Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Proposing
Upon their meeting of eyes, a spark of surprise and joy flashed in the store owner’s eyes. He quickly set down the ledger in his hand and got up, striding energetically towards them.
Charlotte looked up at him, her eyes squinting in a smile, and asked, "Uncle Zhao, how has everything been lately? Is the business going well?"
Before her, Uncle Zhao laughed heartily and said, "Of course, it’s been very good! So much so that I can hardly cope by myself, and was just thinking of hiring a waiter."
With a chuckle, he shifted his gaze from Charlotte to Justin.
The man had shed his typical edginess and was now dressed in a soft black trench coat. His eyes were clear and bright, and under the dim light, he looked quite harmless.
Uncle Zhao chuckled again, noticing Charlotte’s slightly embarrassed look. Having been in their shoes before, he had a good guess at their situation and reached out to pat Justin on the shoulder, saying with a familiar tone, "Young man, I saw you last time and thought your relationship with our Charlotte here was quite special. It seems that the two of you..."
He purposely elongated the last syllable and then laughed, saying, "I won’t tease you anymore. Just treat this young lady well."
Looking at Uncle Zhao’s somewhat fatigued but cheerful profile, along with the recently sprouted stubble on his chin, Charlotte felt a bit choked up.
Uncle Zhao and Ethan Allen were actually about the same age. Both men of similar age, yet one was her blood relative, and the other was not.
Ironically, with her biological father, they were separated by rancor and hatred.
With Uncle Zhao, who had no blood relation to her, their chance encounter led him to treat her as affectionately as if she were his own daughter.
Snapping back to reality, Charlotte turned and was met with Justin’s deep gaze. He promised, "Don’t worry, I will definitely treat her well."
At his words, Charlotte’s eyes flickered.
Uncle Zhao nodded in approval, about to say something when he heard a customer’s voice from the back of the stall: "Boss, please bring me a dish of crayfish!"
Upon hearing this, Charlotte hurriedly said, "Uncle Zhao, don’t mind us. Go ahead, we should be heading back."
Turning his head to respond, Uncle Zhao laughed, "In that case, I’ll be going. Come back if you’re free, and I’ll treat you to crayfish."
Smiling, Charlotte nodded her head in agreement.
Just as Uncle Zhao was leaving, noise erupted from the surrounding area, so she looked up.
Not far away, a crowd was cheering for what looked like a young couple’s proposal, with the girl overwhelmed with emotion, covering her mouth while nodding very fiercely.
Ahead, fireworks started, and the young couple held each other in a kiss, around them were envious glances.
Charlotte tilted her head up and watched the fireworks in the sky.
The stunning multicolored fireworks were near blinding in the pitch-black night sky, a truly incredible sight.
Justin did not watch the fireworks. Instead, he was watching Charlotte, her pure eyes reflecting the sparks of the fireworks.
For that moment, it was as though everything else paled in comparison. Only those sparks of light seemed everlasting.
Justin placed his arm around her and lightly rested his chin on her shoulder.
She had a faint body scent that was hard to make out.
Seconds later, as the last firework, also the most brilliant one exploded in the sky.
Charlotte’s ears tickled from his breath near her ear. Amid the noise of the fireworks, the man seemed afraid that she wouldn’t hear him. He leaned in closer to say, "Charlotte, I love you."
Charlotte coughed lightly, turned her head slightly, seemingly unaware of what he said, and asked, "What did you say?"