Chapter 326: Someone Looking for Trouble?

Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Someone Looking for Trouble?

Lily Hart found the girl absolutely adorable. "Cynthia, were you at Solara Base before?"

Cynthia Whittaker stammered out an "mm-hmm," looking like she didn’t really want to talk about it. Coincidentally, all the food had just arrived, so Lily Hart didn’t press the issue.

’It’s best not to meddle too much in other people’s private affairs.’

"Come on, let’s eat," Lily Hart urged, taking the lead by getting up to mix some dipping sauces, leaving the two of them to their awkward silence.

The sauce station was outside. Lily Hart went out, closing the door behind her.

Cynthia Whittaker surreptitiously glanced at Sue Sutton and was shocked to find her staring right back. She immediately straightened up with a jolt, uncrossing her legs.

Sue Sutton chuckled lightly. "Cynthia, have you been well lately?"

Cynthia Whittaker lifted her chin, her posture rigid. "Couldn’t be better! This huge hot pot restaurant is all mine!"

"That’s good," Sue Sutton said, her tone gentle as she let her guard down for a rare moment.

She was nothing like the imposing, charismatic woman Lily Hart had first met, who walked with an air of command. Instead, she was like an older sister who was relieved to see her younger sister doing well.

The moment Cynthia Whittaker heard her tone, her shoulders instantly slumped.

She feigned nonchalance as she asked, "What about you? How have you been? You don’t look like you’re doing as well as me! Hmph!" She huffed.

A smile played on Sue Sutton’s lips, her whole demeanor softening. She replied placatingly, "You’re right, I’m not doing as well as you. If only you could come back..."

"Impossible!" Cynthia Whittaker quickly denied, their eyes suddenly meeting. "I’m never going back to Solara Base. I’m staying with Lily."

A flicker of sadness crossed Sue Sutton’s eyes. She didn’t continue, instead getting up and saying, "I’m going to get some dipping sauce."

As soon as Sue Sutton left, Cynthia Whittaker’s large, round eyes dimmed. ’Were my words too harsh...?’

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. Just then, Lily Hart pushed the door open and came in, asking, "Where’s Sue Sutton?"

"She went to get dipping sauce. I’ll go too," Cynthia Whittaker replied, snapping out of it and rushing out the door.

Lily Hart shook her head helplessly. She sat down with a bowl of dipping sauce and a plate of fruit, then quietly nudged Cynthia Whittaker’s chair a bit closer before moving Sue Sutton’s chair right next to it.

When the two returned one after the other, bowls of sauce in hand, they plopped down onto their chairs only to discover...

Cynthia Whittaker shrieked, "Why are you so close to me!"

She looked down and saw their arms were practically touching, pressed tightly together. Thankfully, it was early winter and they were wearing jackets; otherwise, it would have been skin-on-skin.

Sue Sutton was surprised too, but remained composed. She set down her sauce bowl before saying, "I don’t know." But she didn’t move her chair either, just sat there calmly.

Cynthia Whittaker: ’...If you don’t know, then at least move!’

She scooted over on her own but didn’t move the chair this time.

Lily Hart glanced over, tilted her head, and chuckled softly. She dropped the corn and fried dough sticks into the pot, followed by about half of the other ingredients.

The three of them were only using the pot closest to them, which was divided in half: one side with a signature spicy broth, and the other with a clear broth.

Sue Sutton couldn’t remember the last time she’d had hot pot. But at the familiar aroma, memories flooded back to her—warm, lively hot pot meals.

Cynthia Whittaker smugly put some food on Lily’s plate. "These fried dough sticks are really good! They’re stuffed with salted egg yolk, so they’re not greasy at all!"

Lily Hart accepted it all. Seeing Sue Sutton’s empty bowl, she shot a meaningful look at Cynthia Whittaker.

Cynthia Whittaker glanced over, then very reluctantly put a fried dough stick in Sue Sutton’s bowl as well. "Here, guest," she said, feigning impatience. "Hurry up and eat."

Sue Sutton didn’t mind her attitude. She picked up the fried dough stick and took a bite. It really was delicious.

The smooth, delicate salted egg yolk perfectly complemented the chewy texture of the fried dough, creating a rich mouthfeel.

She proceeded to eat all the fried dough sticks in the pot. Just as Cynthia Whittaker was about to grab one for herself, she fished around with the serving chopsticks for a while but couldn’t find any.

She exclaimed, "Where are my fried dough sticks! My dough sticks! Where’d they go!"

Then she turned and saw Sue Sutton stuffing the last piece into her mouth. Enraged, she sputtered, "You... you... you!"

"Give me back my dough sticks!" Cynthia Whittaker slammed her hand on the table. "It’s been so long and you’re still like this!"

Lily Hart had already quietly ordered another portion of fried dough sticks. She patted Cynthia Whittaker’s shoulder. "Here, here, let’s put them all in."

Cynthia Whittaker’s face broke into a grin. "Lily, you’re the best. This person only knows how to steal my food!"

Sue Sutton just huffed, not bothering to respond to her childish complaint.

’It’s not often I get a chance to pig out like this, so of course, I’m going to eat my fill.’

As if suddenly getting a shot of adrenaline, Cynthia Whittaker also started eating furiously, as if she were in a competition with Sue Sutton.

Lily Hart was left speechless. All she could do was keep adding ingredients to the pot while the other two kept fishing them out.

Luckily, they had ordered a lot of food and the pot was big enough; otherwise, it really wouldn’t have been enough for the two of them.

During the meal, Frost Shaw sent her a message asking if she was coming back for dinner.

Lily Hart replied: [Not coming back. Chowing down at the hot pot place.]

Frost Shaw could only reply: [Alright then. Remember to come back early. We won’t come over; we’ll just cook for ourselves.]

With Cynthia Whittaker and Sue Sutton fiercely devouring everything, the hot pot meal was over very quickly.

And they both successfully ate until they were stuffed.

After picking her teeth, Lily Hart said, "Full? Shall we go?"

Sue Sutton wiped her mouth clean, finished the last piece of fruit on her plate, and stood up. "Alright."

Cynthia Whittaker blocked Sue Sutton. "We haven’t paid yet! Trying to dine and dash?"

Sue Sutton glanced at Lily Hart. "Boss Hart said it’s her treat. What, you don’t listen to your Boss Hart anymore?"

"..." Cynthia Whittaker was at a loss for words. She huffed heavily. "You get a free pass this time! Next time... wait, there won’t be a next time!"

Sue Sutton laughed out loud and instinctively reached out to pat her on the head. The moment she touched her, both of them froze.

Cynthia Whittaker smacked her hand away, annoyed. "What are you touching! You think I’m still one of your people from the base?"

Lily Hart watched the drama unfold from the side. She realized that the normally soft and cute Cynthia Whittaker turned into a total firecracker whenever she was around Sue Sutton, ready to go off at any moment.

’It’s really true that people show different sides of themselves to different people, creating unique sparks.’

Just as she was enjoying the show, a message suddenly came from Frost Shaw: [Someone’s here looking for trouble. Should I get rid of them for you?]

Lily Hart stopped her. [No, no, no, wait for me to get back.]

She tossed her toothpick into the trash and stood up. "Someone’s looking for trouble. I’m heading back."

"Who’s looking for trouble?" Sue Sutton and Cynthia Whittaker said in unison, their earlier animosity instantly forgotten.

Lily Hart paused, then shrugged and shook her head. "I don’t know either. I have to go see."

"Let’s go," Sue Sutton said decisively. "I know everyone around here. They’re probably just jealous of your lottery shop." With that, she strode out the door.

Lily Hart and Cynthia Whittaker exchanged a look and followed. Cynthia quietly leaned closer to Lily and explained in a low voice, "Don’t mind her, she’s just impatient."

"It’s fine. I’m just happy someone’s offering to solve my problems for me," Lily Hart said, shaking her head.

After leaving the hot pot restaurant, they had to pass by the bathhouse to get to the lottery shop.

Even before they arrived, they could hear a commotion outside the lottery shop.