Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 198

A bunch of people swarmed around the entrance, suddenly making the spacious hall feel cramped.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

I thought to myself, if Darren hadn’t shown up just in the nick of time, I bet these folks would start thinking I was up to no good again, right?

And Darren, clueless as ever, didn’t seem to notice the mix of looks being thrown his way. He gave me a gentle glance and then politely said hi to Hogan and Hilary.

Hogan was his usual self, all cool, calm, and collected, without a flicker of emotion on his poker face.

But Hilary couldn’t take her eyes off Darren, with a hint of nosiness in her gaze, and she said, “Professor Yearwood is all dressed up today; I could hardly recognize him without a closer look.”

That’s when I noticed Darren had gone all out, wearing a charcoal grey single–breasted suit and crease–free trousers, which gave him a more businesslike and polished vibe, dialing down his usual casual and laid–back look.

Pretty snazzy.

“You flatter me, ma’am. To have tea with the elders, one should dress

was standing by, chimed in, “Congrats Xaviera, it looks like you’re about

Darren’s parents, I frowned slightly

my breath on someone

Irwin, you’ve got it wrong. We’re just having tea with the

expect that question from Darren. She paused, then turned to Hogan with a helpless look, and said with her sweet, soft voice, “Well, I’ll go

my face briefly before shifting his gaze to Darren

light, but there was a

uncomfortable to

to smooth things over by softly suggesting, “Shouldn’t we go to

eyes met, then he quickly got the hint.

Hogan, let’s not keep Xaviera and Professor Yearwood,” Cecilia sald understandingly, with a smile in her eyes, “It’s not polite to make

I didn’t linger any further

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s

were nearing our booth, Darren suddenly

“What’s up?”