Chapter 322 Form the Habit Now
Chapter 322 Form the Habit Now
When she arrived at Adrian's place, she finally remembered he'd said to come directly to the office at nine.
She felt like her brain had short-circuited. Was she born to be a workhorse?
Whatever. She was already here. No point going back now.
She entered the living room, preparing to arrange his meals and household matters.
Walking past his bedroom on the way to the closet, she noticed his bedroom door was slightly ajar.
She instinctively glanced inside and saw the bed was empty.
She pushed the door open for a better look. The bed was exactly as she'd left it a week ago when helping him pack.
He hadn't come home last night?
Serena thought for a moment, then called him.
Locke Group headquarters.
Adrian had just finished processing documents from Phoenixia and signed the electronic contracts.
Seeing Serena's call, he answered. "What's wrong?"
"You didn't come home last night?"
Adrian pulled the phone away, seeing the notification from his home security system about someone entering.
He made an affirmative sound. "Didn't I tell you not to come over today?"
Serena: "...I forgot."
She could hardly say it was force of habit, could she?
Yet even through the phone, Adrian seemed to guess her thoughts. "You've only been working at Locke Group for three months, and you've already formed this habit. How will you adjust after you leave?"
Serena sighed silently. "It's fine. I adapt pretty well."
Over the years, no matter how suddenly her environment changed, she'd always adapted.
Adrian was silent for two seconds but didn't comment further.
"Then I'll come to the office at nine."
If she went home now, she could still catch some more sleep.
Adrian opened the surveillance feed, watching her happily prepare to leave. His lips curved slightly. "Since you're already on the clock, prepare my outfit for today. I'm heading back now."
With that, he hung up directly.
Serena stared at the disconnected phone, pausing for two seconds.
She pressed her cool palms against her cheeks to wake herself up.
Then she resignedly entered his closet to coordinate today's outfit.
Just as she finished, Adrian came through the door.
Upon entering, he headed straight for the bathroom.
As Adrian walked past, the breeze he created carried a faint scent of peppermint aromatherapy—like the diffuser in his office.
She asked, "You pulled an all-nighter at the office?"
"Yeah."
Serena felt deflated. "But yesterday you said no overtime."
He'd even sent her home.
Adrian had already reached the bathroom door. Hearing this, he glanced back at her. "You couldn't help with anything anyway. Better to let you rest."
Serena fell silent.
Fine. She shouldn't have asked.
But she knew perfectly well that even if she couldn't help, he didn't need to have the driver take her home from the office only to return and work through the night himself.
All that back and forth...
Something inside her stirred at the thought of his consideration.
She had to work hard to suppress that flutter in her chest.
Adrian emerged from the bathroom and entered the closet, seeing Serena had prepared a suit for today.
He didn't touch it. Instead, he pulled out a robe. "Not going to the office this morning."
"What about me? Should I still go?"
Serena asked.
She was his assistant. She should follow his schedule.
But yesterday he'd said to be at the office at nine.
She didn't know what she was supposed to do.
Adrian was about to change into the robe when he looked up to meet her confused gaze outside the door.
Somewhat helplessly, he said, "Could you wait until I've changed before asking that question?"
Serena quickly closed the door for him.
Adrian changed into the robe and emerged from the closet to find Serena standing obediently nearby.
He said, "You probably didn't rest well last night either. You can rest here for a bit."
Serena immediately started to refuse.
"I'm not sure when I'll wake up, but I'll want to eat when I do. You want to make me wait with an empty stomach while you run back and forth?"
Serena fell silent.
Fine. He was the boss. His call.
She asked resignedly, "What would you like for lunch?"
Adrian listed several dishes.
Serena mentally noted them all.
After that, Adrian returned to his room to rest, leaving the door open.
Serena watched quietly for a few seconds before finally going over to close his bedroom door.
Then she checked her phone. Not even six-thirty in the morning yet.
She had no idea how long he'd sleep. She could only sit on the sofa and wait.
Inside the bedroom.
Shortly after lying down, Adrian noticed the complete silence outside. He pulled out his phone and accessed the surveillance feed.
He saw Serena sitting on the sofa, hands braced on either side, head lowered, completely still. He couldn't tell what she was thinking.
He suddenly remembered childhood Serena, always covered in sweat, bursting with energy.
He'd be reading in his room when she'd rush in and grab him. "Adrian, stop reading! Let's go play..."
Back then, she couldn't sit still for a minute, her mind always full of wild ideas.
How had she become so quiet now that she'd grown up?
His lips curved involuntarily.
Outside in the living room.
Serena sat on the sofa. She wasn't really thinking about anything—her mind was just a bit foggy.
Before long, drowsiness overtook her.
She fell asleep right there on the sofa.
She slept straight through until nine o'clock.
She opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
She bolted upright on the sofa and checked her watch. Nine-ten already.
She'd fallen into a deep sleep on the sofa?
And there was a small blanket covering her...
Had Adrian covered her?
Was he already awake?
The quiet space carried the sound of chopping—someone cutting vegetables.
Coming from the kitchen.
She stood, folded the blanket neatly, and walked toward the kitchen.
There she found Adrian wearing an apron, cutting vegetables in the kitchen.
Seeming to sense her presence, he glanced back. "Awake?"
His low voice held a note of warmth. Gone was his usual sharp edge, replaced by something more approachable, more charming... an almost husbandly quality.