Chapter 36: Lost and Found
Chapter 36: Lost and Found
Aaron King's picky response froze Lydia Moore's smile in place. After a moment of hesitation, she stubbornly tried again, "How about riding a bike? It's healthy, environmentally friendly, and pollution-free. You can connect with nature and get some exercise at the same time. It's not dirty or crowded, you don't have to wait, and you don't need change. Plus, it won't take up too much time. Would that work?" She blurted out the entire pitch in one breath.
Aaron King drained the last bit of juice from the blue-and-white patterned glass, his charming lips leaving the straw. He looked up at Lydia Moore, a clean and clear smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he leisurely replied, "Sure!" Since she suggested it, she'd better not regret it.
Getting involved with the super-demon Aaron King was probably the worst mistake Lydia Moore had ever made in her life. Her forehead was dotted with sweat as she panted in exhaustion. If she had known that his "sure" would lead to this situation, she swore she would never have made that regretful suggestion.
On a breezy autumn afternoon, the lime trees were in full bloom, their delicate white petals and camphor leaves fluttering gently in the air, filling it with a fragrant scent. The peaceful street was lined with slowly moving cars. Alongside them, a light green bicycle wobbled forward at a slow pace, its chain clinking with every pedal.
The girl in front was struggling to pedal, her legs working furiously to keep the bike moving. Meanwhile, the handsome boy sitting on the back seat relaxed, his eyes closed as he listened to the wind rushing past his ears. Occasionally, he would open his eyes to urge the girl on, and when she muttered complaints to herself, he would smile with childlike satisfaction.
Who would have thought that someone as slim as him could be… this heavy! Lydia Moore pedaled weakly, uncertain whether she might pass out from exhaustion at any moment. "I'm heading back to school, and you're going home. We're not even going the same way, so why do I have to give you a ride?" After her previous protests had all failed, Lydia finally managed to catch her breath and protested once more to Aaron King.
"You're the one who suggested biking, so I had my car driven away as you wished. Naturally, you're the one giving me a ride home," Aaron King responded with a cocky, justified tone, his arms crossed over his chest. Seeing her on the verge of losing her cool only lifted his spirits, making him think that riling her up was a rather entertaining game.
"I said you should bike, not me!" Lydia finally mustered the courage to shout, her patience at its limit. In her anger, she stomped down hard on the pedal, causing the already strained chain to snap in two.
"My bike…" Lydia let out a mournful cry. Could her luck really be this bad? She knelt down in defeat, staring at the broken chain, and sighed deeply.
This bike had been a gift from her aunt not too long ago, and she had cherished it. But today… it was all Aaron King's fault. If it weren't for this super-demon, she wouldn't be in this mess. Meanwhile, he stood by, watching the scene unfold with a detached expression, as if the whole situation had nothing to do with him.
Just as Lydia was about to unleash her anger on him, a fiery red sports car suddenly appeared in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere. The stylish and s*xy woman in the driver's seat took off her dark sunglasses, her sultry eyes locking onto Aaron King as she affectionately called out, "Aaron, hop in."
Is she Aaron King's new girlfriend? The woman's wild and flamboyant aura, coupled with her flashy attire, left Lydia momentarily stunned. She vaguely remembered seeing this woman in a fashion magazine, but seeing her in person was so surprising that Lydia couldn't quite place where she'd seen her before. Which magazine was it? Lydia stood frozen in place, trying to recall, completely absorbed in her thoughts.
By the time she remembered that the magazine was *Blossom In*, the most popular magazine among girls, the striking red sports car had already driven quite a distance away. Realizing what was happening, Lydia hurriedly pushed her beloved bike, trying to catch up with the car in the hopes that it would stop.
However, the driver paid no heed to her calls and instead sped up.
"Hey… wait…" Lydia was so focused on chasing the car that she didn't notice the obstacle in front of her. She tripped over a curb and tumbled to the ground with her bike, landing heavily on the pavement.
"Ow…" was the only word Lydia could manage as she sat up, wincing from the pain in her scraped arm. The throbbing in her ankle made it impossible for her to stand, and she could only watch helplessly as the flashy sports car disappeared from view. Today really wasn't her day. Lydia examined her injuries while sitting on the ground, wondering how she would make it back to school. She didn't want to trouble her aunt and uncle with a phone call, but given her current state, standing up was already difficult, let alone pushing her bike all the way back to school.
Just as she was deep in thought, the previously vanished sports car roared back into view, stopping precisely in front of her. Lydia looked on in shock as Aaron King stepped out of the car.
"Are you an idiot? Why were you chasing the car?" Aaron snapped, unable to resist yelling at her as he took in her dazed expression. When he had seen her fall in the rearview mirror, he hadn't intended to care, but for reasons he couldn't explain, he had told the driver to turn back.
Though he kept telling himself that he only felt sorry for her and wasn't genuinely concerned, Aaron couldn't help but frown when he saw Lydia's swollen ankle. "Can you stand?" he asked, though his tone was still somewhat defiant. Only someone like her would do something as foolish as chasing a car with a bike. Seeing her like this, he thought to himself that she deserved it, but there was a note of concern in his voice that he couldn't completely hide.