novelraw Chapter 196: Lunch
Chapter 196: Lunch
As the saying goes, “Listen to advice, and you’ll eat your fill.” Leon was the kind of person who took advice to heart, so the moment Demetrius finished speaking, he slipped away without looking back.
He didn’t wander aimlessly around the house, though. Instead, he headed to the dining room, where he found Robin setting the table. He joined her, helping to place plates and lay out the tablecloth.
“I’m almost done here. Leon, could you help me call Maru and let her know lunch is ready?” Robin asked as she set down the last set of utensils.
“I don’t know which room she’s in,” Leon replied with a shrug.
“She’s in the room at the end of the hallway, on the left,” Robin explained.
“Got it.”
With the directions clear, Leon went straight to Maru’s room and gently knocked on the door.
“Leon?” Maru opened the door, and seeing him there, froze in surprise. It took her a few seconds to recover. “What are you doing here?”
“I was passing by and chatted with Robin. She invited me to join you for lunch.”
Leon explained, then glanced at the cut-proof gloves on her hands and the oil stains on her overalls. “What are you working on?”“I’m finishing up that water pump you asked for. It’s almost done.” Maru quickly hid her gloves behind her back, looking a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were here.”
“I’m in no rush, and you don’t need to push yourself. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat,” Leon reminded her with a helpless smile.
“Mm.” Maru nodded, but didn’t move. She just stood there.
Leon found it odd at first, but soon guessed what she was thinking. He turned and started walking toward the dining room, and the moment his back was turned, Maru moved too, heading toward what seemed to be the bathroom.
Back in the dining room, Leon sat down just in time to see Robin tugging along a sullen young man with side-swept bangs. He looked reluctant, but under Robin’s persistence, he eventually sat down.
“Leon, this is my son, Sebastian. Sebastian, this is Leon, the new farmer in Stardew Valley.”
Leon gave Sebastian a friendly nod. Sebastian returned it with a barely noticeable nod of his own—acknowledgment, at least.
Robin sighed inwardly, but seeing Leon’s expression remain unchanged, she relaxed a little.
“Leon, where would you like to sit?” Robin asked, stepping into her role as hostess when her son made no effort to be welcoming.
Leon studied the layout of the tableware and chose the seat at the far left edge.
“I’ll sit here.”
Robin glanced at his choice, looking like she wanted to say something, but held her tongue.
Just then, Demetrius emerged from the kitchen carrying food. He set the dishes on the table, but when his eyes landed on Leon’s seat, his expression turned a little strange.
Before he could speak, Maru appeared, now dressed in casual clothes. She smiled when she saw Leon. “Leon, why are you sitting in my spot?”
“Huh?” Leon was surprised. He’d chosen the seat because it was tucked into the corner—he hadn’t expected it to be Maru’s usual spot.
“Haha, it’s probably strange to hear, but I like to watch things while I eat. Sitting here lets me do that without bothering my family,” Maru explained.
Leon was about to stand and offer the seat back, but Maru gently pressed him down. “It’s fine. If you like it, stay there. I wasn’t planning to watch anything while eating today anyway.”
She then sat in the seat next to him, smiling reassuringly. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter where I sit.”
“Maru, why don’t you sit next to me today?” Demetrius suggested softly.
“No, Dad. I have something to discuss with Leon. Sitting closer won’t bother you,” Maru replied, politely turning him down before standing to say, “Let me help you bring out the dishes.”
Demetrius quickly agreed, and the two went into the kitchen. It was over a minute before they came back out with food. Leon noticed that Maru’s expression seemed a little uncomfortable.
Even so, she sat down beside him again, ignoring her father’s darkening expression.
“I think you should listen to your father,” Leon murmured, not wanting to risk Demetrius snapping at him mid-meal.
“No need. I already explained we’re just friends—he’s overthinking it,” Maru said with a wave of her hand. “If I avoided you now, it would only confirm his misunderstanding. Then we might not even be able to stay friends.”
“What misunderstanding?” Leon asked, though he already had a pretty good guess. He wanted to be sure before making assumptions.
“It’s nothing. Let’s eat,” Maru said, lowering her head shyly.
Got it. Her expression confirmed his suspicion: Demetrius had outright asked her in the kitchen whether their relationship had gone beyond friendship. Whatever she’d answered, it clearly hadn’t caused trouble—otherwise Demetrius would have already pulled Leon aside for a talk.
Playing dumb, Leon followed her lead and started eating. The lunch looked plentiful. Most of the dishes were green vegetables, but with Demetrius’s special sauce, they had an exotic flavor.
While eating, Maru quietly discussed details about the water pump with Leon. As she’d said, sitting close really was just for convenience.
Leon cooperated fully—after all, he needed the pump, and Maru took his requirements seriously. He offered a few suggestions for practicality’s sake.
But to Demetrius, their normal conversation seemed tinted with intimacy. His grip on his knife and fork tightened as he glared at Leon.
Robin watched with a troubled expression, while Sebastian, the resident bystander, looked on with amused curiosity at his stepfather, stepsister, and Leon, the corners of his mouth curling into a mischievous grin.
…
Recently, the sudden drop in temperature got to me, so I’m not feeling too well. Updates will be slower for a while, but I should still manage five chapters a day. If I miss any, I’ll make them up later—don’t worry.
Thanks to Hao Ye Zhi Yue for the 500 Qidian coins and Hei Shen Lei for the 100 Qidian coins. I really appreciate your support and encouragement! But honestly, I don’t think tips are necessary—this money could buy four or five chapter subscriptions. You guys just won’t listen, huh? Sigh.
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