Chapter 9: Childhood Picture

Here is the corrected text with the names updated:

Bella White's sweet voice cracked, "In a relationship?!"

Ken's face also turned sour.

Evan Starr, lazily propping his chin, showed a hint of mischief in his eyes, "Oh, I see. Congratulations to you both."

Stella vaguely felt something odd about his phrasing. "Congratulations to you both"? The other party wasn't even here.

"Thanks," she replied politely, not thinking much of it.

Bella White recovered from her shock, forcing a smile, "When did this happen? How come I didn't hear about it?"

Stella said flatly, "It's normal, we're not close."

Bella White ignored Stella's distant attitude, "So, will your boyfriend be joining us tonight?"

Annoyed by her persistence, Stella's responses became even shorter, "He won't."

Bella White's eyes lit up, but she feigned regret, "How can he miss a celebratory dinner? That's not very considerate."

Stella replied, "He's busy."

Bella White felt even more triumphant. Busy? Everyone here was a student; clearly, it was just an excuse. If he was avoiding it, it must mean he was someone she couldn't show off!

"Which department is he from? Do I know him?"

Stella had no intention of answering.

Bella White pressed on, "Bring him over so we can check him out for you!"

Stella frowned.

Who did she think she was? Someone to be summoned at will?

With a hint of sarcasm, Stella replied, "Does my man need your approval?"

Evan Starr chuckled softly.

Stella looked at him, puzzled.

"Sorry," Evan Starr cleared his throat seriously, "My throat was a bit itchy."

The bell for class rang, and Stella ignored Bella White, focusing back on her laptop screen.

Ken glanced at Stella, as if wanting to say something, but eventually said nothing. Bella White noticed her boyfriend's expression, bit her lip in frustration, and reluctantly turned away.

Leo Starr arrived in River City by evening.

Unlike the city of Northbridge, which was nearing winter, this low-latitude coastal city was still in the midst of summer. As soon as he left the airport, warm and humid air greeted him. He draped his coat over his arm and loosened his tie.

In the car, he opened his private phone and found two unread messages.

[EvanStarr1024: You've really got guts, Mr. Leo.]

[EvanStarr1024: Playing hidden marriage under Ms. Summer's nose?]

Ms. Summer—Leo Starr's mother, Summer Yates.

Leo raised an eyebrow, typed a reply, and received an instant response.

[Leo: Who told you that?]

[EvanStarr1024: My sister-in-law.]

[Leo: Impossible.]

[Leo: She doesn't know you.]

[EvanStarr1024: It's from the university forum. [Leo Starr and Stella, stunning pair! Sweet interactions!]>>link]

[EvanStarr1024: Just met her today.]

Leo clicked the link with a frown.

#Original Poster

[Photo1][Photo2][Photo3][Photo4] Coordinates: Building 4, Room 0201. Come quick!

#3 Post

Ahhhh, these two are my top visuals at the university!

#5 Post

Whoa, two legendary figures. A rare sight!

#8 Post

Aww, Leo Starr's smile is so gentle!

#10 Post

I don't know who to envy more…

#13 Post

What class is this? Isn't Leo Starr from the Computer Science department?

#16 Post

First Ken, now Leo Starr? Hold on to the goddess, Stella is mine!

#27 Post

Oh my God, Stella looks so beautiful even when she frowns. I want…

Leo's frown deepened as he read, making his assistant, Andrew Lin, uneasy.

What's wrong with the boss? Is there a problem with the project? A board issue? Stock crash?

[Leo: Why are you so close to her?]

[EvanStarr1024: ?]

[Leo: [Photo]]

[Leo: Your faces are practically touching.]

[EvanStarr1024: …Bro, ever heard of perspective in photos?]

[EvanStarr1024: Stop changing the subject. Why the hidden marriage?]

[Leo: What does "cp" mean?]

[EvanStarr1024: …Couple]

[Leo: You and my wife as a couple?]

[EvanStarr1024: …Am I crazy?]

[EvanStarr1024: Sigh, it's a trend now, putting two good-looking people together.]

[EvanStarr1024: It's just pop culture.]

[Leo: Still not okay. Keep your distance.]

[EvanStarr1024: …]

[Leo: What do "kswl" and "szd" mean?]

[EvanStarr1024: …Do I have to explain everything?]

[EvanStarr1024: Use the internet, bro!]

[EvanStarr1024: Wait, are you still reading that thread? Is that the point?]

[Leo: Who's the user [Stella is my wife]? Find them.]

[EvanStarr1024: …Are you serious?]

[Leo: Who's Ken?]

[EvanStarr1024: I'm going to talk to Ms. Summer.]

[Leo: …I'm not hiding my marriage.]

[EvanStarr1024: Then why didn't you tell the family?]

[EvanStarr1024: Mom and Dad thought you were discussing the engagement banquet, not getting the certificate.]

[EvanStarr1024: Bro, your wife is still young. You're such a beast.]

[Leo: …]

[Leo: Mom would want to meet her right away.]

[Leo: The whole family would overwhelm Stella.]

[EvanStarr1024: Didn't know you were so considerate.]

[EvanStarr1024: You really like her, huh?]

[Leo: She's my wife. I'm responsible for her.]

[EvanStarr1024: Just responsible?]

[Leo: How did you find out? She wouldn't tell someone she barely knows.]

[EvanStarr1024: I saw her photo at Grandpa's place.]

[EvanStarr1024: Today I heard her talking about you with her roommates and guessed.]

[Leo: What did she say?]

[EvanStarr1024: She said her husband's name is beautiful, "like a towering mountain."]

[Leo: Her name is beautiful too.]

[EvanStarr1024: ???]

[Leo: What else?]

[EvanStarr1024: …Are you showing off?]

[Leo: Transferring $100,000 to you.]

[EvanStarr1024: Hush money?]

[Leo: Payment. Shut down that thread.]

[EvanStarr1024: Do you think I can't handle a small forum?]

[EvanStarr1024: You care so much, why didn't you join the celebration dinner?]

[Leo: What celebration dinner?]

[EvanStarr1024: Your wife's dinner to celebrate her relationship status.]

[EvanStarr1024: It's tonight.]

[Leo: …She didn't tell me.]

[EvanStarr1024: Wow, so sad.]

[EvanStarr1024: Received payment of $100,000.]

[EvanStarr1024: Post removed. Here's your rebate.]

[EvanStarr1024: [Photos of Stella]]

The photos Evan sent were high resolution and varied.

There were pictures of Stella attentively listening to the lecture, taking notes, chatting with friends, drinking milk tea with pursed lips, napping on the desk, and playing badminton. These were moments Leo had never seen before. The only picture he had was a passport photo from their marriage documents.

He enlarged and saved each photo, creating a new album titled "Stella" and placing all the pictures there.

Leo felt a strange joy in hoarding these "treasures," but remembering he didn't take them himself dampened his happiness.

[Leo: I need after-sales service.]

[Leo: Who took these photos? Have them deleted.]

[Leo: You shouldn't keep them either.]

[EvanStarr1024: …]

The car stopped at the hotel entrance. Assistant Lin checked in and brought the luggage to the room. As he was about to leave, Leo Starr called him back.

Assistant Lin thought his boss was about to assign work, so he turned on his phone, ready to take notes.

Instead, Leo stared at Assistant Lin's phone screen and asked, "Who is the person on your wallpaper?"

Assistant Lin was taken aback for a moment, "It's my girlfriend."

Leo continued, "Why do you use her photo as your wallpaper?"

Isn't it very normal to use your significant other's photo as your wallpaper?

Never mind, the boss is out of touch with such mundane matters.

Assistant Lin explained, "So that I can see her whenever I miss her, and it makes her happy to know."

Leo tapped his finger on the table, nodded after a moment, and said, "Got it."

Then Assistant Lin saw Leo change his own wallpaper to a photo of Stella.

Assistant Lin thought his boss lacked experience in this area, so he offered a suggestion, "Mr. Starr, you could also change your social media cover photo to a picture of your wife."

Leo flatly refused, "Then everyone else would see it too."

"Right," Assistant Lin chuckled awkwardly. "My mistake."

"Assistant Lin," Leo turned on his phone screen repeatedly, "Did you ever host a celebration dinner when you and your girlfriend got together, inviting her friends?"

Assistant Lin was surprised. The boss's questions today were surprisingly unrelated to work. "Yes, I did."

Leo was silent for a while before saying, "She didn't tell me."

"Excuse me?" Assistant Lin was confused.

"Tonight, Stella is treating her roommates to a celebration dinner," Leo said, "but she didn't tell me. Why?"

Assistant Lin swallowed, "Maybe she knew you had a business trip tonight, so she didn't mention it."

Leo shook his head, "We've discussed this. In a marriage, both parties have responsibilities. A celebration dinner should include the partner, but she didn't invite me."

He concluded, "She thinks my presence isn't necessary."

Assistant Lin quickly added, "That can't be it. Mrs. Starr seems a bit introverted, and you're usually busy. She probably just felt awkward asking."

Leo looked at him thoughtfully.

Assistant Lin, feeling the pressure to give relationship advice, said, "Besides, there's no rule that says you can only host one dinner. You could invite her friends to a dinner at the restaurant yourself. I'm sure Mrs. Starr would be thrilled."

Leo seemed to consider the idea, then nodded, "Good idea."