Chapter 314
Since Cynthia was hungry and they were near Roncrity University, she and Jonathan headed toward the bustling street lined with food stalls near the university.
The street teemed with food stalls, smoke swirling in the air amid bustling crowds. A lively atmosphere filled the area. Cynthia remembered her university days, when she and Lilian often visited this street. They would eat grilled fish and gossip about notable figures or handsome celebrities. Looking back, those days felt like a precious time of freedom. Thinking of Lilian, Cynthia felt a pang of nostalgia.
Suddenly, Jonathan took Cynthia's hand and guided her through the crowd. "Let's pretend to be college students for a day," he said.
Cynthia chuckled. "Do we look like college students?" she asked, gesturing to her sleek black dress and flawless makeup. They were a far cry from the fresh-faced undergraduates. Jonathan, too, was in his usual suit.
Jonathan led Cynthia into a nearby clothing store. He quickly selected two outfits. "Come on, let's change," he said.
He'd chosen a pair of matching hoodies—one white, one black—each featuring an adorable cartoon design. Jonathan shrugged off his jacket and quickly donned his hoodie.
As Cynthia attempted to remove her dress, a strand of her long hair became entangled in a pearl button. She struggled to free it.
Jonathan, however, sat calmly in the driver's seat, observing her with interest through the rearview mirror.
Cynthia turned, giving him an exasperated eye roll. "Can't you lend a hand?"
Her makeup was exquisite, her eyes alluring—not angry, but seductively intoxicating. Jonathan's lips curved into a faint smile as he turned slightly. He carefully untangled her hair, strand by strand. A few buttons at her neck were already undone, revealing one side of her shoulder. After freeing her hair, his hands naturally rested on her waist, pulling her close. His lips brushed against her bare shoulder.
Cynthia gently pushed him, teasingly. "I'm hungry; let's eat first."
Jonathan's voice was husky. "Me too," but his hands didn't release her. Instead, he tugged down her dress, exposing her skin.
Cynthia shivered. As Jonathan kissed her, he subtly increased the air conditioning in the car. Soon, however, they were both hot again. Cynthia leaned back against the seat.
After a deep kiss, she gently nudged Jonathan's shoulder. "Don't. We'll embarrass ourselves."
Even though they were in a parking lot with tinted windows, they could still see people passing by.
Jonathan chuckled at her concern. Cynthia understood his amusement. After taking a deep breath, he gave her rosy lips a quick peck. "You're overthinking it; just a little appetizer."
Cynthia quickly changed clothes, removing her makeup and tying her wavy hair into a high ponytail.
They stepped out of the car, once again surrounded by the lively street. As she wandered through the food stalls, Cynthia's mood had completely lifted.
Jonathan looked at the woman beside him. Despite lacking makeup, her delicate face was exceptionally beautiful, especially her eyes, which seemed to hold the stars and the ocean. He thought, She fits right in with the college students. Even though her face is the same, her vibe has completely changed!
He felt a pang of regret. In just five minutes, two male college students had approached her, asking for her WhatsApp number. Jonathan had subtly blocked their advances, taking Cynthia's hand to assert his claim. Cynthia laughed at his childishness. "Do you really think I'd be interested in these immature kids?"
Jonathan replied, "You never know. I'm not sure if you can give up your liking for pretty boys."
Cynthia was speechless. Wasn't he the only pretty boy I'm interested in? Is he competing with himself? Finally, she took him to a grilled fish restaurant, a long-standing establishment near the university that she loved. She found a table, ordered, and introduced the place to Jonathan. "This restaurant is great. I used to come here often."
"Don't be fooled by its small size; the flavors are incredibly authentic and rival Michelin-starred restaurants. The owner patented the recipe and opened hundreds of franchises, making a fortune."
Cynthia chuckled. "But the owner is an honest person, still running this small place. His son handles the chain stores now."
Jonathan was surprised. "I didn't expect to find such a hidden gem." He asked, "How do you know all this?"
Cynthia started to explain but stopped, flashing him a bright smile. She handed the menu to the waiter and poured Jonathan a glass of water. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that this grilled fish is delicious, so eat plenty." Jonathan found her somewhat enigmatic.
The grilled fish arrived, delivered by the owner, Mia. Mia exclaimed, "Isn't this Cynthia? You're Cynthia, right?"
Cynthia replied warmly, "Mia, it's been a long time."
Mia was delighted to see her. "It's been years! You look just as beautiful. My son's standards have been raised since he saw you. He's still single!" Her face turned worried. "If you didn't have a boyfriend, you might have been my daughter-in-law!" she said before quickly changing the subject. "By the way, aren't you two planning to get married soon?"
She glanced at Jonathan, then froze, looking at his face hesitantly. "Filip, you seem to have changed quite a bit…"
Chapter 315
This cleaned-up version improves grammar, punctuation, and flow, making the story easier to read. It also removes extraneous elements like the numbered sections and timestamps that were likely editorial notes.