Chapter 107: Catch the Thief
Benjamin’s POV:
I couldn’t help but laugh at her surprised reaction and asked, “What do you think I want?”
Selena blinked at me, clearly taken aback.
Noticing her cautious demeanor, I decided to get straight to the point. “I can teach you about rock betting, but in return, I’d like you to teach me the Mornant language.”
Her eyes brightened. “Is that all?”
I nodded knowingly, and a lovely smile spread across her face. “That sounds easy. I’m totally up for it.”
“It’s much better than paying you!”
I agreed with a grin. “So, let’s meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for lessons until I’m fluent.”
She looked a bit startled and fell silent for a moment, her expression revealing her surprise. I could tell she was flustered. Ever since I first spotted her at the airport, something about her had stirred my instincts. That feeling had only ever happened with one woman—Hayley. If Selena truly was Hayley, I needed to keep her close and figure out what she was up to.
“Is there an issue?” I asked, pretending not to know.
Selena quickly replied, “What if I have other commitments? You can adjust the schedule, but let’s limit it to twice a day at most, and I prefer online lessons—no in-person meetings.”
I accepted her terms without hesitation. “That works for me, but each session should last at least an hour.”
Once we reached an agreement, Selena excitedly suggested, “Now that we’ve sorted that out, how about… you teach me about rock betting right now? We’re already here, so why not take advantage of the moment?”
I considered her request and answered, “Not today. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”
Selena looked at me as if she had something to say. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to keep quiet. After a brief pause, she asked, “So, what should we do now? Should we head back?”
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit suspicious. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Selena smiled and nodded enthusiastically, saying, “I know a fantastic food street nearby. Let me take you there.”
I agreed and followed her to the food street she had mentioned.
Chapter 107: Catch the Thief
Hayley’s POV:
I guided Benjamin into a restaurant.
“What do you feel like eating?” I asked, noticing him frowning at the menu. I suggested a few local favorites. “Shrimp scampi, kebab, lohikeitto, and grilled meat are all excellent choices. Want to try any of those?”
Benjamin replied, “Let’s go with lohikeitto.”
I hesitated, saying, “Acxia’s lohikeitto is known for its spiciness. Do you think you can handle it?”
“I can. Let’s give it a try.”
I pulled out my phone to locate the nearest lohikeitto spot and entered the restaurant with Benjamin. The locals were friendly, leading us to a private room on the second floor.
“What do you enjoy eating?” I asked while holding the menu.
“There’s an English menu. I can check it myself.”
“Okay.”
To my surprise, we both ended up ordering the exact same four dishes simultaneously. I looked up at Benjamin, who seemed equally astonished. “I didn’t expect our tastes to match so perfectly.”
That was because I had been living with him at the Southwells for a long time and was familiar with his preferences, so I ordered accordingly.
Feeling a little embarrassed, I mumbled, “Yeah, it’s quite a coincidence.”
Before long, our dishes arrived, and we dove into the meal. I loved Acxia’s cuisine and had tried lohikeitto a few times before. The flavor was incredible, and I was savoring every bite.
“Would you like a drink? The local soy milk is a specialty,” I asked Benjamin. He shook his head. “I’ll just have a can of coke.”
Without thinking, I said, “Soda isn’t very healthy. Let’s pick something else—how about some juice?”
Benjamin insisted, “Lohikeitto and coke are a perfect match.”
Not wanting to argue further, I relented. I ordered a glass of soy milk and a can of coke, and just as we were happily eating, we suddenly heard someone yelling outside. “He’s a thief! Catch him!”
I instinctively looked out the window and saw a tall man pursuing a shorter one, shouting, “Catch the thief!” Yet, the people nearby seemed indifferent, with no one stepping in to help.
Seeing the shorter man about to run past us, I quickly stood up, ready to use my undercover Beta skills to intervene.
But then Benjamin pressed down on my shoulder. I turned to him, puzzled.