Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Dinner gone wrong.

Harris blinked at her words as if he genuinely could not see any problem in what he had done or said.

"But I... think that’s more useful than knowing whether you own a cat." he muttered.

The table fell into graveyard silence. Even the nurse slowly closed her eyes in a way that looked like she was fighting for inner peace.

Thinking he still had a chance, Harris leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. "And for the record... I really was going to ask about siblings next."

It seems the young lady could finally not take it anymore. Slowly, she stood up from her chair, grabbed her bag, and stared down at him with an exhausted expression.

"Harris," she muttered in a quiet voice.

Harris’ heart skipped instantly.

She had called him by his first name. But somehow... it felt worse.

"You’re not a bad person," she said tiredly. "You’re just very strange."

Harris immediately sat up straighter, determination filling his eyes.

"I can become less strange if that’s what you want." he said quickly.

"No," she cut in calmly. "That’s the worrying part. You actually think all this is normal."

She gestured casually toward the table. "The way you talk. The way you act all the time. Even if this is your first time taking a woman out, it’s not supposed to feel like a security interview."

Harris’ jaw tightened as he stared at her, completely forgetting to speak or try to explain in any way.

The lady shook her head and stepped away from the chair. "To be honest, you’re not talking to me like someone trying to know me... You talk as if I’m some..." She paused as if searching for the right words. "Whatever, nevermind. This just isn’t okay with me."

Then she sighed.

"Actually, the reason I agreed to come here tonight was to ask you to stop disturbing me at work. Just think about other people a little before doing things. Do you know how much everyone at the hospital talks about this? It’s embarrassing."

Harris’ knuckles slowly turned white as he listened to every word quietly.

"So please..." she continued, "don’t call me again until you learn how to sit across from a woman without acting like a paranoid detective."

Those were the last words she said before turning around and walking away. Though... she didn’t leave the way she usually did.

Normally, she always stormed off angrily whenever he annoyed her at the hospital. But this time she simply walked away calmly. It hurts quite much though.

He just sat there staring at the restaurant entrance long after she disappeared. Then after nearly ten full seconds, he sighed deeply.

He didn’t even get to ask how her day went.

He paused thinking seriously.

...Or whether she wants kids someday. Though maybe that was a bit too early, but at least, it is still better than how he had asked about her blood type.

Another long sigh escaped him.

Ah, Harris... you’ve truly been a stupid idiot.

He was still drowning in self pity when a waiter suddenly approached and lowered his head toward him.

"Sir, the gentleman over there would like to have a word with you." the waiter whispered politely.

Harris who was already having suicidal thoughts barely looked up. "Tell him I’m mourning," he muttered quietly.

The waiter remained standing there visibly confused by the response.

Harris sighed in annoyance when he realized the man had not moved. Finally, he turned his head and glanced toward the darker side of the restaurant the waiter had pointed at.

At first, all he could make out was the outline of a tall figure sitting alone near a shadowed corner booth, one arm resting lazily against the chair.

He did not look like an ordinary person.

Harris narrowed his eyes to see more clearly and when the light finally caught the man’s face, his brows rose in surprise.

Carris Riole.

What was he doing in a restaurant like this so late in the night?

Or perhaps he had also invited someone here only to get emotionally executed just like Harris himself. Maybe he wanted advice on the best way to leave this unfair world with dignity. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

But those thoughts disappeared almost immediately after appearing in his head.

Carris Riole did not look like someone any woman would reject.

Then suddenly, another thought crossed his mind and his eyes darkened instantly.

He stood up and straightened the suit he had carefully picked for tonight’s dinner, though now it felt more like formal clothing prepared for his public humiliation ceremony.

Then he walked over to the booth and gave a small bow.

Manners were something he could never get rid of no matter the situation he found himself in. Even if he somehow met a serial killer face to face, he would probably bow politely first. Or more accurately... He would still give his final bow.

But truth be told, imagining himself doing something so self sacrificing as that felt ridiculous because he treasured his life far too much for that.

He raised his head and cleared his throat calmly.

"Please... if what you want to discuss is about my Boss," he muttered tiredly, "I should warn you that I’ve already had a terrible evening."

Carris stared at him with a blank expression for a few seconds as if he was trying to process whatever strange conclusion Harris had just arrived at. Then he finally let out a short dry laugh and leaned back against the booth.

"I’m not recruiting you into anything Mr. Harris." he muttered.

Harris continued staring at him with a suspicious expression for another minute before reluctantly stepping closer to the table.

"Please sit," Carris said calmly, giving a small nod toward the seat beside him.

Harris slowly lifted the corner of his lips into a faint sneer. "I should sit," he repeated staring at him with a strange expression.

Then after a small moment of hesitation, he pulled the chair out cautiously before sitting down halfway like a man prepared to flee at any second.

"You know this is exactly how dangerous conversations start in movies." he mummured with raised brows.