Bewildered, she walked into the living room and noticed Elias sleeping on the couch. He wore the pair of shorts and striped black and white shirt she had given him to change into after bathing. Instantly, she knew that Elias had helped her clean her home, causing a smile to bloom on her face.
[ Update! Sofia's affection for you has increased by 1% ]
The system's notification rang in Elias's ears. However, he had delved too deep asleep to listen to it; he rubbed his nose and turned to face the other side of the couch.
Witnessing this scene, Sofia let out a slight chuckle before deciding to take her bath and go to sleep. However, as she was about to step forward, she noticed a neatly covered plate on the dining table. Curious, she walked towards it and opened it.
Sofia was suddenly captivated by the sweet aroma of a well-prepared meal, which filled the air and took her by surprise. She turned her gaze towards Elias and stared at him intently.
Sofia was surprised when she returned home from work to find that Elias, despite his injuries, had cleaned her entire home, washed the dishes, and even prepared a meal for her. It had been a while since someone had cooked for her, especially in her house, so she couldn't help but look at Elias strangely.
Sofia wasn't sure if she had started developing feelings for him after he saved her from being hit by a bus, but she could sense that something had changed in her heart following that event.
After taking her bath and returning downstairs to eat the dish Elias had delicately prepared, she wiped the plate clean. After finishing, she washed the plate and placed it safely in its position before returning to the couch, where Elias was sleeping.
"He's quite something," Sofia whispered to herself, her heart fluttering as she leaned in to kiss Elias's cheek.
"Thank you for the dinner; it was perfect," she muttered, her voice barely audible. Just as she was about to pull away, Elias's arms wrapped around her, pulling her onto the couch.
"Eeeh!" Sofia stifled a scream, her heart racing as she realised Elias was still asleep. Part of her wanted to stay in his embrace, but she managed to free herself and hurried to her room, her heart pounding.
"That was dangerous," Sofia muttered as she quickly shut herself in her room.
….....
Elias wore the clothes Sofia had given him, feeling slightly warm on his cheek. As the morning sunrays pierced through the curtain, Elias suddenly sensed footsteps stepping down the stairs and shifted his attention towards it.
"Good morning, Sofia," Elias greeted her, smiling brightly.
"Good morning, Elias," Sofia greeted with a nod, "Are you heading out already?" she asked.
"Yes," Elias responded, "I can no longer feel the slight arch and freely move my body, so I have decided to get going as I have some things to take care of first."
He remembered that he still had to settle his rent with Mr Peter and hoped the man hadn't already thrown his things out of his apartment.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital to run some checkups?" Sofia asked, her voice filled with genuine concern, narrowing her eyes at him to scrutinise his figure as she awaited his response.
"I'm okay; it won't be a waste of time to go to the hospital," Elias responded, shaking his head.
Going to the hospital is too expensive! That was what he wanted to say.
"Okay, if you say so, then I'll stop asking. Since you're leaving, wait for me so I can escort you. I need to stop at the Luxe Haven Mall to get kitchenware at the mall to practice some new dishes I've learnt. I've overused the ones I have at home and ruined them," Sofia sighed.
"Aren't you going to work today?" Elias asked curiously.
He wasn't surprised that Sofia wanted new kitchenware, as he had used some of them to prepare a meal for himself and her and had seen their condition. However, he knew she was supposed to be at work today, as it wasn't a free holiday or a weekend.
Sofia shook her head. "No, I spoke with the Chef about what happened yesterday, and he helped me talk to the General Manager to give me a few days to rest and recover. Fortunately, since the incident happened close to Celestial Dining, he quickly approved it. Thanks to you, I am now on a short-term vacation. I owe you a lot," Sofia said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude, her eyes sparkling with appreciation as she looked at Elias.
Elias shook his head. "You don't need to thank me. I was simply repaying the kindness you've shown me over the past few years," he replied, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Then, he cleared his throat to shift the conversation. "How about I help you get the kitchenware you need at the mall? You've always helped me when I needed it, so now that I can return the favour, I want to do so."
Although he was surprised that Sofia shopped at such an expensive location for her kitchenware, he realised it made sense, considering her passion and dedication to her job.
A chef must always have the best quality kitchenware, after all!
Also, he saw this as an opportunity to help Sofia resolve some money issues. Utilising the system to earn more wealth was just a beneficial byproduct. He could help her save money by assisting her and receive cashback rewards—a win-win situation.
Despite Sofia's growing affection for him, Elias had sworn to himself that he wouldn't actively seek her out to exploit her for cashback Rewards, and he was determined to keep his word.
Sofia's eyes widened in surprise at Elias's words before she swiftly shook her head firmly, "No, I can't do that. You have been through a lot and should be resting. Besides, this is something that I can take care of alone," she responded.
Elias smiled warmly and shook his head dismissively, "If you are worried about me spending my wealth lavishly, then you don't need to. I'm doing this because you've always been there for me, and it's time I did something for you, too. Plus, getting out and doing something normal might be good for the both of us after what happened," he responded.