Abigail and Sebastian arrived at the farmers’ market, a place she had suggested.

Though the market had improved greatly since its earlier days, Sebastian still felt an unfamiliar discomfort.

The air was thick with a variety of strong smells. With each stall they passed, the scent of pork, the sharp tang of fish, and the briny odor of seafood mingled and assaulted his senses.

The combination made him want to retch.

Noticing his furrowed brow, Abigail couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe I should’ve bought you a mask. The smells aren’t exactly pleasant, are they?”

“Hmm…” Sebastian hesitated, clearly struggling. “It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it with time.”

At his own villa, he had grown accustomed to having the freshest ingredients delivered to his doorstep each morning, carefully chosen by trusted staff. Any leftovers from the previous day were promptly taken away.

He never had to worry about picking out his own ingredients.

Abigail, however, was quite skilled in these matters.

“Could you weigh that bass for me?” she asked, pointing to the largest fish in the stall.

Sebastian grimaced at the smell, trying not to look too closely at the slippery, grimy floor tiles. The shopkeeper expertly scooped the fish out of the tank with a net.

Sebastian instinctively stepped in front of Abigail to shield her from any splashes, though none actually hit them.

“1.8 pounds. Should I clean it for you?” the shopkeeper asked, his voice friendly.

Abigail smiled and replied, “Yes, thank you. Could you pack it up for us? And could you add two extra bags? My boyfriend has a bit of a cleanliness obsession, and we’re happy to pay for the extra bags.”

The shopkeeper glanced at Sebastian with a raised eyebrow.

From his appearance, demeanor, and the way he carried himself, it was clear he was no ordinary customer.

“Of course! No problem at all,” the shopkeeper said.

Abigail grabbed a bag herself, and the shopkeeper packed the fish in it. Once the fish was securely wrapped, she handed it to Sebastian to pay.

As they stepped outside, Sebastian wrinkled his nose slightly. “Honestly, two bags weren’t necessary. I deal with seafood all the time.”

“I just don’t like carrying bags that are wet and smelly. It’s disgusting,” Abigail laughed. “I figured I’d use you as a shield for the splash.”

Sebastian smiled and gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Let me take it. The bag may tear and get your clothes dirty.”

Abigail grinned but handed him the bag. “We should hurry up. The fish won’t taste as good if we leave it sitting around for too long.”

Sebastian took the bag from her and weighed it in his hand. “Can you cook bass?”

“Bass is easy. Just pan-sear it and add a little black pepper. I’ll make it when we get home, but you’ll need to help me wash it first. I don’t like the smell,” Abigail said, leaning back against him.

“Got it,” Sebastian replied, nudging her gently forward.

The two of them continued shopping, picking out fresh ingredients for their meal.

As they left the market, Sebastian asked, “Are the vegetables here fresher than at other places?”

“Yes, they are,” Abigail said. “Of course, the high-end supermarkets have fresh produce too, but this market is closer to our place, so we can get home faster.”

Sebastian placed the bags in the trunk of the car, then retrieved a wet wipe and began cleaning his hands, wiping them repeatedly before finally starting the engine.

Abigail glanced down at her phone, checking the progress of a project with her R&D team in their group chat.

When they arrived at their rented house, Abigail immediately noticed the high-end furniture that decorated the place. It was clear that Sebastian had put in the effort to furnish it.

The house had two bedrooms, but one had already been converted into a study, a space for both of them to work.

Abigail took the ingredients to the kitchen and washed her hands before exploring the rest of the house.

She had never seen the place since they’d moved in, and it seemed Sebastian had taken the time to set it all up.

“This is our bedroom. What do you think?” Sebastian asked, pulling her towards the door after she had finished inspecting the bathroom.

When the door opened, Abigail found herself stepping into a room decorated in a forest theme, with floral rugs and matching bed linens.

“You didn’t even ask me, but you knew I’d like the forest theme?” Abigail asked, standing at the doorway.

“When we were choosing the place, I noticed you seemed to favor this style. Was I right?” Sebastian asked, his voice a little more tender now, his heart fluttering.

It was only now, as he showed her the room he had decorated, that Sebastian truly understood what Abigail’s desire to rent the house meant.

Creating a home for them, hand in hand with her, filled him with quiet, profound happiness. It was the kind of joy that blossomed deep within him, as he thought about the future they would share together.

There was a sweetness in the air, as though the room itself was filled with the warmth of love.

“I like it,” Abigail said with a smile, stepping into the room.

Just as Sebastian was about to follow her in, his phone rang.

He pulled it out and saw that it was a call from James. Leaning against the doorframe, he answered the call.