"Narcissistic."
Pedro Langley imdiately picked up her words.
Nora Scott wordlessly pinched his waist.
"Flirting..."
Pedro laughed lowly, his gentle and joyful laughter drilling into her ears.
Nora was annoyed, clasped his shoulder, and pulled downwards, tugging his arm. With a bit of pressure, Pedro’s arm went numb and weak, he couldn’t muster any strength.
"What is this?"
Frowning gently, Pedro attempted to raise his arm, but it refused to obey.
"Acupoint." Nora grabbed his wrist, rubbed it a bit, and explained, "It’ll ease in a while."
"Oh..."
With a slightly drawn-out tone, Pedro looked down at her, the corners of his lips couldn’t help but lift.
A second ago, she wanted to paralyze his arm, and now she’s worried he might feel uncomfortable...
He leaned forward, directly resting on her, wrapping his other hand tightly around her waist, pressing his whole weight on her.
"What are you doing?"
Nora was puzzled, slightly wriggled but was held even tighter.
"You hit my acupoint, can’t muster any strength." Pedro lied with perfect ease.
Nora was so amused she almost laughed, "Did you hit your head too? I just took out one arm."
Pedro analyzed seriously, "Maybe the body is a bit delicate."
Nora mocked through gritted teeth, "Are you a delicate flower?"
"Mm."
Pedro replied without a hint of guilt.
Nora gritted her teeth lightly, resisting the urge to incapacitate his other arm, "Have so decency."
"Nope."
Pedro replied instantly without pause.
"..."
Fully mastering Nora’s temper, having teased her enough, Pedro released her just before she erupted.
"Tell , how did you et Julian Linfield?"
"..."
Suddenly switching topics to sothing serious, Nora paused, her anger surprisingly dissipated a great deal.
"You..."
Nora was about to curse.
Pedro interrupted her, "Delicate flower has a fragile heart, can’t bear harm."
Nora suddenly chuckled, glaring at him without good humor, "Are you done yet?"
"I’ll be done when you’re happy."
Pedro pushed her hair back with a serious face.
Indeed, the anger had dissipated.
Lowering her gaze, glancing at his arm, Nora asked, "Is your arm okay now?"
"Want to rub it again?"
Pedro handed over his arm.
Nora looked at him coolly.
Pedro seed totally unfazed, not scared of being "paralyzed" again by her.
With an amusedly raised brow, Nora pulled his hand over, kneading his arm, massaging it to help him relax.
"About four years ago, I passed by Yangel, and heard he was selling snacks there, being so reclusive master. You said he’s eccentric, I don’t have many hobbies but am interested in eccentric people..."
"Let’s correct that, that’s not a hobby, it’s a twisted taste."
Pedro interrupted her recklessly.
Nora shot him a cold glance, "Are you listening or not?"
"Listening."
Pedro nodded.
"Anyway, I found out his address, wanted to see him, if we got along, maybe I could fulfill your mom’s wish and get a bamboo flute or sothing..." Talking up to this point, Nora felt her taste buds assaulted, furrowed her brows tightly, muttering, "He was selling so local fried dough, honestly, it was awful."
"Business good?"
"Terrible." Nora recalled briefly, "I stayed at his shop for three days, only saw myself as the custor."
"Oh." Pedro nodded, "Matches his culinary skills."
At his words, Nora’s lips curled slightly.
Pedro asked, "Then what?"
"Then, he eyed a batch of bamboo near Xiangel City, lots of people were eager to have it. I had so connections, got it for him." Nora said simply, then shrugged, "That’s how we ford a deep friendship."
Nodding in agreent, Pedro threw cold water verbally, "Interest-chained friendship."
Nora glared at him.
"Friendship, friendship." Pedro sensibly corrected himself.
"Though both of us initially bonded over mutual interests, but," Nora paused, "he promised to give a bamboo flute, I didn’t take it."
"You said your mom hasn’t received any bamboo flutes from benevolent donors over the years..." Pedro laughed and asked, "Why didn’t you take it?"
"Can’t play it."
Nora answered honestly and bluntly.
Pedro was amused, "Weren’t you doing it for my mom?"
"I’m not familiar with your mom."
Initially, it was intended as a gift for Flora Loughton. But on second thought, it seed unnecessary. After all, they broke up; if discovered, how awkward it would be...
So, after much contemplation, she gave up.
Precisely because she didn’t take the bamboo flute, her "interest-based friendship" with Julian Linfield transitioned into genuine "friendship." Every ti passing through Yangel, Nora would go to Julian’s place, spending a few days enjoying life in his idyllic bamboo forest retreat.
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