Chapter 183
“Are the flowers growing well?”
Koi asked while they waited for the next course after finishing their appetizers. Ariel made a regretful expression and replied with a sigh.
“Sorry... I guess I’m just not good at growing things.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I gave them to you because I couldn’t handle them either...”
Koi genuinely meant it. Thinking back to the fact that nothing happened after, it seemed the scent from the flowers had been the cause. It was a shame they withered, but if Ariel had ended up in the same uncomfortable situation Koi did because of them, it could’ve turned into something worse. So maybe it was for the best. He let it go without giving it much more thought.
Meanwhile, Ariel had been thinking along similar lines. She’d briefly worried that Koi might have manifested something, but no symptoms had appeared since, and there was no lingering scent either. Most importantly, if it had been pheromones, Ashley would’ve noticed it first—and his attitude hadn’t changed at all.
So it really was just a cold, huh?
The thought that she had worried for nothing made her smile unconsciously, and she masked it by pretending to sip her water. Ashley had remained quiet until that point. Ariel, who had been cheerfully chatting with Koi, couldn’t help but feel suspicious of his silence.
That sneaky bastard—what’s he scheming this time?
“Thanks for helping me. It all worked out thanks to you two,”
Koi said at just the right moment. Ariel furrowed her brow and grumbled.
“You never should’ve let them get away with it in the first place. You should’ve called it out way earlier.”