For some reason, a faint warmth stirred in Riley's chest.
She nodded obediently. "Okay."
"Do you know how to make a call?" Adrian asked, holding her phone. "Here. I'll teach you."
Step by step, he showed her how to dial, how to wait for the call to connect, how to speak once it did. They even practiced a few times. Only after he was certain she could manage it did he exit the call screen.
A trace of helpless amusement flickered across his face.
He had never been this patient with anyone before.
His gaze dropped to her phone.
It was an older model, nothing impressive—but small and convenient. He flipped through a couple of pages, his fingers pausing for a brief second on one of her hidden folders.
Riley's heart leapt into her throat.
But thankfully, his finger moved on.
He opened her photo gallery instead.
Inside were nothing but terrible pictures of her bunny—awkward angles, overexposed lighting, utterly unflattering.
Adrian frowned. "Ugly."
Before Riley could react, he suddenly hooked an arm around her neck, pulling her down to his level. He opened the camera—
Click.
A photo was taken.
On the screen, Riley stared wide-eyed, lips slightly parted in surprise. Beside her, Adrian's lips curved faintly, the two of them looking… unexpectedly harmonious.
His fingers moved across the screen, setting the photo as her lock screen.
"Use this."
Riley stared at him, stunned.
Is he serious?
Why should my lock screen be a picture of the two of us?
No way.
She shook her head immediately. "No. I want bunny."
Her lock screen had always been a carefully chosen photo of her bunny—beautiful, well-composed. Adrian assumed someone else had taken it for her and didn't question it.
A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "You're not allowed to change it. If you do, I'll throw your bunny out."
Riley froze.
Again with the bunny?
Clenching her jaw, she snatched her phone back, already planning to switch it back later.
But his next words stopped her cold.
"That brain of yours isn't great," Adrian muttered to himself. "You probably won't even think to change it. I'm overthinking."
Excuse me?!
Riley felt personally attacked.
Meanwhile, Adrian seemed to be in a good mood. "What do you want for dinner?"
Riley puffed her cheeks, still annoyed. "I want some soup. Very spicy hot soup."
"You like that?" Adrian frowned slightly.
So he didn't like it.
Good.
That made me like it even more.
Riley nodded enthusiastically, her eyes curving into crescents. "Mm! I love hot soup! Are we having hot soup tonight?"
"I was just asking," Adrian said flatly. "I didn't say we are going to have it. Your opinion doesn't matter."
Riley's smile vanished instantly.
She grabbed her bunny from him, turned on her heel, and stormed upstairs.
Behind her, Adrian's lips curved slightly.
Teasing this little fool was… unexpectedly entertaining.
***
The next day—
Riley was dragged out of bed before she could even finish sleeping.
Today was her first day reporting to Imperial University.
After breakfast, Adrian left for the company. Before leaving, he specifically instructed Mr Yeardley to personally escort her to campus.