Page 270 of The Wishing Game

"You are, indeed, a worthy female."

"Okay..."

"We make a good team," he continues awkwardly.

"Right. Thanks. Now you can go."

He doesn't move.

"We shall celebrate," he declares, straightening his back.

"Celebrate?" I repeat numbly, still confused.

"I have decided to give you the honor of being the first female to go on a date with me."

"A...date?"

He nods proudly.

"You may rejoice."

FIFTY-SIX

Istare at him for a moment before I burst into laughter.

He doesn't share my mirth, however.

"What is so amusing, human?" He narrows his eyes at me.

"Do you even know what a date is?" I ask, my lips quivering as I try to curb my laughter.

"Of course," he answers in indignation. "I have performed thorough research." He opens his palm, manifesting a stack of about five or six books, all with the same mix of red and white cover and spine.

"What is that?" I frown, moving closer to examine the titles.

"The books you like to read. I procured them from your world to familiarize myself with thosehobbiesof yours."

Somehow, that statement warms my heart. He, who has never had a hobby in his life, wanted to learn more about mine.

"But... How did you thinkthoseare the books I like to read?"

The titles are not very inspired:The Billionaire's Secret; The Billionaire and his Cinderella; The Italian Duke's Darling; The Tycoon's Nine-Month Secret; The Boss and the MaidandThe Billionaire's Affair.I cannot imagine Ze reading that, particularly the spicy scenes. My cheeks heat up as I picture him in my mind, book in hand, eyes narrowed as he reads the more risqué scenes, since there's no way those are clean romances.

"You like rich men. They are rich," he adds with a noncommittal shrug. "Not as rich as I am, of course," he makes sure to add. "You will not find someone richer."

"And what did you learn about dates from them?" I ask as I pick the top book from the stack and flip through it.

Big mistake!

My blush intensifies as I spot passages highlighted with notes in the corner. I only need to read a few words involving wetness, fingers, and moans to realize the type of passages he highlighted. I can't make out the scribbled notes on the margins, but I quickly close the book,notwanting to know more.

"It is an event during which a male and a female go out for a meal or an otherwise engaging activity whereby they have fun together," he quotes a definition as if he's spent eons researching it.

"You omitted one thing, Ze. Dates are for people who have a romantic interest in each other. We arefriends," I emphasize. Although I don't think he sees me that way, I want to make sure he knows where we stand. Since he's been reading romance novels and has shown an interest in physical intimacy, it's a good way to remind him that our relationship is pure friendship—nothing more.

His eyes flash at me.

"You are my person," he speaks slowly. "You will go on a date with me. We will have...fun." He gulps down, the wordfunburning on his lips as he barely keeps himself from cringing as he utters it.

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