Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Could the mysterious, handsome man seen near Elora possibly be her private chef?

Rosie considered the idea but decided against asking Elora directly. She didn't want to risk upsetting her friend again. Their friendship was precious to Rosie, especially since it hadn't been easy to form such a bond with someone as reserved as Elora.

Rosie silently vowed to focus on supporting her friend's happiness in the future and to stop meddling in her personal life on behalf of others. Elora, only 27, wasn't in any rush to marry, and Rosie reminded herself that it wasn't her place to worry. After all, many accomplished women remained single well into their thirties and forties, prioritizing their goals and independence.

Later, during their call, Elora extended an invitation. "I'm having hot pot at home tonight. If you're free, come join the fun. But let me warn you-no matchmaking schemes. If you try, you're officially uninvited."

Rosie laughed. "Don't worry. I'm done with that. Besides, you're only 27 after the New Year. You've got plenty of time. You're still young." Rosie had married early, but she understood Elora's life was different. Unlike Rosie, Elora carried the weight of her family's legacy. Rosie remembered an old classmate who once offered to marry into the Ormond family as a stay-at-home son-in-law. While his intentions seemed sincere, his skills and ambition fell short of what Elora needed.

Elora's burdens, he would only add to them. Rosie now understood why Elora had never entertained his advances

recent behavior, Rosie felt embarrassed. She had let someone's passionate confession sway her into meddling, nearly jeopardizing

we hadn't been friends for so long, I'd have cut

easily moved by grand gestures, but she doesn't mean

My sister's too sharp to

here enjoying the snow long enough. It's freezing. Let's get back to the house, crawl under some blankets, and

the break was here, they were all

work, getting up early feels impossible. But give us a day off, and we're up before sunrise,

the two youngest siblings, Alonzo and his little playmate, were laughing and running around in the snow, their cheeks red from the cold. Their third sister, Sevyn, watched them with a mix of envy and amusement. "Look at them, having the time of their lives. Makes me jealous.