Chapter 2427

Jason startled awake, quickly turning his head. His eyes, groggy and slightly panicked from just waking up, searched for Sophia.

Sophia, turning her head, asked in a sleepy voice, "Did I sleep long? What time is it?"

Jason's gaze had already settled back to calm. He glanced at his watch. "Just hit 8!"

He looked outside at the persistent drizzle, saying softly, "I'll get out first. You stay in the car."

He grabbed the umbrella from the car door, stepped out, and then walked around

to the passenger side, opening the door. He first draped his jacket around Sophia before holding the umbrella over her, guiding her out of the car.

From start to finish, not a single drop of rain touched her.

Walking towards the apartment complex together, Jason tilted the umbrella, shielding Sophia completely from the rain.

Once they were in the elevator, Sophia noticed Jason's shoulder was wet and frowned, "The umbrella was big enough, why did you let yourself get wet?"

"It's alright, we're almost home," Jason said lightly.

Sophia was about to speak but suddenly, a thought struck her, and she asked in surprise, "Why did you park outside?"

They could have parked in the garage and avoided the rain altogether.

Jason looked at her deeply, "Didn't you say you sleep better with the sound of rain?"

Her eyes whirled around, unsure what to say next.

The casual banter they once shared seemed like a distant memory now.

Entering the house, Sophia turned on the light and confidently found her way to the living room, knowing exactly where the slippers were.

Jason's place was spacious, the living room alone larger than her entire apartment. Decorated in cool tones, it featured a coffee-colored sofa, a beige carpet, and a tall metal rack between the living room and the hallway, displaying his award-winning works. Apart from that, there were no unnecessary decorations.

"Where are the things my mom sent with me?" Sophia asked.

"In the study. You can grab them; I'm going to take a shower," Jason replied.

"Okay!" Sophia nodded and headed towards the study.

The study was as neatly arranged as the rest of the house, with two wall-to-wall bookshelves, a sofa, and a desk.

The sofa was bought for her. When he had first moved to this city and bought this house, she sometimes came over to read. After complaining once about the lack of a comfortable spot to read in the study, the next time she visited, the sofa was there.

She entered the study but couldn't find the items her mom had sent. Since Jason was showering, she decided to wait in the study.

On the desk was their graduation photo from her college days. He had accompanied her to the graduation ball, and right before it started, their friend Crystal took a photo of them together.

Years had passed, and that photo had traveled from their old city to this study in their new city.

She picked up the frame. In the photo, she looked young and carefree, smiling brightly, while Jason wore a white shirt, his head slightly tilted towards her, looking handsome and warm-not as reserved and cool as he appeared these days. Back then, his face always seemed to carry a light, warm aura.

Thinking of the years he had spent with her, silently harboring his feelings, Sophia felt a pang in her heart.

Just as she was about to put the frame back, she accidentally discovered a button

on the back. Curious, she pressed it, revealing a hidden compartment in the frame.

Inside the compartment was a folded note.

Sophia took out the note and unfolded it, revealing a line of handwriting,

"When can I finally tell you openly, 'I love you'?"