"Tsk, why haven't I seen you this bold before?"
Not saying a single word to him.
Aria pouted. She couldn't tell him that it was because he didn't speak, so she didn't dare to talk to him initiatively. Girls are always pitifully timid when facing the one they love.
Especially for a guy like Ryder, who seems laid - back but is actually aloof deep down.
"That's because you've never paid attention to me," Aria lowered her eyelashes and said in a low voice, "I've always been like this."
"Oh, really?"
Aria looked at him and nodded seriously.
Ryder didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had sent her home so many times, and even let her stay at his home for one night. Yet she still dared to say he didn't pay attention to her.
This heartless little girl.
He lazily lifted his eyelids, but didn't say anything. He nodded, admitting it, and chuckled, "Well, okay. Let's say you're right. Then I'll pay more attention to you from now on.
Aria, is this okay?"
"...?" Aria clearly didn't expect the topic to develop to this extent. She blinked, a little slow to react.
"Hmm?" Ryder leaned closer to look at her. "Is it okay, Aria?"
Aria's fingers subconsciously tightened around the chopsticks, and she leaned back, "You, why are you getting so close all of a sudden..."
At this moment, Maya Brooks and Ryan Bennett finally came back with their meals. They sat down and looked at the two of them curiously.
Ryder leisurely sat back.
"What were you guys talking about?" Ryan Bennett looked at Ryder suspiciously and asked, "Why is the little beauty's face red? Boss, are you randomly exuding your charm again?"
Hearing this, Maya Brooks looked at him warily.
She hadn't thought about this before. It was completely because Ryder and Aria had personalities that seemed worlds apart. Aria was a well - behaved girl and it seemed impossible for her to have anything to do with him.
So she hadn't guarded against it at all.
However, Ryder's abnormal behavior today had alerted her. This guy wouldn't really go after someone close to him, would he?
Ryder impatiently clicked his tongue, relaxed his body in a lackluster way, "Scram."
"Damn it, exuding your charm my ass."
"..." Ryan Bennett awkwardly touched his nose. "Can't even say anything."
Ryder smiled faintly, with a hint of mockery.
Aria looked at them, huddled like a quail, quietly eating without responding to anyone, not even daring to look at Maya Brooks.
While talking, they all lowered their heads and started eating. When they were almost halfway through, Finn Alvarez finally came back, looking like a butterfly reluctant to leave, still full of enthusiasm.
Maya Brooks: "Yo."
Aria curiously glanced at him.
"Tsk, you guys didn't wait for me." Finn Alvarez gracefully sat down, first grabbed the drink and took a few big gulps, then calmly pulled his plate over.
Maya Brooks teased him, "Who knows how long you'd be dawdling with that girl. Maybe she'd even invite you to eat."
Finn Alvarez: "Don't say that. We can't hurt the little girl's feelings. There's affection in every corner of the world. I'm just not letting down every girl's sincerity."
Ryan Bennett: "Finn, you're really lucky with girls."
"Cut the crap and eat your meal properly." Finn Alvarez said with a laugh, pretending to be angry.
Ryder sneered.
Finn Alvarez kicked him in dissatisfaction.
Aria ate seriously, couldn't help thinking that Finn Alvarez's unchanged playboy behavior was really as consistent as ever.
Whoever falls in love with him is really asking for trouble.
They'll surely get hurt. gōΠb.ōγg
**
The lunch break passed quickly. The military training in the afternoon started at 2:30. Compared to the morning, the training intensity increased significantly. By the end of the evening, even the moaning had stopped.
There were only a group of listless students, like water - starved cabbages.
Due to the rain, the evening training was changed to self - study in the classroom, giving the students a chance to catch their breath. After dinner, they all lay the tables in the classroom, either sleeping or playing with their phones.
Truly bent under the pressure of life.
At this time, Aria realized how useful Ryder's reminder to put on insoles was. Although her knees and calves still ached, at least the soles of her feet were soft.
When she and Sydney went to eat, she saw that many girls were walking in small steps. Although it wasn't obvious, their calves were trembling and their steps were unsteady.
Girls are naturally more delicate. The training intensity at Harvard University is comparable to that of the military, and the rubber - soled shoes are thin and hard.
The delicate soles of the girls suffered a lot. During the nearly four - hour training, they only had a half - hour break, which was for going to the toilet. Not to mention girls, even boys couldn't bear it.
Some students couldn't take it and stopped in the middle. And the instructor, Ryan Bennett, had a lot of feelings throughout the afternoon:
"The physical fitness is not good!"
"Your physical fitness in this class is really worrying."
"How can this be? Cheer up. The tasks ahead will only get heavier. Can't you even handle the first day?"
"..."
The playground was filled with moans.
Aria swore that she clearly saw the almost uncontrollable gloating smile on Ryan Bennett's lips.
Ryder didn't show up during the evening self - study. Aria listlessly lay the table, idly fiddling with her phone, and suddenly realized that she didn't seem to have his Instagram yet.
She immediately became even more dispirited.
At that time, everyone was thinking about how to escape the military training, while she was immersed in the annoyance of unrequited love.
Fortunately, not long after the training started the next morning, light rain began to fall. The pain of running ten laps for morning exercises was instantly relieved by the command "Disperse on the spot".
The students quickly picked up their folding stools and water cups and ran outside, for fear that if they were a little slower, the rain would stop and the decision would be revoked.
Before long, the crowded playground was left with only a dozen scattered people.
Aria stood where she was and looked at the podium.
"What are you looking at?" Sydney didn't leave either. She came over and patted Aria's shoulder, putting her arm around her. "Do you want to go find him?"
Aria pursed her lips and didn't speak.
"Just go if you want." Sydney said.
Aria looked at her faintly, sighed, "I don't dare."
She was extremely timid.
If he didn't look for her, she didn't know what reason she could have to go over.
What if he thought she was annoying...
Sydney said earnestly, "Sister, if you like someone, you have to take the initiative. That guy is so eye - catching. If you don't go, who knows, maybe one day he'll belong to someone else."
I don't know if her words were prophetic, but less than five minutes after she said this, a girl appeared on the podium.
She was wearing a military training uniform. It seemed that she was going to find Ryder.
Aria fell silent.
She looked at Sydney, pursed her lips. Her big almond - shaped eyes were dark and watery, looking so pitiful that it made people's hearts soften.
I don't know if boys can resist it, but normal girls can't stand a cute and pretty girl acting coquettish.
"Look at her!" Sydney said, poking Aria's face in frustration. Without further ado, she grabbed Aria and walked towards the podium.
"Come on, sister will give you a hand."
...
The decision to stop the training was made by Ryder.
The reason he didn't leave was that, first, he didn't like getting wet in the rain. Second, he had stayed up all night last night and was sleepy at the moment. He had to be here to oversee the military training, which was basically just staying on duty.
As soon as the students dispersed, the playground became quiet. The rain came with the wind, and it wasn't hot, and there was no sun.
His sleepiness completely overwhelmed him. He was too lazy to move, so he put his baseball cap over his face, put his long legs on the table, and leaned back against the chair, planning to take a nap before leaving.
Just as he was about to drift off, he felt a shadow fall over him.