Chapter 79: Chapter 79

When Primrose spotted Nancy ahead, she let out a relieved breath, enthusiastically skipping over to grab Nancy's hand. Nancy was somewhat surprised by Primrose's overly excited reaction, staring at her for a moment to search for any unusual expressions. Unable to resist, she asked,

"Why are you suddenly so happy to see me? It's quite rare."

Hearing this somewhat teasing remark that caught her off guard, Primrose pretended not to understand and tugged Nancy along ahead. Of course, she couldn't share the recent events with Nancy; otherwise, Nancy would offer advice that wasn't really suitable for their age and would only make Primrose more embarrassed when facing Joel.

The four of them arrived at the restaurant together, falling into the habit of couples sitting side by side. Primrose was still sulking about the earlier incident with Joel, so when he pulled out a chair for her, she merely let out a cold huff before sitting down slowly, intentionally avoiding looking at Joel even once. Joel had grown accustomed to Primrose's unpredictable demeanor, showing no attitude and just faintly curling his lips.

Today, they had chosen a famous Japanese restaurant in the city, and the decor exuded a strong cultural charm, matched by the unique flavors of the dishes. Primrose particularly loved the teriyaki chicken here, with its deliciously distinct sauce combined with the tender and juicy fried chicken that remained moist and crispy.

"Sweetie, open up."

In the midst of the crowd, Joel didn't hesitate to show affection for Primrose, feeding her a piece of piping-hot eel rice. Primrose instinctively opened her mouth, only realizing the delectable taste of the food afterward. She quickly glanced at Nancy, who was looking at her with interest, and then shot Joel a glare full of resentment. Joel shrugged, somewhat annoyed. It wasn't entirely his fault; he had just wanted to share something delicious with Primrose.

The final meal passed in silence, and once they finished eating, the four of them returned to their hotel room to rest. A day of extensive sightseeing had left them feeling tired, prompting them to decide to spend the evening resting in the hotel room rather than venturing out again. So, Primrose and Joel found themselves in the room, exchanging occasional glances; the atmosphere was a bit tense.

"Sweetie, don't worry. I won't get close to you anymore, okay?"

Primrose, wary of Joel's antics, stared at him and continued to glare, serving as a wordless warning. Joel, feeling helpless, couldn't express himself and could only explain his intentions. He also promised not to initiate kisses unless Primrose allowed it. Whether he could keep that promise was another matter, but at least for now, he could avoid receiving Primrose's disapproving glare.

Facing Primrose's cautiousness, the evening passed in tranquility. She lay stretched out on the sofa, watching an extremely romantic and meaningful movie. Joel, always focused on work, even during travel, didn't forget to attend to both companies' affairs.

As they settled in for the night, Primrose maintained her aloof demeanor. She was determined not to allow Joel to get close, ensuring there was enough space for another person to lie between them. Joel obediently complied, lying alone in a corner, while Primrose turned her back to him, slipping into silent slumber.

Late into the night, after Primrose had fallen into a deep sleep, Joel gently opened his eyes, slowly moving closer and embracing her from behind. He rested his head against Primrose's delicate shoulder, taking in her scent lingering in the air, allowing himself to finally close his eyes in contentment.

"Sweetie, it's really hard being away from you."

Joel spoke a phrase filled with reluctance.

Early the next morning, Joel was the first to wake up as usual. He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and then woke Primrose up. They had an early flight to catch, so they couldn't afford to sleep in. Initially, Primrose resisted this news.

"Sweetie, get up. We need to return to our country."

Joel's voice resonated softly in Primrose's ear, carrying an uncharacteristic tenderness. He had to call Primrose a few times before she groggily opened her eyes. Then, following her usual habit, she pulled the blanket over her head to shield herself from the sound.

"I don't want to get up, no. Don't force me."

Primrose mumbled to herself and then closed her eyes, wanting to sleep a bit longer. Waking up early in the morning was always a struggle for her. Joel sighed and pulled the covers down, speaking softly.

"If you don't get up, I'll kiss you until you're awake."

This playful remark proved to be quite effective. At least, Primrose no longer wanted to sleep and obediently sat up. However, her eyes narrowed, her face turned pale, and she pouted while looking at Joel with a mixture of annoyance and anger, like a little bunny that had been teased. Joel's heart softened as he looked at her; he clearly felt a touch of reluctance and even blinked his eyes at Primrose.

Primrose begrudgingly got up and prepared to leave. At this point, Joel was busy packing their personal belongings into their suitcases, making sure everything was packed before zipping them up. By the time Primrose exited the bathroom, they were ready to depart.

Primrose had thought she was the only one unhappy about the early departure plan to make it on time for their morning flight. However, seeing Nancy in a groggy state brought her some consolation. She continued to walk with Nancy, leaving Joel behind. Meanwhile, as Brian walked alongside Joel, he seemed surprised and asked Joel.

"Why are you and your wife having disagreements? I've noticed that Primrose often looks at you with dissatisfaction in her eyes, and you seem to always provoke her. Is that true?"

Despite having only spent a few days together, almost every day, Primrose would shoot angry or even resentful glances at Joel, making Brian curious. In the end, when it was just the two of them, what had Joel done to upset Primrose to this extent?

And each time they argued, even he and Nancy would be affected. Primrose would walk ahead with Nancy, leaving him behind and unable to hold hands or be close to his girlfriend. Brian was also very dissatisfied with this.

"Yeah, I occasionally playfully tease Primrose to the point where she doesn't want to look at me anymore."

Joel admitted it with a touch of pain. He didn't intend for this outcome, but if given another chance, he would probably continue with his playful antics. After all, he enjoyed kissing Primrose more. Her lips were soft and sweet, making the act of kissing very enjoyable. So, no matter how many times Primrose got upset, he couldn't resist wanting to kiss her.

"You should still be a bit more considerate towards her. Girls always want to feel cherished."

Brian believed that Joel didn't know how to take care of Primrose properly, which was making her angry. Joel didn't explain himself, only nodding and listening quietly. The two of them walked in silence, with Primrose and Nancy in front. When they reached the airport, they followed their routine of carrying the girls' luggage before boarding the plane.

Fortunately, Joel's seat on the plane was right next to Primrose, allowing him the chance to sit next to her. Primrose saw Joel sit down but only responded with a cold huff before turning her face towards the window, pretending to be engrossed in the view. Joel didn't dare say anything, fearing Primrose's irritation, so he obediently sat in place, gazing at Primrose's proudly held figure.