102: Making a Move

Silence filled the car as Dima scanned the surroundings, not continuing the previous topic but instead asking Kartika what she felt like eating. She didn't fancy anything too rich or fatty; she just wanted porridge for lunch. However, she had already joined Dima for porridge once before, and suggesting it again seemed inconsiderate. She relinquished the choice to him.

"You sure?" he asked, seemingly surprised by her deference. "I haven't lived in the country for many years."

"It's fine," Kartika replied calmly. After all, she wasn't planning to eat much.

An idea struck her, and she added, "It's my treat, whatever you choose."

"Really?" A light smile played on Dima's lips. "Then I must choose carefully."

He settled on a Chinese restaurant. As Kartika stepped out of the car, she took a moment to observe the restaurant's upscale decor. In times when her family hadn't faced financial turmoil, she would frequently patronize such establishments with her friends. After the Shen family's down