Chapter 347: Call me Lila!

Chapter 347: Call me Lila!

Chapter 347: Call me Lila!

Outside the gym, Ethan was sitting on a bench.

Before long, Vanessa came over from the other direction, holding two cans of soda. She handed one of them, a Coke, to Ethan.

“Thanks.”

Ethan smiled as he thanked her, then cracked open the can and took a big gulp.

Vanessa couldn’t help but glance over, a bit surprised by how enthusiastically he drank. She thought Lila’s drinking style was a bit... bold.

Clearly, she didn’t understand that half the joy of drinking Coke is in that first sip.

The reason they were outside the gym in the first place was that Vanessa had recently told Ethan she wanted to repay him for a favor.

She asked if there was anything she could do for him.

Ethan, being the helpful guy he was—and also genuinely thirsty—said she could just buy him a drink.

But Vanessa didn’t think that was enough. She sat down next to him and turned to ask, “What else? Is there anything else I can do?”

At first, Ethan didn’t quite get what she meant and shook his head. “Nah, this Coke is more than enough.”

But Vanessa wasn’t having it. “No, it’s not enough. Not even close.”

“Huh?”

Ethan turned to her, confused.

Vanessa looked at him with a determined expression. “I know the saying, ‘A drop of water should be repaid with a spring,’ and this was more than just a small favor—you saved my life.”

Her pride wouldn’t let her repay him so easily. If she didn’t do more, it would weigh on her forever.

Hearing this, Ethan frowned, surprised. “Vanessa, are you seriously making a big deal out of this?”

But Vanessa ignored his teasing and said seriously, “Anything. Whatever you need, as long as I can do it.”

“But I don’t need anything from you,” Ethan said, exasperated.

“That’s fine. I can wait,” Vanessa insisted.

Wait, when did Vanessa become so intense? Ethan thought to himself.

He could feel how serious she was, and it was starting to drive him a little crazy.

Who goes around chasing people to repay them? And what about my opinion in all this?

Ethan thought Vanessa’s whole approach was a bit off. He’d already said a Coke was enough, but she clearly didn’t think so.

Feeling even more frustrated, Ethan scratched his head and figured he might as well ask her what she had in mind.

“Alright, Vanessa. What do you think I should ask you to do?”

Hadn’t Vanessa also reached a point where she needed to move forward?

With that thought, Vanessa quickly made up her mind. She stood up and said, “Lila, if you don’t mind having someone like me, I’d be happy to be your friend.”

“Looking forward to it, Lila.”

As she spoke, she extended her hand.

Ethan smiled and reached out to shake it. “Looking forward to it, Vanessa.”

As their hands clasped, Ethan felt a little emotional.

I’m such a good stand-in, right? Lila, you’ve got a friend now!

Ethan was even thinking about sending Lila a message to share the good news when Vanessa spoke up again. “So, as your friend, is there anything you need me to do?”

Ethan nearly spat out the sip of Coke he’d just taken. He stared at her, wide-eyed.

Vanessa, are you serious right now?!

But then Vanessa saw his expression and burst out laughing.

It was only then that Ethan realized she was joking.

And, by the way, Vanessa’s smile was really beautiful.

But messing with him like that? Oh, she was asking for it!

Ethan wasn’t about to let her off the hook. He opened his mouth to fire back, “Vanessa, you—”

But before he could finish, she interrupted him.

“Nessa. Call me Nessa.”

“...”

Ethan was speechless.

He looked at Vanessa’s soft, gentle expression.

Is this what they call the ‘white moonlight’ look?

By the time Ethan snapped out of it, he had already blurted out her name.

And just like that, his heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, I’ve met a temptress.

“Uh... then I’ll call you Lil Bunny, okay?” Vanessa was now trying to settle on nicknames between friends.

But Ethan quickly shot that down, looking at her seriously. “Call me Lila!”