Stella's heart skipped a beat.
Leo's voice was low and magnetic, and the way he said "fiancée" carried a tender quality, each word striking her eardrums and sending a tingling sensation all the way to her brain.
She couldn't quite understand this feeling, and being unfamiliar with it, she instinctively avoided it, turning her gaze away. "Got it."
Leo said nothing more and signaled the waiter to serve the meal.
Nine Creeks was renowned in EP city, and Stella had high expectations for this dinner.
As each exquisite dish was brought to the table, her previously calm eyes grew more and more animated. Sweet and sour pork, tender braised ribs, and savory braised pork belly—it was a table full of the hometown dishes she had been missing.
Stella's expression remained composed and her movements were elegant, but her bright eyes betrayed her excitement, and even her fluttering eyelashes showed her satisfaction as she enjoyed the food.
Leo watched her with amusement until Stella put down her utensils that he followed suit, wiping his hands and signaling the waiter to clear the table.
"You enjoy meat dishes?" he asked.
"Yes," Stella replied, somewhat embarrassed. The remaining dishes were all vegetarian, while most of the meat dishes, except for the fish, had been finished.
"Oh, and I ate two bowls of rice."
"What about the fish?" he asked again. "Is it that you don't like fish, or you don't like it steamed?"
Stella was a bit surprised that Leo noticed her preferences. "Well… I don't like fish, but I like grilled fish."
This seemed contradictory, but Leo immediately grasped the key point: "So, you like spicy food."
"Yes," Stella thought for a moment and added, "I also like fish and chips."
Leo nodded seriously, "Got it. I'll remember that."
Stella paused mid-bite of her mousse cake, feeling a bit self-conscious. Remembering her aunt's advice, she cleared her throat and asked, "How is Grandpa Starr doing lately?"
"He's doing well," Leo replied. "But he often talks about how he regrets not being able to attend your grandfather's funeral and feels guilty about it."
Stella's maternal grandfather, who passed away seven years ago, was the one her family affectionately called "Grandpa Juan." When Grandpa Juan passed, the Starr family was living overseas, and Grandpa Starr fell seriously ill upon hearing the news, unable to return to China for the funeral.
She shook her head. "They were best friends. My grandfather wouldn't blame him."
Leo poured her another cup of soy milk. "But he's very stubborn. No matter how we try to persuade him, he won't listen. So, it'll be up to you to talk to him from now on."
Stella blushed. "I don't think he'll listen to me either."
"Only you can persuade him," Leo said, seeing her disbelief. "Since I was born, he's been hoping for a granddaughter from your family. He's very fond of you, otherwise, there wouldn't have been our arranged marriage."
Stella looked up at him.
By the large window framed by the night, Leo Starr stood with a cold expression, impeccably dressed in a suit, the epitome of a composed and disciplined urban elite. Hearing the old-fashioned term "arranged marriage" from him felt oddly out of place.
She didn't know how an adult man should feel about an arranged marriage dictated by his elders—anger? Resistance? But no matter how she thought about it, Leo Starr's calm acceptance seemed unexpected, as if it were a matter of course.
"What do you want to ask?" Leo's voice broke the silence.
Her clear eyes revealed all her thoughts, transparent and easy to read.
Stella didn't hesitate. "Mr. Starr, why did you agree to marry me?"
Leo raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by her phrasing. "There was nothing to agree to. I was always meant to marry you."
Stella was momentarily speechless, scratching her chin awkwardly. "Uh, I mean, don't you have someone you like or want to marry?"
After all, you're not that young anymore—she didn't dare say this out loud.
"Like?" Leo tapped his finger lightly on the table, his tone indifferent. "It's unnecessary."
Stella swallowed hard.
She believed he was being truthful. Liking someone? Unnecessary. Marrying his arranged partner was simply fulfilling a promise to his ancestors—nothing more.
Stella chuckled awkwardly, trying to end the topic. "Mr. Starr, you are very responsible. Most people would find such news hard to accept suddenly."
"It wasn't sudden," Leo said firmly. "I've known about you since I was a child. I always knew that if I were to marry, it would be to you."
Stella was taken aback.
His tone was calm, as if stating an obvious fact, but she was stunned by the information. "Since childhood?"
Leo nodded nonchalantly. "Since I was eight."
When he was eight, she was one year old.
That was right after the engagement was arranged.
She felt a twinge of sympathy for him. "That must have been hard for you."
"It wasn't hard," Leo said, reading the subtext of her sympathy with a hint of a smile. "My fiancée is outstanding. It's my pleasure."
Hearing such frank praise from Leo made her dizzy. She could only return the compliment. "Thank you. You're also very outstanding, Mr. Starr."
Leo nodded slightly, accepting the dry compliment with grace, then returned to the main topic. "I'll be busy towards the end of the year. If you agree, I'd like us to get our marriage certificate as soon as possible."
Stella had no objections. "Sure."
"Do you have any free time next week?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm free all day Monday and Thursday afternoon."
"Then, can we get the marriage certificate on Monday?" he suggested.
"Yes."
Leo continued, "Since it's getting colder, I'd prefer to hold the wedding next spring. What do you think?"
"That's fine. You decide," she agreed, then brought up another concern. "Um, does that mean we'll live together?"
"We are legally married, so of course, we will live together."
"Oh," she said, "So, will we live together after getting the certificate or after the wedding?"
"Once we get the certificate, our marriage is official. We don't need to wait for the wedding."
Stella swallowed hard. "Oh."
The air grew tense, and she seemed hesitant to speak.
"If you have any concerns, you can say them directly," Leo encouraged.
Stella thought for a moment. "I have one question."
Leo sat up straight. "Please go ahead."
"I'm in my senior year, and I'll graduate with my bachelor's degree in June next year. After that, I'll need to pursue my master's degree for another three years."
Leo nodded, indicating she should continue.
"So, I can't get pregnant during these four years."
She paused for a few seconds, her face flushed. "Can you… use condom?"
"..."
For a moment, Stella thought she saw a crack in Leo's composed expression. However, he quickly composed himself, not allowing himself to appear embarrassed.
"Yes."
Stella sighed in relief. "That's good then."
Leo looked at her reddening face and, feeling a rare sense of awkwardness, took a sip of tea to steady himself before adding, "I don't have a strong desire for children. Whether we have them or not is up to you. Don't worry about it."
Stella's face lit up, nodding eagerly. Her future husband wasn't a typical traditionalist, which was great!
"Do you have any other concerns?" Leo asked, his eyes encouraging.
Stella shook her head. "Do you have any requirements for me?"
Leo smiled slightly. "Not at the moment, but I'm very busy with work, so I may not have much time to spend with you."
"That's okay," Stella replied without hesitation. "Your work is important. I'll be busy with my studies as well."
A harmonious marriage based on mutual respect and hard work. Her grandfather's foresight was impressive, and she was immensely grateful.
That evening, Leo drove her back to the university.
When the car stopped at the south gate, Stella was about to thank him when she saw him get out of the car, walk around to the passenger side, and open the door for her.
"Th-thank you."
Stella was startled by the grand gesture and momentarily froze, forgetting to unbuckle her seatbelt. As she stood up, she was suddenly yanked back by the seatbelt, hitting the leather seat with a heavy thud.
Stella was dazed, her fair face turning crimson.
Leo, ever composed, said nothing and didn't laugh, but she was too embarrassed to lift her head, fumbling with the seatbelt, which only seemed to get more tangled the more she struggled.
"Little fool."
Stella heard a soft sigh and before she could react, the clean scent of cedar enveloped her. Leo leaned in, his left hand bracing beside her neck, his right reaching across to unbuckle her seatbelt.
The distance between them suddenly shortened.
She held her breath.
She was now right next to Leo's neck, his chiseled jawline inches away. She was afraid she might accidentally bump into him. Trapped between the seat and his strong arms, she was surrounded by his warm, woody scent, unable to escape.
It felt like falling into a trap.
Above her, she heard a soft, slightly exasperated laugh. Stella couldn't help but look up, directly into a pair of eyes as bright as stars.
Her heartbeat seemed to pause for a few seconds.
"Stella, let go," the deep voice murmured next to her ear, "How can I unbuckle this if you're holding on so tightly?"
The buckle in her hand was gently shaken, and Stella let go quickly as if burned. "S-sorry."
Leo swiftly unbuckled the seatbelt and returned to his seat.
Stella quickly got out of the car and stood up. "Thank you, Mr. Starr."
"Still calling me Mr. Starr?"
"…"
Should she call him "Leo"? She felt awkward.
Leo, sensing her hesitation, suggested, "You can call me Honey."
That seemed more appropriate, not too distant yet polite.
Stella nodded obediently. "Honey Leo."
After a moment of silence, Leo added, "I meant just 'Honey.'"
"…"
What? Stella stared at his serious and handsome face. Call him "Honey"?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Leo felt a mix of emotions. He massaged his temples and relented. "It's fine, just call me that. I'll walk you in."
"Huh? No need, I can go by myself."
The south gate was close to the dormitory area, a ten-minute walk.
Leo didn't agree, showing her his watch. "It's ten o'clock, too late. There aren't many people on campus at this time. I'll walk you."
"Thank you, Honey Leo."
In mid-October, the temperature had dropped below ten degrees due to consecutive rainy days.
Leo wore only a long black coat, while Stella had already switched to a knee-length wool coat, wrapping a long cashmere scarf tightly around her neck.
"Afraid of the cold?"
"Yes," Stella's hands were in her pockets, and she stretched her neck to reveal her chin from the scarf. "The wind in EP Royal is too strong."
Leo replied, "But the winter in your hometown is even colder."
Her hometown, where winter temperatures can drop below twenty degrees Celsius.
"But we have heating very early in the season," Stella said, a bit disdainful. "Here, it's dry and cold, and heating doesn't start until the end of November."
"How long have you been in EP Royal?" Leo asked casually.
"Three years, since the beginning of my freshman year," she replied.
He paused. "Never been here before that?"
"No," Stella answered without hesitation.
Leo lowered his gaze and then changed the subject. "I have an apartment on Academy Road, about a ten-minute walk to EP University. We can live there before you graduate. It has its own heating system, so we can have heating now."
Mentioning living together made Stella's cheeks flush again. She stepped into the shadows to hide her embarrassment. "Okay."
When they reached a corner near the dormitory area, Stella stopped. "Honey Leo, you can drop me off here."
Leo glanced at the brightly lit dormitory area nearby and asked with a half-smile, "Afraid of being seen?"
"…Yes."
"..."
He had asked casually, not expecting her to confirm it.
Leo stared at the cautious girl. The mischievous side he had buried since becoming an adult began to surface. He leaned down slightly, bringing his eyes level with hers, his tone lazy and dangerous. "Am I not presentable as your Honey?"
Stella's eyes widened in shock.
That didn't sound like something Leo would say.
"N-no," she stammered in the cold night air. "You're a public figure. If you're seen near the girls' dormitory at this time, it wouldn't look good."
It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when' they'd be seen.
Before curfew, the area around the girls' dorm was crowded with couples saying their goodbyes. With so many eyes around, Leo, being so conspicuous, would definitely be noticed and photographed, and the photos would end up on the school forum… She didn't dare imagine it.
Leo, however, didn't accept this reasoning. "I'm sending my fiancée back to her dorm. It's perfectly reasonable and legal. Why should I be afraid of being seen?"
She had no counterargument to that. "Well… then, let's go."
Leo didn't move, instead ruffling her fluffy hair. "Just kidding. Go on, I'll leave once I see you go in."
Stella blinked, a bit dazed, and said goodbye. "Oh… well, goodbye, Honey Leo. Take care."
"Goodbye."
As she stepped into the dormitory area, Stella instinctively looked back.
In the dark, Leo stood alone under the streetlight, the warm glow framing him and accentuating his solitary figure.
She felt a sudden pang in her heart.
An impulse surged within her.
Stella turned around, jumping up and waving energetically at him, her clear voice ringing through the night. "Goodnight, Honey!"
Leo was visibly startled, then laughed out loud.
He watched her scamper away like a rabbit and murmured softly, "Goodnight, little one."