Just then, a long, slender hand took the ribbon from her. With a slight lift, the person effortlessly hung it on the highest branch.
Anna was momentarily stunned. Overjoyed, she turned around and said, "Thank you so much—"
She was about to express her gratitude, but when she looked up and saw the tall figure standing before her, she froze. It was a tall, well-built man with broad shoulders and a composed demeanor.
"It's you..." Anna stared blankly for several seconds before recognizing that the man in front of her was Daniel.
This encounter was clearly unexpected. However, the few days that had passed since their last meeting made her feel less uneasy than before, though her heart still fluttered slightly.
She blinked, looking at Daniel. He didn't respond immediately but glanced up at the wish ribbon hanging high above. In a calm voice, he asked, "Do you believe in this?"
Anna didn't know how to answer. They weren't exactly close, were they? Yet this man had a unique aura that made her feel that being near him could stir her emotions, as if his every move could affect her.
"I think it can bring good luck," Anna nodded hesitantly.
Daniel curved his lips slightly, a hint of a teasing smile flashing in his eyes. "So, did you get your lost project back?"
His casual remark left Anna speechless, a surge of annoyance rising within her. Were they that familiar? How did he know she'd lost her project?
Daniel's offhand comment clearly irritated her. She instinctively wanted to retort but swallowed her words at the last moment.
Her gaze fell on his well-defined profile, and she suddenly realized that the man before her was not someone she could easily offend. His background and status were evidently more complex than she'd imagined.
She understood that she wasn't dealing with an ordinary wealthy heir. Unlike those flaunting their wealth, he was truly someone far above. She had never seen him featured in any media reports, not even in gossip columns. This kind of "low profile" only made his identity seem even more extraordinary.
Anna knew she didn't know much about him. Although these two encounters had left some impression, her intuition told her that he wasn't easy to get along with. He exuded an aura that kept people at a respectful distance, making her feel apprehensive.
As she was lost in thought, Daniel suddenly asked, "Have you eaten yet?" His voice lacked some of its usual coldness, even carrying a hint of gentle concern.
"Ah?" Anna didn't immediately react and looked up at him instinctively.
Daniel gazed down at her and repeated, "I asked if you've had lunch."
She shook her head in confusion. In fact, she didn't quite grasp what he meant—under normal circumstances, who would ask such a question to someone they'd only met a few times?
Clearly, Daniel wasn't a "normal" person.
The Bentley drove into a quiet alley, winding through several turns before finally stopping at the entrance of a traditional courtyard house. A valet immediately came out to assist, parking the car, while a host led them through meandering corridors and courtyards into an elegant private room.
Anna had once come here with Jake, but back then, she hadn't even been able to get through the door.
Despite its unassuming location, this restaurant was one of the most renowned Michelin-starred establishments in the city. It offered only ten seats per day, required reservations well in advance, and had a strict formal dress code.
Today, Anna was dressed casually—a forest-green sweater on top and a loose, flared skirt below. While comfortable, her outfit was clearly not expensive.
Surprisingly, the restaurant staff showed no disdain for her attire. They maintained perfect smiles, pulled out her chair, poured tea, and inquired about any dietary restrictions, all with their usual courtesy.
Anna opened the menu and saw that a plate of fried rice cost $78, and a serving of caviar was several hundred dollars. She quietly closed the menu and handed it back to Daniel. "You order; I don't know what to choose."
Silently, she thought to herself, "Are people here just throwing money away?"
Up to this point, she still couldn't figure out why Daniel had brought her to dinner.
In the adult world, inviting someone to a meal usually meant one of a few things—either strengthening a friendship or discussing business collaboration. Someone like Daniel obviously wouldn't need her help with anything work-related.
That left only one possibility. A ridiculous notion flashed through Anna's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
Daniel noticed her returning the menu and gave a faint smile, as if he had anticipated her reaction. He skillfully ordered a few dishes, his tone casual, but each dish's name hinted at exceptional quality and exorbitant prices.
Anna felt a bit uneasy, her mind constantly speculating about Daniel's true intentions in inviting her to dinner. In the adult world, there's rarely such a thing as a free lunch. They had only just met; his bringing her to such a high-end restaurant was puzzling.
Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Daniel. He had taken off his coat, revealing a black turtleneck sweater underneath. The tailored fit accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, making him appear especially tall and straight. Coupled with his finely chiseled features—deep-set eyes and sharp contours—his presence was overwhelming. Even in the quiet restaurant, he attracted quite a few glances.
She watched him stealthily until he lowered his head to take a sip of tea. His long fingers wrapped around the teacup, and as he swallowed, his Adam's apple moved slightly. Even such a simple action appeared exceptionally elegant.
Anna quickly averted her gaze, inexplicably feeling her face grow warm. "Is the heating in this room turned up too high?" she wondered, forcing herself to focus on the tableware in front of her rather than the man who was unsettling her.
Daniel suddenly broke the silence, "How long have you been working in the jewelry industry?"
"Huh?" Anna was lost in her thoughts and didn't immediately catch his question.
"I asked, how long have you been doing gemstone appraisal?" He set down his teacup, his tone calm.
"Oh..." Anna smiled awkwardly. "About three years, I guess."
She tried to make her voice sound natural but still felt a bit uneasy. After all, she was just a technician responsible for gemstone appraisal in a jewelry company, and Daniel was a top investor and executive—people from completely different worlds. She couldn't help but wonder why he was interested in the work of someone like her, an "ordinary person."
"How did your work go on the 'Aurora' project?" Daniel continued.
His question made Anna a bit wary, and she looked at him suspiciously. How did he know I was involved in the 'Aurora' gemstone appraisal project?
The 'Aurora' project was originally a major project she was in charge of, appraising a batch of colored diamond rough stones shipped from South Africa. However, due to changes in the project's investors, she was suddenly replaced, and she still felt resentful about it.
"How do you know I was responsible for that project?" she instinctively asked, her tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
"I know a lot of things," Daniel said lightly, as if it wasn't worth mentioning.
Anna's heart sank, feeling inexplicably uneasy. He knew things that even she didn't know. She wanted to ask for more details but held back in the end. She vaguely felt that Daniel's background was more complicated than she'd imagined, and it was best not to inquire recklessly.
Soon, the waiter served the dishes Daniel had ordered. The exquisite plates were adorned with brightly colored ingredients that looked appetizing just by sight.
However, seeing those luxurious dishes made Anna feel even more uncomfortable. She knew that this meal was not a simple social interaction, but she still couldn't figure out his intentions.
"Have you always focused on gemstone appraisal? Have you considered other career paths?" Daniel asked casually while eating, his tone seemingly offhand.
Anna was taken aback, not expecting such a question. She instinctively shook her head. "I like working in gemstone appraisal. Although it's sometimes stressful, I find it meaningful."
She spoke her true thoughts without much consideration. She genuinely loved her work. Despite her lack of promotion in the company over the past few years, she had never thought of giving up her profession.
Daniel didn't respond immediately, focusing instead on peeling a crab with elegant and unhurried movements. Anna had been anxious about his silence, wondering if he was displeased, but then saw that he had meticulously peeled the crab, placing the clean meat neatly on a small plate.
He then pushed the plate toward her.
Anna was surprised, staring blankly at the plate of crab meat, feeling a bit flattered. It was the first time someone had so thoughtfully peeled a crab for her.
"You... you peeled this for me?" she asked cautiously.
Daniel nodded lightly, his expression composed. "Eat."
A warmth filled Anna's heart. She quickly scooped half the crab meat with a spoon and pushed the plate back to him. "You peeled it; let's share."
Daniel paused slightly, his gaze resting on her face, seemingly surprised by her response. Then, he curved his lips into a faint smile.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're interesting?" he said in a relaxed tone, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
Anna didn't expect him to say that, and her face flushed instantly. Her heart fluttered, unsure if he was just making casual conversation or implying something more. After all, she had never experienced such ambiguous "social interactions," especially with someone like Daniel, whose background was unfathomable.
The meal lasted nearly two hours.
Anna never imagined that she would spend two hours in such a place with someone like Daniel. Yet during those two hours, time seemed to flow unrealistically. The restaurant's environment was serene, with no noise, only the aroma of food and occasional soft conversations.
Daniel remained calm and composed throughout. It was as if he naturally controlled everything—the pace at the table and the interaction between them. He never showed any impatience, maintaining an air of effortless poise.
After the meal, Daniel personally drove Anna home.
As the expensive Bentley pulled into the dilapidated neighborhood where Anna lived, she couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. The narrow streets were hardly suitable for such a luxury car; the vehicle had to move slowly, as if traversing between two worlds.
The car stopped in front of an old apartment building covered in ivy. Anna felt her face flush, a mix of awkwardness and discomfort.
Daniel got out of the car and graciously opened the door for her, his gaze naturally falling on her. He glanced up at the rundown building, pausing for a moment, then asked lightly, "You live here?"
Anna suddenly felt her cheeks burn, an unease rising within her. She stubbornly lifted her chin and replied, "If I had money, I'd live in a grand townhouse too."
Daniel listened to her words without any visible reaction, not showing anger but instead letting out a slight chuckle. "Don't misunderstand; I didn't mean anything by it."
Realizing she might have been overly sensitive, Anna pressed her lips together, her tone softening. "Thank you for the meal today."
"You're welcome," he nodded slightly, appearing polite and natural.
Anna prepared to turn and leave but, on a sudden impulse, turned back. She noticed that Daniel hadn't left immediately but stood by the car with his hands in his pockets, looking at her from a distance as if waiting for something.
Seeing her turn back, a subtle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, as if everything was within his expectations.
Anna's heart suddenly raced, as if tiny drums were beating in her chest, leaving her flustered.
Fortunately, a cool breeze blew by, helping her regain her composure. She quickly turned away and hurried upstairs without looking back, as if something was chasing her.
Daniel watched all of this, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly into a faint smile, then turned and got back into the car.
The Bentley soon drove away, merging into the night and disappearing along the brightly lit streets.