Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 48

I never expected the guy I was staring at to actually be Darren.

He was usually rocking those silver specs and had this laid–back artsy dad vibe going on. To put it bluntly, he gave off this slightly stuffy and old–fashioned air.

It was like he was a whole different person from the smooth charmer standing in front of me

now.

What a stark contrast.

“So, Xaviera, you’re disappointed to find out it’s me?” he teased.

I waved my hand dismissively, clarifying, “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that your current look is a dead ringer for a character in our game, and that’s why I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

That probably came across a little rude.

Darren seemed taken aback, he sighed and said, “And here I was thinking you had a thing for

this version of me, Xaviera.”

I raised my eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, Tina and Kevin came bounding over from the right and greeted me enthusiastically.

“Xaviera, you have no idea, before you got here, a bunch of chicks were hitting on Professor Yearwood,” Tina said with a hint of pride, lowering her voice, “and they even brought him coffee.”

Kevin mimicked in a falsetto, “Sweetheart, sweetheart, what flavor do you like?”

1

you really

off, “If you

wisely backed

bossed around by Tina and Kevin to attend various comic cons as their errand cosplay boy.

our

different areas and introduced me to various unique anime promotion techniques. I actually

a busy day, and I couldn’t let their help go unrewarded, so I

at Aurora Eats.

second–floor private room, we bumped

Darren by my side and asked, “This guy looks familiar,

record straight when Darren beat me to

for a moment before extending her hand, “Handsome young man, where do you

thought, frowning slightly.

teach at N University,” Darren replied politely,

sooner had he spoken than Hilary’s look became

changed the subject, asking Darren to go ahead and order while I stayed behind to handle Hilary.

sighed, “Xaviera, I’m actually happy to see you settling down well, unlike Hogan,

Only

I notice that Hilary’s makeup was a bit off, with powder caked at the corners of her eyes.

to hide it from you, Hogan’s really been over the top lately. He’s even been pushing me to bring Ms. Irwin to social gatherings. If his grandma finds

trailed off, turning her face away, looking like she was about to cry.

was comfort, “If Mr. Zade insists, just go along with it. There’s

just worried about those people in the Zade

to the private room, not before making plans to have

was really getting the hang of this wealthy

me, still hustling for my daily

were all old classmates, reminiscing about our college days,

was surprised.

sense of contentment, like