Chapter 275: Chapter 275: I Want You to Stay
The dining table was pushed against one wall, so the two of them sat side-by-side to eat.
Ivy Sherwood ladled some soup and pushed it in front of Quentin Blackwood. "Here, try this."
Quentin Blackwood took a sip. The broth was rich, and the chicken was so fresh it felt like it was dancing on his taste buds. Quentin wasn’t usually one to care about food—as long as it was edible, it was fine. But whenever Ivy cooked, he always ate a lot.
Ivy had brought two sets of bowls and chopsticks, but she hadn’t even started eating herself.
"How many people have you cooked for?" Quentin asked.
"Hm? Not that many, I guess. I’m usually so busy I don’t really have much time to cook."
She usually just cooked for herself, throwing something simple together because takeout was never that good.
She didn’t have many friends either. Besides Nina, no one ever asked her to hang out, let alone come over to her place for a meal.
When she thought about it, Quentin was probably the only one.
"My cooking is actually pretty average. I’m sure it can’t compare to your personal chef."
"It’s very good," Quentin said.
"Really?"
Quentin heard a soft laugh and looked up to meet Ivy’s crescent-shaped eyes.
It was as if her eyes held starlight, and just looking at her, he could feel himself being infected by her happiness.
’He had only said it was good, and it made her this happy.’
And seeing Ivy smile, he felt a tug at his heart. Warm sunlight seemed to pour in, brightening the world and filling it with color.
"Mhm."
"Hurry up and eat. You should rest early after you’re done. Don’t stay up late." Ivy picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl.
As Quentin ate, he also picked up a piece of food from another dish. "You try this."
But instead of putting it in Ivy’s bowl, he brought it directly to her lips, where she could eat it just by opening her mouth.
"What’s wrong with this one? Does it not taste good?"
"Just try it." Quentin nudged the chopsticks forward.
Ivy stared at the food in front of her. ’Is Quentin trying to feed me?’
’And those chopsticks... he’s already used them, right?’
She wasn’t sure if she was misreading the situation, and her face began to turn red against her will.
Ivy averted her gaze and used her own chopsticks to pick up a piece of the same dish. She put it in her mouth. It tasted normal, just like the rest of the food.
"What’s wrong with this dish?" she asked, confused, after swallowing.
Quentin didn’t pull his chopsticks back. Instead, he asked, "What, you have a problem with my chopsticks?"
Ivy decided to play along, adopting a joking tone. "That’s right. You didn’t wash them. So yes, I have a problem with them."
"Say that again?"
"People use serving chopsticks when they eat out. Besides, I have my own pair, I— Mmph..." Ivy’s words were cut off as her eyes went wide, staring at the face that was suddenly inches from her own.
Quentin’s hand was cupping the back of her neck.
’Quentin actually kissed me at a time like this!’
The kiss wasn’t deep, but Ivy was completely stunned.
Quentin used his actions to prove he had no problem with her at all. After kissing her, he even said, "Too bad if you have a problem with it. It’s not the first time, anyway. And there might be many more in the future."
Ivy’s earlobes turned bright red. ’What does he mean, "there might be many more in the future"?’
Quentin looked like he was about to say something else, but just as he opened his mouth, Ivy picked up some food with her chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, blocking his words.
"Just eat. Finish up so you can rest. I should be heading back, too."
"You’re leaving?" Quentin had thought Ivy would stay.
"What, you want me to stay?"
"If I said I wanted you to, would you?"
Ivy said, "You have to say it first. Then I can consider it."
"I want you to stay," Quentin said without the slightest hesitation.
His eyes grew serious, filled with a profound depth, as if expressing a powerful desire for her to stay.
’Maybe people get fragile when they’re sick. They don’t like being in the hospital alone and want someone to keep them company.’
’It must be because he’s sick. Otherwise, why would Quentin say something like that? It’s not his style at all.’
When Silas Blackwood was sick, so many people from the Blackwood Family surrounded him. Mrs. Blackwood practically moved into the hospital. But here with Quentin, there was no one to visit him.
’If Quentin’s mother were still alive, she would probably dote on him and stay by his side, too.’
"Okay." Ivy nodded. "I’ll stay. But let’s get one thing straight, I’ll just sleep on the sofa over there."
...
In a more luxurious hospital room upstairs, Silas Blackwood heard that Ivy Sherwood had gone into Quentin Blackwood’s room and hadn’t come out.
’What is Ivy thinking? A man and a woman, all alone... are they planning to spend the night in the same room?’
"She’s utterly shameless! Is Ivy so eager that she wants everyone to know about her little schemes? How come no one else went to take care of Quentin, only her!"
"And now she’s clinging to him and won’t leave. Ivy is just shameless!"
As Silas cursed, even Mrs. Blackwood said, "Alright, alright. Every other word out of your mouth is ’Ivy.’ Why are you still thinking about that woman? Things are as they are. You can only marry Anna Nash, let her give birth to the child, and then kick her out."
"Even if I marry her, I won’t let her off the hook!" Silas’s eyes were filled with hatred. After all, something like this was a lifelong matter for a man.
Only those who had experienced it could know how wonderful it was. The thought that he would never feel that kind of pleasure again for the rest of his life made Silas feel like the sky was falling.
He was impotent now, so what right did Quentin have to enjoy it!
The thought of Ivy staying with Quentin, and who knows what might happen between them, filled Silas with resentment.
He picked up his phone and called Joy Sheridan again.
Joy picked up on the other end, and Silas said directly, "Bet you didn’t see this coming. Ivy is staying in Quentin’s hospital room tonight. The man you can’t have is about to fall into someone else’s hands."
Joy didn’t say a word. She just hung up on him.
By the door, a maid was still holding a tray of food. It looked like she had been standing there for a long time without putting it down.
"Miss, you haven’t eaten all day. Please have a little something. Otherwise, the Old Master will worry."
"Get out!" Joy shoved her forcefully, and the tray of food the maid was holding crashed to the floor, splattering all over them.
Joy ran downstairs and found Old Master Sheridan. "Grandpa, I’m going to Lustre! I have to go to Lustre!"
Joy had never felt such panic before. If she didn’t go now, Quentin would belong to another woman!
’And that ugly woman, Ivy, of all people!’
’I had never taken Ivy seriously before. I thought Ivy’s looks made her the least likely rival. I had even been so nice to her, never bullying her and even treating her like a sister.’
’And what was the result? In the end, Ivy had the audacity to walk all over me and steal my man.’
"Joy, throwing yourself at someone won’t make them like you," the old master said earnestly.
But Joy was in no mood to listen. "I don’t care! If you don’t let me go, I’ll stop eating! Since you don’t love me and won’t let me pursue my happiness, you might as well let me starve to death! That way, after I die, I can see my mom and dad, and I’ll tell them how unhappy I was living with you!"
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