My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 73: His Human Side
Kestrel Street.
This was one of Metropia’s few old food districts. A seemingly endless line of food stalls stretched down the street, which was bustling with people. The air was filled with vendors’ shouts, the SIZZLE of grilled meat, the WHIR of juicers, the strangely fragrant yet foul smell of stinky tofu, and the faint, fishy aroma of freshly made fish balls...
Celia Sterling had imagined they might go to some famous seafood restaurant to find a renowned chef, or perhaps a discreet private kitchen to find a master. But she had never, ever imagined Silas Norwood would bring her here.
"Cece, have you ever been to a place like this?" A group of bodyguards formed a perimeter around Silas Norwood, keeping the crowd at bay. He kept his arm around Celia Sterling’s waist, worried that such a pampered girl might not be comfortable in this environment, and he discreetly watched her reaction.
However, Celia Sterling’s face was lit with obvious excitement.
"I snuck out to a similar old street in the Aurelia District with Quinn Sinclair once. I got food poisoning, and after that, my brother wouldn’t let me go anymore." Celia Sterling looked at Silas Norwood as if he were a marvel. This man, who seemed so otherworldly, was more down-to-earth than any man she’d ever met. "Silas, what brings you to a place like this?"
Silas Norwood explained in a warm voice, "By chance, I discovered that a master-class chef of spicy cuisine lives here."
He’d always had a particular fondness for spicy flavors. He had accidentally learned that an old master chef, once famous in the Sichuan and Chongqing region, had come to Metropia to enjoy his retirement. So one day, he paid the man a visit and was completely won over by a few of his numbing and spicy seafood dishes. Over time, he became a regular, visiting two or three times a month.
Very few girls native to Metropia could handle spicy food. When he discovered that Celia Sterling loved spicy food just as he did, he had been eager to bring her here to try it.
He led Celia Sterling deeper into the food street with practiced ease. The clean marble alleyway had a few potholes, and Celia, wearing high heels, had to lean most of her weight on him. With her soft, warm, and fragrant form pressed against him, Silas Norwood steadily supported her waist with one hand. He lowered his head and asked her:
"Should I carry you?"
The area was packed with people. Celia Sterling was embarrassed. "I can walk on my own. But next time I go out with you, Silas, I’ll try to wear flats."
"After we finish the seafood, I’ll take Cece to pick out a few pairs of shoes." Silas Norwood was a man of efficiency, believing there was no time like the present. "You can buy them and keep them in my car. That way, it’ll be convenient to change shoes whenever we go out."
"Won’t it be too late? The stores will all be closed..."
"We’ll go to a Norwood Group commercial street," Silas Norwood said casually. "It’s open 24/7 for Cece."
The two chatted as they walked. Behind them, Theo Chambers watched his normally taciturn boss become so talkative. ’He’s just like any ordinary man in love,’ he thought, ’so thoughtful, considerate, and gentle.’ Marveling at the change, he efficiently sent out a notice to several of the Norwood Group’s commercial streets.
Nearly twenty minutes later, the group stopped at the end of the food street. At the end was a small alley lined with old-fashioned residences that had seen some years. Theo Chambers stepped forward and politely knocked on one of the doors.
The door was opened by a young man. Seeing Theo Chambers and the group with Silas Norwood behind him, he immediately greeted them, "Mr. Norwood, Mr. Chambers, my grandfather knew you were coming and is already preparing. Please, come in."
The bodyguards remained outside while Silas Norwood led Celia Sterling in. Theo Chambers personally carried the box of seafood and followed them inside.
Inside the three-bedroom, one-living-room Chinese-style residence, the most conspicuous feature was the kitchen, which took up a huge amount of space. A vigorous-looking elderly man in an apron was at the counter, mixing several kinds of numbing and spicy sauces from scratch.
Theo Chambers took the initiative to bring the seafood box over, greeting the old man familiarly, "Elder Gable, we’ll have to trouble you again."
The old man bent down and picked up the wriggling Australian lobster. "Excellent quality."
"They’re all special supplies from the Origin District, so of course they’re the best," Theo Chambers said as he skillfully put on a pair of gloves. "Shall I help you shred the scallions and ginger?"
"Slice them finer. Last time they were too thick." The old man then beckoned to his grandson who had opened the door earlier. "You, handle the shrimp and crabs, and shuck the oysters while you’re at it."
The kitchen became a hive of activity. Celia Sterling and Silas Norwood sat in the living room, and as the faint, spicy aroma wafted out, they couldn’t help but glance toward the kitchen again and again. An hour later, a table was laden with platters of seafood: spicy lobster, numbing and spicy drunken crab, special-recipe barbecue...
Silas Norwood personally served Celia. Celia, who was usually quite elegant when she ate, was completely captivated by the numbing, spicy, and fresh flavors.
"Is it good?" Silas Norwood asked as he elegantly extracted the meat from a crab claw and offered it to her.
"It’s delicious! Even better than that malatang place." Celia Sterling was utterly satisfied, but she felt a bit awkward with everyone standing around. She hesitated. "Would you all like to join us?"
Theo Chambers quickly said, "Miss Sterling, please, you and the boss just enjoy your meal. There’s another large box of seafood coming later, specifically for Elder Gable. He’s getting on in years and can’t eat things this spicy anymore."
Seeing Celia’s eyes sparkle as she ate, a clear sign of her genuine enjoyment, a pleased expression appeared on Elder Gable’s face. "I still have some sauce left. I’ll pack it for you to take home. Besides using it on seafood, it’s also quite good if you add a little to noodles or stir-fries at home."
Celia Sterling didn’t stand on ceremony. "Thank you, Elder Gable!"
When they left Elder Gable’s house, their appetites fully satisfied, Silas Norwood was also carrying the sauces and a few specialty Sichuan-Chongqing snacks that the elder had given to Celia.
Handing the items to a bodyguard, Silas Norwood looked at Celia’s contented face. "Shall we go buy shoes now?"
Celia Sterling checked the time. It was almost ten at night. But with Kian Sterling not at home, ten o’clock was nothing; even one or two in the morning wouldn’t be a problem. She nodded. "Okay."
The Norwood Group owned quite a few commercial plazas. The nearest one was fifteen kilometers away; after driving across the old district for another three to five minutes, they arrived. Along the way, many shops were already closing for the night, but the Norwood Commercial Street was brilliantly lit. Several vice-president-level managers in charge of the street had even shown up, all waiting attentively in their respective sections.
The Guster pulled into the plaza’s parking lot at the entrance to the commercial street.
The bodyguards formed an orderly perimeter, parting the sparse crowd. Silas Norwood took Celia’s hand, and they browsed as they walked. After passing several different shoe stores, Celia stopped in front of a particular one. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Silas Norwood glanced over. It was a brand that had become famous for its exaggerated accessories and dazzling style. Celia Sterling’s aesthetic was similar to Kian Sterling’s—she liked bright and brilliant things. She picked out several pairs, and as she sat on the soft sofa in the fitting area and bent over to try one on, Silas Norwood took the shoe from her.
"Trying on shoes is a job for the boyfriend."
Silas Norwood’s tone was teasing, but his expression was serious. He took hold of her foot and gently slipped off her diamond-studded stiletto, then began to massage her slightly sore toes. Her toes, painted the color of budding cardamom, were gently kneaded in his warm palm. Celia reflexively tried to pull her foot back, but his large, gentle hand held a quiet strength, keeping her ankle firmly in place.
"Don’t move," he said, his eyes lowered. "It’ll just be a moment."
He then began to try the shoes she had selected on her, one by one.
The large group of store employees, along with the vice president, manager, and store owner standing respectfully to the side, all held their breath, not daring to speak. They stared as the head of the Norwood Group—a man who never went shopping and whom they almost never had a chance to see—knelt in a nearly subservient manner to put shoes on his stunning girlfriend. It gave them a much clearer and more direct understanding of Celia Sterling’s place in Silas Norwood’s heart.
They spent a full half-hour trying on just a few pairs of shoes, finally settling on three.
Celia Sterling looked at the glittering, colorful, crystal-covered flats with great satisfaction. Once the commercial street’s vice president had personally boxed up the shoes, Celia tugged on Silas Norwood’s hand. "Should we go?"
But Silas Norwood didn’t move.
