Chapter 1501 - 1491: A Goodnight Kiss

"It’s just astonishing how much influence a family has on a child. If Lois had grown up in a normal family with parents and relatives, maybe she wouldn’t have gone down this path," Chloe Winston unconsciously thought of her own parents and felt increasingly melancholic.

"It’s due to personality," Finnian said unusually in the group chat, "There are so many kids in the world without parents, but not everyone ends up taking this path."

"That’s right. Chloe, we haven’t gathered for a meal in ages. I’ve been to Spring Prosperity Garden and didn’t see you. Where have you been hiding lately?" Desmond Wood jumped into the chat with displeasure.

Chloe Winston instantly wanted to play dead.

"Pfft, Desmond, are you bad at observing? Recently, Mr. Stewart has been sending Chloe to the film set every day; I know about this," Wendy Starling laughed, teasing Desmond.

"No way," Desmond exclaimed in disbelief, "Chloe, did Constantine Stewart threaten you with something? Tell me, and I’ll storm over tomorrow."

Chloe Winston pressed her forehead, wanting to kneel before this fool.

"Chloe, come downstairs to eat," Constantine Stewart privately messaged her on her phone.

Eat? Didn’t she just have a meal?

Chloe opened the door and indeed smelled the aroma of food.

The man sat at a small dining table, inviting her over for a late-night snack.

On the table was a lamb spine hot pot, steamed bass fillets with wood ear mushrooms, kimchi tofu, and taro baked rice. The lamb spine soup was cooked to a milky white, emitting a rich fragrance, complemented by the spicy and tangy taste of kimchi. Chloe swallowed, feeling hungry again.

These were clearly all dishes she liked, especially the kimchi.

As a child, the welfare home’s budget was tight, and the matron would make cheap yet appetizing meals by pickling cabbage herself. Since cabbage was cheap, just a few cents per pound, even pickling several large jars couldn’t satisfy everyone. Kimchi was a rare treat, only once a week.

Later, she ate lots of gourmet food with Constantine Stewart, yet she still loved the sweet and sour kimchi from her memory, capable of devouring a big bowl of rice with it.

Especially since Constantine Stewart hired several chefs, one of whom specialized in making secret recipe kimchi, it tasted exceptionally appetizing.

"Didn’t you have enough to eat tonight?" Chloe Winston sat at the dining table, reluctantly deciding not to hold back for the sake of kimchi.

"I barely ate," Constantine Stewart lowered his eyes, his lips slightly curved. Tonight, Chloe was probably the only one who ate her fill; everyone else had their minds occupied, but the little girl had a small appetite, the type that eats less but often, getting hungry every one or two hours.

Constantine Stewart had the chef prepare the food on the way back.

The man scooped a small bowl of taro baked rice for her, his deep-set eyes slightly smiling as he said, "You need rice to eat with kimchi, this taro baked rice is quite good, it’s the new chef’s specialty."

"You’ve hired another new chef? You can’t replace the kimchi master," Chloe Winston picked up some kimchi with her chopsticks, smelling its sweet and sour aroma, her dimples appearing faintly, overly sweet.

Seeing her satisfied expression, Constantine Stewart reached out to serve her a bowl of lamb spine soup, picked a piece of meaty lamb spine, pushed it over, his voice unconsciously softened as he smiled, "You say not to change chefs, then we won’t."

Constantine Stewart had recently been passionate about food, had about seven or eight chefs on Fulham Road, choosing whatever cuisine he wanted, and never compromising on food.

The man saw her stick out her pink little tongue spiced by the kimchi, his gaze darkened, lowered his eyes, and served himself some baked rice, then picked a piece of fish fillet into her bowl before gracefully eating dinner.

Chloe Winston preferred Chinese cuisine, and Constantine Stewart’s eating habits had also shifted to Chinese food, occasionally indulging in French cuisine.

"The lamb spine stew has a rich flavor; drinking a bowl of soup at night aids sleep."

Chloe nodded, quickly sipping the soup, finding it tender without any gaminess, the lamb spine meat also simmered to perfection.

Chloe had a small appetite, eating a second meal, quickly running out of steam; the rest was polished off by Constantine Stewart.

The man cleaned up, not wasting any of the delicacies, except for the kimchi, which he didn’t love as much.

After dinner, Chloe Winston contentedly hugged a pillow on the sofa, feeling unable to move. Life is all about eating and drinking.

"My mother invited you to go shopping tomorrow?" Constantine Stewart had the maid clean the table, then looked at the immobile little girl, went over to sit next to her.

Chloe instantly felt the spacious, comfortable sofa become cramped and claustrophobic.

"Madam wants to buy special items to take back to Paris." Chloe nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her aura somewhat weak, especially since Constantine Stewart sat close to her, his intense hormonal aura felt dangerous.

Constantine Stewart rested his arm on the sofa, stretched out his long arm, subtly encircling the little girl within his territory, then squinted and said deeply, "I’ve already tried to coexist peacefully with my mother. Chloe, shouldn’t you fulfill your promise?"

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat - what promise?

Constantine Stewart sat up straighter, inching closer, touching her soft hair, his voice slightly hoarse, "Since you’re trying to accept me, how about trying to give a goodnight kiss first?"

Chloe quickly covered her mouth, her dark eyes staring intently at him, muttering, "I just ate kimchi."

Constantine Stewart didn’t like the taste of kimchi much; he seldom let her eat it because there’d be a kimchi taste during a kiss, so seeing kimchi at night would make Chloe eat so gleefully.

"I’ve changed my taste," Constantine Stewart chuckled coldly - could a bit of kimchi prevent him from his kissing reward? Dream on.

"I’m going to brush my teeth," Chloe immediately sensed the danger, about to get up to escape, but the man’s strong arm already held her, and a kiss landed.

Not having touched her for a while, the man’s kiss was first teasing, then deeper, until both of them had unstable breaths. Only then did Constantine Stewart release her, saying with a deep gaze, "I’ve started to like kimchi."

Chloe was kissed until her toes curled, his fleeting breath titillating her, and his words so profound she got up to flee.

Constantine Stewart watched her run and didn’t stop her. Someday they’ll be in bed together, soon enough!

The frustrated man returned to his room, lying on the soft big bed, dreaming all night, woke up the next morning, expressionless, and took a cold shower.

If he continues living like a monk, he’s going to break. Constantine Stewart thought about how his mother had invited Chloe to shop today, and squinted.

They’re clearly mother and son, one exploiting the girl’s kindness to mend their laughable mother-son bond, the other pretending to accept the so-called mother to get close to Chloe, equally cunning like foxes.