"Since you didn't call me, I had to come find you myself," Nicole said somewhat resentfully, sensing Adam's regret. She seemed to understand something, a blush creeping onto her face.
"Heh... sorry Nicole, got caught up with something yesterday and forgot to call you. I was planning to call you later," Adam said awkwardly.
"Who knows if you're telling the truth or not, maybe you've already forgotten about me," Nicole said discontentedly.
"How could I! I may forget others, but I would never forget you!" Adam exclaimed.
"Fine, you know how to talk," Nicole replied.
"Do you have time for lunch? Let me treat you," Nicole asked.
"I'm free, definitely free. It's a big deal when a beauty like you invites me for lunch, I wouldn't dare to turn it down easily," Adam replied.
"You chatterbox! Okay, it's settled then. I'll wait for you at the school gate at noon," Nicole said coquettishly, then turned and left.
"What luck! A flower blooms even in cow dung," one jealous boy said as he watched Adam and Nicole walk away affectionately.
"Ah! My heart is broken, my goddess is leaving me, I can't go on living!" another boy cried out in agony.
Adam returned to the classroom and found the other boys staring at him with unfriendly eyes. Sweating profusely, he hurried back to his seat, feeling as if he had just undergone a harrowing adventure. It was his first realization of how terrifying Nicole's popularity was.
"So, scared now?" Owen smirked.
"Sigh! Women are trouble!" Adam sighed.
"Quit playing around, spill it. What did Nicole want from you?" Owen asked.
"Nothing much, just wanted to treat me to lunch," Adam replied.
"Bragging! I don't believe you," Owen said.
"Believe it or not, it's up to you," Adam replied.
For the next two classes, Adam remained distracted, his mind wandering.
"This guy values romance over friendship!" Owen complained.
When Adam arrived at the school gate, he found Nicole hadn't arrived yet. He waited for a while but didn't see her. Instead, he encountered trouble.
A man dressed in black, accompanied by three others, approached Adam and surrounded him.
"You're Adam?" the man in black asked.
"That's right, who are you? What do you want with me?" Adam asked.
"Come with us," the man in black said.
"What if I refuse?" Adam said.
"Then you'll have to face the consequences yourself," the man in black replied.
"Haha, I'd like to see what you can do," Adam scoffed.
"Get him! Grab him!" the man in black ordered his henchmen.
"Stop! What are you doing?" a voice interrupted, Nicole ran to Adam's side and stood in front of him.
"Claire, what now?" one of the henchmen asked the man in black.
"Grab them both!" Claire said coldly. His three henchmen obeyed, each moving towards Nicole and Adam.
"You're asking for it!" Adam exclaimed. He pulled Nicole behind him and unleashed a powerful psychic force towards Claire's henchmen.
"Mental Storm!" Adam growled lowly, his eyes instantly turning light blue.
"Ah!" Claire's henchmen cried out in terror. They felt as if they had fallen into hell upon hearing the sound. Their eyes bulged suddenly, faces turned pale. After a few minutes, they became dazed, foaming at the mouth, and collapsed to the ground.
"What... what did you do to them?" Claire trembled, his gaze filled with fear as he looked at Adam. "Did I do anything? Your men are just too cowardly, getting themselves scared stiff in broad daylight. Looks like they have guilty consciences," Adam taunted.
"Bullshit! I'm going to take you down today!" Claire roared, throwing a punch towards Adam, the force of it stinging Adam's cheek.
"Psychic Restraint!" Adam shouted, feeling the punch getting dangerously close. He broke into a cold sweat and quickly stepped back, silently relieved.
At that moment, Claire froze in his punching stance, not moving a muscle except for his eyes, which could still move freely.
"I can release the restraint, but you have to answer a few questions for me. Blink if you agree," Adam said.
Claire immediately blinked, indicating agreement.
Adam withdrew his psychic force and released Claire from the mental restraint.
"Tell me who you are, and who sent you," Adam asked.
"I'm Claire, under Robert's command. He sent me," Claire answered honestly, his gaze filled with deep fear.
"Why did you want to capture me?" Adam inquired, feeling puzzled.
"Our boss is Robert. We wanted to capture you because you hit our leader's son, Ryan," Claire explained.
"Ah, I see," Adam realized, the puzzle solved.
"Tell Robert he'd better not mess with me again. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to make him and his gang disappear. Now, get lost!" Adam said coldly.
"Yes, I'll convey the message," Claire said with relief, respectfully, then turned and ran, not even bothering with his collapsed henchmen on the ground.
"Nicole, are you okay? Were you scared?" Adam turned around, concerned, only to find Nicole staring blankly at him.
"Nicole! What's wrong?" Adam shouted worriedly as Nicole snapped out of her daze, a hint of shyness on her face as she looked at Adam with a slightly evasive gaze.
"I'm fine," Adam reassured her.
"That's good. Let's go now! I've already reserved our seats," Nicole said.
"Okay," Adam nodded.
"Wait for me, I'll go get the car," Nicole said as she ran off.
Moments later, Nicole pulled up next to Adam in the car.
Adam got in, and Nicole drove towards their destination. Nicole handed the car keys to the valet and led Adam into the restaurant.
"Welcome! Do you have a reservation?" a hostess asked.
"I reserved table number 8," Nicole said.
"Are you Nicole? Please follow me," the hostess led them to a table by the window.
"Please wait a moment," the hostess said before leaving.
"Sir, madam, here's the menu. May I take your order?" a waiter approached them.
"Adam, what would you like to eat? This place serves authentic dishes, especially the steak, it's delicious," Nicole suggested.
"Do you come here often?" Adam asked.
"Occasionally," Nicole smiled.
"Alright then, you go ahead and order, I'll go with whatever," Adam said.
"Okay. Waiter, we'll have two steaks, one serving of caviar, one foie gras, and also some escargot. And a bottle of red wine," Nicole ordered, then turned to the waiter.
"Nicole! What a coincidence, we're dining here too," a surprised voice sounded, and a young man in designer clothes quickly approached them.
"Do you mind if I join you?" the man asked, without waiting for Nicole's response, he sat down, completely ignoring Adam's presence.
Seeing this, Nicole frowned slightly, giving Adam an apologetic look.
Adam smiled, indicating it was okay, but he became interested in the man.
"Let me see what you've ordered?" the man took the menu without hesitation.
"We've ordered these, and we'll add two more servings of caviar and foie gras, two servings of seafood soup, two servings of truffles, and another serving of veal steak," the man pointed generously at the menu.
"Nicole, anything else you'd like to add?" the man asked.
"No, Michael, I think you should switch seats. Today, I'm the one treating, and I don't want to be disturbed," Nicole said.