Chapter 23
The moment Suzy saw the man walking up behind Leonard, a notification rang in her mind.
[Suitable target detected: Adam Bennet]
[Level: SSS]
[Affection level sufficient. Binding requirements met. Proceed with binding?]
It’s him! I can’t believe that he is... my other love target!
Suzy froze for a split second.
Then she responded decisively in her mind: "Bind!"
[Target Adam Bennet successfully bound]
[New function unlocked: Treasure Hunt]
[Restriction: Usable once every three days. Search radius: one kilometer]
Suzy’s eyes lit up.
This new function sounded incredible.
When she had time, she could visit antique markets and try her luck at finding something valuable. If it were called "Treasure Hunt," surely it wouldn’t disappoint...
Her thoughts drifted until Adam stepped fully into view.
She suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Suzy, this is Adam Bennet. He used to look after you, remember?" Leonard said with a smile.
Suzy’s gaze fell on the man before her.
He had a face worthy of the silver screen—no, more striking than most actors. Sharp features, refined and aloof. His phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward at the corners, irises a pale gray like frost-glazed glass in winter. Short black hair fell loosely across his forehead. His lips were straight-lined, his complexion cool and fair. A tiny brown mole rested near the right corner of his mouth.
He had already taken a seat and was calmly removing his coat.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, he paused and looked up. Those pale gray eyes met hers.
Suzy looked away instantly, as if shocked by static.
Of course, she remembered Adam. She just hadn’t connected the dots immediately.
Adam Bennet—the heir to the Bennet family.
Leonard’s childhood friend.
When Suzy had visited C City as a child, it was Adam who had often taken care of her. Back then, Leonard had been too busy gaming and fooling around, happily dumping his little niece onto his best friend.
Suzy had adored Adam in those days.
He had been cool and reserved, yes—but if she asked for something, he always gave in. And he had been handsome, even then. A real heartthrob.
She had once secretly declared she would marry him when she grew up.
After she returned to A City, they’d lost touch.
Years had passed, but his appearance hadn’t changed much—only his aura had grown steadier, more composed.
"Uhm... Hi, Mr. Bennet," she ventured uncertainly, her eyes bright and slightly damp.
She genuinely didn’t know how to address him.
Leonard chuckled. "Call him Adam. You’re making him sound too old."
Suzy blinked and corrected herself obediently. "...Adam."
Though Adam and Leonard were the same generation, he was only eight years older than Suzy. "Mister" truly seemed somewhat inappropriate.
"Mm. Long time no see," Adam said with a calm smile.
Still the same personality, Suzy thought.
Cool. Detached. As if nothing in the world could stir him.
"Come, let’s eat," Leonard said, gesturing to the table.
The hot pot was already boiling.
Leonard asked Suzy what she had done that afternoon. She brushed it off, saying she’d just wandered around nearby.
"I’ve been busy lately," Leonard sighed. "I won’t have much time to accompany you."
His gaze shifted to his friend. "Maybe Adam can show you around."
Suzy’s hand paused mid-air. She instinctively glanced at Adam, too.
"I’m busy too," he replied evenly.
Oddly, Suzy felt relieved. She didn’t need anyone accompanying her—she had mountains of supplies to stockpile.
"It’s okay. I’m fine on my own," she said quickly.
Adam glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable.
The conversation turned to work—and to Leonard’s birthday the day after tomorrow.
This year, Leonard didn’t plan a grand celebration. Just a small gathering with close friends.
As Suzy chewed thoughtfully on her chopsticks, she suddenly realized she hadn’t bought him a birthday present yet.
Tomorrow, before stockpiling more supplies, she would have to fix that.
Dinner ended quickly.
The conversation hadn’t been lively, but it had been unexpectedly harmonious—Leonard talking most of the time, Suzy and Adam responding.
Afterward, Suzy and Leonard walked out with Adam.
Just before they parted, Leonard suddenly said, "Suzy, you don’t have Adam’s contact information, do you?"
She nodded, already anticipating what came next.
"Then you two should exchange contacts. If you can’t reach me and something comes up, you can call Adam. Right?"
The last sentence was directed at the aloof man standing beside him.
Suzy would be staying for two months. Leonard worried she might encounter trouble and be unable to reach him. The person he trusted most was Adam.
Suzy didn’t mind. She looked at Adam expectantly. His expression remained indifferent—no obvious reaction to the suggestion.
She had expected him to refuse––after all, he wasn’t the helpful type.
He certainly didn’t look like someone with time to babysit others anymore. And if he wanted to refuse, he wouldn’t hesitate just to save Leonard’s face.
Suzy prepared a polite smile, ready to smooth things over, but before she could speak, Adam extended his phone toward her.
"Put your number in," he said simply.
"Oh... okay." Slightly stunned, she took his phone, entered her number, and handed it back.
Leonard clapped Adam lightly on the shoulder. "Alright then. We’ll head back."
Adam nodded and threw one last look at Suzy.
***
Suzy and Leonard drove home separately.
The house was quiet. Empty. Monica wasn’t there.
Or perhaps she simply didn’t want to be there?
Suzy glanced around before Leonard explained, "Monica doesn’t live here. She only comes by occasionally."
Suzy nodded.
After saying goodnight, she returned to her room.
She washed up quickly, then picked up her fully charged phone to continue online shopping.
The moment she unlocked it, she saw a friend request on her socials.
The username was simply a capital "B." She immediately knew who it was.
Adam Bennet.
Sure enough, the note read: It’s me, Adam.
Suzy accepted his request. Then she took the initiative to send a message.
[Suzy: Hey, Adam...]
[Adam Bennet: Yes?]
Seeing that lone "yes," Suzy instantly pictured his cool, expressionless face.
Her scalp tingled. For a moment, she had no idea how to reply.
Just then, a notification from her shopping app popped up, distracting her.
She tapped it open.