Chapter 488 - 484: Knowing He Was Done For

This time, Ethan Sterling didn’t just stand there gawking. He readily bought the couple’s tickets.

After all, the two had just pretended to be a couple to take advantage of the coffee shop’s deal, so they didn’t mind doing it again.

After passing through the ticket gate with their paper tickets, Ethan Sterling mumbled in confusion, "How do they tell if two people are actually a couple? If any two people can just buy couple’s tickets, would anyone even buy the adult ones?"

Seeing how seriously he was asking his silly question, Seraphina couldn’t help but smile and point. "Look at the terms and conditions on the back. The only requirement for a couple’s ticket is one man and one woman. They obviously aren’t going to investigate if the people buying them are a real couple. It’s just a type of ticket, another option for a man and woman visiting together. It’s a marketing tactic, after all, since it’s a bit cheaper than two adult tickets."

Ethan Sterling understood. ’Come to think of it,’ he thought, ’the coffee shop promotion was probably the same.’

Inside the aquarium, the temperature was much more comfortable. The entire environment, from the building’s interior to the tanks and the water itself, required precise temperature control. Some of the rare marine animals were extremely delicate; the wrong temperature could cause them to get sick or even die.

Just inside the main entrance was a huge, cylindrical glass tank filled with colorful fish swimming about. Combined with the special lighting effects in the water, it looked incredibly dreamlike.

An ugly, orange-and-black fish was stuck to the glass, its eyes wide and unblinking, as if it had fallen asleep with them open.

Seraphina quickly pushed Ethan Sterling forward. "Ethan, go press your face against the glass! I’ll take a picture of you with it."

Ethan Sterling obediently complied, but just as he leaned in, the fish suddenly darted away as if he had scared it.

"It ran off," Ethan Sterling said with a helpless shrug.

Seraphina laughed. "Well, just stand to the side then. I’ll take a couple of pictures for you. I noticed your profile picture is still a photo of you as a kid."

Ethan Sterling nodded. "My mom took it on my seventh birthday."

"You were pretty cute when you were little."

"What about now?" Ethan Sterling asked instinctively, a flicker of anticipation rising in his heart the moment the words left his mouth.

Seraphina glanced at him and said softly, "You’re pretty cute now, too."

Ethan Sterling wasn’t sure if being called "cute" was a good or bad thing for a guy. Growing up, people had called him sunny, cheerful, and handsome, but rarely had anyone called him cute.

’Do you like cute guys, then?’

The question echoed in Ethan Sterling’s mind, but he didn’t dare ask it out loud.

Then, he heard Seraphina add, "But I do think you have a great personality. Even though we haven’t known each other long, I can tell you’re a good person. My intuition is usually pretty accurate. You must have had a good upbringing."

Especially when, at the same time, she had someone like Owen Griffin hopping around as a control group for comparison.

It only made Ethan Sterling look better in every way.

Being praised to his face by the girl he liked, Ethan Sterling instantly turned into a happy puppy, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I do have a great mom and two wonderful older sisters."

In terms of family atmosphere, despite the absence of a father’s love, Ethan Sterling had never felt insecure about it. On the contrary, he had always considered himself very fortunate.

Seraphina seized the opportunity, capturing the moment of genuine joy on Ethan Sterling’s face.

"It’s great!" She looked at the photo on her phone with satisfaction, then walked over to show Ethan Sterling. "You’re pretty photogenic."

"It’s because you’re a good photographer. Let’s go further inside. I’ll take some pictures of you with my camera." As he spoke, Ethan Sterling rummaged through his bag and pulled out a camera.

Seraphina nodded, pointing to the passage on the left and blurting out, "Then let’s go that way first! The penguin exhibit is over there!"

"How did you know the penguin exhibit was that way?"

Seraphina then realized she’d spoken too soon, but her reaction was just as quick. With a calm, unfazed expression, she explained, "The map at the entrance had it marked. I made sure to take a look."

Ethan Sterling didn’t suspect a thing and nodded cheerfully. "Okay, let’s go see the penguins then."

Seraphina breathed a silent sigh of relief.

*

「Cleanscape Housekeeping and Cleaning Services.」

In the CEO’s office, Jasmine Sterling was engrossed in her work when the internal line on her desk rang.

She picked it up and heard the company receptionist say, "Jasmine, Mr. Vance is here."

At the company, Jasmine Sterling preferred people to call her Jasmine rather than CEO or Boss.

Hearing this, she subconsciously glanced around her office, which now resembled a flower shop.

Ever since the charity event, Mr. Vance had begun to pursue her openly. Sending flowers to her office had become a daily ritual, always the same type of flower, but in various colors.

Specifically, roses of every color, accompanied by a daily greeting handwritten by him.

At first, Jasmine Sterling was naturally not used to it, and even a little resistant. After all, it wasn’t as if no men had pursued her over the years, but out of consideration for their middle-aged status, their methods were usually more subtle.

Mr. Vance, however, was the complete opposite—his approach was aggressive and full-on. He was the first of his kind!

Not only had her friends heard rumors, but now the entire company knew that an as-yet-unseen Mr. Vance was pursuing her.

But after so many days, her discomfort had faded. Plus, Wendy Duncan and her other friends had been constantly encouraging her not to close herself off, reminding her that she wouldn’t know if they were compatible unless she tried.

And so, today she had agreed to Mr. Vance’s lunch invitation.

At the very least, she should thank him for all the flowers he’d been sending.

"Okay, I understand. I’ll be right there."

After hanging up, Jasmine Sterling stood and walked to the mirror in her office for a quick look. She rarely made a special effort with her appearance for work, but since she had agreed to lunch with Mr. Vance, she had put on makeup and chosen her outfit carefully that morning as a sign of respect.

At the company’s reception, Finn Vance stood waiting quietly, his posture upright and elegant in a well-fitted suit.

The company wasn’t large to begin with, so within three to five minutes, the news had spread: Jasmine’s mysterious suitor had finally appeared.

Employees from various departments pretended to be busy as they came out to catch a glimpse of the man himself.

’This Mr. Vance is pretty handsome!’

’He’s tall, too. He looks like a big boss. He and Jasmine actually seem like a good match.’

’I never thought the man sending Jasmine flowers every day would be this rugged type. I was picturing some slick, pretty-boy con artist.’

’Shh, Jasmine’s coming...’

Jasmine Sterling walked briskly out from the inner office, and her employees greeted her with expressions full of knowing amusement.

Jasmine Sterling simply smiled and returned their greetings one by one until she reached the front desk and saw Finn Vance waiting for her.

This was the second time they had met. The first time had been at night; this time, it was during the day, allowing them to see each other much more clearly.

With just one look, Finn Vance knew he was done for. The fluttering in his heart was even stronger than the last time.

And the Jasmine Sterling he saw before him seemed even more beautiful than she had before.