Do you believe in love at first sight?

Chapter 4: Acquaintance

A silver sports car drove smoothly to the café and came to a stop. As soon as the car stopped, Ethan suddenly remembered something. "Where's your luggage?" He asked Maxwell by pointing to the air. Since the car was already parked, he felt that it was faster to use sign language.

Maxwell smiled, looking indifferent. "I never carry luggage." He has houses in many places, so there is no need to worry about such small things.

"But this time we had to go buy some daily necessities and clothes. Ethan shook his head helplessly and said. "I'm not even sure where Liam took all your old stuff with me."

Maxwell shrugged. "Anyway, it doesn't matter anyway." Importantly, Maxwell had just called the company and found out that Liam was out with all of them to "work", and all four old friends were out of business, leaving him alone, which made him a little angry.

"There is a good shop nearby for daily necessities and a supermarket. Shall we buy something to eat? Ethan suggested helping Maxwell bring the large bouquet to the café door. A part-time worker immediately opened the glass door for them. "Why did you bring back such a big flower?"

Ethan handed over a note: "Ahh Find a big plastic basin for them.

"Just put flowers outside and give them away. I don’t want those flowers," Maxwell instructed the part-timer, then grabbed Ethan’s hand and led him toward the street corner, across the road to the shop across the street.

As the traffic light was about to change, they instinctively held hands and dashed across the crosswalk.

There was no need to rush; the cars would patiently wait for pedestrians. But everyone knew it wasn’t good to make so many cars wait.

"I didn’t expect that café to be yours. I bought coffee there last year."

I know. I remember you ordered a pour-over coffee.

"Really? You remember that?" Maxwell stared at him in surprise. He was just one of many customers, yet Ethan remembered so clearly. "Don’t tell me you remember every customer’s face and what they ordered?"

Ethan’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he averted his gaze. "I’m not that good. It’s just that you left a deep impression—you’re very good-looking and have a unique presence." The truth was, he couldn’t forget the face of someone he liked.

"You think I’m good-looking?" Maxwell teased, noticing Ethan was too shy to look at him. He signed as he spoke.

Ethan nodded, his face turning even redder.

Maxwell laughed softly. He had been complimented on his looks countless times, but this time, it truly made him happy. I think you’re beautiful too, like a flawless porcelain doll.

"Thank you," Ethan smiled shyly, gripping Maxwell’s hand a little tighter.

They arrived at the store. At that moment, they both realized that they were still holding hands. They looked at each other and smiled, big hands and small hands intertwined. Ethan's silent laughter stirred something in Maxwell's heart, causing him to imagine the perfect sound to match.

Maxwell's gaze made Ethan red again; He lost count of how many times he had blushed today.

Maxwell walked into the store still holding Ethan's slightly rough but delicate hand. He didn't think about letting go of his hand, and every time he finished doing sign language, he automatically shook Ethan's hand back, He not knowing why he was acting so unusually.

Ethan was so moved by this move that he almost burst into tears. He never dared to hope that Maxwell was interested in men. He thought it would be enough to be able to watch him from afar, but now, Maxwell's actions seemed to hint at a possible opportunity.

Maxwell, always quick with decisions, soon picked out daily essentials. He had the items sent directly to the café and then they headed to the supermarket to buy ingredients for lunch.

As soon as they entered the supermarket, the staff greeted Ethan with a smile.

"Ethan, here to buy groceries? The vegetables are super fresh today—just delivered!" They all knew he couldn’t hear, so they made sure to talk directly in front of him.

"Really? That’s great! I was planning to buy more today," Ethan quickly scribbled on his notepad.

"That’s perfect! You should eat more, or you’ll be blown away by the wind. Oh, who’s this?" A blonde girl noticed the handsome and striking man next to Ethan, and her eyes lit up. She had never seen such an attractive man before.

"My roommate." Ethan tugged on Maxwell’s large hand, then pointed to the smiling staff. "They’re my neighbors and friends."

Maxwell merely nodded slightly, with no intention of introducing himself. Maxwell said "Let’s go. Lunch time is slipping away. " he looks like not keen on chatting with strangers.

Noticing Maxwell’s disinterest in socializing, Ethan nodded. "Sorry, we’re here to buy lunch. We’ll chat another time." Liam and the others didn’t like talking much with regular people either, likely because it could bring them danger.

After they distanced themselves from the staff, Ethan smiled and used sign language to ask what Maxwell wanted to eat.

"Will you cook whatever I want?"

Ethan paused for a moment. "As long as it’s not too difficult, I can make most things."

The director of the orphanage used to be a chef before opening the home. Ethan often helped cook with him. That’s where he learned a lot, not just cooking but also English, Spanish, and a little French. Ethan even learned how to grow vegetables from the him.

"Perfect. You buy whatever ingredients you need, I’ll pay."

"I was a true Brit until I was 15, then I moved to the U.S. at 17, got my American citizenship at 23, and now I’ve lost count of how many nationalities I have. I eat anything, as long as it’s good." Maxwell put on a deliberately skeptical face, a small dimple appearing on his cheek. "You think you can cook something edible?"