Falling for the Mafia Boss

Lunchtime

Sophia Rivers finally spotted a grand, gilded building with the words "Dining Hall" written at the top. Inside, there were tables of various shapes paired with comfortable chairs, creating a luxurious yet understated ambiance. Since it was lunchtime, the dining hall was bustling with students from all disciplines. What puzzled Sophia, however, was why the school’s dining hall seemed smaller than the one at home. She resolved to ask Alexander about it later.

From the moment Sophia stepped into the dining hall, most of the students looked up from their meals to glance in her direction, their eyes flashing with amazement. Backlit by the sunlight streaming in from behind her, many mistook her for an angel.

“Sophia, over here!” Lilian waved enthusiastically, calling out to her. Only then did everyone realize that she was, in fact, a person—a girl whose angelic beauty left many in awe. Numerous boys cast admiring glances her way, while some girls stared at her with jealousy. Ignoring the unusual gazes, Sophia made her way toward Lilian’s table.

“Sophia, why are you so late? Are you alright?” Lilian asked, her voice full of concern.

“Oh, I’m fine. I just got lost,” Sophia explained. “I’m starving, though.”

“Oh no, I forgot to ask earlier! Quick, have a seat and eat!” Lilian said hurriedly, placing a lunchbox in front of her.

Watching Lilian’s bustling care, Sophia felt a pang of emotion. Other than Alexander, Lilian was the only person who treated her with unconditional kindness. She didn’t look down on Sophia for her humble background like so many others did.

“What are you staring at? Didn’t you say you were hungry? Start eating!” Lilian said as she placed a piece of meat into Sophia’s lunchbox.

“Ha! Are you moved already? Don’t be fooled by her carefree personality—she’s actually quite kind,” Ling teased with a smirk.

“‘Quite kind’? That’s an understatement! She’s very kind,” Lilian corrected firmly.

“Ha ha... not only is she kind, but she’s also thick-skinned,” Sophia teased back.

“What kind of compliment is that? You can’t praise someone and criticize them at the same time!” Lilian retorted, pretending to be offended.

On the third floor of the dining hall, in an exclusive VIP room—a space strictly off-limits to anyone but Andrew Ni and his two close friends—lay a luxurious haven. The 200-square-meter room boasted plush imported sofas, a dining table laden with an assortment of Western and Chinese dishes, and a bar connected to a fully-equipped kitchenette. A wine cabinet stood nearby, stocked with fine vintages. The entire space exuded opulence.

By the large floor-to-ceiling window stood an extraordinarily handsome man. From his vantage point, he could see Sophia’s table below, though the window was mirrored from the outside. A faint smile graced his lips as he watched her laugh, a smile as radiant as the first bloom of spring.

“Andrew, what are you staring at? Spotted a beauty I don’t know about?” Stuart Grey drawled lazily from his spot on the sofa.

“As if there’s a beauty in this school you don’t know,” Owen Ouyang scoffed.

“Of course there are! For example, there’s the gorgeous Sophia Rivers, who just arrived today. I’ve decided—she’s going to be my next girlfriend,” Stuart declared, eyeing his friend for a reaction.

“Don’t you dare lay a finger on her,” Andrew said, turning away from the window, his tone sharp.

“Why not? As far as I know, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. It’s fair game, isn’t it?” Stuart replied, feigning innocence.

“She’s not someone you can toy with. If you don’t listen, don’t blame me for being harsh,” Andrew warned darkly.

“Alright, alright. Stuart, stop provoking him, and Andrew, just admit it—you like her. Your feelings are as obvious as daylight,” Owen chimed in with a grin.

“Fine, I do like her. So what? You’re not to bother her. She’s going to be your sister-in-law someday,” Andrew said, his face slightly flushed.

“There, that wasn’t so hard to admit, was it? Uncle Dong, please go downstairs and invite the three young ladies up,” Stuart instructed one of the older staff members.

“Yes, young master,” Uncle Dong replied, bowing before leaving.

“What are you up to? Don’t do anything reckless,” Andrew said, visibly uneasy.

“Relax, instead of staring at her from up here, why not invite her up so you can look all you want? Consider it my good deed for the day,” Stuart replied with a wink.

Downstairs, Sophia and her friends were deep in conversation when a respectful, elderly voice interrupted them. “Excuse me, young ladies, my master has invited you to join him.” Turning toward the voice, they saw an elderly man standing politely before them.

“Us? Are you sure?” Lilian asked, pointing to herself in disbelief.

“Yes, my master specifically requested the three of you,” Uncle Dong replied patiently.

“We don’t seem to know your master. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Sophia asked skeptically.

“Maybe it’s one of your admirers, Sophia,” Ling suggested teasingly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve only been here a few hours. How could I have an admirer already?” Sophia said, dismissing the idea. “I’m sorry, sir, but please let your master know that we’re unavailable.”

“Come on, Sophia. Let’s go see who it is. Don’t make it hard for the poor man,” Ling urged.

“Exactly! It’s not far—it’s just on the third floor,” Uncle Dong added.

“The third floor? That’s Andrew Ni’s exclusive area, isn’t it? Is your master Andrew Ni?” Lilian asked excitedly.

“My master is Stuart Grey, but Mr. Ni is also present,” Uncle Dong explained.

Sophia hesitated but eventually agreed, swayed by Lilian’s eagerness and her desire not to disappoint her. As the three girls followed Uncle Dong upstairs, a buzz of chatter erupted in the dining hall. The third floor was legendary for its exclusivity—no one dared to venture there without permission, and those who tried faced severe consequences.

Meanwhile, Lily Lin, the school beauty, glared at Sophia with gritted teeth. "How dare she disregard my warning," she thought furiously.

Just as she was about to confront them, Andrew’s voice rang out coldly from the staircase. “Is there a problem?” His presence immediately silenced the room.

Sophia and her friends’ lives were about to intertwine even further with Andrew’s world.