Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Maddox asked with interest, "What's going on? Did River come looking to settle scores? He wants you to take responsibility or something? Romina, are you heading out now? Tell me where, I'll head over-this'll be my chance to get that dinner you owe me."

Romina replied, "I'm just about to head out. You said you were busy, so I figured I'd skip dinner with you today. I'm going shopping-to buy River ten new sets of clothes. I got his suit all messy last night, and now he's demanding I compensate him with ten new outfits. Maddox, why do I feel like you're enjoying this-you sound like you're just here for the drama."

Maddox chuckled, "I am enjoying the show, but I'm definitely not gloating. Romina, you and I-we're not going to become lovers or a married couple, but we're still friends. We trust each other. And friends care about each other-I care

about you."

Romina said, "We went on a blind date and were thinking about building

Now River's thrown himself into the middle of this, and that makes him your love rival. But

that sweet, or are you just not interested in

a few steps ahead. Besides, River's not exactly a love

doubt he wants to be

he sees me as competition and doesn't want anything to do with me. But once he realizes you and I are just friends—and that there's no plan to link our families through marriage—I think he'll change his mind. Maybe he won't see me as a threat anymore. Honestly, I wanted to drive you home last night. You weren't clinging to River. If I'd insisted, I

over you-you just haven't realized it yet. And he's better than me.

Romina was speechless.