Twenty minutes later, a black Hummer stopped in front of Essen Reed. He walked over, opened the passenger door, and sat down, feeling his frozen body slowly thawing.
Alexander Gale glanced at the remnants of snow on his shoulder and frowned, "Why don't you hide in the security booth?"
Essen blinked, "I have social anxiety."
Alexander Gale glanced at him, "Are you doing this on purpose?"
"No."
He snorted and started the car, "Is there anything specific you want to eat?"
"The restaurant we went to last night was really good."
"Okay."
Alexander Gale drove Essen Reed to the restaurant from last night. After they finished eating, he took him to a nearby mall.
Essen Reed had eaten his fill and his body had warmed up. He felt a bit sleepy and lazily looked out the window, asking, "What are we going to do?"
Alexander Gale parked the car and said, "We agreed that I would buy you a new hat today. Get out."
"Ah..."
He slowly undid his seatbelt.
Alexander Gale took him upstairs to a high-end men's clothing store. He not only bought a hat but also bought him a bunch of clothes, sweaters, coats, shoes, almost anything that seemed suitable. He didn't even blink an eye as the store assistant packed them up.
Essen Reed didn't refuse either. He stood next to him with a smile, watching "Mr. CEO" swiping his card.
The cashier's face was about to crack from smiling, "Sir, would you like us to deliver these to your home?"
Alexander Gale turned to look at Essen Reed, "Didn't your brother take care of it? Are you going to stay at the hotel?"
He took out his phone, opened the chat with his family, and handed the address sent this morning to the store assistant, "Deliver it here."
The store assistant noted it down and nodded, "Okay."
Alexander Gale took out a khaki-colored felt hat from the packed shopping bag and put it on Essen Reed's head.
Essen Reed tilted his head slightly, allowing him to help adjust the hat and push the stray hair that was covering his eyes.
A look of admiration appeared on the store assistant's face. It seemed that handsome guys were always with other handsome guys!!!
After leaving the men's clothing store, Essen Reed tugged at Alexander Gale's clothes and said, "Don't you think we look like a couple now?"
Alexander Gale glanced at him, "How so?"
He pouted, "You put your arm around me, touch me, and buy me clothes. Don't couples do that?"
Alexander Gale smirked, "What if I said I would?"
Essen Reed stopped walking and looked at him seriously, "Then you're really terrible, and I don't want to like you anymore."
He leaned closer, smiling, and asked, "Do you like me? When did you start liking me? What do you like about me? My looks? Or my family background?"
Essen Reed stared at his deep black eyes, unable to see the meaning behind his smile. He pressed his lips together and suddenly turned and walked in the other direction.
Alexander Gale was taken aback for a moment, then quickly caught up, grabbing Essen Reed's wrist, "Are you angry?"
Essen Reed struggled free and walked towards the elevator, pressing the down button and standing there expressionless, waiting for the elevator to arrive.
Alexander Gale grabbed his arm again, "I have never touched or bought clothes for anyone else."
He adjusted his emotions, looked up, and smirked, "Only for me?"
Alexander Gale felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart, "Only for you."
Essen Reed released his grip on Alexander Gale's sleeve, "Then do you like me even a little?"
Before he could answer, Essen Reed let go of his hand, his expression calm, showing no sign of disappointment, "You still don't like me, you're just a little interested in me."
Alexander Gale pursed his lips, his eyes darkened slightly.
"Ding!"
The elevator arrived, and Essen Reed let out a sigh of relief, smiling, "Let's go."
Alexander Gale drove Essen Reed back to the hotel. They didn't say a word to each other the whole way, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
The car stopped in front of the hotel, and Essen Reed got out without saying a word. Alexander Gale clenched the steering wheel tightly, his face showing some tension.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Essen Reed didn't rush to enter the hotel. He went around and knocked on the car window.
Alexander Gale's face softened a bit, and he rolled down the window.
He bent down slightly, with a shallow smile in his eyes, "You don't have to feel burdened. If you don't like me, it's okay. I never expected there to be any result between us. I would be happy if you were willing to indulge me a little. Thank you for taking me shopping today. Drive safely on your way back. Goodbye."
Alexander Gale closed the window expressionlessly, stepped on the gas pedal, and the car quickly drove away.
The smile in Essen Reed's eyes faded away. He put his cold hands in his pockets and turned around to enter the hotel.
*
That night, after the members of the Reed family arrived in London, they sent a message to Essen Reed. He packed his suitcase, checked out, and left the hotel.
Originally, he and Alexander Gale had agreed to have dinner together, but after the incident at noon, neither of them mentioned it again, and dinner was canceled.
He dragged his suitcase out of the hotel and got into the car of the Reed family members waiting outside.
After more than half an hour, the two brothers returned to a high-end apartment, a simple and elegant five-hundred-square-meter penthouse.
The Reed family members opened the door and told him the password, "The villa is still under renovation, so we'll temporarily stay here. Auntie has cleaned it up for you. Are those all the clothes you just bought?"
Essen Reed saw a pile of neatly arranged shopping bags on the sofa in the living room and gradually felt downcast, "Yes."
"I'll bring them back to your room later."
After taking off their coats, the Reed family members rolled up their sleeves and headed towards the kitchen, "How about having noodles for dinner?"
"Okay."
The Reed family member cooked two bowls of delicious noodles and sat at the dining table with Essen Reed.
Seeing that his younger brother was absent-minded, he asked, "Having trouble pursuing someone?"
Essen Reed lowered his head, picking at the noodles, "I can't figure out what Alexander Gale is thinking. Maybe I'm too greedy. Once I get a little, I want more."
"Heh, nobody can figure out Alexander Gale's thoughts. You didn't understand him before diving in. You should be prepared for not getting what you want."
The Reed family member didn't want to lecture him too much, "Eat quickly, and after you finish, take some cold medicine. You sound a bit congested."
He ate the noodles in small bites, "I went to see my mom this morning."
"Okay, then I won't call you tomorrow."
"Oh..."
*
The next day, Essen Reed woke up early. After washing up, he came out of his room just as the Reed family member was changing shoes and preparing to go out.
Hearing the movement, he turned his head and looked over, "You're up. I cooked porridge in the pot. Help yourself. I'm going to see my mom. I brought the drawing board and paint for you. They're in the black suitcase."
"Got it..."
After finishing breakfast, Essen Reed took out the drawing board and set it up in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window. He arranged the paint and took a long time before finally starting to sketch. However, every time he outlined something, he would be dissatisfied and tear it up, leaving a pile of crumpled paper on the floor.
"Tsk..."
He put down the brush in frustration, ran his hand through his hair, and stood up. Soon, he returned with a cigarette box and a lighter, sat back in front of the drawing board, skillfully lit a cigarette, and brought it to his lips, watching the smoke slowly rise.
After smoking two cigarettes and calming his mood, Essen Reed picked up the paintbrush again, outlined the lines, and started coloring...