Keh rested his head against the chair back and tilted his chin up slightly, causing his prominent nose to cast a shadow across his cheek. He gently withdrew his hand which was holding Ophelia''s.


    Ophelia leaned forward, her hand resting on the back of his chair. She looked down at him.


    Seeing Keh''s pitiful expression as if he couldn''t get what he wanted, Ophelia grinned.


    "Which option do you prefer? How about lying down, and I''ll give you a massage?" Ophelia suggested, blinking innocently with her bright eyes. She looked sincere and pure.


    Keh swallowed, wondering how Ophelia managed to remain such an innocent face while saying those alluring words. Ophelia knew perfectly well that Keh couldn''t do anything to her, yet she wanted him to lie down Keh ced his hand on the back of Ophelia''s neck, his thumb brushing across her soft cheek as his eyes stayed fixed her.


    Suddenly, a phone ringtone sounded, breaking their eye contact.


    Ophelia pulled out her phone and saw an unknown number.


    She answered the call. Before she could say a word, Keh''s lips were on hers.


    Ophelia swiftly pulled the phone away from her ear, yet the person on the other end still caught the odd sound.


    Keh wrapped his arm around Ophelia''s waist and showed a mischievous grin.


    Ophelia could only use one hand to hold back Keh in front of her, leaning back at a 45-degree angle, and said, "Hello, who is that?"


    There was a brief pause on the other end before Phoebe said, "Elia, it''s me."


    Phoebe''s distinctive voice came through, sounding a bit weak.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "Got something to say?" Ophelia asked, standing up straight.


    Phoebe said, "Elia, I''m about to be discharged soon. My ce in Denex isn''t ready yet, and I don''t know anyone here. Would it be okay for me to stay at your ce for a couple of days?" "It''s not okay," Ophelia replied.


    Ophelia meant it. Noah was still at Rosewood Manor. She didn''t want her home to be a ce where anyone could just


    stay.


    Besides, she was well aware of Phoebe''s intentions.


    After saying those words, Ophelia felt a bit guilty and suggested, "I can book a hotel for you, if you need it."


    Phoebe said, "That would be great. Thank you, Elia."


    Ophelia thought, ''Wow, she really isn''t embarrassed at all.''


    <


    Ophelia said patiently, "When are you getting discharged? I''ll have someone pick you up."


    Phoebe replied, "Tomorrow morning."


    Ophelia remarked, "Alright."


    After she hung up, Keh looked at her suspiciously and asked, "Are you that free?"


    He had overheard the whole conversation.


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    Ophelia smiled indifferently and said, "She wants to act, so I''ll let her y her part. It''s no fun to expose her. Let''s see what she''s really nning." Keh advised, "Stay away from her. She''s not as simple as she appears. That shot she took was by her own choice, so you don''t need to feel guilty."


    He pulled Ophelia closer and gently patted her head. His gaze rested on the scar on her forehead, turning stern with worry.


    "Do I look like that?" asked Ophelia.


    Keh inquired, "Look like what?"


    "Do I look like a good person to you?" Ophelia raised an eyebrow and stated, "Ronan was able to kidnap me so smoothly thanks to Phoebe''s help. I know everything. Don''t worry, I''ll be cautious." Then she moved to the marble dining table, opened the takeout boxes, and arranged the dishes on the table.


    They sat facing each other, and Ophelia enthusiastically served Keh with unusual fervor.


    "Just spit it out," Keh said, looking at Ophelia with half-squinted eyes.


    He wouldn''t be able to have lunch if she didn''t tell him what she wanted.


    Ophelia pursed her lips and questioned, "Wouldn''t it appear that I have a rather strong hidden agenda?"


    "Speak." Keh didn''t touch his fork, and his sharp eyes seemed to see right through Ophelia.


    She pondered, "There''s really nothing that escapes his attention.


    She said, "Actually, I have some questions to ask you, about real estate development."


    "Why the sudden interest in that area?" Keh looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze.


    Ophelia avoided his gaze, focusing instead on her favorite dish, took a piece, and said nonchntly with a fork between her lips, "Because, I want to develop the slums."


    She spoke quickly and softly, sounding like shecked confidence.


    However, since Ophelia had already told Keh about her n, it meant she was determined.


    She had thought it through and was ready to face a lot of opposition.


    Having finally gotten a second chance at life, Ophelia wanted to do things she wouldn''t have dared to dream of before.


    Keh''s eyes briefly showed surprise. He slightly frowned and asked, "Do you even know what you''re saying?"


    "I know." Ophelia''s tone sounded like a sulky child, but her eyes were firm.


    Keh remarked, "Then you must have heard about the disaster in the slums."


    72%


    Ophelia asked, "Are you talking about thend remation project? That''s why I wanted to ask you what preparations are needed to develop the area." Keh said, "Even if you bring the leader of Heloria, nothing can be done there, so just let it go


    Keh picked up his fork and ate the simple dishes with an elegance that made it appear as if he were dining in an upscale


    restaurant.


    Seeing Ophelia not touching her food, Keh sighed in resignation and wiped his mouth with a napkin.


    He said, "You don''t know much about it. Heloria would never let anyone develop that area. So save your energy and spend more time with me instead."


    He mused, ''Little one, you have so many ns. Can''t you just stay by my side like you''re supposed to?


    Ophelia stuck out her tongue. She was never the type to follow orders.


    She pondered, ''I knew too little. What if I just learn more?"


    Keh could tell just from Ophelia''s eyes that she wasn''t going to give up easily.


    Keh continued, "Whether you like designing evening gowns or running an entertainmentpany, I support you. But don''t even think about developing the slums. It''s pointless and a waste of time." Keh''s words sent her heart plummeting.


    But it was only for a fleeting moment.


    She thought, ''What is meaningful, and what is meaningless?


    ''Everyone has their own definition of ''meaningful".


    After leaving the Sinir Group, Ophelia returned to her studio,


    She still had to design two evening gowns.


    Before she began sketching, she conducted an online search, typing "Denex slums" into the search bar. Promptly, suggestions popped up: [Life in the Denex Slums].


    [Crime rate in the Denex slums.]


    [Epidemic diseases rampant in the Denex slums, source of city infections.]


    [Crime in the Denex slums, Fringe activity refuge.]


    The Denex slums seemed to be a ce far removed from integrity and health.


    There were suggestions rted to Denex slums.


    Upon reading those words, Ophelia felt as if the inhabitants of the slums had been equated with the derogatorynguage used.


    However, she belieyed it was just a corner abandoned by the city clearly part of it yet unable to fit in. The people there were forced to endure all the unfairness and discrimination the city brought. Ophelia wondered, ''Who could they appeal to for justice?''


    Chapter 165-


    Someone reported, "Ms. Spencer, the store called saying an elderlydy is there to see you. Should I bring her over?"


    Ophelia thought, ''Who woulde looking for me?''


    She said, "Bring her here."


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    The store wasn''t far from the studio. One could take the elevator directly from the Paralet Shopping Center to the Paralet Tower behind it.


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