Chapter 3: Dumplings and Dangerous Thoughts
Warm steam curled around me as I stepped out of the shower, the bathroom mirror still fogged from the heat. Droplets of water slid down my skin as I wrapped a towel around my damp hair.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that didn't feel peaceful… but empty. Hollow. Like something was missing.
I reached for my phone on the counter.
The message was still there
Li Wei: you are welcome dear, I would like to know you more… can we exchange numbers and chat on another app?
I felt a shiver
My fingers tightened slightly around the phone as my heart began to beat faster than usual.
Giving someone my number wasn't something I did lightly—especially not someone I had just met on a language learning app.
What if he was weird?
What if he disappeared after a day?
What if—
My thoughts spiraled, each one louder than the last, until I let out a soft groan.
Vicenza… you're overthinking again.
I exhaled slowly.
He seemed nice. Polite. Maybe even a little charming.
And besides… what was the worst that could happen?
Before I could talk myself out of it, I quickly typed.
Me: Sure… this is my number.
Sent.
The moment the message delivered, my stomach flipped.
Did I really just do that?
I tossed my phone onto the bed like it had suddenly burned my fingers.
At that exact moment, Tracy burst into my room without knocking.
"Vicenza!" she groaned dramatically, clutching her stomach. "I'm starving!"
I blinked at her.
"You've been here for ten minutes."
"And in those ten minutes," she said with complete seriousness, "I have decided I am craving dumplings. And wonton soup."
I raised an eyebrow.
"That was… very specific."
"Because Chinese food is the best comfort food known to mankind," she declared proudly.
I laughed, grabbing a hoodie and slipping into my sneakers.
"Fine. Let's go before you collapse from hunger."
Tracy grinned like she had just won the lottery.
---
The small Chinese restaurant near the shopping street was warm and alive with soft chatter and clinking plates.
The rich aroma of garlic, soy sauce, and freshly steamed dumplings wrapped around us the moment we stepped inside. Red lanterns glowed softly above, casting a warm, golden light across the room.
For a brief moment… my thoughts drifted.
To him.
Li Wei.
I didn't even know why.
But suddenly, I could picture it so clearly—sitting across from him, sharing a bowl of steaming noodles, laughing softly as we both tried not to burn our tongues on hot soup.
Vicenza… what is wrong with you? I scolded myself inwardly. You barely know him, and you're already imagining scenes like a C-drama.
I quickly shook the thought away.
Tracy inhaled deeply beside me.
"Oh my God," she whispered. "I'm about to cry from happiness."
I giggled.
But the laughter died instantly.
Because seated two tables away…
Was Greyson.
The butler.
My personal driver.
And somehow… even here, in a simple restaurant, he looked completely out of place—in the most perfect way.
Like he belonged somewhere more refined. More controlled.
More… untouchable.
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
And for a moment—
Everything stilled.
The noise. The movement. The world.
Tracy followed my gaze.
Then she froze.
Slowly, dramatically, she turned toward me.
Then back to him.
Then back to me again.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh."
I grabbed her sleeve.
"Don't."
Too late.
She nudged me hard in the ribs.
"That's the butler?" she whispered loudly.
"Tracy," I hissed.
She nudged me again.
"THE butler?"
"Yes!"
"The ridiculously handsome one?"
"STOP."
Greyson stood, his movements calm and effortless as he walked toward us.
"Miss Vicenza," he greeted, professionally
My heart immediately betrayed me.
"Greyson," I replied, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.
His gaze lingered on me for just a second longer than usual.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
"I could say the same," I said.
Tracy leaned in, whispering loudly,
"Wow… he even sounds mysterious."
I elbowed her.
Hard.
"Ow!"
Greyson cleared his throat, though there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
"If you'd like," he said, "you can join me. I ordered more than I can finish." he said politely gesturing the table with a little bow.
Tracy didn't even hesitate.
"Oh, we would LOVE to—"
"Tracy," I warned.
But I was already being dragged toward the table.
Greyson pulled out a chair for me.
"Please."
I sat down, suddenly very aware of how close he was.
Too close.
As he adjusted the table slightly, our fingers brushed.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
A strange warmth spread through me, quick and unexpected.
I pulled my hand back immediately.
Of course… he hadn't noticed.
Why would he?
To him, I was still invisible.
Across the table, Tracy was watching us like she had just discovered her new favorite drama.
Then—
Buzz.
My phone.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I glanced down.
Li Wei: Hello Victoria. Is this really your number?
Li Wei: I hope I'm not disturbing you.
Li Wei: What are you doing now?
My heart skipped.
Me: I'm out with my friend having Chinese food.
Li Wei: Chinese food? I didn't know you liked our food… okay deer,you finish eating first.
That word—deer—sent a strange warmth through me.
Soft. Unexpected.
I found myself smiling.
Me: There's a lot you don't know about me.
Tracy leaned over immediately.
"Ooooh," she whispered. "Who is texting you?"
Before I could answer, Greyson's gaze flickered toward my phone.
Then—
I took a spoonful of soup.
And instantly regretted it.
"Ouch—my tongue!" I yelped.
The heat burned instantly, tears springing to my eyes.
Greyson moved fast.
Too fast.
"Miss Vicenza—are you alright?" he asked, already beside me.
"I-it's just a small burn—"
Before I could finish, he leaned closer.
And gently… he started blowing on my tongue.
My brain completely shut down.
"Cold water," he called calmly.
But his voice wasn't calm.
Not entirely.
There was something else there.
Something I had never heard before.
Urgency.
Concern.
For me.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest.
For the first time…
Greyson didn't look distant.
He didn't look indifferent.
He looked—
Worried.
And that confused me more than anything.
Because why would he care?
To him…
I was just the boss's daughter.
…Right?
My phone buzzed again on the table.
Tracy grabbed it before I could react.
Her eyes scanned the screen.
Then slowly…
A very dangerous smile spread across her face.
"Oh, Victoria…" she said softly.
"You have a lot of explaining to do."
Greyson's gaze shifted.
From me.
To my phone.
And for the briefest moment—
His expression darkened.
Just slightly.
But enough to make my heart skip.
Again.