With his gaze fixed on the road, he uttered a soft question, "Why didn't you tell me that you needed financial assistance?"

Waylen, being a man, could not help but care about the Gordon family's circumstances, even going so far as to downsize their residence.

Rena's eyes lowered, her voice barely a whisper as she replied, "I don't feel comfortable spending your money right now."

Silence enveloped the car, the weight of their unspoken thoughts palpable.

After a considerable pause, Waylen spoke again, his voice filled with compassion.

"Is it because you feel uncertain?”

Rena remained silent, her mind awash with conflicting emotions.

Though she carried remnants of regret, tempted by the romantic night and the intimacy they had shared, she had boldly embraced their relationship.

Yet, her present state held a tinge of timidity, a fear of reliving past mistakes.

Waylen drove back to Rena's apartment.

Snowball wagged its tail in excitement and bounded over towards them as soon as they arrived.

Rena quickly shrugged off her coat and petted Snowball on the head.

"Good girl," she said dotingly.

Snowball happily raised its paw. It seemed to want to play outside. So Rena handed the leash to Waylen and said, "Can you take Snowball out for a walk? I'LL cook you a bowl of noodles."

Waylen didn't say anything.

He simply looked at her with some eagerness in his eyes.

Then he took the leash and squatted down to put it on the dog.

Together, they headed out the door.

The small kitchen of the apartment had a window facing the outdoors.

When Rena was chopping up some vegetables, she glanced outside and saw Waylen walking Snowball. His slender, god-like figure was dressed immaculately. Even as he strode alongside the unruly dog, he looked like a model.

Rena couldn't help but stare at him for a long time...

By the time Waylen came back, the heating in the apartment had been turned on and the place was really warm.