Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Why Don’t You Just Say Yes to Him
Just then, a voice spoke up from the side.
The voice was filled with exasperation.
He complained to the two of them.
Then he leaned in close to them.
He had been waiting to greet Stella Sterling, but the two of them had started chatting away as if he didn’t even exist. After waiting on the side for a while, he couldn’t help but interrupt.
He first looked at Gordon Ford. "You! You! You! You’d ditch your friends for a girl in a heartbeat! I came all the way here with you, and you just cast me aside. How could you do that to me?"
Before Gordon Ford could argue, he immediately turned to Stella Sterling. "And you, Stella Sterling! We’ve known each other for years now. We should be old friends, right? How can you ignore me like that?"
Stella Sterling chuckled and looked over at him. He was munching on a large apple, a banana clutched in his other hand. She raised an eyebrow. "I’m treating you to fine food and drink. Isn’t that good enough for you?"
’Before I even got here, I had someone send over some fruit.’
’Fruit is a rare commodity. Here at the base, we mostly grow staple crops.’
’The current environment isn’t suitable for things like fruit, and they aren’t as important as staple crops, so we don’t grow them within the base.’
’This fruit is from my old stockpile, from back when I was putting things in my space.’
’Even though I’ve saved up a lot, I don’t just take these things out for anyone. If I didn’t consider him a friend, I wouldn’t have parted with it.’
At this thought, an idea sparked in Stella Sterling’s mind. ’When I have some free time, I should go out and see if I can find some fruit trees to plant in my space. I already planted the seeds I had before, but many fruit trees take a long time to mature.’
’It would be faster to just find whole trees and transplant them into my space.’
’Even though I have a lot saved up in my space, if I only consume and never replenish, my stock will just get smaller and smaller. It makes me feel insecure, even though I know I’ve saved up a ton.’
’But if I grow my own, I’ll have a never-ending supply. And since they’ll be in my space, I can grab a bite anytime, anywhere.’
’Just thinking about a future like that feels amazing.’
’I’m easy to please these days. Having food to eat, being alive, and not being bullied... just the thought of such a life is pretty great.’
Basil Xavier stuffed the rest of the banana into his mouth with a look of pure satisfaction. "Mmm, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have complained about you. You’re the best, preparing so much good stuff."
Then he turned to Gordon Ford. "So, this can only be your fault. As my best friend, how could you ignore me like that?"
Gordon Ford raised an eyebrow. "If I hadn’t brought you here, would you be eating any of this good stuff?"
Fair enough. Basil Xavier decided to just stop talking. He just couldn’t stand being ignored, even for a moment.
But compared to the food, it really wasn’t a big deal.
So he just quietly walked over to the side by himself and started munching on his big apple again.
He savored every single bite.
’God knows how long it’s been since I’ve eaten fruit this fresh.’
’I don’t know how Caeluna Base manages to preserve this stuff. For it to still be this fresh after so long is incredible.’
’Back at Meridia Base and Crescentia Base, we could never do this. The fruit we occasionally get to try is never this fresh, nor is it this juicy.’
Seeing him like this, Stella Sterling and Gordon Ford both shared a smile.
Then, her expression turning serious, she looked at Gordon Ford. "Mr. Ford, what kind of collaboration did you want to discuss this time?"
Gordon Ford was taken aback for a moment, then gave a resigned laugh. "I was just kidding before. Please don’t keep calling me that. It feels... strange."
Stella Sterling smiled and shook her head. "Personal matters are personal matters, but right now, we’re discussing official business. It’s better to keep things formal."
Gordon sat down. "Discussing business was just an excuse to see you."
’Back then, she kept avoiding me. She even had me drugged and sent away.’
’I snuck back later, only to find she had ordered her people not to let me get close.’
’I didn’t want to cause a conflict with her people, so I could only retreat for the time being.’
’So I found an excuse like this one to come see her.’
After saying that, Gordon Ford worried that Stella Sterling might get angry and throw him out again. He quickly changed the subject, pointing to the things he and Basil Xavier had brought with them. "These are some gifts I brought."
Stella Sterling glanced over, and her eyes lit up. There were cases and cases of things—all of them jade ornaments and gold.
When one of the cases of gold was opened, the brilliant gleam nearly blinded her.
She looked at Gordon Ford. He smiled. "I happened to hear that you were having people collect these things for you. My base just so happened to have a high-quality batch, so I brought them over."
Stella Sterling gazed at them for a few moments before looking away and accepting them graciously. "In that case, I won’t be polite."
Just then, Basil Xavier couldn’t resist chiming in from the side. "Don’t be polite, don’t be polite at all! If you wanted it, I think he’d give you anything. And if you just say the word, everything he has is yours. So you really don’t need to hold back."
For once, Gordon Ford didn’t argue.
He wanted to move closer to Stella Sterling, but after a moment’s thought, he restrained himself. He lowered his voice and said, "If you want, I can give you my entire Crescentia Base as a betrothal gift."
Hearing this, Stella Sterling raised a teasing eyebrow. "If you give me your whole base, won’t you be left with nothing?"
Gordon Ford smiled, his expression taking on the air of a devoted husband. "If you’re willing, I can dedicate myself to managing the household for you."
Hearing this, Stella Sterling scratched her head. It all felt strangely familiar.
After a moment, she remembered. ’Aren’t these the exact words I said to Miles Sanctus when I rejected him at the Apocalypse Summit?’
’Don’t tell me he...’
Sure enough, a moment later, Gordon Ford looked at her and said with utmost seriousness, "I heard what you said to that man at the summit. I’m willing."
Stella Sterling averted her gaze awkwardly, covering her mouth to clear her throat. "I didn’t realize you had so little ambition."
A blush flashed across Gordon Ford’s face for an instant. "You know why I’m willing."
"I’m telling you, Stella Sterling, you should just say yes to him," Basil cut in. "He’s acting like he’s trying to marry himself off. Just look at how shameless he’s being! I can’t even stand to watch anymore."
"Besides, if you say yes, not only do you get a super handsome guy like him, but you also get his Crescentia Base. With a deal that good, what’s there to hesitate about? If he weren’t so dead-set on you, I’d tell him right now that *I’m* willing to marry him!"
