Chapter 6

The waitress kept her head down, her cheeks red with embarrassment. She felt so ashamed that she wished she could burrow into the ground. The other customers around them stared and whispered among themselves, making her feel even more embarrassed.

“Little miss, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. I just… I was jealous of you. Please, don’t blame me.” Her voice was barely audible, like that of a mosquito. After saying that, she covered her face and rushed into the kitchen like a madwoman.

The manager quickly apologized again, then went to the kitchen to deal with the issue regarding the waiter. It was obvious that this waiter would definitely be fired.

Brent Haines still hadn’t recovered from the earlier incident. Looking at Case Hathaway, his eyes were filled with confusion. “Case, what did she mean by saying she’s jealous of me? What do I have that’s worth her jealousy?”

Casey Hathaway couldn’t help but smirk at her innocent expression. There was a hint of teasing in his eyes as he said, “If I told you that she’s jealous because I’m with you, would you believe me?”

Brent Haines paused for a moment, sizing up Case Hathaway from head to toe. Then, with a sudden realization, he blinked and joked, “Oh~ I see now! I hadn’t realized you were actually a ‘woman who brings trouble.’”

Case Hathaway’s smile froze. Pretending to be offended, he covered his chest and said, “Saying such things will hurt my delicate heart. How could someone as handsome as me be considered a ‘disaster’?”

Brent Haines couldn’t help but laugh at his serious expression. His eyebrows curved up, and the gloom in his eyes disappeared instantly. “Haha, Case, you’re so cute. You’re completely different from the domineering person you were just now.”

Casey Hathaway looked at her beaming smile and felt his heart soften completely. He smiled back. He did this on purpose, just to make her happy and help her forget about her earlier disappointment.

After laughing for a while, Brent Haines gradually calmed down. His eyes showed signs of exhaustion. “I don’t want to stay here anymore. Let’s go, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll do as you say.” Case Hathaway nodded and stood up. “Wait for me a moment. I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as he turned to leave, Brent Haines got up and walked toward the cashier, hoping to finish paying quickly so that Case Hathaway wouldn’t have a chance to pay secretly. But as soon as he reached the cashier, he saw Case Hathaway standing there, talking with the cashier.

Brent Haines walked over quickly, puffing his cheeks and pretending to be angry. He grabbed his arm and said, “Casey, what are you doing? I said I’d pay the bill. You’re not allowed to pay secretly. Otherwise, I’ll really be upset!”

Casey Hathaway looked at her annoyed expression, feeling both amused and exasperated. He gently rubbed her hair. “Don’t be upset. I wasn’t trying to pay secretly. This time, neither you nor I need to pay.”

“Huh?” Brent Haines looked puzzled, blinking his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“That manager felt guilty, so he insisted on paying for the meal as a way of making amends.” Case Hathaway shrugged, with a sly gleam in his eyes. In truth, he had secretly told the manager that if he dared to accept money from Brent Haines, he would shut down the café. There was no way the manager could refuse.

Brent Haines suddenly understood and nodded, looking extremely adorable. Case Hathaway looked at her soft little face and couldn’t help but pinch her. The sensation of her soft skin against his fingertips made his heart tremble.

Brent Haines froze for a moment, his cheeks turning red like ripe apples. He instinctively took a step back, avoiding eye contact. “What… what are you doing?”

Case Hathaway awkwardly withdrew his hand, his ears slightly reddening. His tone sounded unnatural: “N-nothing, I just thought you were really cute.”

Her blunt words made Brent Haines’s face even redder, and the atmosphere became awkward instantly. She quickly said, “Let’s go,” and then turned around and left the café in a hurry.

Casey Hathaway watched her flustered figure disappear into the distance. A smile curled his lips, but it faded quickly. He knew that between him and Brent Haines, there was an insurmountable gap: his family background.

Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway always valued social compatibility in their relationships. Brent Haines came from a modest family and was also blind in one eye. There was no way they would approve of their relationship. At the thought of this, Kes Hathaway felt a bitter taste in his heart. But he wasn’t willing to give up. This was the first time he’d truly fallen in love with someone. No matter how difficult the road ahead, he was determined to give it a try.

He quickly caught up with Brent Haines. By now, it was getting dark, and the afterglow of the sunset cast long shadows over both of them.

“Are you hungry?” Brent Haines turned to look at him. The blush on his face had faded, and his tone had returned to normal.

Casey Hathaway wanted to shake his head, but then he thought again and nodded instead—he wanted to spend more time with her. “I’m hungry. Now that you mention it, I do feel a little hungry.”

He instinctively took Brent Haines’s hand in his own, his palm enclosing hers warmly. Brent Haines’s body stiffened for a moment, as if wanting to pull away, but he held her hand even tighter.

“I’ll take you to a great place. You’ll definitely eat and drink well there.” A sly glint appeared in Brent Haines’s eyes as he gently broke free from his hand and walked forward quickly. “Hurry up, or there won’t be any seats left when more people arrive!”

Casey Hathaway looked at his empty palms, feeling a sense of loss in his heart. But when he saw Brent Haines’s cheerful figure in the distance, he couldn’t help but smile and hurried after him. He had no idea that the place Brent Haines took him to was a street vendor stand he had never been to before. What seemed like a ordinary dinner turned out to be an opportunity for Casey to see Brent Haines’s most genuine side.