32 Connection (1/2)

”Manager Doug, send the money the young noble paid us back to this lady and find some people to escort her home.” Leon said, seeing that the lady was physically fine and was probably just traumatized. He was prepared to send her away since she was already safe.

”Yes, boss.” Manager Doug complied but inwardly grumbled that the new boss was incompetent. He was just informed of the new rules, but he could see that the gang would fall apart if it was followed. Offending noble houses and giving away money. How were they supposed to function? They weren't going to make money that way. This wasn't a hero game. But he didn't dare complain and just kept these thoughts to himself. The strong makes the rules. ”This way, miss.”

Aria wasn't willing to leave and just grabbed onto a corner of Leon's shirt.

”T-this… What should I do, boss?” Manager Doug wasn't sure how to approach this situation.

”It's fine. Just attend to your own work.” Leon sure either and asked him to leave for now.

”Ah… yes, boss.” Manager Doug gave him a knowing smile before leaving the room.

'It's hard to refuse a beauty of that quality. That boss is still a boy after all.'

Leon wasn't planning to do anything to the girl but couldn't be bother correcting Doug's way of thinking since he didn't said anything. It would just look like he was guilty if he tried to explain himself. Even if he was planning to do something, it wasn't going to be in the room with a busted door, where people could walk in freely. He wasn't an exhibitionist.

Leon scratched his head and look outside the windows. He finds it uncomfortable to be stared at so passionately by such a beautiful girl.

”Can I ask why you are staring at me... like that?”

Aria didn't expect to see that boy again in this sort of situation. She had many things on her mind but didn't know where to start.

'You… don't remember me?' She mentally though.

Leon understood her thoughts and was immediately confused by it. Do they know each other? It would be hard to forget a person this pretty, but he doesn't seem to have any recollection of seeing her before.

Noticing Leon's confusion, she wanted to slap her head for thinking that way. Of course, he wouldn't know her. They have never met face to face, let alone talk to one another. She felt embarrassed and started covering her face with her hair to hide her embarrassment.

When her face was covered, Leon felt like a light bulb had lit up in his head.

”Are you the stalker girl from middle school?” He said in a hurry. Aria wanted to find a hole to crawl in when she was asked that, but since there no hole, she could only put on a cold face to hide her emotions. Leon had an illusion of the temperature dropping.

If an ugly person was stalking, then it would be creepy and repulsive but if the person was pretty or cute then it was acceptable. Such existing contrast in treatment is unfair but it is just how things are. Cuteness is justice.

Leon remembered her because she left an impression on him. She was quite clumsy at hiding, while he was studying in the library. Or maybe she wasn't trying to hide at all? He had discovered her quite early because of it. He wasn't sure why she would watch him every break time, but it made him uncomfortable at first. However, he eventually got used to her presence until he would find it weird if she wasn't around to watch him study. There was a sort of tacit understanding, intimacy or connection between them that couldn't be described with words. It seems to transcend the planes. They were both pleasantly surprised to meet once more.

”You… don't want to go home?” Leon asked. Aria shook her head.

”You… want to stay with me?” This time, Aria nodded. She blushed as Leon's words as if there was an implicit meaning behind it.

'This is going to be hard…' It was difficult to communicate, when the other party was unwilling to talk. His brain was working overtime to understand her thoughts.

”We haven't properly introduce each other before. I'm Leon. What is your name?”