Chapter 121

Miranda was aware of the stark temperature difference between the two locations, so she pulled on her long down coat and bundled herself up before the plane landed. Even so, it wasn't enough.

Freezing rain from a few days earlier had left tree branches and power lines heavy with icicles. The lingering drizzle, seemingly harmless, quickly soaked through clothes, turning them into cold, stiff layers.

This usually bustling street was deserted in the dead of winter, and at this late hour, she couldn't flag down a cab despite the busy traffic.

Shivering, she checked her ride-hailing app. It had shown the car five minutes away moments before, but now the arrival time had jumped to thirty minutes. The map displayed a sea of red; the driver was clearly stuck. Just as she was about to cancel, a car pulled up.

The window slid down, revealing a familiar face, serenely and gently expressive.

Paul wore a dark gray turtleneck that partially covered his Adam's apple. From Miranda's perspective, the shadows softened his features, lending a warm touch to his otherwise cool demeanor.

"You'll have a hard time finding a cab at this hour," Paul said. "I'm heading home, too. Hop in."

Once Miranda was in the car, Paul noticed her shivering and turned up the heat. Remembering a hand warmer in the glove compartment, he retrieved it. "Here, use this to warm up."

Miranda's hands felt like ice. The hand warmer and the car's heater gradually restored feeling.

"Thanks," she said with a sniffle. "I almost thought I'd freeze waiting at the airport."

Winter had offered to arrange a driver, but Miranda, not wanting to inconvenience anyone, had declined. She hadn't realized finding a cab at the airport would be so difficult.

Paul glanced at her. "They've implemented traffic restrictions because of the government conferences, affecting even ride-hailing services. Getting a ride is tough."

Miranda understood. "No wonder there are so few cabs. I almost thought I was in the wrong place."

She turned to Paul. "What about you? What brings you to the airport at this hour?"

"I came to pick up a relative arriving from overseas," Paul explained. "But she got tired of waiting and took a cab home."

He'd started back after receiving the call, but a sudden flash of high beams made him check his rearview mirror. That's when he saw Miranda standing in the cold, so he turned around.

Miranda nodded, not pressing further.

As they stopped at a red light, Paul asked, "Are you feeling warmer now?"

Miranda hummed softly, biting her lip, looking slightly embarrassed. "I've been in a tropical place the past few days, so this cold is quite a shock. Oh, and I brought you a little gift."

She remembered and began digging through her bag.

Paul blinked in surprise. "A gift?"

"Yes, not just for you, but for the professor and the others as well," Miranda said, handing him his gift. "I saw it and thought of you immediately."

Paul examined the small figurine.

It was a tiny doll dressed in a button-down shirt and slacks, with gold-rimmed glasses perched on its nose and a book clutched in its hands. The serious expression on its face contrasted with its exaggerated, cartoonish proportions, creating a charming and funny effect.

Paul was silent for a moment. "Really? Other than the glasses, I don't see much else we have in common."