Chapter 311: boyfriend IV

Chapter 311: Chapter 311: boyfriend IV

It had been barely a minute since Christopher arrived when the doors of the women’s residence hall opened.

He was still standing there with his fencing bag slung over one shoulder, the paper bag containing breakfast in one hand, and a cup of hot chocolate in the other.

He hadn’t even had time to look around properly, much less find somewhere to sit.

Then the doors opened.

He looked over.

And Vivienne stepped outside.

He paused.

She was already looking around, searching for him.

Then she saw him.

Her face immediately brightened.

Christopher smiled.

She looked beautiful.

That was the first thing he noticed.

Then he noticed something else.

She was already here.

Christopher glanced at his watch.

9:00 a.m.

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

Exactly nine.

He hadn’t expected that.

He had been fully prepared to wait for her.

Perhaps ten minutes.

Maybe fifteen.

But she was standing in front of him right on time.

Vivienne looked down at her own watch.

Then back at him.

A pleased smile spread across her face.

He was on time.

She was on time.

Perfect.

Then she hurried toward him.

Christopher couldn’t help smiling.

"Hi."

"Hi."

She stopped in front of him, slightly breathless from hurrying.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Actually, I just arrived."

"Oh. That’s good."

Vivienne smiled.

Then she looked at him.

Really looked at him.

He was dressed casually for the morning, clearly ready for his fencing match later, but somehow he still looked incredibly put together.

His dark trousers and simple shirt fit him perfectly. His lightweight coat was open, and his fencing bag was slung over one shoulder.

His platinum hair had simply been brushed neatly into place.

No obvious effort.

No fuss.

And yet—

He looked so handsome.

Her gaze lingered on his face.

Those gray eyes.

That sharp jaw.

That calm, almost effortless expression.

Good Lord.

He was gorgeous.

Vivienne quickly looked away before he could notice how long she’d been staring.

Christopher noticed the faint color rising in her cheeks.

A small smile touched his lips.

He lifted the paper bag slightly.

"Breakfast?"

Vivienne blinked.

"Oh."

She looked at the bag.

"Oh, yeah."

She reached for it, carefully taking it from him.

"You didn’t have to."

A little smile appeared on his face.

"I said I would."

"Thank you."

She held the bag against herself.

Then she glanced toward the route to the gym.

"Should we get going?"

Christopher shook his head.

"No rush."

He nodded toward the bag.

"You can eat first."

"Oh."

Vivienne looked down at the bag.

Then toward the nearby benches.

"Okay."

She started toward them.

Then stopped.

She looked back at Christopher.

One of his hands was now free.

Before she could overthink it, she reached for it.

Her fingers slipped between his.

Then she gently pulled him along.

"Come on."

Christopher let himself be led.

Vivienne was walking a little too quickly, mostly because she was suddenly very aware that she was holding his hand.

They reached one of the benches beneath the trees.

Vivienne sat down first.

Then Christopher sat beside her.

Vivienne placed the paper bag between them and opened it.

She looked inside.

Her eyes brightened.

Everything looked good.

She reached in and picked up the croissant, then glanced at the coffee bun and the doughnut.

She liked all of them.

She looked at Christopher.

"Which one do you want?"

He shook his head.

"I already had breakfast."

"Oh."

She looked at the three pastries again.

"They’re all for me?"

"Yeah."

Vivienne stared at them for a moment.

That was... a lot.

But he had brought them for her.

And she liked all of them.

So—

Okay.

She could eat.

She picked up the croissant and opened it.

Then she took a bite.

Her eyes immediately brightened.

"Mmm."

Christopher smiled.

"Good?"

"Very."

She took another bite.

Christopher watched her for a moment before handing her the cup he had been holding.

"Here."

Vivienne looked up.

"This is for you too."

"Oh."

She put down the croissant and accepted the cup with both hands.

"Thank you."

She opened the lid and immediately took a sip.

"Careful, it’s—"

Too late.

Vivienne jerked the cup away from her mouth.

"Ah—"

She swallowed quickly, blinking as her eyes watered.

Christopher stared at her for a second.

Then a soft laugh escaped him.

"—hot."

Vivienne pressed her lips together, trying very hard to pretend she hadn’t just burned her tongue.

Her eyes were still watering.

Christopher smiled.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded quickly.

"Yeah."

A tiny, embarrassed smile appeared on her face.

"I just... drank it too quickly."

"Sorry, I should have warned you sooner."

He reached into the paper bag, pulled out a napkin, and handed it to her.

"Here."

Vivienne accepted it.

"Thank you. And it’s not your fault."

She dabbed carefully beneath her eyes, still a little embarrassed.

Christopher watched her with a faint smile.

"Let it cool for a moment."

Vivienne nodded.

"Okay."

She waited a little longer this time.

Then she took another small sip.

Her expression immediately softened.

"Oh."

Christopher smiled.

"Better?"

She nodded.

"Much better."

She took another careful sip.

"Hot chocolate?"

"I thought you’d prefer it."

She took another, much more careful sip.

Then smiled.

"I do."

"Good."

She held the cup between her hands.

Then glanced back at the pastries.

She picked up the croissant and ate.

When she finished, she picked up the coffee bun.

Christopher raised an eyebrow.

"You’re still eating?"

"I like this one too."

She took a bite.

Then another.

The coffee bun was gone too.

Vivienne looked at the doughnut.

She hesitated.

She was full.

But she remembered Monday night.

She had barely eaten before Anthony had taken her away from the table.

She didn’t want to leave the food Christopher brought this time unfinished.

So she picked it up.

Christopher watched her take a bite.

Then another.

She was chewing considerably more slowly.

Christopher noticed.

"You don’t have to finish it."

Vivienne looked at him.

"But you brought it for me."

"I know."

"And I like all of them."

He stared at her for a second.

He genuinely didn’t know what to say to that.

Vivienne looked down at the doughnut, determinedly taking another small bite.

Christopher smiled, amused.

"All right."

He leaned closer and took a bite from the doughnut she was holding.

Vivienne blinked.

She looked at him.

Christopher chewed thoughtfully.

Then nodded.

"Yeah."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"It’s quite good."

Vivienne’s face lit up.

"I told you."

He smiled.

"So I’ll help you finish it."

She laughed softly.

"Okay."

Vivienne held the doughnut out toward him again.

"Here."

Christopher looked at her.

"You’re feeding me now?"

She smiled.

"Just a little."

He leaned in and took another bite.

Vivienne watched him chew.

Then she noticed a tiny trace of icing at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh."

She reached toward him.

Before she could think about it, her thumb gently brushed the corner of his mouth, wiping away the little smear of icing.

"There."

Christopher looked at her.

Vivienne glanced at her thumb.

There was still a tiny bit of icing on it.

Without thinking, she licked it away.

And then she froze.

Her eyes widened.

Oh my God.

What had she just done?

Her face immediately went hot.

She lowered her hand.

"I—"

Nothing came out.

Christopher was still looking at her.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

His gaze lingered on her.

Then something in his expression changed.

The warmth in his gray eyes deepened, becoming just a little more intense.

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Vivienne noticed.

Her heart gave a nervous little jump.

Christopher looked away.

Just for a moment.

He drew a quiet breath and composed himself.

He had a fencing match to prepare for.

And this was their first morning together.

There was no reason to make her even more embarrassed.

Vivienne looked down at the doughnut.

Then she gave a small, embarrassed laugh.

"Sorry about that."

Christopher looked at her.

"It’s just icing."

She smiled sheepishly.

"And it was really good."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Okay."

Vivienne nodded.

"Okay."

There was still a little warmth in her cheeks.

She looked at the doughnut in her hand.

Then at him.

"Do you want more?"

Christopher looked at her for a moment.

Then he leaned closer.

He took another bite.

Vivienne smiled.

And this time, neither of them needed to say anything.

They simply continued sharing the doughnut between them, sitting side by side beneath the trees.

Apparently, breakfast had become a team effort.

--

Tbc