to date. I have to work to make money,” Finland answered flatly. ”What's your deal, by the way? What do you really want from me?”
”I like you. I think you are beautiful and attractive. You are tough and hard-hearted. So, it's only natural that I am attracted to you,” Caspar answered sincerely.
”But you can be with anyone you want! You can date beautiful celebrities like actors or models, or girls from wealthy families. I am a nobody. Why would you want to spend time with me?
”I've lived for so long and I have met so many women, but I've never been in love. You, Finland, are my life's anomaly.” Caspar touched Finland's chin and looked at her deeply. ”I'm not usually this nice with women. For you I genuinely try to be patient and understanding. I think I'm in love with you.”
Finland pretended not to hear that Caspar mentioned the word 'love' in his sentence just now. Seriously, they barely knew each other. She just knew his full name this afternoon. This may be a trick he used to all women.
Thinking about it disgusted Finland . She blinked and turned her gaze outside the car window.
”We're going to Chinatown, Ben,” she said later.
”You pretended not to hear my love confession just now,” Caspar said with a smile and shook his head. ”You're very thick skinned. How could your expression remain so flat? Any other women would be crying buckets when they hear me professing my love...”
”You have been saying all sorts of silly things ever since we met. You talked about buying a hotel, you said that you had been a surgeon for decades and can do your work with eyes closed, and all other blah blah blahs...” Finland said while shrugging, ”And now you tell me that you love me? How am I supposed to take your words seriously?”
Caspar looked at Finland in disbelief. This girl was very stubborn.
Finland continued to look out the window, avoiding the love topic Caspar brought up.
”We stop here,” she said as soon as they arrived in Chinatown. ”We should walk a little. It would cause too much chaos if this car went all the way to the restaurant.”
Caspar was surprised, but he just followed Finland. They both walked a little towards a hawker center stall, and the closer they got, the more confused Caspar's face became.
”The line starts here,” Finland said, stopping. Caspar looked at Finland, then at the long queue in front of them, then at his fancy clothes, then at the sign board above the chicken rice stall …
”The Cheapest Michelin-starred Restaurant in the World.” Finland read the writing on the signboard proudly.
He looked at Finland for a long time and finally shook his head in disbelief.