Chapter 1012

She was shocked to see him there so early, especially today—a day when everyone was celebrating the new year, spending time with their loved ones—and yet, he was here. With her.

Lena wasn’t made of stone. She felt it; a warmth, an unspoken emotion that settled deep in her chest.

“Uncle, why are you here so early?” she asked, walking over, hands casually tucked into her coat pockets.

“I didn’t want you to go hungry,” Aaron replied simply, lifting the bag of food in his hand. He glanced at her break room. “Open the door.”

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, with him following close behind. Her break room was small—a single desk and chair, a narrow bed, and a tiny wardrobe. Nothing extra, nothing unnecessary.

“Sit down, Uncle,” she said naturally, settling onto the bed while motioning for him to take the chair.

Aaron placed the food down and asked, “Did you sleep at all?”

“I did,” Lena replied. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of that dream—and let out an awkward cough.

Aaron glanced at her. “If you’re staying up all night, you need to drink more water.”

Her cup was right there on the table—pink, with a cute cartoon design. It was empty.

Without a word, Aaron picked it up, went to fill it with warm water, and handed it to her. When she reached for it, their fingers brushed. Just a fleeting touch—something so normal between them, but lately, every time it happened, she felt an unfamiliar jolt in her chest; a slight tremor, a fleeting heartbeat.

She quickly lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes, afraid he might notice something unusual.

“Uncle, you’ve really gotten good at taking care of people,” she murmured.

“Hmm?” He looked at her, as if trying to figure out what she meant. Then, he understood.

“Mm,” he simply hummed in response.

Lena:

The room fell into silence. No one spoke. The only sound was the faint hiss of steam curling from her cup, drifting toward her before swirling in his direction.

Lena took a sip—too hot. Her tongue stung, and she quickly stuck it out to cool it down. At that moment, Aaron’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he averted his gaze.

He was sitting by the window, where the first light of dawn streamed in, casting soft highlights along his sharp, chiseled features. His nose—perfectly straight and defined—stood out even more under the warm glow. Nowadays, cosmetic surgery was everywhere, but Lena was certain no amount of surgery could ever recreate the perfection of Aaron’s face.

For a fleeting second, she thought—his biological parents must have been incredibly good-looking. Otherwise, how could they have produced someone as stunning as him?

“Uncle, what do your parents look like?” she asked, voicing her thoughts without thinking.

Aaron turned his head slightly. “Hmm?”

“I just suddenly got curious. Do you have any pictures of them?” Lena looked at him expectantly.

“No.” The answer was swift and sharp.

Lena blinked, a little disappointed. “Oh.” Then she added, “It’s the new year…did you visit them?”

“No.” Another direct, clipped answer.

This conversation was going nowhere. Lena sighed, placing the cup down. “Forget it. What did you bring me? I’m starving.”

Without a word, Aaron opened the food container. Inside were freshly made dumplings, complete with dipping sauce and side dishes—including a bowl of clear porridge and, most importantly—pickled cucumbers. Her absolute favorite.

Lena’s appetite instantly kicked in. “Uncle, you really know me too well,” she grinned.

Aaron looked up at her. He understood her so well…but what about her?

Just as she was about to grab a dumpling, his voice cut in—firm, deep, and direct. “Wash your hands first.”

Lena paused mid-reach. Aaron: stern face, arms crossed. She huffed a laugh, rolled her eyes, and stood up. “Yes, sir,” she muttered, heading to her hands.

Behind her, Aaron watched her retreating back, his lips twitching just slightly, before he quietly turned back to the food.