Since She Met Lucian

Chapter 19 A Dinner Together

"What would you like for dinner?" Lucian asked after Amelia got on the car.

Amelia wanted to say something rude but after giving it a second thought, she decided against it. So she pointed her finger to a nearby hot pot restaurant and said, "Hot pot."

Amelia had initially planned to have dinner with Courtney but obviously that didn't happen because of Lucian. She chose hot pot for dinner so she could at least be happy even though she wasn't having dinner with Courtney.

Soon, Amelia was feeling better after psyching herself up.

Lucian didn't really like eating spicy food so when Amelia said that she wanted hot pot for dinner, a hint of disgust flashed across his eyes. Still, he agreed.

Lucian asked the waiter to arrange a private room for them but Amelia protested by saying, "There's a table by the window. We can sit there."

"What? Isn't it embarrassing to sit outside?" he said, mildly angered. Although they were a bit early for dinner, the restaurant was still crowded. He didn't like a noisy environment when he ate.

"If you're embarrassed then you can eat elsewhere. Either way I'm staying here for my hotpot and I'm going to take that table by the window," Amelia said bravely. She then turned to the waiter and said, "We'll take that table by the window."

The restaurant was so crowded that it was practically a miracle that a table by the window would be free. Amelia couldn't understand what Lucian was griping about.

Amelia had assumed that Lucian would just turn around and leave. To her surprise, he merely took her hand and led her to the table by the window.

Amelia was stunned at first then she smiled triumphantly.

She couldn't believe that she was able to have her way with the usually arrogant Lucian.

"Do you know why I came here, Amelia?" Lucian asked as soon as Amelia sat down.

"Because it would be more embarrassing if you left?" Amelia guessed, putting on an evil grin.

"You!" Lucian was obviously offended. He found that she was speaking up more and more recently. But there were so many people around so he retorted in a low voice, "I just let you win this time since you're coming to work for me starting tomorrow."

As soon as Lucian finished speaking, the easygoing smile on Amelia's face disappeared.

The thought of going to work in the Zhan Group made her heart skip a beat.

"Lucian, can you stop acting like this? Have you forgotten what your mother said to me last time?" If she worked in the Zhan Group, people were only going to talk about her. They were going to assume that she was just using the Zhan family for a job opportunity at the Zhan Group.

"Amelia, why does any of that even matter? You're coming to work at the Zhan Group. You're not going to be treated like a goddess there or something. Don't think so highly of yourself," Lucian said bluntly.

"I'll work anywhere but the Zhan Group," Amelia replied stubbornly.

"I'm running out of patience. If you don't agree, I'm just going to have to force you into working," Lucian said coldly, his sharp eyes gazing back at Amelia.

"Lucian, I don't want to fight with you on an empty stomach. Let's just talk about this later." Soon, their orders were served. Lucian had made Amelia feel uncomfortable with what he had just said. It seemed

as if the more she fought back, the more aggressive he became. She resorted to turning her attention to the food instead.

"Please enjoy yourself, Mrs. Amelia." With that, Lucian turned his face to the window, obviously protesting by not having dinner.

Amelia figured he was mad at her so she just didn't say anything.

They weren't on good terms so there was no use negotiating with him.

Amelia was so absorbed in the food that she was able to ignore Lucian.

"I think that's Mr. Lucian!"

"What is he doing here? Shouldn't he be eating in a fancier hot pot place? This is no place for a man like him to be having dinner!"

"Yup, I agree. Look at the woman he's with. She's eating like a beast..."

"I heard he got married. I was so heartbroken when I heard that."

People were starting to gossip about them. Amelia stopped eating and looked at Lucian.

Embarrassed, Amelia put down her chopsticks and asked indifferently, "Why aren't you eating?"

She assumed all men liked to eat meat so she ordered a lot of them thinking that Lucian would eat. However, he hadn't even touched his chopsticks yet.

"I'm already full just watching you eat," Lucian said emotionlessly.

Amelia frowned. The irony in his tone wasn't lost on her. She picked up her chopsticks again and continued scarfing the food down.

Lucian didn't like spicy food. He pouted in disapproval when he saw Amelia put more chili in her already spicy food.

Half an hour later, Amelia put down her chopsticks with satisfaction.

"Are you full?" His voice was cold and sharp like knives.

Amelia nodded. She glanced at the food in front of Lucian and said, "You didn't even touch your chopsticks. You don't have to foot the bill for this one."

"Here," Lucian ignored her as he handed his card to the waiter.

"Hey, don't take it. I... Hmf!" Before Amelia could finish, Lucian had covered her mouth with his hand. Her eyes were widened in shock and it seemed so innocent.

"Amelia, we're in a public place. Keep your voice down." Lucian stood up and said coldly, "People were literally talking about you just now. If you don't want anyone to recognize you then it's best if you keep your mouth shut."

Amelia looked around and realized how many people were staring at them. In an attempt to avoid the attention, she hurried out of the restaurant right away.

After getting in the car, Lucian said disapprovingly, "You smell like hot pot! That's disgusting!"

It was easy to tell that he was angry.

Amelia turned her head and said in the same disapproving tone that Lucian had just used, "Then maybe I can just get off and take a taxi home."

However, as soon as the words left her mouth, she quickly realized the error in what she had said.

She was living in Lucian's home. Why should she go back there? That wasn't her home.

Lucian didn't say anything anymore. He merely started the engine and drove off.

When they arrived home, just as Amelia was making her way upstairs to her bedroom, Lucian stopped her and said, "Lily didn't come in tonight. Make something light for my dinner."

Amelia was about to refuse his request when she saw Lucian take off his jacket and lay on the sofa. She heard him sigh as if out of exhaustion.

'He must have had a long and tiring day,' she thought to herself.

She then remembered that he hadn't eaten anything yet. Her heart softened upon thinking of this which was what motivated her to go to the kitchen and cook something for him.

Half an hour later, Amelia had finished cooking. When she walked into the living room, she found that Lucian had already fallen asleep.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" She frowned. She'd cooked dinner for him and all that and here he was sleeping!

"Even if I wanted to tease you, I wouldn't do it on an empty stomach." The moment Amelia turned around, she heard a deep and cold voice from behind.

With her back to him, Amelia rolled her eyes at Lucian. She was annoyed and just as she was coming up with a retort, Lucian had already stood up and sat on the table. He asked in amazement, "You cooked all these, Amelia?"

His tone was laden in disbelief as he spoke.

Was he really giving her a compliment?

"Yes!" They didn't have that much food in the refrigerator and since Lucian had asked for a light dinner, she cooked two dishes that she knew how to cook well but didn't cook often.

It didn't help either that these two dishes always reminded her of so many things she really didn't want to think about anymore.

"It looks good. I wonder if it tastes as good as it looks!" Once he'd taken a bite, he pleasantly smiled and said, "The last time you cooked for me, I already thought that was good but these are even better!"

Did she hear that wrong? Was Lucian actually complimenting her?

"Well, this is the last time I'm cooking those for you!" She had to compromise a bit just to cook these dishes.

"Mrs. Amelia, you get 80 points for cooking these. Now if only you'd change your attitude then maybe I can give you the remaining 20 points," Lucian said happily as he enjoyed the food. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Lucian seemed happy now which was a nice change to his usual cold demeanor that Amelia never liked.

"I'm not your servant. Why should I be polite to you?" Amelia glared at him scornfully. Still, she felt relieved when she saw that he'd finished everything she'd cooked.

The dishes she had cooked for Lucian were hers and Iris's favorite. She hasn't eaten these ever since Iris died.

"What's wrong with you?" Lucian asked upon noticing that Amelia was frowning.

Amelia was dazed for a while. When she gathered herself, she asked, "Are you done eating? If you are, I'm going to start cleaning up."

Amelia was lost in her own thoughts. She remained unmoving even after Lucian had put down his chopsticks already.

As Lucian gazed at Amelia, he too got lost in his own thoughts.

His thoughts were interrupted by a certain girl's laugh that had been ingrained in his memory.

If the tragedy hadn't happened, she would be the one standing in the kitchen with him right now.

When Amelia came out of the kitchen, Lucian was no longer in the living room. She thought he was already asleep so she went upstairs. However, when she arrived at the bedroom, the door suddenly flew open.

"Are you going to sleep now?" Lucian asked, standing by the door.

He had changed his clothes which made him look a bit more approachable.

Maybe it was Lucian's handsome face but he always looked so cold and indifferent no matter what he wore.

Amelia stared at him obsessively. If Lucian hadn't said anything, she might have just continued staring at him for a long time.

"Yes." Amelia averted her gaze, not wanting to look at his handsome face.

"The clothes you're going to wear to work tomorrow are at the right side of your closet. It's up to you which you're going to wear but don't wear any of your clothes, okay?" Lucian said as he eyed Amelia emotionlessly. Then he bade her goodnight.

Amelia shook her head in confusion. 'Lucian's so strange,' she thought to herself.