Chapter 176
What Does Heart-Flutter Index Mean?
Before long, the dishes were served.
The last time she ate food from Crown Taste House was when Claire Bennett packed it up and took it back to her apartment. At the time, she saw Julian Sterling come to eat with a girl and misunderstood their relationship.
Later, Julian Sterling went away on a business trip right afterward, and she ate that food by herself. It had felt tasteless, and she hadn't felt much of anything.
Maybe because her mood was different now, everything tasted especially delicious.
While she was eating, Claire Bennett secretly observed Julian Sterling and realized that compared with the last time they ate crawfish together, he had much more of an appetite.
Just then, Julian Sterling lifted his eyes and looked over at Claire Bennett.
Caught sneaking a look at him, Claire Bennett smiled awkwardly and quickly lowered her head to keep eating as if nothing had happened.
Julian Sterling's gaze darkened slightly. In the instant their eyes met just now, he had seen an emotion in Claire Bennett's eyes that was hard to describe, as though... she really liked him.
He laughed at himself inwardly. How could Claire Bennett possibly like him?
In her heart, Sean Shaw, that unattainable first love, mattered most.
Thinking of Sean Shaw standing between them, a trace of coldness quietly surfaced on Julian Sterling's face. He asked casually, "There's something I want to ask you."
Claire Bennett quickly swallowed the food in her mouth. "What is it?"
Julian Sterling's gaze fell on her. A moment later, he slowly said, "I have a friend who likes a girl, but in that girl's heart, there's a childhood sweetheart who's also her first love..."
Listening to his description, Claire Bennett's brows drew together slightly.
Are you kidding? If she already has a childhood sweetheart who's her first love, then of course you should bless them! What, are you supposed to barge in and steal her by force? Was his friend possessed by some overbearing-CEO drama hero?
But that was Julian Sterling's friend, so she couldn't say something that heartless out loud.
After Julian Sterling finished speaking, he looked at Claire Bennett with deep eyes and asked meaningfully, "If he wants to pursue that girl, what should he do?"
"Uh... actually, I think..." Claire Bennett carefully considered her wording.
She advised him earnestly, "I think if someone already has a childhood sweetheart who's her first love, it's better to respect that and give them your blessing. There are so many women in the world. Why fixate on just one? Don't you think?"
"What if he has to have that girl?" Julian Sterling's expression turned slightly cold.
Claire Bennett had been about to ask Julian Sterling to persuade that friend to back off and let the lovers be together, but then she saw his face darken heavily, and she quickly swallowed the words.
Had she been too blunt?
Julian Sterling had come to ask her on behalf of his friend, which proved he was on his friend's side. What she should be doing was offering a way to help his friend.
Claire Bennett cleared her throat lightly and said, "Although I don't approve of breaking up a happy couple, if your friend wants to pursue that girl, it's not like there's no way."
Julian Sterling looked at her. "What way?"
"Actually, it's just that old cliché method. Do more things that move the girl. Once his place in her heart becomes more important than that first love of hers, maybe she'll give up on that first love on her own..."
Julian Sterling listened quietly, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.
So it was possible for Claire Bennett to change her feelings after all. The method she mentioned was remarkably similar to what Ruby Sterling had taught him.
After thinking for a moment, Julian Sterling asked, "Things that move her... such as?"
"For example..." Claire Bennett paused and thought carefully for a moment before saying, "Do you know what a heart-flutter index is?"
Julian Sterling naturally didn't understand this unfamiliar term. He put on an expression of humble curiosity and waited for Claire Bennett to continue.