Free Web NovelChapter 11: Sober Tiger Belongs to Everyone!
Seeing Luca remain silent, Naomi immediately understood.
She wasn’t naive.
During her years at university, she had seen plenty of wealthy young men surrounded by women, one on each arm. Men like Luca weren’t rare in that world.
’He likes me... maybe even a lot.’
’But there must be someone else in his heart too.’
The thought stung, yet strangely, it didn’t make her angry.
After a brief silence, Naomi lifted a hand and gently wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Then she smiled.
A bright, beautiful smile.
"Luca Hale... I like you."
Her voice was soft but sincere.
"But... can you give me a little more time?"
Sunlight filtered through the windshield, falling across her face. Combined with that radiant smile, she looked like a sea of flowers blooming beneath a summer sky.
Beautiful enough to make someone lose themselves.
Luca looked at her quietly before shaking his head.
"No."
Naomi blinked.
"Huh?"
"I should be the one thanking you."
His voice was gentle.
"Thank you for giving me a chance."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then their eyes met, and both burst into laughter.
The heaviness that had lingered between them quietly faded away.
Luca glanced at the time.
"I promised to treat you to lunch. It’s already noon."
"What do you want to eat?"
Naomi immediately answered without hesitation.
"Chinese food."
Then she pulled out her phone.
"Can I start a livestream?"
Luca sighed helplessly.
"As long as you don’t point the camera at my face."
"Hehe, don’t worry."
Naomi happily adjusted her phone stand.
"I’m planning to do a mukbang stream anyway."
Ever since that night when Luca had sent ten thousand dollars’ worth of gifts, her channel had gradually gained traction.
The tiny livestream room that once struggled to gather a dozen viewers now regularly attracted one or two hundred people every evening.
Sometimes even more.
Occasionally, viewers would send gifts too.
Of course, compared to Luca’s generosity, those donations were little more than pocket change.
The stream connected.
Naomi flashed a cheerful smile at the camera.
"Hello everyone! Good afternoon!"
Comments immediately began pouring in.
"Little Naomi is streaming during lunchtime! Perfect!" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Wait, is Streamer wearing a skirt today? Show us the legs!"
"Legs +1" freewebnσvel.cøm
"Legs +2"
"Legs +10086"
"Why are you all looking at her legs? Did nobody notice she’s sitting in the passenger seat?"
"What’s weird about sitting in the passenger seat?"
"The passenger seat isn’t weird. The important question is who’s driving."
"Damn! That’s a good point!"
"Streamer, reveal the driver!"
Watching the comments flood in, Naomi couldn’t help laughing.
"You guys can guess."
"How are we supposed to guess?"
"Just turn the camera around!"
"Exactly! Let us see!"
Naomi mischievously tilted the camera toward the driver’s seat.
The audience could see Luca’s shoulder, his hands on the steering wheel, and part of his profile.
Everything except his face.
The chat instantly exploded.
"Damn, handsome guy detected!"
"Streamer, stop hiding him!"
"Wait a second..."
"Isn’t that a Mercedes G-Class?"
"Holy crap, you’re right!"
"That thing costs hundreds of thousands!"
"Streamer has fallen!"
"The temptations of money have corrupted her!"
"Forget everything else, that car is cool as hell."
"Even if it were a pile of scrap metal worth hundreds of thousands, I’d still think it was cool."
"Streamer! Who exactly is driving?"
Naomi grinned.
"I already told you."
"Guess."
"Since you’re making us guess, it must be someone we know."
"Exactly."
"And among the people we know..."
"Who’s rich enough to drive a G-Class?"
"Do we even need to continue?"
Suddenly, another comment appeared.
"Damn it! Streamer secretly ate all the good stuff herself!"
Naomi stared blankly.
"What does that even mean?"
The replies arrived instantly.
"Hmph! Sober Tiger belongs to everyone!"
"Hand over Sober Tiger!"
"Sharing is caring!"
Luca glanced at the scrolling comments and couldn’t help laughing.
"These netizens are ridiculous."
The moment his voice entered the microphone, the livestream went wild.
"AHHH! He spoke!"
"His voice sounds amazing!"
"You’re listening to his voice while I’m already taking out tissues."
"You’re taking out tissues while I’m lighting a cigarette."
"You’re smoking while my hands have already turned to ashes."
"How are you still typing then?"
"Typing with my tongue."
"Peak talent."
Luca shook his head helplessly and continued driving.
Following the navigation, they eventually arrived at a private Chinese restaurant hidden away from the bustling city streets.
The restaurant occupied a large traditional courtyard compound.
Elegant pavilions stood beside winding pathways.
Stone bridges arched over koi ponds.
Small streams flowed through carefully arranged gardens.
The air carried the faint fragrance of flowers and freshly brewed tea.
The atmosphere was peaceful and refined.
Even before tasting the food, one could tell this place wasn’t cheap.
A waitress dressed in a tailored cheongsam approached gracefully.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"How many guests?"
"Two."
"This way, please."
She led them through the courtyard and into a private dining area.
Their table sat beside a pond covered with blooming lotus flowers.
The waitress gently raised a bamboo curtain.
Instantly, the picturesque scenery outside came into view.
Sunlight shimmered across the water’s surface.
Lotus leaves swayed gently in the breeze.
Several koi fish glided lazily beneath them.
Naomi’s eyes widened.
"So beautiful..."
Her voice was filled with genuine admiration.
A soft smile curved her lips as she stared at the lotus flowers.
Luca’s gaze drifted from the pond to Naomi herself.
Under the gentle sunlight, she seemed every bit as elegant as the flowers outside.
For a brief moment, it felt as though the lotus blossoms and the girl before him were competing for beauty.
And somehow, Naomi won.
"Yeah," Luca said quietly.
"It really is beautiful."
Naomi turned her head.
Only then did she realize Luca wasn’t looking at the pond.
He was looking at her.
Their eyes met.
A blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
Meanwhile, because the camera remained pointed in Naomi’s direction, every subtle change in her expression was faithfully captured by the livestream.
The audience immediately noticed.
"That’s it. I’m convinced."
"Streamer is definitely in love."
"I’m so jealous I need a truckload of lemons."
"I came here for food and got force-fed romance instead."
"I’m already full."
"Woof."
Just then, the waitress returned carrying a menu.
She placed it gently on the table and smiled.
"Sir, Miss."
"May I take your order?"
