Chapter 299

Inside the Day Light Restaurant.

Julian had reserved a private room and had clearly gone out of his way to dress up today. He was already handsome to begin with, his striking features carrying a naturally seductive charm, but today, there was an added touch of refinement that made him look even more polished than usual. It was obvious he’d put effort into his appearance.

Aurora noticed it the moment she walked in. And the moment their eyes met—his gaze filled with unspoken meaning—she instinctively wanted to turn around and leave.

Something was off about Julian. At the very least, showing up alone had already made her regret coming.

Julian’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her. “Aurora, you’re here!”

His tone was unmistakably cheerful, and Aurora caught onto it immediately. She shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah. Why did you ask me out?”

“To have dinner, of course.”

Julian reached out as if to take her hand naturally, but Aurora swiftly pulled away, her eyes holding a clear warning as she stared at him. “What are you trying to do?”

Julian cleared his throat awkwardly. “Nothing. I just wanted to help you to your seat.”

“I can manage on my own.”

With that, Aurora walked straight into the room. If not for the fact that she genuinely wanted to find out what his true intentions were, she never would’ve come. This was a complete waste of time.

Julian quickly regained his composure and tried to lighten the mood. “Alright, alright, no need to be so tense. We’re just having dinner. It’s not like we haven’t done this before, right?”

“You said it yourself—that was before. This is different.”

The smile on Julian’s face started to falter.

He hadn’t expected Aurora to give him absolutely no room to maneuver. Her words were blunt, even harsh. Was it really worth pressing on?

Julian hesitated for a split second. He quickly reaffirmed his decision. After all, Aurora had connections, money, and access to countless projects. No matter which angle he looked at it, there was no way he could let all that slip away. Like it or not, he needed her help right now.

So, Julian softened his expression and smiled more gently at her. “Aurora, come on. We’ve known each other for so many years. There’s no need to be so distant, is there?”

“Stick to the point. Don’t waste my time with sentiment.”

Aurora was crystal clear about her purpose today—she wanted answers. “Be honest. Were you the one following me that day?”

Julian’s expression faltered. Even if it was just for a second, Aurora caught it immediately.

So, it was him. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Her expression was icy, and the look in her eyes felt unfamiliar—like she was seeing him for the first time.

Now that she knew, Julian didn’t bother denying it. “Aurora, let’s at least sit down and have a meal. I’ll explain everything.”

Under her suspicious gaze, Julian led her to the table. All he really wanted was to buy himself more time with her. The more time he got, the better his chances.

Seeing how persistent he was, Aurora eventually gave in and didn’t say anything else. They sat facing each other, and Julian let out a soft chuckle. “Aurora, we weren’t always like this, were we?”

“Back then, you still called me Julian. We were just one step away from getting engaged. We…”

“Stop.”