Chapter 424

The construction worker grinned. "Mr. Valdemar definitely has feelings for you. That look in his eyes doesn’t lie."

Sophia’s fingers twitched.

She wasn’t oblivious. Ever since the incident at the Hong Kong police station, Sebastian’s behavior had crossed the line of ordinary friendship. Their later encounters at the construction site carried an unmistakable air of intention.

She had just been avoiding it.

The scandal exploded without warning.

The hashtag #GentleProfessorVsCharmingDesigner trended with a red "Boom" label, and the comments section was in chaos.

It all stemmed from a recent project interview. In a candid shot taken during their lunch break, Sebastian was captured bending down to hand her a tissue, sunlight glinting softly off his glasses. The afternoon work footage was even more suggestive—he stood persistently by her side, even their fingertips brushing as he passed her blueprints, all captured in slow motion.

The most damning clip was from after work. Sebastian shielding her head as she stepped into the car had been dissected frame by frame, with netizens concluding he "must have practiced that move a hundred times."

"Sophia and Mr. Valdemar go everywhere together!" A coworker with the username "SteelStraightGuy" topped the comments with photographic evidence—their backs turned as they ate takeout at the site yesterday.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Sebastian appeared: "I’m at the construction site’s back gate."

Beneath the shade of a tree, the man stood with his white sleeves rolled to his elbows. He removed his glasses as she approached. "I’ve already contacted the reporters," he said, polishing the lenses with his usual grace. "But I thought I should explain this to you in person first."

In the distance, the whistles and cheers of their coworkers erupted.