Chapter 0108
In a moment of haze, Ethan felt as if he heard the sound of a sugar cube dissolving right at the tip of his heart.
And then, she added-
“So don’t be unhappy.”
Ethan’s voice was hoarse with emotion: “That sentence of yours makes me happier than if you had won the championship in the competition.”
So, am not unhappy.
I’m so damn happy; I could die.
Madison playfully blinked: “I’ll do my best.”
Ethan suddenly held her small hand, drawing near affectionately:” You’ve spent so much time with your airplane, could you maybe spend a bit more with me today?”
His tone, so plaintively tender, made Madison feel like a neglectfu wife, too wrapped up in work to notice her husband.
She cleared her throat, “How would you like me to accompany you?”
‘Just a meal.”
“That’s it?” Madison was taken aback..
His request was, perhaps….
“Too much?” Ethan frowned, reconsidering: “We could also go home to eat.”
“No, no.” Madison clarified quickly, “I just didn’t expect you’d only want something as simple as a meal together.”
At her words, something shifted in his eyes, a glint of mischief: ” Madison, I’m beginning to regret it.”
“Regret what?”
“Having made such a simple request.”
He truly should have…
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On the phone’s map.
“Pick a restaurant you like.” Ethan handed her his phone.
Madison flipped through it and mumbled, “They all seem very upscale.
“Do you find them too low-tier?”
Misunderstanding her, Ethan signaled to William in the passenger seat: “Head to the National Standard Hotel.”
The National Standard Hotel catered exclusively to heads of state,
Startled, William nevertheless began to organize the outing.
“What are you doing!” Madison interjected, “Don’t call.”
“I didn’t mean the grade was too low. What if I choose a place?” she asked softly.
Half an hour later.
When the car, so out of place here, pulled up, the owner of the small barbecue stand was stunned for a long moment.
She thought it was just some rich person looking for someone.
2/6
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Madison stepped out, greeting the owner familiarly: “Lin, it’s me.”
Lin, the owner, was astonished: “Madison?!”
“Yes.” Madison beamed.
Back in her school days, she would come here often with Jessica and the others for barbecue-delicious and affordable, just two streets. away from the First Flight Academy.
Madison perusing the menu: “Ethan, what will you have?”
The Chairman, holding his expensive trousers, sat without hesitation on a dark, oily-looking plastic chair that was, in reality, not dirty.
He took the menu and began to mark it enthusiastically.
Madison had thought he might not adapt to such a setting, but he sat so naturally.
Handing the menu back, Madison instructed Lin: “The items marked with pencil are medium-spicy, and those with pen are mild.”
“Got it!”
The little street stall bustled as evening fell.
Tables with plastic stools lined the front, the occasional dog grabbed a bone to go, cars passed by, and pedestrians chatted and laughed amidst the lively street scene.
But that day, the sight of a luxury car with a rare Slandon port license plate drew the attention of many patrons.
Ethan, impeccably dressed, clearly not from the same walk of life as the other customers.
Madison, in her pilot uniform, exuded sharpness-softening only when she smiled, appearing tender and endearing.
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“I was worried you wouldn’t be able to eat this.” Madison sat down.
Ethan looked around, “I’ve been here before.”
“You have?”
“Jessica used to study around here, I’d come to see her sometimes. She would drag me to this area to eat.” Ethan shared.
Thinking that Ethan, a rich heir and Chairman, might feel out of place, Madison was surprised to see him so at ease.
Noticing her look, he smiled, “Don’t always worry about me. If you enjoy this kind of vibrant life, once we have a chance, I’ll bring you here.”
Madison rested her chin on her hand, her eyes shining, “What kind of life do you enjoy?”
Bright lights and revelry?
A life awash in luxury?
Admiration from thousands?
“The life you enjoy is the life I want.
Madison’s heart skipped a beat.
“You don’t have to suppress your preferences for me. Over time, you’ll become unhappy.”
Speaking as someone who had experienced such a life, Madison sincerely advised him.
Ethan’s gaze deepened, his voice slow and earnest as if he were an older brother or a teacher:
“I like you, and I want to live with you. If you choose an environment and attitude that make you happy, I’ll be happy watching you be
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happy. How could that possibly make me unhappy?”
“Fallacy.” Madison disagreed.
Just then, Lin brought over freshly grilled skewers, “Eat them while they’re hot!”
“Thanks, Lin.” Madison’s smile was radiant.
“Don’t mention it.” Lin glanced at them with a knowing look: “And this is…?”
Madison hesitated before Ethan looked at her with a warm smile and
she said, “This is my…”
“Boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend, huh?” Lin’s expression turned teasing, “Quite handsome.”
Ethan set down his chopsticks and stood up, offering a cigarette to Lin, “Nice to meet you, Lin. I’m Ethan.”
He had noticed Lin smoking earlier while cleaning the tables.
Hastily wiping her hands, Lin accepted the unfamiliar brand of cigarette, “No need to be so formal, please have a seat. Whatever y want to eat, it’s on me!”
you
Ethan nodded his thanks and sat down again. Madison looked at him, “You’re not even blushing.”
“Why should I be blushing?”
The autumn night was bright, and eating the greasy, delicious
skewers, Madison felt utterly content, her beautiful eyes narrowing in pleasure.
Ethan laughed with her, pulling out a napkin to wipe away the cumin stuck on her lips, “Do you enjoy barbecues this much?”
“Not really.”
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Madison gestured towards her alma mater, “My dream started here, so I feel differently about this place. Even if it’s the same skewers,
they taste better here.”
“Hmm, I can relate.”
“You feel the same?”
Ethan nodded, eating gracefully, but his next words were a bit off- color: “Even if it’s the exact same Madison, I always think the one lying next to me looks more beautiful.”
Madison quickly glanced around.
Lin, who had just delivered skewers to another table, must’ve heard. his comment and winked mischievously at her.
Ethan received Madison’s reproachful glare: “Be careful with your words! We’re in public.”
Her bashfulness, resembling a skittish sprite scanning her surroundings, was enough to melt Ethan’s heart entirely.
He relented.
“Alright, no more of that. Don’t ignore me, please.”
“Madison?”
The woman kept her head down, silently eating, no longer responding.
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