Chapter 14
Zara rolled her eyes and let out a loud scoff. “I’m going, no matter what.”
Julian propped his chin up lazily, giving her a playful eyebrow raise. “Oh, so now Batu’s words hold more weight than mine? You listen to him that much?”
Zara shrugged, unbothered. “I just wanna hang out with everyone. We never really got to celebrate your birthday properly.”
He leaned in close, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. His voice softened, a little teasing. “You really wanna go that badly?”
She nodded, determination filled her eyes. “Yeah, I really do.”
He sighed dramatically, then grinned. “Alright, but can you do me a favor? Knit me a scarf tonight. It’s freezing out there.”
He gave her the kind of look that could melt anyone’s resolve–pitiful, with a hint of mischief.
Julian wasn’t the type to nag or chat too much. He usually came off as a bit distant, his temper more on the cold side. But maybe, just maybe, because she was just as cold–natured as him, he couldn’t help but say a little more when he was with her.
Zara couldn’t resist. “Fine, I’ll knit you a scarf.”
The bonfire hangout was a tradition among the young crowd in Westfield.
It was the perfect way to kick back, chat, and catch up. Plus, it was a great excuse to sip on warm drinks and have some good conversation while the city was still blanketed in
snow.
Even the ice skating rink nearby was drawing in crowds, adding to the festive vibe.
Back when they were teenagers, Zara and Julian used to do stuff like this all the time. They’d gather with friends around a bonfire, go ice skating, or even write couplets together -everything always felt so full of life.
Now, as they stood on the edge of a new year, Zara smirked. “Since it’s the New Year, I’ll knit you a red scarf. How about that?”
Julian raised an eyebrow, but his smile was warm. “Whatever you decide, I’m good. I’ll listen to you.”
Zara nodded, feeling grateful she had learned knitting from her mom when she was younger. It wasn’t going to be hard to get it done.
She spent the next couple of days working on it, and before she knew it, the vibrant red scarf was wra snugly around his neck.
Julian, grinning from ear to ear, shot her a mischievous look. “You attention–seeker.”
She gave him a playful glare. “Oh really? I’m the attention–seeker? You’re the one walking around with a scarf wrapped around your neck like it’s some fashion statement.”
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He just winked at her. “Well, I’m still just a kid. Can’t a kid be an attention–seeker?”
Zara shook her head. “Fine, whatever.”
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When they arrived at the tea house, Batu’s girlfriend was gliding around the ice rink, her energy contagious as she showed off her skating moves. Batu was nearby, snapping pictures like a proud boyfriend.
He waved them over. “Hey, Zara! Weren’t you the one who loved skiing the most? Come on, Batu’s girlfriend is a great person. Why don’t you go skate for a bit? I’ll grab your favorite milk tea while I’m at it.”
Zara, now feeling much more lively after being back in Westfield for a while, smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’m in.”
Without hesitation, she dashed to a nearby hut to grab her gear.
Batu, still holding his camera, let out a puff of white mist into the cold air, then turned to Julian, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Hey, does your scarf feel… special to you? I swear it’s got a vibe.”
Julian’s grin turned smug. “Oh yeah, my girlfriend knitted it for me.”
There was a moment of proud silence before Batu, already rolling his eyes, clicked his tongue and shrugged. “Alright, alright. Whatever. Let’s go brew some tea, ‘young master.”
Julian chuckled and followed him inside.
Inside the room, some of their friends were still busy with a heated chess game. As soon as Julian and Batu walked in, one of the guys dropped his piece, his frustration obvious.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the young master of the Jiang family. Thought you weren’t coming today. What’s the occasion?”
Julian’s face lit up with pride as he casually tossed his scarf over his shoulder. “Hmm, my girlfriend knitted me this scarf. Thought I’d come show it off.”
Someone else, clearly unimpressed, chimed in, “Yeah, nobody asked you about your scarf, buddy.”
Julian just shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, my bad.”
young men s
As he took a seat, the other aside, making space for him without thinking. Their eyes, however, kept drifting toward the scarf draped over his neck.
Inside, they were all thinking the same thing: ‘So, this is what it looks like when the untouchable prince falls off his pedestal.
It was an oddly amusing sight, watching this seemingly untouchable guy mix with their group, one who had always stood apart from the rest.
As always, when these rich bachelors gathered, their conversation quickly turned to the usual topics: money, alcohol, and women. There was little else on the table.
Julian listened, half–paying attention, feeling the boredom creep in. If Zara hadn’t asked
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him to come, he would’ve stayed home.
It was all just… dull.
One of the guys, clearly itching for drama, grinned. “Hey, by the way, stop goofing around and bring your girlfriend in here. Since when did Zara become your girlfriend? We had no
