Typically, people felt embarrassed while talking about money matters. When Jason heard Zayne bringing that up all of a sudden, his heart clenched since he didn’t quite know how to respond.
“I don’t really have any hobbies, and I don’t have anything else to spend my money on,” Jason said, having forced an answer out. After all, he wasn’t used to talking about this with anyone.
Zayne also thought that he was overstepping boundaries, so he smiled and said, “Just asking. Don’t think too much about it.” It hadn’t been easy improving his relationship with Jason, and he didn’t want to make a misstep.
Awkward moments occurred frequently between the two brothers, and when they did, the awkwardness would linger for more than just a day or two. Jason didn’t look like he minded, though, for he wouldn’t hold a grudge over it. At any rate, he just felt odd about it.
The pair looked at each other tacitly before turning away again, and Zayne regretted his words. Meanwhile, Jason calmed himself down and pretended that nothing happened.
After that, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He had been the driver over the past few days, and he needed to be alert while on the road. Since he didn’t have to take the wheel today, he could finally get some rest.
Meanwhile, Zayne was so hungry that his stomach kept growling. Although the car sped up, Jason continued to close his eyes. Zayne had no idea whether he had actually fallen asleep, for he knew that Jason was born with an alertness that was extraordinary. People like him found it difficult to sleep peacefully.
The weather today was actually nice, and the heat inside the car was cranked up to a comfortable temperature. Jason drifted in and out of consciousness; this swaying sensation had made him actually think about just falling asleep several times. However, it clearly wouldn’t do to sleep in the car. The restaurant might be just around the corner, and likewise, the assassin might be lying in wait for a chance to strike.
Jason still had enough energy to pay attention to the changes in his surroundings. Sometimes, he thought that being a killer wasn’t all that great of an occupation.
Over the years, he felt that he had aged quickly. Although Zayne was his elder brother, Jason clearly looked older than him. If Zayne hadn’t insisted on keeping that moustache of his that mature-looking men usually had, he might still look like a young lad.
Zayne glanced at Jason to his side, his lips curving up into a big smile. It was a simple and everyday moment in life, but sometimes, just trying to enjoy a simple moment like this was hard.
He turned his gaze back to the road, his eyes narrowing slightly. There were many things that he wanted to eat because hunger made people less picky about their food. They would think of eating everything, and anything would taste delicious to them.
The windows of the car were rolled up securely. Maybe if he rolled the windows down, they would be able to smell the scent of breakfast foods wafting around the city. However, since the weather was on the cold side, Zayne felt that it was better to keep the windows rolled up. After all, the sunlight streaming in still brought him joy.
It was rare to see such bright sunlight during a winter morning, and it felt like he was at the beach. Zayne looked out of the gleaming window, realizing that the world outside the vehicle had brightened up considerably.
Everyone looked forward to having a carefree life, but not many were able to achieve it. Since he had managed to snatch a moment to just relax, Zayne treasured it dearly. In fact, no one had better interrupt this moment. He simply hoped that his phone wouldn’t ring, for as long as it didn’t, his calm heart would relax even more.
To him, every phone call was torturous. Zayne’s phone had been modified; no regular person could call him, so he would pick up every call without any hesitation. Not only that, people would only call him if they had something important to tell him.
Right now, he was most worried about receiving a call from Heather. As Zayne thought about her, he wondered if she had gotten up yet. At any rate, he just wanted to rush back before the woman woke up. When he thought that he would most likely have to live like a recluse for the near future, Zayne immediately felt that his future was bleak.
They were about to reach the restaurant after their current street. Zayne slowed down the car, and Jason cracked his eyes open alertedly. As he looked ahead warily, it turned out that they had reached their destination. Meanwhile, he was here thinking that something had happened.
“It’s great that you don’t need me to wake you up. Is it because you smelled the delicious scent of food?” Zayne teased. Whether Jason humored him or not, Zayne had to poke fun at the former.
Meanwhile, Jason had also gradually gotten used to Zayne’s antics. When Zayne got all gloomy at times, he didn’t feel used to it.
“You were driving too fast.” Jason had even heard the car’s system reminding Zayne to watch out for his speed.
Zayne answered nonchalantly, “As long as we don’t get caught, it’s all good.” Since he was unable to get rid of his frustration, he occasionally needed to do some rule-breaking.
“Are we getting out a little up ahead?” Jason asked as he took in the restaurant before him. It looked huge, so it probably was a high-end restaurant.
Soon, Zayne parked the car at the plaza. The plaza outside the restaurant was filled with luxury cars, and it seemed that the restaurant was very popular.
When they got out of the car, Jason said to Zayne calmly, “You probably shouldn’t have come to a place like this.” He glanced at the luxury cars around them.
“Are you worried that someone will recognize me because of all the rich people around here?” Zayne knew what Jason was implying.
Jason shook his head. “I’m worried that your wallet will shrivel up.” It was rare for Jason to crack a joke.
“Relax, I have some money in my pocket. I can still afford a meal,” Zayne said, following up on Jason’s joke.
They entered the restaurant as they talked, and Jason smelled the heavy scent of food drifting around inside. It immediately made him work up an appetite. He hadn’t been hungry earlier, but he was famished all of a sudden.
“The food here smells really good,” Jason promptly said to Zayne.
A smug look came over Zayne’s face. “I chose this place—of course it’d be great.”
Jason ignored him and walked straight ahead, whereas Zayne followed him. They had emerged in the very center of the seating area, so finding a table became their first priority. Jason searched for his target while Zayne continued to follow behind him.
The latter couldn’t be bothered to ask Jason what he was doing when it came to things like this. In truth, with his clever mind, he could already figure out which table was theirs without even looking at the table number.
However, since Jason was being so focused, Zayne didn’t say anything else. He used to think that Jason was the one who was hopeless at daily life, but Zayne now realized that he was the actual hopeless one.
Jason soon found a table for them, and it seemed as though he had just relied on his instincts. In fact, his instincts were quicker and sharper than anyone else’s calculations. Zayne took his seat after Jason had sat down, and they were both seated across from each other.
“What do you want to order?” Zayne first asked Jason for his opinion.
Jason immediately pushed the menu over to him. “I’ll take whatever you’re ordering.” It seemed like he had full trust in Zayne’s tastes.
“Are you sure that we have similar tastes?” Zayne asked, his tone filled with skepticism.
“Not really, but whatever you order probably won’t be terrible.” Jason had low standards. As long as it didn’t taste awful, he would eat it.
“Would you believe me if I say that I’m going to order some unholy-tasting abomination for you?” said Zayne jokingly. Jason really didn’t care, and this left the former worried.
“I’d believe that.” Naturally, he believed that Zayne would do such a thing.
“In that case, it looks like you’re giving me the green light to get you something awful.” Zayne was like a wicked scoundrel who teased women for no reason as he poked fun at Jason.
Meanwhile, the latter was unfazed as he stared at Zayne coldly. He even crossed his arms over his chest, watching to see what the man would do.
Since Zayne didn’t get a response, the atmosphere naturally turned awkward. He lowered his head and continued to look through the menu. As expected, Jason was someone with no sense of humor, and he couldn’t get anywhere with Jason in a joking conversation.
Zayne soon ordered their breakfast. Of course, he couldn’t wait to share some good dishes with Jason. He loved the food here, so he naturally hoped that someone he was close to would also like the food.
After all, sharing meals brought joy to people. Zayne wanted to see a pleased expression on Jason’s face later when they ate. At the thought that he would soon be able to see that, he became even happier.
“Do they have red wine?” Jason suddenly asked, for he suddenly had a craving for some. Typically, he showed some self-restraint. Whenever he had a mission, he would rarely imbibe any alcohol. Besides, he was acting as their driver here now, so it was more imperative that he didn’t drink.
When he heard Jason bring this up unprompted, Zayne said to a waiter, “Bring me a bottle of your most expensive red wine.”
Jason raised an eyebrow. He knew that Zayne lived a luxurious life, and he always ate the most expensive food and used the most expensive goods. Just then, Jason recalled the amount of money sitting in his own bank account. He himself couldn’t quite remember how much money he had in there. At any rate, it was enough for him to live a life of leisure.
Unfortunately, Jason hadn’t tried to enjoy life. Money had turned into numbers that just kept increasing, and in the end, it would most likely just rot in the bank.
“Just this for now,” Zayne said to the waiter, having already placed his order.
Jason glanced at him. Once the waiter walked away, he said to Zayne, “You ordered enough for three.”
Zayne grinned brightly. “We still need to bring some food back for Heather.” He knew that Jason wanted to say that he was being frivolous, for he had long since noticed that Jason had words to say about his loose spending habits.
However, Jason was not embarrassed by this, for he simply looked at Zayne without speaking. A victorious smile appeared on the latter’s face.
Jason looked absolutely adorable when he admitted defeat, and Zayne felt that he would be in a great mood for the rest of the day.
Soon, the food they ordered gradually arrived. Zayne immediately picked up his cutlery, unable to resist when there was delicious food before him. While he gobbled down his food, Jason ate with better manners than him.
Jason watched as the former ate with no decorum, clearly remembering that Zayne was polite and gentlemanly when he was with Heather. It was only now did Jason think that the other person had a more manly air to him; the Zayne that he remembered was straightforward and carefree like this, and it was as though he had found some old memory.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Zayne was surprised by Jason’s appetite. After all, Jason hadn’t eaten as much as him despite being taller.
“I nearly forgot about my hunger when I saw how engrossed you were with your food.” Jason was polite and cultured. Under his hulking appearance was the heart of a scholarly young man.
Jason had been a weak and frail boy when they were children. Back then, he loved reading poetry. It was hard to believe that he would grow up to be a killer when one took into account how he was as a young boy.
“I’m worried that I’ll eat your share too.” It didn’t seem that Zayne was joking either. In reality, he actually could eat two servings of food.
“If you like the food, then have some more.” Jason recalled their time together as children. Zayne had a huge appetite then, so Jason would always give half of his food to Zayne.
“We might need to order more food. I’m hungrier than I thought I was.” Zayne smiled faintly at Jason, for the both of them had inadvertently thought of their childhood.
