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.

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

Xaviera, it looks like you’re about to meet the parents with Professor Yearwood real soon.”

where Cecilia got the idea that I was meeting Darren’s parents, I frowned

waste my breath on someone who doesn’t

We’re just having tea with the elders. Besides, you and Hogan… are we going to

a helpless look, and said with her sweet, soft voice, “Well,

my face briefly before shifting his gaze to Darren and said,

light, but there was a hint of

to

softly suggesting, “Shouldn’t we go to the elders? They

our eyes met, then he quickly got the hint. “Look at me, all caught up

sald understandingly, with a smile in her eyes,

linger any further and headed inside.

vaguely heard Hogan say, “Now

just as we were nearing our booth, Darren suddenly stopped and looked

“What’s up?”