"What about this? Do you like spicy food?" she asked again, accompanied by a wink and a cute expression, as if the parcels were very delicious and valuable.

"In this winter weather, spicy food is the best," she said as she poured water into an aluminum container and placed it on the newly lit stove.

‘She asks the question and answers it herself.’ Thought the man.

"Which one do you want? Spicy or non-spicy?" Jemima asked again, still waiting for the foreign man's decision.

"It's up to you," the man replied softly, deciding that it would be better to keep his thoughts to himself and satisfy his curiosity about the parcels later.

Jemima appeared to be selecting the two instant noodle packages, nodding to herself.

"Oh, by the way, what's your name?"

"My name is Jemima, you can call me Jemi," Jemima revealed. She felt pleased to have someone she could talk to like this.

"Hmm... his mouth just can't stay quiet," thought the man as he sighed.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"My name is Jemi," she retorted.

"Ahem! My name is... Julian, yes, Julian," the man answered hesitantly.

"Oh, really? That's a nice name. I'm sure you're just broke or kicked out of your house," Jemima assumed on her own.

"What do you mean?" Julian asked, not understanding the girl's words.

"I mean... sorry in advance, but after you changed into slightly brighter clothes, you no longer look like a homeless person," Jemima explained.

Julian nodded as he examined his current attire: a navy jacket combined with cream fur, a light gray shirt, and denim jeans. Only his shoes remained unchanged; they were his personal Air Jordan Silver shoes that he had brought from Sarah's apartment.

"Oh, I just didn't buy those shoes. They look good, but... seems... fake," Jemima remarked as she watched Julian take off his shoes.

"Uh-oh!" Julian was startled by the girl's comment.

"Are you okay?" Jemima asked.

Julian nodded and rubbed his neck. "It's nothing. Just a bit cold," he replied.

Jemima nodded in understanding.

"Just so you know, those are unique and rare shoes. Since its initial release, these sneakers have been sought after by most men worldwide as they were signed by the NBA legend himself, Michael Jordan," explained Jemima confidently.

"Do you know Michael Jordan?" she asked.

He looked puzzled in response.

"But... I didn't know there was a fake edition of it," she remarked again.

"What? Did she say these shoes are fake?" Julian was shocked.

If only he knew their value, his heart would have been slightly pinched. Regardless of wearing branded items, they had no value to unfamiliar strangers.

"Are you offended? Didn't I apologize earlier?" Jemima asked as she entered with two bowls of freshly cooked noodles.

Julian shook his head, "then why are you silent?" Jemima asked again.

Julian's eyes were solely focused on the two bowls of food in front of him, featuring meat and vegetables, seeming delicious yet odd as it was his first time seeing it.

"Hey, why aren't you answering?" Jemima prompted.

"Uh, sorry, so what should I explain?" Julian countered.

"Ah, forget it... let's just eat now. Julian," Jemima replied, thinking that someone like Julian, who lived on the streets, couldn't possibly know about the authenticity of sneakers, and he should be grateful for having shoes to wear.

"Hmm... yummy..." Jemima mumbled as she got ready to spoon the soup from the bowl, but just as she was about to eat, a sudden pounding on the door interrupted them.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Both of Jemima's eyes widened towards the door, then shifted to Julian, as they exchanged glances. Julian, who was clueless, appeared indifferent.

"Jemima! Come out!" shouted a woman from outside.

"Who?" Julian asked.

"Shh!" Jemima replied, raising her index finger.

Despite not understanding, Julian responded by nodding and raising his index finger to his lips.

"Come out, Jemima! I know you're inside!" the woman yelled again, sounding more and more agitated.

Julian's eyes peeked at Jemima, who appeared frightened and confused.

"You'd better open it," Julian whispered.

Jemima didn't heed the man's words; instead, she began biting her fingernail nervously.

"Jemima! Come out! Should I break down the door?!" the woman shouted once more.

Jemima's lips twisted in a grimace. Eventually, she stood up and walked towards the single door.

The lock was released, and the woman outside immediately swung the door wide open. Jemima's face was almost hit by the door leaf if Julian hadn't quickly pulled her back.

"Oh! Apparently, you're alone with a man?!" scoffed the middle-aged woman who then barged into the house.

Jemima just lowered her head, appearing embarrassed and hesitant to respond to the woman's rudeness.

"Ugh! Like mother, like daughter,"

"Ah, it's up to you, I don't care. It's understandable why you didn't want to marry Mr. William, seems like you have been having an affair with this man," she continued.

Julian looked at Jemima, the girl seemed frightened and confused.

"Remember, Jemima, you owe a lot. Mr. William doesn't need repayment, this man only needs to be paid with your body."

Julian was very shocked, and his mind began to wonder about Jemima's occupation, 'could she be a sex worker?' he thought as he observed Jemima's trembling body out of fear.

Before Jemima could defend herself, the woman suddenly grabbed the bowl of hot noodles and poured it over Jemima's head.

"Ow!" Jemima winced from the heat.

"What is this? Are you crazy!" Julian exclaimed, reflexively scolding the middle-aged woman and quickly running to find something to wipe the noodles off Jemima's body.

"Are you okay?" he asked further.

Jemima just stood still, while wiping her tears from her eyes, the girl had tried not to shed tears by biting hard on her lower lip. But it didn't seem to work, the scene looked so sad that the pain reached Julian's solar plexus.

"Hey! Who are you? The customer?" the woman asked Julian while pulling his arm which Julian immediately blocked, feeling disgusted when the middle-aged woman touched him.

Julian just stayed silent while looking sharply at the woman.

"Uh! Your gaze is really terrible," sneered the woman while shuddering.

"Do you think I'm scared? Hah!" she continued to exclaim, as if challenging.

For some reason, this was the first time Julian wanted to slap a woman's mouth after Sarah.

"Look, young man, I have the right because I'm her stepmother," the woman said.

Upon hearing the woman's words, Julian felt relieved because he had mistakenly guessed Jemima's profession earlier.

"So, what could make a stepmother behave like this? To the extent of selling her stepdaughter's dignity?" Julian asked, not only out of curiosity but also to motivate Jemima to stand up against the unfair treatment from theofan bravely.

"Realize it! You don't deserve to be treated this way, Jemi," Julian said, standing before a tearful Jemima.

Jemima just stood with her head bowed, tears falling to the floor.

"Come on, say something!" Julian urged, becoming more vocal after the arrival of the middle-aged woman.

"Enough, Julian! Let that woman behave as she wishes," Jemima replied, finally speaking up.