Amelia Clarke 'hmm'ed, and hung up the phone.
She slipped her phone into her pocket, and was about to push the door when a slender, well-defined hand grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open.
Amelia Clarke's eyes followed the immaculate black suit sleeve up to meet Owen Moreland's eyes.
Those eyes were as deep as the universe on a midnight sky, filled with an enigmatic allure that seemed to pull people in.
Amelia's heartbeat skipped inexplicably. She pretended to be calm, shifted her gaze away, thanked him, and then walked in.
She ordered what Mia Moreland had requested: two crabmeat shumai, a bowl of imperial-style yogurt, packed up for fifty-five yuan.
Amelia quickly pulled out money to pay, and Owen Moreland didn't offer to pay for her, which relieved her.
She might be poor, but she didn't want to take advantage of anyone, especially someone she barely knew.
On second thought, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
Who was Owen Moreland? As a man who had immersed himself in commercial circles for so many years, he definitely knew how to behave. How could he make such a faux pas as paying for a stranger girl?
Owen Moreland ordered a basket of pork shumai and a bowl of eight-treasure porridge, packed up and paid.
Amelia assumed he was eating by himself and didn't think much of it.
However, the waitress blushed when taking Owen Moreland's money, showing a shy coyness that made Amelia cast a sideways glance.
Indeed, mature and handsome men were very appealing.
Twenty minutes later, the white Range Rover stopped at the entrance of Bordine University.
Amelia thanked him, grabbed the Capital Reserve takeout bag, and prepared to get out of the car.
"Take this." Owen Moreland handed over the food he had packed.
Amelia slightly cocked her head, her bright and spirited eyes filled with confusion, looking adorable and coy.
Owen Moreland's demeanor was calm and composed as he commanded in his imperious tone, "Take it!"
It was somewhat domineering, leaving no room for dispute.
Holding two Capital Reserve breakfasts, Amelia stood in the cold wind, watching the white Range Rover drive away until it disappeared from sight, only then did she come back to her senses.
She blinked, staring at the breakfast Owen Moreland had bought in her hands.
She didn't even know why she had taken it; he had simply issued the order, and she had complied involuntarily.
Biting her lip, she felt annoyed.
Amelia didn't go back to her dorm; instead, she went straight to the classroom for class.
By the time she arrived, all three of her roommates were already seated in their usual spots.
Seeing the food, Mia Moreland cheered, biting eagerly into a shumai with one hand while pulling out money with the other to give to Amelia.
Amelia didn't feign reluctance; she reached out and took the money gracefully.
"I'm starving. I got the time wrong this morning and rushed out without eating; I even hurried the driver to take me to school, only to find out I was actually early…" Mia spoke with her mouth full, her voice muffled and unclear.
"Eat slowly, no one is going to steal it from you," Amelia said with a smile, taking out the shumai Owen Moreland had bought, and offering some to Viola Harris, "Viola, have some."
Viola looked surprised; Amelia's family was poor, and she always tried to save wherever possible, sometimes even skipping meals. Today, however, she had bought Capital Reserve breakfast?
To them, Capital Reserve breakfast was quite expensive.
"Why so generous with yourself today?" Viola took one without hesitation and bit into it.
It was delicious.
"I didn't buy them," Amelia said truthfully.
Viola was startled, then she sneered slyly, "You didn't come back last night; does it have something to do with the person who bought the breakfast?"
Amelia Clarke nodded and told the truth, "I was hit by a car last night, slept in the hospital, and this morning the person who hit me with the car brought me to school. He also bought this breakfast."
Upon hearing she had been hit by a car, Viola Harris immediately dropped her teasing demeanor and looked at Amelia with concern, "Are you okay? No missing arms or broken legs... no internal injuries, right? Did that person take you for a thorough check-up?"
Amelia Clarke: "...I'm fine."
She turned to see Rosy Mone sitting to the side, neglected, and smilingly asked her, "Rosy, do you want some?"
Rosy Mone glanced at it with disdain and said dismissively, "I don't eat that kind of stuff. You guys go ahead."
Amelia Clarke looked at Mia Moreland, who was enjoying her meal, and smiled with pursed lips, but said nothing.
Some people and things are not worth fussing over.
The classroom began filling with more and more people.
Viola suddenly remembered the dinner with Owen Moreland that she mentioned last Monday, and today was indeed Monday.
"Mia, you said last week that your cousin would treat us to a meal this Monday; does that still stand?"
Mia Moreland's face changed, looking a bit embarrassed, "Well... he's very busy today. Early in the morning, he left for the company. You know, he manages such a big enterprise; his schedule is usually arranged many days in advance. Let's do it another time when he's not busy; I'll definitely have him treat you all."
A hint of disappointment flickered in Viola Harris's eyes, but she soon chuckled, "I knew you were just boasting."
Mia Moreland felt downcast and puffed her cheeks without a word.
As Amelia Clarke previewed the content for the upcoming class, she listened to the conversation beside her, bit her lip, and stayed silent.
The morning's classes were packed with activities.
They didn't end until twelve o'clock at noon.
All four roommates from Amelia Clarke's dormitory had lunch together in the small cafeteria.
Mia Moreland looked somewhat listless, uninterested even in the tastiest dishes.
"What's wrong with you? You've been lifeless all morning," asked Amelia Clarke.
Mia Moreland bit her chopsticks and looked at her with a sense of grievance, "Amelia, you have to believe me; I wasn't lying, Owen Moreland is really my cousin."
Amelia Clarke was at a loss for words.
"Is that why you've been down all morning?"
"No, it's not just that. I'm sad you don't believe me, but what's even more upsetting is that my cousin didn't give face. Do you know how long I begged him over the weekend at home, serving him tea and water? I even cooked for him. Look at my hands; they're all cut up..."
Amelia Clarke, Viola Harris, Rosy Mone: "..."
Viola patted Mia Moreland's shoulder and comforted her earnestly, "I believe you now! That was tough!"
"To declare my love for you to the whole world, I only want to be with you; this heart is fearless and steadfast....." Mia Moreland's phone suddenly rang.
She took out her phone, pouted, and reluctantly answered with an annoyed tone, "What do you want calling me?"
The other side must have said something, and her eyes lit up, tentatively asking, "Can I bring my classmates with me? Three, just three people."
Apparently getting an affirmative answer, Mia Moreland cheered, "Thanks, big brother!"
After hanging up, she shook off her previous gloom, her whole demeanor brightened, she lifted her head high and hummed, "Tonight, ladies, come have dinner with me; the Bowe CEO is treating us!"
Viola Harris's eyes sparkled, "What's the occasion?"
Mia Moreland explained, "A new restaurant under the Bowe Group is opening, it's just south of our school, pretty close. My cousin is going over there tonight, he asked me if I wanted to come and said I could bring classmates. Wanna go?"
Viola nodded, "Of course, we'll go."
After finishing their meal and returning to the dormitory, Amelia Clarke opened her wardrobe, took out the deep blue shawl still hanging on the hanger, folded it neatly, and put it in her bag.
Perhaps, she could find a moment tonight to return the shawl.
She had yet to thank him for what happened that night; she might as well take the opportunity to express her gratitude since he really did her a big favor that evening.