Love's Change of Heart

The sky was already dark after Leanna returned from the underground casino.

Zoe came to Leanna with the processed film sketch. After they confirmed the release time and content copy, she detected the smell of cigarettes on Leanna's body. Therefore, she blurted, "Nana, where did you go?"

"I went to look for Ron," Leanna promptly replied.

"Ron?"

Leanna nodded lightly, "I asked him to find someone for me."

Zoe felt her heart flutter in fear as she expressed her concern. "The place Ron hangs around is rowdy. Do you not feel scared going there unprepared?"

Leanna smiled a little before saying, "I'm not afraid, for I grew up in a rowdy neighborhood when I was young." The place my family and I lived in the past, along with the nearby streets around the neighborhood, were all similar to the alley I visited today. Back then, I would inevitably pass by such an alley every time I came home from school. I was teased by the women on the street and threatened by gangsters multiple times. Yet, the women who teased me would scold and drive the drunkards away from me when they saw those good-for-nothing making things difficult for me. Those gangsters who threatened me would also push me home in a small cart when they noticed that my leg was fractured. It was only after I was in junior high that the area was no longer rowdy. Hence, I know very well that no one would be willing to live there for a long time if they weren't beaten down by reality.

Zoe changed the topic instead of dwelling on the matter further, saying, "I've checked the weather forecast for tomorrow. It is reported that tomorrow will be a sunny day. Our film shooting will certainly turn out well."

"I'm not going tomorrow. I have to go home early in the evening to make dinner. Freddie has been nagging me about it for many days. Come over with Daphne after you guys wrap up the shooting. Just call me if something happens," Leanna informed.

"Okay." Zoe paused before she continued, "Then… shall we ask Louis to join us?"

Leanna went silent before deciding. "Let's just leave him out this time." Judging from the current situation between Louis and Daphne, it's better not to let them meet and hang out together on such an occasion. After all, their personal lives are something private. So, they should be the ones dealing with this matter, not us.

"Have you gotten in touch with the models?" Leanna asked, directing her attention to their jobs.

Zoe promptly replied, "Yes, yes. I have already contacted the two backup models. Everything will absolutely go according to plan this time."

Right then, there was a knock on the door of the office. A young female employee in the studio appeared and said, "Zoe, your boyfriend is here to pick you up."

The smile on Zoe's face faded away. After that, she turned her head and instructed, "Okay. Ask him to wait outside for a while."

The young female employee nodded and shut the door before leaving.

Meanwhile, Leanna flipped through the draft in front of her. "Alright. It's getting late. Go on and have your dinner."

"How about you? When will you return home?" Zoe inquired.

Leanna discretely sniffed herself and thought, The smell of cigarettes is indeed pungent. Aidan certainly will interrogate me when he comes home and gets a whiff of this smell.

Therefore, she said, "I will go home after revising this draft."

"Sure," said Zoe. "Then, I'll be leaving now. Bye."

Leanna gave her a nod. "Okay. Bye."

Zoe left the studio after returning to her office to grab her bag.

Not far away stood Brandon, who was waiting with a bouquet in his hand.

Zoe approached him. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. I've just finished my work."

Brandon smiled. "It's okay."

As he spoke, he handed her the bouquet in his hand. "For you."

Zoe was stunned. For a moment, she made no move to accept the bouquet and asked hesitantly, "Is today a special day?"

"No, no. It's just that I came across this bouquet while I was on my way here. I thought it looked quite pretty and that you would like it. But of course, it is also a token of apology," Brandon explained.

Zoe was puzzled. "Apology?"

"I'm sorry for not being able to come to pick you up because I worked overtime last night," Brandon elaborated.

Zoe simply smiled. "Well, actually, I was also working overtime for the shooting yesterday. Moreover, I wasn't in the studio. It was fortunate that you didn't come yesterday. Otherwise, you would have made your trip for nothing."

As soon as these words escaped Zoe's lips, neither of them continued, resulting in a moment of silence as awkwardness tainted the air.

After a while, Zoe reached out, accepted the bouquet, and broke the ice. "Thank you. They're lovely. I love them."

Brandon said, "I'm glad you like it."

Zoe started walking as she asked, "What are we having for dinner today?"

"My friend recommended a restaurant that serves authentic Jesund cuisine. From what I heard, their food tastes delicious, and the ingredients they use in the restaurant are imported directly from Jesund. Shall we go and try out their food?"

"Will the bill turn out to be bloody expensive?" Zoe was worried that it would blow a hole in Brandon's wallet. After all, Brandon was just an employee in a government-owned corporation, and his salary wasn't that high even though his job was stable.

Zoe was already very apologetic that Brandon had been paying for all their meals while they hung out together.

For that reason, she hinted to Brandon that they could take turns paying and treating each other.

Yet, Brandon dismissed her proposal, saying that it was just a meal and would not be pricey.

Zoe didn't say anything more after sensing his determination to foot the bill. Eventually, she figured that all she could do was repay him with some gifts of similar expense.

Still, there was one thing that Zoe was sure of after learning that the ingredients were airlifted from Jesund, and that was—the meal would undoubtedly cost more than a few hundred if they decided to dine there.

"It's fine. My friend is a regular there. So, I can get a discount," Brandon persuaded.

Zoe had no choice but to nod after his insistence. "Okay. Let's go there then." We will just go Dutch if we truly can't get a discount later.

Once they arrived at the restaurant serving Jesund cuisine that Brandon mentioned, Zoe placed the bouquet in her hand down and said, "Just order without me. I'm going to the bathroom."