Love at First Game

Episode 22 A Tangled Red Thread

The exam had ended, and more and more people gathered at the school gate. Almost everyone who passed this striking couple involuntarily slowed down and took a glance. However, Vivian was completely oblivious to these gazes because at that moment, when Daniel Thorne spoke, she had already traveled to outer space.

"I've been waiting for you... I've been waiting for you... I've been waiting for you..."

This voice... This voice... This voice...

Vivian looked at the person in front of her in confusion. The fragments of the sunset reflected in his eyes, giving them an unreal softness, while his posture remained calm and patient. Vivian moved her lips, but no sound came out. She took a deep breath, suppressed the chaos in her heart, and spoke, still filled with disbelief,

"...Nathan?"

The person across from her looked at her and answered without a doubt, "It's me."

At that instant, Vivian had only one thought in her mind—thank goodness she didn’t buy those high-heeled sandals, otherwise she would definitely have broken her heels in shock.

Nathan Daniel Thorne... These two names kept spinning in her mind, but they just couldn’t come together. How could Nathan be Daniel Thorne? How could this happen...?

Although she thought Nathan was very similar to Daniel Thorne, she never imagined he could be this amazing... And how did he recognize her? Too many surprises, too many questions. Vivian couldn’t even articulate a single question, and the person in front of her seemed unreal. The piece of paper in her hand was almost crushed, and now all she wanted to do was rush to a phone booth and dial that phone number, just to see if Daniel Thorne’s phone would ring...

And then, she finally realized the increasingly obvious stares from the people around her.

Daniel Thorne, however, seemed indifferent to the onlookers as he glanced at his wrist to check the time.

“Did you turn in your exam early?”

Vivian nodded sluggishly.

“Almost made you wait again.”

Huh? Vivian looked at him, perplexed, until she finally understood that he was referring to the finals where he stood her up. Vivian felt a bit awkward and shook her head, saying,

“No...”

But she didn’t know what she meant by saying that...

Daniel Thorne’s smile deepened in his eyes, and he said, “Let’s go, let’s eat first.”

He walked towards the school, and Vivian hesitated for a moment before following, thinking that it was better than standing there being looked at. But after a few steps, Vivian couldn’t help but turn back and look towards the East Gate. Will another Nathan appear over there?

Although the truth was already clear—Daniel Thorne was indeed Nathan—it still felt so unreal. As she turned her head, her pace slowed down, and when she turned back again, Daniel Thorne had already stopped and was waiting for her ahead. Vivian hurriedly caught up, feeling embarrassed, and as she approached, Daniel Thorne asked seriously,

“Vivian, do you like fish?”

Okay, Vivian was stunned by the natural way Daniel Thorne said her name. With this question, Vivian basically thought that Daniel Thorne would take her to a fish restaurant on campus, but the reality was that Daniel Thorne led her through twists and turns to an old shop in the nearby faculty residential area.

Just as they sat down, a beaming auntie placed a large bowl of fish soup on their table. Daniel Thorne made a few gestures, and the auntie walked away with a smile.

Vivian stared blankly at the large bowl of soup in front of her. Daniel Thorne calmly picked up a spoon and filled it with soup.

“Auntie Jane doesn’t speak, but her cooking is excellent. My parents aren’t good at cooking, so I either eat in the cafeteria or here.”

Vivian’s gossip-loving heart was slightly revived by the mention of Daniel Thorne’s childhood. Daniel Thorne caught a glimpse of her bright eyes and smiled, asking,

“Do you want anything else to eat?”

Vivian shook her head. It would already be difficult to finish such a big bowl of soup. She smelled a medicinal scent and asked,

“Is there Chinese medicine in the soup?”

“Hmm,” Daniel Thorne replied expressionlessly. “After the last car accident, my father ordered a half-month supply of Ligusticum stewed fish head here to help me with my brain.”

... Why did she suddenly want to laugh? Especially when she saw Daniel Thorne’s expression... Vivian felt she was being too heartless >o“Professor Thorne, right? I took one of his classes.”

Daniel Thorne glanced at her and continued with his expressionless tone,

“Did you fall asleep in his class?”

... Vivian was speechless. Come on, Daniel Thorne, even though Professor Thorne’s class was, um, a bit academic, he’s still your father. Don’t be so direct, okay?

Actually, Prof. Thorne talked about some of their archaeological experiences, which were quite interesting.” Vivian attempted to salvage some dignity for Prof. Thorne, although not convincingly.

Daniel Thorne handed her a bowl of soup.

“I have also taken his class and attended a few sessions,” implying that she didn’t need to force herself to speak highly of him.

Vivian quietly lowered her head to sip her soup.

“Prof. Thorne, I’ve done my part as a student-faculty relationship. Your son, Nathan, is not showing any respect...”

But then again, why would Daniel Thorne choose his own father’s class? Is it because Prof. Thorne’s class is the easiest way to earn credits?

Vivian didn’t notice it herself, but with just a few words, she had already eased up quite a bit. While poking at a fish bone, Vivian realized that Daniel Thorne had actually given her the entire fish head...

Could it be that Daniel Thorne himself got tired of eating it and passed it over to her?

This thought flashed through her mind, but the glimmering aura of Nathan and Daniel Thorne’s double identity immediately stifled this budding idea. How could Daniel Thorne Jr. do such a sneaky thing? No, absolutely not!

Wasting food is immoral, so Vivian made an effort to start eating the fish head. Auntie Jane brought a few more side dishes and placed a heaping bowl of rice in front of Vivian. With her mouth full of fish, she couldn’t speak, so she awkwardly imitated Daniel Thorne and clumsily gestured a “Thank You”.