Everything Sam did, whether it was his apparent refusal or indifference, had one purpose.
It wasn’t about evasion; it was about taking the initiative.
Facing a girl of Angel’s prestigious status, gaining the upper hand was undoubtedly challenging.
Given her superior family background and the dominance she had always maintained, she only accepted situations that gradually came under her control.
But dreaming of controlling Sam was just that – a dream.
This was Sam’s strategy: to conquer her, starting with what seemed like an unfair deal.
It appeared risky and reckless but was actually quite rational.
Through their interactions and his understanding of the game’s storyline, Sam was well aware of what it would take for her to compromise rather than repeatedly using time-stop to achieve her goals.
She wanted to control Sam, to treat him like a fun toy to play with and then put away. Sam accurately captured this sentiment.
Otherwise, why would she consult with him for something she could easily accomplish with time-stop?
The excuse of creating sculptures… it seems like an artist’s obsession, but it’s unnecessary. She doesn’t love art; she loves the game of cat and mouse.
But who was Tom and who was Jerry?
Unlike the classic cartoon, the roles of Tom and Jerry were constantly switching.
The rooftop conversation was the beginning of it all.
As for when to meet for the sculpture? It certainly wasn’t today; he had a part-time job at the convenience store.
Sam didn’t go to the study room today because his part-time schedule didn’t allow it, and fortunately, Alice didn’t appear at the school gate for ‘after-school tutoring’.
It was torturous. Sam came close to ejaculating, but she stopped at the last minute.
The pen cap was off, but no ink came out, right?
Anyway, he didn’t want such situations to happen so frequently. Once or twice was fine, but if it became a daily ordeal, that would be too much.
…
“Sam, you’re here early today~ Did you know I’d be here at this time and deliberately create a chance encounter?” Mia said, having just signed the delivery note in the convenience store.
This young woman, not really of a great age, possessed an energy akin to that of a young girl. She always seemed to be brimming with vitality, no matter when you saw her.
She was wearing an off-shoulder white coat over a sports vest, showcasing her healthy skin tone and nearly perfect figure beautifully. Though her skin wasn’t very fair, it radiated a healthy vigor.
In fact, Mia’s appearance was more to Sam’s liking, akin to having a favorite dish that, while enjoyable, can become tiresome if consumed too frequently, ultimately leading one to crave a change in flavor.
However, this was just a thought. Sam didn’t have any intentions towards Mia at the moment; he still had unresolved issues in his life.
He looked at Mia and then displayed a troubled expression. “Oh no, I forgot today was delivery day. I would have come later if I had remembered.”
“What?! Are you trying to avoid me? That’s really sad, being disliked by a young guy still in school,” Mia quickly changed her style, pretending to be on the verge of tears. It was a natural act, a reason why she could mingle in nightclubs and still come out unscathed.
“Come on, boss, can you move aside? I need to change and start work,” Sam said with a smile.
Mia quickly dropped her act and winked at Sam. “Humph, trying to act all mature and capable at such a young age. Are you trying to get my attention this way? Sadly for you, there are dozens of men chasing after me, and just this tactic alone won’t work~”
“Is that so? Then I guess it wouldn’t matter if you added an extra 0 to the transaction amount?” Sam quipped.
“What?!” Mia instantly looked at the delivery note in her hand, her face turning pale. “No way… Damn it! No, sir, don’t go, there’s a mistake! I need to correct the amount!”
Mia dashed out, finally giving Sam the chance to change into his uniform.
He was taking over from a middle-aged woman who was kind and friendly. She often brought homemade snacks for the staff and everyone called her Mrs. Margaret.
“Thanks, Sam, I’ll be off now.”
“Sure, take care, Mrs. Margaret.”
After seeing her off, Sam began counting the change.
Mia returned to the store, sighing in relief as she saw Sam tallying up the coins. “You really saved me this time, Sam. That could have been a disaster. This convenience store might have just ended right there.”
Although Mia was exaggerating a bit, Sam didn’t seem too concerned; after all, it wasn’t his salary at stake.
“That’s why you should be more careful next time. I can’t always be here to spot the mistakes.”
The store was quiet at this time, so Mia leaned on the counter. “Is this what young student are like? Such sharp eyes, spotting every problem.”
Sam just smiled and shook his head. He had noticed the extra 0 because of his exceptional memory.
He often saw Mia signing the delivery notes for her work, so he had a rough idea of the usual figures. The length of the number had seemed off to him.
“Maybe I was just lucky.”
Suddenly, Mia leaned forward, startling Sam. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked at him intently.
“Could it be that…”
“What could it be?” Sam asked warily.
Mia then grasped his hands earnestly. “Could it be that you’re a vampire count, awakened from a long slumber, working in a convenience store just to experience life?”
“Please, you should stop watching those age-inappropriate romance movies, boss.”
“What do you mean age-inappropriate? You’re younger than me but act so mature. That’s not good, Sam!”
“Maybe you’re just too careless?”
“Really? Am I?”
“Well, it would be better if you weren’t. But, boss, how long are you planning to stand there? I’ve already miscounted the change three times because of you.”
“That much? Alright, you just want me to leave, don’t you? ”
Sam didn’t bother responding; the more he engaged with her, the more energized Mia became.
But then, Mia remembered something.
“Hey, want to hit the nightclub with me after your shift tonight? I told my friends I have a very handsome co-worker, but they don’t believe me~”
Sam didn’t even have to think before shaking his head.
“No, I have classes tomorrow.”
“How about we go when you don’t have classes?”
“Maybe, we’ll see. Boss, take care.”
“I didn’t say I was leaving yet! You really are something!”
Mia eventually left, as she usually had plenty of dates herself. As for who she dated, that was something Sam neither knew nor cared to know.
The day seemed normal – no sight of Zoe, no strange customers. The monotonous work almost lulled him to sleep.
Until—
“That was… huh?”
As he tallied up a bunch of daily necessities and feminine hygiene products, Sam looked up and was surprised to see a familiar, yet indifferent face.
She saw him too. First indifferent, then her face flushed red.
Sophie? Why was she in this convenience store?
Sophie’s gaze turned awkward, and her cheeks reddened instantly.
She saw not just Sam, but also the package of sanitary pads she had just placed on the counter in his hands.
Why did it have to be him of all people?
