Chapter 77

Chapter 77

I glanced at the time - it was almost 6 PM.

I reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, "Let's go eat first. I'll take you there after dinner."

Ella immediately broke into a big smile and replied, "Okay."

Seeing the genuine smile on her face, I felt an inexplicable irritation rise in my chest.

Just now, when I asked her to smile, she smiled so awkwardly, but now she was smiling so happily.

During dinner, Ella was distracted the whole time, her mind probably completely occupied with the upcoming match.

I asked casually, "Since you're a Marivelle United fan, you must have a favorite player, right?"

Ella nodded excitedly, "Of course I do."

"Who? Liam?" I guessed randomly.

Ella immediately looked up, surprised, "How did you know?"

I smiled, "Because I can read minds." Actually, I was just guessing - her thoughts were too easy to read.

I put down my utensils and said, "No need to eat so fast, we have plenty of time."

Ella could barely contain her excitement and responded, "Okay."

"I'm going to the restroom." With that, I got up and headed toward the restroom.

At the restroom entrance, I took out my phone and called Daniel: "I need another favor."

Daniel immediately became defensive, "What do you want me to do now?"

I got straight to the point, "Get me a jersey autographed by Liam."

Daniel exploded, "Do you know how hard those things are to get? Where am I supposed to find one?"

"One jersey for one of your oil fields," I said. "Deal or no deal?"

"Deal, deal, deal, absolutely deal." He agreed without hesitation on the other end. "When do you need it?"

I didn't even think, "After tonight's match ends."

Esmere City time, 7:50 PM, Valoria Premier League, Real Castellon versus Marivelle United.

The match would officially start in ten minutes, and players from both teams were warming up on the field.

Fans from both sides, wearing their respective team jerseys, were screaming and cheering wildly for their home teams. The roar was deafening, each wave louder than the last.

The entire stands were either red and blue or blue and white.

Some people were even shirtless, standing on their seats, waving their jerseys. The scene was incredibly lively.

Sitting in the VIP viewing area, Ella couldn't hide her excitement, her dark eyes fixed intently on the field.

Kai stepped forward, "Mr. Smith."

I stood not far from Ella, my gaze constantly on her.

"How's that thing I asked you to look into last time?" I asked.

Kai reported honestly, "I found out that Henry did have an affair with a female doctor from Doctors Without Borders before taking office, but I haven't identified the doctor yet."

This Henry was a two-faced person. In Emerald City, he was polite to my face, but behind my back he sent assassins to kill me, causing Ella and me to be stranded on that deserted island for a day and night, even scaring Ella unconscious.

This debt - when I return to Emerald City, I'll definitely settle it with him properly.

A cold smile curved my lips, "Keep looking."

Kai was about to leave when I saw Ella bent over ahead, constantly scratching her calves, so I called out to Kai, "Go buy some mosquito repellent."

Kai frowned slightly but still responded, "Yes."

"Also," I added, "buy some snacks."

Kai acknowledged and left.

I walked over and sat down next to Ella.

Five minutes later, Kai handed me what he'd bought.

Ella's gaze was still fixed on a certain player on the field - I couldn't tell if she was watching the game or watching the person.

Here I was, sitting right next to her, and my looks were no worse than those guys running around on the field.

Ella was focused on watching the match when she suddenly felt someone grab her calf, startling her whole body.

She immediately looked down and saw me holding her calf.

She moved her leg and asked nervously, "Wh-what are you doing?"

I glanced at her, a gentle ripple passing through my cool blue eyes, and said, "Ella, wouldn't it be better to watch the match on TV at the hotel? Why did you have to come here and get bitten by mosquitoes?"

As I spoke, I lifted her leg, picked up the mosquito repellent beside me, and sprayed it on the exposed parts of her calves.

Ella didn't dare move, just stared blankly as I applied the mosquito repellent.

After finishing her calves, I looked up at her, "Give me your hands."

Ella obediently extended both hands.

I held her delicate forearms and sprayed some mosquito repellent on them.

After finishing, I put the repellent on the seat beside me and tossed her the snacks Kai had just bought.

Ella held the snacks and asked, "Don't you need to spray some on yourself?"

"Ella, do you think," I smiled, "these mosquitoes would dare bite me?"

Hearing this, Ella said nothing more, just silently turned back and opened the chips in her hand, stuffing them in her mouth.

I kept staring at her, vaguely sensing that she'd noticed my gaze and felt uncomfortable all over.

She slowly turned her head and held out the chips, asking, "Do you want some?"

Hearing this, the gloom on my face seemed to lighten a bit as I looked at her and said, "Feed me."

Ella froze in place, not moving.

"Shy again?" I teased. "You fed me dessert before, didn't you? When we met for the second time."

When I brought this up, a flash of discomfort crossed Ella's face.

She held the chips in front of me and said, "If you want some, take them yourself."

I smiled wryly - this girl whose expenses I was covering wouldn't even feed me a snack?

I'd known all along she didn't know how to be grateful.

I looked at the soccer players running on the field and said in a softer tone, "Want to play a game with me?"

Hearing this, Ella probably remembered the last time we watched the car race - I said we'd play a game, and after the game ended, I had her sister arrested.

She asked cautiously, "Can I... not play?"

I answered bluntly, "Of course not."

Ella was stumped, her face full of worry.

"Let's guess which soccer team will win," I said.

"If we guess wrong," Ella asked quietly, "what happens?"

"Ella, can you have a little backbone?" I said helplessly. "Why do you ask what happens if you're wrong first?"

Hearing this, Ella quickly changed her question, "Then, what if we guess right?"

I looked at her, my eyes sparkling, and said, "If you guess right, there's a reward."

Ella had a feeling this reward wasn't that simple and asked, "What reward?"

I deliberately kept it mysterious, "It's a secret for now."

"What if we guess wrong?" Ella asked again.

I teased her, "Then of course there's a punishment."

Ella's throat tightened, "What punishment?"

"Also a secret for now," I said with a smile.

She asked in a negotiating tone, "Can I really not play?"

"No." I looked at her insistently. "So tell me, which team do you think will win?"

I was clearly forcing her to play this game.

Since she couldn't avoid it, Ella could only say reluctantly, "I'm a Marivelle United fan, so of course I support Marivelle United."