Emily raised her hand with a smirk. “Come on, let’s go. What do you want to eat? Today’s my treat.” Jackson exaggerated his reaction, feigning shock. “Wow, the Director of Design at Stardream Group is treating me to a meal? What an honor! I think I should commemorate this moment somehow.” “How are you going to—hey, what are you doing?” Before Emily could finish her sentence, Jackson pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his arm around her waist and planting a quick kiss on her cheek. He snapped a selfie at the same time, capturing the moment. “What the—” Jackson looked smugly at the picture on his phone, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. “Finally! After all these years, I’ve managed to steal a kiss.” Emily frowned and reached into her bag for a tissue to wipe her face. “You got your saliva all over me.” But Jackson grabbed her hand before she could wipe it off. “Nope, no wiping. This is my first kiss, and it’s too memorable. I need to take more pictures before you erase it.” Still holding her hand, he continued snapping more selfies, edging closer to her. “Something’s wrong with my phone. Why aren’t these coming out clear?” Emily pushed him back lightly, exasperated. “Stop messing around, Jackson.” “I’m not messing around.” The humor disappeared from Jackson’s face, replaced by a serious expression. He slid his phone back into his pocket but kept his arm loosely around her waist. “Emily, I’ve thought it over, and I’m done being a coward.” Emily blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?” “I’m saying that I want you. I’ve decided I’m going to pursue you, and I’m not asking for your permission anymore,” Jackson declared, his voice firm. “You don’t have a boyfriend, and there’s no one else you’re interested in. So why not me? Back in Rome, I didn’t say anything because your uncle was there. But from now on, I’m going to chase after you seriously—no more holding back.” Emily was taken aback, unsure of what to say. “Jackson, you…” “Enough,” Jackson cut her off. “Neither Nathan nor Vincent ever truly chased after you, did they? Well, get ready, Emily. You’re about to experience the royal treatment. You’ll feel like a princess.”Before Emily could protest, Jackson lifted her up in his arms, twirling her in the air with a mischievous grin. Emily squealed, startled by the sudden movement. “Jackson, put me down! Are you crazy?” He laughed heartily as he carried her. “This is what I should’ve done from the start. I shouldn’t have asked for permission. I wasted so much time!” They had agreed that Emily would treat him to lunch, but Jackson ultimately chose the restaurant. Rather than going somewhere fancy, he picked a small Japanese ramen shop close to her office. It wasn’t a big or flashy place, but Jackson assured her the food was excellent. Sitting down with bowls of steaming ramen in front of them, Jackson blew on his noodles and glanced at Emily, raising his eyebrows playfully. “I was planning to let you splurge on something fancy, but look at you—you’re practically skin and bones. You need to eat more meat. This place isn’t expensive, but the ramen is fantastic. Try it.” The ramen was indeed delicious. The broth was rich and warm, a perfect contrast to the cold weather outside. It soothed Emily from the inside out, warming her all the way down to her stomach. “This is good,” she admitted, giving Jackson a thumbs-up. “How did you find such a little gem of a place?” Jackson grinned. “I used to come around here to pick you up from school. I’ve tried almost every restaurant in the area, but this one was my favorite.” He paused for a moment and added, “Emily, I want you to promise me something.” She raised an eyebrow. “Why?” “Because I’m handsome. Isn’t that reason enough?” Jackson declared, his voice full of confidence. “Handsome people should have privileges. So, every day during lunch, you’re going to come down here and eat ramen with me.” It wasn’t a difficult request, but Emily knew the implications were far from ordinary. Jackson didn’t give her time to refuse. “It’s settled. Consider it payback for me looking after your uncle in Rome. You owe me, and you can’t say no. Otherwise, I’ll get upset.” Just then, the ramen chef, a man in a tall white hat, approached with a beaming smile. He rattled off something in Japanese, but Emily didn’t understand a word. She glanced at Jackson for help, who responded enthusiastically in Japanese, the two men soon engaging in what seemed like a lively conversation. By the time Emily had almost finished her ramen, they were still chatting away. Finally, the chef left, looking pleased, and Jackson leaned back, grinning from ear to ear.“What were you two talking about that made you so happy?” Emily asked, amused. Jackson chuckled. “The chef’s a funny guy. He told me about this promotion they’re running—any couple that comes in gets a 50% discount and a free bottle of sake.” Emily raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Sounds too good to be true. You didn’t sneak off to pay, did you?” Jackson sighed dramatically, looking at the ceiling. “Emily, you’re practically a millionaire now, with that fat salary of yours. I was just joking about you saving up. You don’t need me to pay for you anymore, okay?” “True,” Emily conceded, though she was still curious. “But why offer a discount for couples? Is the chef just really into romance, or…?” Jackson’s expression softened. “He’s married, but his wife passed away seven years ago. When they were dating, they used to visit a ramen shop together. It was one of their happiest memories. Now, he runs this place to keep that memory alive, and he offers the couple’s discount in her honor.” He gave Emily a cheeky wink. “I told him we were a couple, and he was thrilled. He ran off to get the sake.” Emily frowned. “But we’re not—” “Just wait,” Jackson interrupted, “we will be soon. I’m going all in, Emily. I’ll have you as my girlfriend within six months.” As if on cue, the chef returned with a bottle of sake and, in English, wished them well. “Congratulations to you both.” Emily opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the chef hurried off to the kitchen, leaving them alone. Jackson, unfazed, popped open the bottle and poured them each a cup of sake. With a satisfied smile, he raised his glass. “Here’s to my future girlfriend, on her first day at work, officially starting her climb to the top.”