Chapter 136: Birthday Gifts
Third POV
Caelan and Valerie’s interaction was quite interesting.
The two didn’t know each other, but the tension between them could cut a stone.
The reaction Valerie had around Caelan was amusing.
It was as if she would lose all strength just by getting close to him.
Even though Caelan tried to hide it well, his reaction wasn’t much different.
It seemed that there was something between them that others couldn’t see.
Valerie ran to the door and brought the groceries in.
Just as she walked into the kitchen, both Caelan and Casper followed her.
"Hey Little Ghost, do you need any help? Today is your birthday. As the birthday girl, you should sit and enjoy yourself, not work yourself to the bone. Don’t worry, we can cook a few meals." Casper said with a smile.
"Uh!? It’s my birthday?" Valerie asked in surprise.
Actually, it’s not that she didn’t know it was her birthday, but she hadn’t celebrated her birthday in so long that it just skipped her mind.
"How can you not know that it is your birthday? Here, I brought you a gift." Casper had a mock-shocked look on his face.
He went back to the car and came back with a small box in hand.
Valerie wondered what kind of gift Casper had bought her.
When Casper handed the box to her, she couldn’t wait to open it and look inside.
To her surprise, there was a car key inside.
Moreover, it was a low-key luxury car that cost over a million dollars.
Valerie didn’t know much about cars, but she could tell that the car her mentor bought her wasn’t cheap.
"Teacher, isn’t this gift too expensive?" She asked while examining the car key.
"Not at all. You are the most satisfying student I have ever taught. What’s wrong with giving you a small gift? Once you get your driver’s license, you can go to the shop to pick up the car." Casper said.
"Alright then, thank you for your generosity." Valerie was overjoyed and decided that she would buy an even bigger gift for her mentor when it came his own birthday.
Caelan also didn’t want to be outdone and presented the gifts he had bought.
There was a bouquet of pink roses with a small box tacked within and a large box of chocolate.
"I didn’t know what you would like since it’s our first meeting. So, I bought these flowers hoping that we can become great friends in the future." Caelan wasn’t great with words, so he said a few words that wouldn’t put his little mate off.
As she took the flowers from Caelan, Valerie couldn’t help but think about their interaction and the way she would go completely weak from his touch.
She blushed just from thinking about it.
"Thank you....uuuhh...?" Only at this moment did Valerie realize that the two of them hadn’t introduced themselves to each other.
"My name is Caelan. You can call me Lan." Caelan introduced himself, causing Casper to nearly choke on his tea.
How was this still the king who people said was ruthless and had no heart or gentleness?
This was clearly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
He was treating Valerie so well that it got Casper confused. But he knew better than to ask questions at that moment.
"Thank you, Lan." Valerie saw no problem with making another friend.
Besides, from Lizzie’s hints, they had a special connection and if it was a bad connection, Lizzie would have warned her to stay away instead of encouraging it.
"No need for thanks, Val." Caelan said.
Then as if he had thought of something, he stopped mid-sentence and asked,
"Can I call you Val?"
Valerie’s lips twitched at his question.
Did it matter at this point? He was already calling her that.
But she was still happy that he respected her opinion for something as trivial as how to address her.
He didn’t take it for granted.
"Of course, you can call me that. My friends call me that." Valerie said hurriedly.
Well, she didn’t have many friends. So, it wouldn’t hurt to have one more.
Once the gifts were given, the three of them started warming up to each other and spent the next hour cooking together in the kitchen.
Valerie prides herself for her cooking skills but she didn’t expect Caelan to know how to cook some complicated dishes.
After all, the guy had lived for a few centuries, so learning how to cook wasn’t really a big deal.
"This is the best meal I have had in a long time." Valerie commented as she ate.
"If you like it, eat more and if you ever want to eat something you can’t make again, just call me. I will cook it for you." Caelan said with a smile that almost made Valerie’s heart stop.
"Isn’t that too much of a hustle?" Valerie asked .
She wasn’t being polite like those people who said something was a bother but we’re instead hoping for others to do things for them.
She truly thought having Caelan cook for her was causing trouble.
"Not at all. Didn’t we agree to be friends in the future? What’s wrong if you have your friend cook a meal for you? I tasted the leftover pancake you left in the kitchen during breakfast. It’s the best pancake I have ever had. So, if I want some, would you refuse to make them for me?" Caelan asked and Valerie immediately shook her head.
"Of course not. You have been so kind to me, even if you want me to make more than just the pancakes, I will definitely help you cook." Valerie didn’t even realize that she was being manipulated into agreeing to see each other often.
If Caelan came to see her in the name of wanting to eat something she made, she wouldn’t find that odd.
Caelan had already bought himself a lifetime ticket into Valerie’s life.
"Then it’s settled. If you want something, you can ask me to cook it for you. No need to stand on ceremony." Caelan said and Valerie nodded with a smile.