“Isn’t that Vance Kensington?”

That afternoon, Arthur happened to run into Ashley after she wrapped up her big-eating collab with a food content creator at Celeste Mall.

They met in the lobby, and Arthur offered to drive her back. Since Ashley hadn’t brought her own car, she happily accepted.

The two sat in the front seats, quiet at first, each lost in thought—Arthur busy with his gadget, Ashley a little drowsy after eating more than usual.

Arthur’s sudden question ...