The Female Leads Truly Loves You - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: I think when you’re ready to talk, you’ll tell me
“Why do you always dislike opening the curtains when you’re at home? Are you a vampire afraid of sunlight?”

“Oh… almost forgot, you can’t talk right now.”

The girl with the thermometer in her mouth gave Sam, who was pacing in front of her, an annoyed glare.

Her cheeks were flushed, though it was unclear whether it was due to the feverish, abnormal coloration of illness or from embarrassment.

Sam walked over to the window and flung the curtains wide open.

The orange glow of the setting sun flooded in.

When Sophie’s gaze instinctively fell on the window and she saw Sam, that orange light seemed to cascade entirely over the youth.

People who have never been to the sea don’t know the scent of the sea breeze, can’t understand the tumultuous rush of the waves.

Those who have never seen any great beauty only know the hills and fields before them as their everything, the countless sunrises and sunsets as the only things that can be called beautiful.

Until the princess living in the palace saw a poor but handsome youth one day.

And then she began to find no charm in gold and treasure.

And then she began to toss and turn, night and day.

And then she started to feel that the youth she seldom saw was precious beyond measure.

Just like Sam, standing by the window now.

The orange sun setting on him.

Illuminating his handsome face, every strand of hair, every eyelash seemed to be emitting an enchanting glow.

What far-off places did his eyes see?

Sophie didn’t know; she just felt that her current physical condition was causing her thoughts to become muddled.

Her body felt fragile, and it seemed to make her mindset weak as well.

So maybe that’s why she started to imagine these unrealistic things, right?

Sophie’s gaze shifted away, but the image of that handsome figure, seemed to be etched deeply into her mind.

A person’s life is like a vast photo album, with each landscape they see and each event that occurs adding a new picture to the collection.

When these memories will resurface is unknown, but they undeniably live on in one’s mind and become a part of one’s life.

No matter what stage of life she reaches, no matter her age, whenever she recalls her high school days, her youthful years, she will never forget the existence of a boy like Sam.

He turned around, smiling at the girl with the thermometer in her mouth.

“How is it?”

“Hmm?”

Sophie looked up, puzzled.

Sam pointed to his mouth.

“What’s the temperature?”

Sophie then realized that enough time had passed to check the reading.

Just as she was about to remove the thermometer, Sam walked over and took the other end, pulling it out.

Sophie let Sam remove the thermometer, slick with her saliva… Her cheeks turned even redder, and even her ears flushed with color.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Sophie tried to act tough, pretending as if nothing was amiss as she looked at him.

“How is it?”

Sam glanced at it as if he hadn’t noticed the saliva.

“It’s better, the fever has gone down a bit. You’ll probably be back to normal after a good night’s sleep.”

Saying this, Sam put the thermometer back, not commenting on the saliva, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.

But after doing this, Sam returned to the couch and started looking at his phone, seemingly with no intention of leaving.

Instead, he turned his head to ask Sophie.

“What’s the name of this apartment complex again?”

“Thompson Apartments… Why? Aren’t you planning on going home?”

Sophie felt a bit puzzled as to why Sam was asking about the apartment complex.

Sam didn’t look at her, just kept tapping away on his phone.

As he browsed, he mused aloud.

“I’m trying to figure out what’s best for you to eat at a time like this, not sure if there’s any nutritious porridge nearby…”

Sophie paused, a bit taken aback.

“Wait… what are you doing? Ordering takeout?”

“Yeah.”

“Why bother with that? I’ve already eaten!”

Sophie seemed quite dissatisfied.

Sam chuckled, with an air of nonchalance.

“You haven’t eaten squat. There’s not a hint of food smell in the house, let alone any sign that the kitchen’s been used. You live on fast food, don’t you?”

“…I can’t be bothered to cook.”

Sophie’s cheeks grew hot with embarrassment.

Indeed, she didn’t know how to cook.

Usually, she just bought some ready meals and ate whatever…

Sam said with a laugh.

“That’s probably why you get sick so often. Cooking isn’t hard, and it doesn’t take up much time. Why not learn to do it yourself?”

Sophie immediately retorted.

“Who says it’s not hard? You try cooking something!”

Sam looked at her.

“Do you want to eat something I’ve cooked?”

“That’s not what I said! I just don’t like your attitude, acting like everything is so easy. Don’t assume that just because something is simple for you, it’s the same for everyone else.”

Watching Sophie turn her face slightly as she spoke, Sam couldn’t help but laugh.

“You make a good point, but cooking really isn’t as hard as you think. Just wait.”

Soon, Sam placed an order on his phone.

It wasn’t long before someone was at the door.

While Sophie was still wondering what kind of delivery could be so fast, Sam brought in several bags from the entrance, filled with what appeared to be fruits, vegetables… and meat.

“What are you doing?”

Sophie looked on hesitantly as Sam, smiling, said.

“You think cooking is hard, right? I’ll cook and show you.”

With that, he headed towards the kitchen.

Sophie stood up, unable to help herself from saying.

“Why are you cooking in my house… I’m not eating…”

“If you don’t eat, that’s fine. I’m hungry.”

“Then go home to eat!”

“Do you have no conscience? I came to see you, to take care of you while you’re sick, and you’re telling me to go home to eat?”

“I didn’t ask you to come over…”

Sophie retorted instinctively, like a spring-loaded counterpunch, always ready to spar.

But she knew her last remark was a bit too much, so she said it in an unusually soft voice, even thinking that any normal person would get angry and leave upon hearing it.

No sooner had she spoken than a twinge of regret surfaced in her heart.

However, Sam seemed as if he hadn’t heard her at all, simply starting to wash the groceries he had bought, one by one in the sink.

“I don’t cook easily, you could say that very few people have had the chance to eat something I’ve made myself.”

Watching Sam’s slightly smug expression, Sophie huffed.

“You act as if you’re some kind of top chef… who cares.”

“You’ll care once you’ve tasted it.”

“I’m not eating it.”

Sophie said this and turned back to the couch, continuing to hug the pillow, her head still feeling a bit groggy. All she could hear was the ongoing noise from the kitchen.

The clinking and clanking of the knife chopping…

Sophie couldn’t quite describe the feeling; these sounds, which seemed a bit odd, unexpectedly comforted her at this moment.

It was as if this was how life was supposed to be, not just the profound mysteries in books, but also the mundane everyday life that’s everywhere… That’s what real life is.

Listening to these sounds, Sophie gradually felt sleepy, and she lay down on the couch and fell asleep.

When did she start to wake up?

It was probably the irresistible smell that roused her.

The aroma.

The rich scent of cooking.

Sophie had never smelled anything like it before.

She had been to some upscale restaurants, but none seemed to have this special aroma.

It was a scent that made one’s appetite surge.

She looked at the dishes on the table, recognizing the ingredients in each, but… the methods seemed entirely unfamiliar.

They were not the types she was used to.

Yet the aroma was intense, the colors vibrant, making everything look appetizing.

What’s this?

Sam removed his apron and sat down beside Sophie.

“Smells good, doesn’t it? Makes you hungry, right?”

Sophie didn’t admit it outright, just frowned and said,

“This doesn’t seem like the way we cook here…”

“Give it a try. I’ve been learning how to make Chinese dishes recently. You’re sick, and there wasn’t much time, so I didn’t go for anything too time-consuming or complicated… Oh, right, let me get the utensils.”

Sam remembered something and stood up again.

Watching his movements, Sophie couldn’t help but glance at the dishes on the table.

She sneakily eyed Sam, who was fetching the utensils, then quickly reached out, grabbed a piece of lean meat that wasn’t sliced very thin, and stuffed it into her mouth.

The moment she tasted it, Sophie’s eyes widened.

She hadn’t expected it to be so delicious.

Sam came back, noticed her expression, and teased, “Why are you sneaking bites?”

“I’m not sneaking anything!”

“There’s still oil on your lips.”

“Uh…”

Sophie instantly became too shy to look directly at Sam.

Sam smiled and placed the utensils in front of her.

“This is stir-fried pork with chili peppers, a simple yet delicious dish. It’s just a shame that because of your cold, I didn’t use particularly hot peppers, so it might not taste as authentic.”

Sophie ate with relish.

It was one of the few times she could remember eating to such fullness, the kind where after finishing, she didn’t want to walk, just wanted to lean on the couch and rest.

“You cleaned your plate, I see. Looks like I underestimated your appetite.”

Sam joked, and Sophie just lazily rolled her eyes.

“How do you know how to cook Chinese food?”

As Sam was clearing away the dishes, he explained,

“It’s quite simple, really. At first, Louis kept telling me how delicious Chinese food was, and later he even sent me videos. I watched them twice and learned. In this age of advanced communication, there aren’t many secrets. If you’re willing to try, many things become particularly simple. Cooking is no different.”

“Hmph, nothing to brag about…”

Although she said this, Sophie had to admit that Sam’s culinary skills had taken her by surprise.

Her performance at the dinner table was proof enough that Sam’s cooking was indeed delicious.

Sophie couldn’t help but wonder, how could there be such a man?

Not only handsome and caring but also such a great cook…

But why would such a person appear in her life? That was something Sophie couldn’t understand.

After clearing the table, Sam stretched lazily.

“Alright, now that you’ve eaten, I’ll be heading back. Don’t rush to get to class, wait until you’re completely better. I don’t want to catch your cold.”

“Get out of here! If I were contagious, you’d already be sick!”

Sophie retorted, not in the best of moods.

Sam couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m just teasing you. Actually, I want to take advantage of these couple of days you’re not around to study like crazy, so I can be the top of our class in the next exam.”

Sophie scoffed.

“Even if I miss half the semester, I’ll still be number one.”

“You’re that confident?”

“Of course!!”

“Alright, no more joking, I’m off. Goodbye.”

Sam got up to leave, but unexpectedly, the girl sitting on the sofa stood up as well.

“What’s up? Planning to see me out?”

Sam looked at her curiously.

Sophie, bundled up warmly, gave Sam a glance.

“I’m just full and need to walk it off, that’s all. Don’t flatter yourself, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Is that so.”

Despite her words, Sophie left the house with Sam.

The air outside was fresh, carrying a slight chill, a welcome change from the summer’s oppressive heat.

Thin clouds veiled the sky, the moon appeared hazy, and the stars were blurred, lending the night an air of desolation.

Sam remarked with a sense of loss, “Summer’s over.”

Hearing these words, Sophie felt an inexplicable sadness and regret.

It was as if there was something important left undone, and the right season had already passed.

“There’s a summer every year. It’s over, so be it,” she said.

Sam, with a hint of disappointment, replied, “But this year, I didn’t get the chance to see the Kuhang fireworks show even once. It’s a bit of a shame.”

Since arriving in this world, Sam had not yet witnessed the Kuhang fireworks display in person. Without having experienced it, the images in his memory, even if they existed, didn’t feel quite real.

This was one of the few things that genuinely interested Sam.

On the beach, in the wild, looking up with many others as fireworks bloomed overhead.

Just the thought of it was romantic.

Sophie hadn’t seen the fireworks this year either. She didn’t like crowded places, feeling that she could never fit in, that the lively events were not her own kind of noise.

“What’s there to see… If you want to watch, there’s always next year.”

As she spoke, she looked at the two shadows on the ground. They seemed to overlap, erasing the differences in height and build, as if she had become part of his shadow.

Sam asked with a smile.

“So, do you want to go watch it together next year?”

Sophie didn’t even think before she refused.

“No, I don’t want to go with you…”

“Come on, it’s better than doing nothing, right? Wouldn’t you get bored just staying at home?”

“Hmph, I have plenty of things to do. I won’t get bored like some people who can’t find anything to do without friends.”

In truth, Sophie was lying. She got bored too, and sometimes she felt a sense of emptiness.

But she was used to it, not asking for help, living in her own closed-off world, persisting on her own.

“Alright then~ It seems my relationship with Sophie isn’t deep enough yet. Who knows what next summer might bring.”

“What are you talking about… It won’t happen, not next summer, not the summer after that, I won’t go with you.”

She was very decisive in her refusal.

But Sam just laughed.

“So, you’re saying you’ll still be with me the summer after next, right?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Sophie’s cheeks flushed red again.

It seemed that whenever she was with Sam, her emotions would inevitably become turbulent.

Sam always had a way of easily shaking her feelings.

“Hahaha, we’ll talk about it next time. You might change your mind, right? The beautiful summer is over, but autumn is nice too, and winter can be great. I’m already looking forward to it~”

Sam stretched lazily, walking down the clean streets.

Seeing his ever-optimistic, smiling face, Sophie couldn’t help but ask.

“Have you always been this optimistic about life?”

Sam looked at her curiously.

“Why not be optimistic if you can? Even if life is ordinary, or even rough, how can you face tomorrow properly without hope? If you’re pessimistic, wouldn’t you just be living in a quagmire, trapping yourself, and making things worse?”

Sophie turned her head slightly away.

“A lousy life is often set from the start, not everyone has your kind of mindset.”

“Sophie, are you talking about yourself?”

Sophie fell silent, offering no reply.

Indeed, she was referring to her own life, but she didn’t want to admit it. She knew that speaking up often served no purpose, it was like begging for pity, hoping for someone’s sympathy, but real help never seemed to come.

Sophie didn’t speak, but Sam did.

“Your story seems complicated. Don’t worry, I’m not pressing you to share your experiences. I think when you’re ready to talk, you’ll tell me.”

Sophie looked at a flower by the roadside, tilting its head, and her gaze deepened.

“But isn’t that just the way it is? If I speak now, does it really count? It just creates expectations in the listener, and by the time I’m ready to talk, maybe you won’t want to listen anymore.”

Sam turned his head to look at the girl under the hazy moonlight, dressed casually but strikingly beautiful in her own way.

“In the end, it’s about your lack of confidence in yourself. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll definitely want to listen.”

“What if I say I want to tell you now?”

She lifted her head, her eyes burning as she looked at Sam.

Those beautiful eyes, like jewels that could make all else feel inferior.

In that gaze, Sam seemed to see a spark of new resolve and expectation.

Sam opened his mouth, ready to respond.

“Ding ding————”

The phone rang unexpectedly at that moment…