Your Girlfriend Calls Me Daddy-Chapter 18 | My Date Can Wait, I’ve Got a New Problem and Her Name is Cheon Hae-Won

Chapter 18: 18 | My Date Can Wait, I’ve Got a New Problem and Her Name is Cheon Hae-Won

He pulled out a handheld scanner and gestured for me to stand in the center of the room.

I complied.

The device projected a grid of red light that swept across my body from head to toe, capturing dimensions with inhuman accuracy.

This tech is insane.

In my old life we had to do this shit with tape measures.

The scan finished and Hargrave reviewed the data on his tablet.

"Six-one. Seventy-nine kilos. Low body fat percentage. You work out."

"Every day."

"Good. Makes the fit easier."

He pulled up a design interface on a larger screen mounted to the wall.

"Standard combat suit template to start. Black base color unless you have a preference?"

I thought about it.

Black worked. Simple. Professional.

But boring.

"Black and grey. Maybe some green accents."

"Green for the eyes?"

"Yeah."

Noel spoke up from behind me.

"That’s derivative."

I glanced at her.

"You got a better idea, Short Stack?"

Her face flushed pink again but she didn’t back down.

"If you’re going to represent Angelo Corporation you should incorporate their branding. Silver and white. Clean lines. Professional."

"I’m not a walking advertisement."

"You are whether you like it or not. People will associate you with your family name regardless of what colors you wear."

Hargrave watched our exchange with barely concealed amusement.

"I can draft both options and send them to your student portal. You can review and approve whichever design you prefer."

"Fine."

He made notes on the tablet.

"Material preference? Standard flex-weave or something heavier?"

"What’s the difference?"

"Flex-weave is lightweight. Good mobility. Moderate impact resistance. Heavier composites offer better protection but restrict movement."

I thought about how I fought.

Fast. Direct. Close range.

I need to move.

Protection doesn’t matter if I can’t get hit.

"Flex-weave."

"Good choice for your build. I’ll include reinforcement along the shoulders and forearms since you mentioned physical striking."

"Appreciate it."

He tapped a few more commands into the interface.

"Alright. Design drafts will be ready by tomorrow morning. Once you approve the final version I can have the suit fabricated in five days."

"Works for me."

Noel stepped forward.

"Can I see the interface?"

Hargrave gestured toward the screen. "Be my guest."

She moved past me and started scrolling through design options with the kind of confidence that came from doing this a hundred times before.

Her fingers flew across the touchscreen, adjusting panels and color schemes faster than I could track.

She’s good at this.

Really good.

Within thirty seconds she’d pulled up a hybrid design that incorporated both my original concept and her corporate branding suggestion.

Black base. Silver paneling along the sides. Subtle green accents around the collar and cuffs.

It looked professional without being boring.

I hated that I liked it.

"There. That’s what you should go with."

Hargrave studied the design.

"Not bad, Miss Stark. You’ve got an eye for this."

"I’ve been designing support equipment since I was fourteen."

Of course she has.

I looked at the screen.

"Save that one. I’ll review it with the others tomorrow."

She turned toward me, arms still crossed.

"You’re welcome."

"I didn’t say thank you."

"You were thinking it."

"Big assumption."

Her lips pressed into a thin line but I caught the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Hargrave saved the design and closed the interface.

"Anything else you need while you’re here?"

"I’m good."

"Alright. Keep an eye on your student portal. Drafts will be uploaded by eight AM tomorrow."

"Got it. Thanks."

I turned and headed for the door.

Noel followed.

We stepped back into the main lab space where students were still working on various projects.

One guy was welding something that looked like a gauntlet. Another girl was running tests on what appeared to be a grappling hook launcher.

This place is a toymaker’s wet dream.

Noel walked toward the exit without waiting for me to catch up.

I matched her pace easily.

We descended the stairs in silence and pushed back out into the late afternoon air.

The campus felt quieter now. Most students had cleared out after classes ended.

Noel stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to face me.

"There. Support department. Tour complete."

"That was the shortest tour I’ve ever been on."

"You said you had a date. I’m being considerate of your time."

"How thoughtful."

She looked away, her expression shifting into something harder to read. "Who is it?"

"The date?"

"Yes."

"Why do you care?"

"I don’t."

"Then why ask?"

Her jaw tightened. "Forget it."

She turned to leave but I spoke before she got far.

"Thanks for the design help Noel, I really appreciate it."

She paused.

Didn’t turn around.

"You’re welcome."

Then she walked away, her purple hair catching the sunlight as she disappeared around the corner of Building E.

I stood there for a moment, watching her go.

Noel Stark.

Rich.

Smart.

Prideful as hell.

And definitely interested even if she won’t admit it.

I checked my phone.

Sixty hours left on the quest timer.

Time to find Mera and see what theory she wants to test.

I pulled out my phone and opened my messages.

Rome: Where are you? Support department tour’s done.

I hit send and waited.

Three dots appeared immediately.

Mera: Common room. Building F. West wing.

Mera: You remember where that is or do I need to come get you?

I snorted.

Rome: I’ll find it.

Mera: Sure you will.

I pocketed the phone and started walking.

Building F was across campus near the dorms according to the map I’d pulled up earlier. Five minute walk if I didn’t get lost.

Which I won’t.

Probably.

I crossed the courtyard and angled toward the western buildings.

The sun sat lower now, casting long shadows across the pathways. A few students lounged on benches or walked in pairs toward the dining hall.

Nobody paid attention to me.

Good.

I’ve had enough attention for one day.

I passed Building D and kept going.

"Rome D’Angelo!"