NOVEL NEXT Chapter 262: You, shy?!
Hugo stabbed his fork into his steak, lifted a perfectly tender piece, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Instantly, his taste buds did a standing ovation. The rich, buttery flavor, the perfectly seared crust, the melting goodness of the meat...
It was like a luxury vacation for his tongue!
But then, as he swallowed, his eyes drifted to the menu sitting mockingly on the table. His face twitched.
$175.99 FOR A SINGLE STEAK?!
Hugo almost choked on the steak when he saw those disastrous numbers again. He hurriedly drank a glass of water to clear his throat.
This steak wasn't just expensive, it was highway robbery!
What, was the cow hand-fed golden grass by a Michelin-star chef before being personally escorted to steak heaven?!
And why the hell did Celine have to pick the fanciest restaurant in the entire area?!
He stole a glance at her across the table.
There she was, sitting gracefully, slicing her food like a goddess of elegance, her nails perfectly manicured, her afro framing her face like a masterpiece, her nose piercing catching the soft restaurant lighting.
And the way she brought her fork to her lips, chewing in that slow, deliberate way—as if she were the queen of some elite noble family and Hugo was the peasant who had somehow been allowed to share a meal with her.
Hugo hurriedly looked away before she caught him drooling. The food might be crazily expensive, but honestly? It was worth it.
If dropping this much cash meant he got to watch Celine eat like this, he'd do it every damn time.
Hell, if she promised to eat him just like that, he'd willingly go bankrupt!
But right now, he needed to stay focused!
He wiped his mouth, cleared his throat, and decided it was time to dig deeper. They've had some fun to break the ice, not it was time to melt it down completely!
"Alright, I've been meaning to ask," he said, leaning forward. "What's something most people assume about you that's actually wrong?"
Celine looked up, amused. "Oh? What, trying to unlock my tragic backstory?"
Hugo grinned. "I like knowing people's real stories. Not just the version they show off."
Celine tapped her nails on the table, thinking. "Hmm… Okay, but between us, yeah? People always assume I'm this confident girl who's always been like this. But actually? I used to be the opposite. Back in high school, I was the shy girl who barely spoke."
Hugo blinked. "No way. You? Shy?"
He tried to picture the image of a shy Celine but his inner tv scrambled.
Celine shrugged. "Yup. I used to be the quiet, nervous girl who avoided eye contact. Then, life happened, and I realized being reserved wasn't getting me anywhere."
Hugo frowned. "What do you mean 'life happened'?"
Celine sighed but smiled. "Long story. Let's just say… being too nice and trusting got me burned a few times. One day, I decided I was done with that. I made a promise to myself that I'd be the one in control of my own life, no matter what."
Hugo stared at her. He had been expecting some crazy bad girl origin story, but instead, he found himself impressed.
"Damn… so you just flipped the switch like that?"
Celine laughed. "More like it took a few years, some tears, and a whole lot of trial and error. But yeah. Now I do what I want, when I want, and nobody tells me otherwise."
Hugo smirked. "I respect that. Though now I feel bad for every poor guy who thinks he has a chance with you."
Celine grinned. "They can try."
They laughed, but deep inside, Hugo was a bit touched. This girl had depth.
He stared at her, feeling a weird mix of emotions. He was impressed. She had gone through real struggles, had pulled herself out of that phase, and had found her own peace.
Without a system!
Damn.
For someone who looked like she was effortlessly on top of the world, she had battled her own demons.
He suddenly paused. Why the hell was he suddenly admiring her so much?! He was supposed to be flirting, not getting emotional!
He shouldn't forget so soon how she abandoned him to the gallows barely a few days ago!
It was time to switch the mood!
"Okay, okay, serious moment over." Hugo grinned. "Let me ask you something important."
Celine raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?"
Celine snorted. "That's your important question?"
"Life-changing question, actually," Hugo corrected. "The fate of the world could depend on this answer."
Celine thought for a moment. "Fine. Probably pizza. Simple, reliable, always delicious."
Hugo gasped. "Basic. So basic."
She was another Collins! Just like her cousin!
"Excuse me?" Celine pointed her fork at him. "What's your choice then, oh superior one?"
"Steak," Hugo said proudly.
Celine rolled her eyes. "Rich boy answer."
Hugo clutched his chest. "Wow. The disrespect."
"Also, steak gets boring. Pizza has variety."
"Variety? It's just bread with different toppings!"
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"And steak is just meat with different sauces!"
They bickered back and forth, teasing, laughing, throwing insults about each other's terrible food preferences.
Celine even tried to flick a pea at him at one point.
Hugo smiled as he continued to eat his steak. 'Damn, this girl was actually fun!'
Then, as they calmed down, he decided to bring up the real question.
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just a little. "Okay, for real now. Do you actually have a boyfriend?"
Celine groaned dramatically. "Oh my god, Hugo, for the last time, NO!"
"Okay, okay! I'm just making sure!"
"And I'm not looking for one either," she added. "I just wanna have fun. No commitments, no stress, just good times."
Hearing she wasn't looking for a boyfriend aroused Hugo's competitive spirit, but he suppressed the urge for now.
It was time to strike!
His heart pounded as he leaned back, rubbing his chin like a detective about to ask the most groundbreaking question in history.
"So… have you ever had a threesome before?"
Celine paused.
Looked at him.
And smirked.
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!