"When you can make a decent cup of coffee on your own." I handed him the ground coffee and let him come behind the counter to make the latte under my supervision.
His skills had improved a lot, but in my opinion, they were still pretty rough. I had to step in and show him the proper ratios. As I held his hand and guided him through stirring, a customer suddenly whistled at us. "Serenity, you and your boyfriend are still so lovey-dovey!"
They meant it kindly, but my face turned bright red. I quickly let go of Elias's hand. "He's not my boyfriend!"
Despite my protest, I stole a glance at Elias's handsome profile. For some reason, something in my heart softened. A warm, happy current flowed through me.
"Your eyes say otherwise. Don't think we can't see it." The customers all laughed. Cheerful voices filled the café. I was so embarrassed I just shooed Elias out from behind the counter with his finished latte.
Once they stopped paying attention to me, I hid behind the bar and stole a peek outside. Elias was bent over, cleaning a table, occasionally chatting with nearby customers. His movements were so practiced—he didn't look anything like the CEO of a major corporation. I never imagined that his way of pursuing me would be to apply for a part-time server position at my café.
Moon Goddess above—when he'd handed me a résumé packed with business achievements, I'd been absolutely floored. But Elias didn't seem to think there was anything strange about abandoning Vernal Corporation to work as a barista. He'd solemnly explained how his ability to manage multiple international projects made him perfectly qualified to carry coffee cups. And then he'd played his trump card.
"My biggest advantage is that I don't need a salary." He had stared at me with burning intensity. I had no comeback for that.
In the end, I had hired him.
I had assumed he was only doing this to get close to me. But he actually did all the work well. He attentively served customers and helped me handle orders I couldn't manage alone. When I tested new coffee recipes, he'd earnestly play customer and give me feedback. On holidays, he'd use his role as Arian's father to insist on outings—and naturally, I came along as the guardian.
This kind of warm, ordinary daily life felt almost too good to be real.
As time passed, the empty piece of my heart's puzzle gradually took shape. It was starting to look like the family I'd always dreamed of.
"Mommy, look at my drawing!" Arian suddenly ran downstairs and ducked behind the counter, holding up a piece of paper.
I looked down and saw a crayon drawing of a happy family of three. A golden-haired mommy and a brown-haired daddy held a blue-eyed child together. Above their heads shone a bright sun and a big heart. Everyone's hands were linked.
"Who's this?" I asked, pretending not to know.
"This is Mommy, this is Daddy, and this is me!" He pointed to each figure. "We're a family!"
Something gently nudged my heart.
Arian looked up at me hopefully. "Did I do a good job?"
"Very good. You're so talented." I stroked his hair. Arian beamed, then asked innocently, "So, Mommy, when will you forgive Daddy and make up with him?"
I looked at his expectant and anxious little face. Bubbles of emotion rose inside me.
Sweet. Beautiful. It reminded me of a spring day I hadn't thought about in a long time.
I couldn't help but smile. I glanced at the man outside the counter who was pretending to be busy but clearly eavesdropping. I gave a vague answer. "I never said I wasn't willing."
Arian hadn't processed my words, but Elias whipped around, looking at me with overwhelming joy.
This time, I finally stopped running from his affection and pursuit. I met his gaze openly.
"Did you mean what I think you meant, Serenity?" Elias held his breath and confirmed my intentions.
"You heard right, Mr. Elias. Congratulations." I curved my eyes into a smile. "You've just been promoted from 'employee' to 'boyfriend.'"
Elias let out an excited shout. He rushed over and actually lifted me right out from behind the counter!
He laughed as he spun me around, repeating "I'm Serenity's boyfriend" like a giddy child while the customers applauded around us.
I was half-annoyed, half-amused as I kept swatting his shoulder. Arian ran and jumped alongside us. Finally, I couldn't help laughing with them. The memory of that day would stay bright and unfading, even on the day Elias and I held our second wedding.
It was something I would never forget.
