"Mm," I nodded, tying an apron around my waist. "My name is Serena."

As I spoke, I quietly watched Kevin's reaction. When he heard my name, he glanced at me briefly before smiling and saying, "Hello, I'm Kevin."

After a day of work, I couldn't help but notice that Kevin was acting a little odd toward me. He was unusually attentive.

Sylvia leaned in and whispered, "Serena, do you think... has he been captivated by you too?"

I glanced over at Kevin's back, then smiled without saying a word.

"You're incredibly attractive," Sylvia giggled. "So many part-time workers come and go in our coffee shop, and it's all because of your beauty and charm."

"Come on, be serious," I coughed lightly. "We're running a legitimate business. Saying people come here because of my looks is ridiculous. They're clearly here because of your management and operations."

"Alright, alright," Sylvia waved her hand, laughing as she walked away. "You're really good at flattering people, aren't you?"

Although Kevin wasn't here because of my looks, he was even more attentive than someone who was. Every morning, he'd bring me breakfast. Every afternoon, he'd offer me afternoon tea. And every evening, he'd invite me out to dinner.

Lila would wait for me to get back every day to fill me in on all the gossip about what Kevin had done or said.

"This is hilarious," she said with a laugh. "Kevin is like one of those spies or servants from ancient times. Seriously, you absolutely can't go out with him, and you can't accept anything he offers you to eat or drink."

"I know," I nodded. "I don't trust Kevin. Something about him feels off."

"We need to find a way to get rid of him," Lila said, lying on her bed and flipping through a book. "It would be best if we could find some dirt on him and use it to force him to..."

I nodded in agreement.

So, the next day after work, I made a bold decision. I was going to follow Kevin and keep a close eye on him. I knew that if I understood both myself and my opponent, I could win this battle of wits. But I feared Kevin might have a few tricks up his sleeve, so I decided to secretly follow him to learn more about him.

What I didn't expect was that Kevin, a supposed graduate student, would be living in one of the most remote slums in Grandview. The place was notorious for its lawlessness, and as dusk settled in, I gritted my teeth and pressed on after him. We moved through narrow, winding alleys, and Kevin appeared completely unaware that he was being followed.

I didn't realize I was being followed until we turned a corner and a thug suddenly appeared. Realizing I was being followed, I tried to escape but was quickly cornered.

"Stay back!" I shouted, pulling out my phone. "I'm calling the police!"

But the thugs ignored me. Fear flooded through me as I screamed for help. The din grew louder, but suddenly, a cold voice cut through the tension: "Let her go."

The thugs froze. Peering through the gap, I saw Alex. I pushed my way through the crowd and clung to Alex's arm. Behind him stood a few bodyguards in suits. Their muscular frames were clearly visible even beneath the formal attire.