Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 198

Chapter 198 I Like You A Lot 

Ms. Levis looked stunned. “The officer dorms?” 

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“Yes, Ms. Levis! Please follow me–you can come take a look first,” the young soldier replied. 

He led them down a different path, walking for about five or six minutes until a small building came into view. It wasn’t particularly tall–only seven stories–but it was obvious that the living conditions here were far superior to the other dorms they’d just seen. 

Ms. Levis nodded in approval. She turned to Ava and asked, “What do you think, Ava?” 

“I think it’s great, Ms. Levis,” Ava said. 

“Alright then. You’ll stay here by yourself. If you run into any trouble, the faculty dorms aren’t far–we’ll be nearby if you need anything.” 

Ava nodded quickly in thanks. 

The young soldier stepped over to the guard post to log her registration and then turned back to her. “Room 307, on the third floor. Here’s your key.” 

Ava took the key and headed toward the building. 

The soldier wiped the sweat from his forehead as he watched her go. He scratched his head, still baffled. Why did upper management assign a student to the officer dorms so casually? 

On the third floor, Ava followed the signs, turned right, and stopped at the second door on her right–Room 307. 

Just as she was pulling out her key, she caught movement in her peripheral vision. She turned -and jumped. 

A man was standing there. 

When she got a good look at his face, she froze in disbelief. What is he doing here? 

“Cat got your tongue?” Laurent grinned, leaning forward so they were eye–level. “What, a few days apart and you don’t recognize me?” 

“W–Why are you here?” 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he said with a smile. “Seeing you here makes me really happy.” 

Ava opened the door. The room was a single–occupancy dorm, complete with its own bathroom and even a private balcony. 

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Chapter 198 I Like You A Lot 

“You like it?” Laurent asked. “If you don’t, I’ll get it changed for you.” 

“No need. This one’s fine.” 

Finished 

She glanced at him, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. “So you’ve been away from Capitol Planet this whole time… just for this?” 

Laurent looked her straight in the eye, answering without a hint of hesitation. “Yes. The moment I found out you chose Starry Heavens University, I made up my mind. I helped a friend out with a mission, and in exchange, he handed me the position of chief instructor for your military training.” 

Ava was stunned. “You’re the chief instructor? Isn’t that a bit… overqualified?” 

He looked down at her, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Ava, I’m not like the others. I can’t be by your side all the time, so I cherish every second we do get. If I return to active duty after this, who knows how long it’ll be before I can see you again?” 

His eyes locked with hers, unwavering. “I’m not here because of some job title. I’m here because you are. I just hope that in this one month, we can build something real. So when I go back, I’ll know you feel something for me, even if it’s just a little.” 

– 

Ava felt the shock ripple through her his words, his presence, the weight of what he’d done–it was all too much. She took a moment to collect herself. 

“Laurent… you didn’t have to go this far for me. I’m not worth all this.” 

“Shhh…” He lifted a finger and gently placed it against her lips. 

“You are worth it. I like you—a lot. If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be doing something this crazy, I’d have laughed in your face. But then you walked into my life, and for the first time, I felt like maybe… just maybe… fate was looking out for me.” 

Their eyes met and lingered. Ava was the first to look away, unable to withstand the intensity of his 

gaze. 

Laurent slowly dropped his hand. “Maybe I’m coming on too strong. And maybe it’s overwhelming. But the truth is–I don’t have the luxury of time to take it slow.” 

Ava’s cheeks flushed. 

She wasn’t the kind of person who turned a blind eye to kindness. She wasn’t oblivious. 

Biting her lip, she turned back to face him. “I honestly didn’t expect you to go to such lengths. But… I’d be lying if I said it didn’t touch me. It really did.” 

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“I don’t know what I’m capable of feeling yet. But when you move toward me with this much certainty… It’s hard for me to stay indifferent.” 

“I’m a conflicted person. Not very brave. I overthink everything. I’m scared of complications, and even more scared of things going off–script. I can face hardship, no problem. But when it comes to feelings… I hesitate. I run.” 

If Laurent had still been unsure about how she felt, her words just now settled it. 

She didn’t reject him. 

In fact, she’d revealed more than he ever expected. 

And that, to him, was enough. 

After saying all that, Ava instantly felt awkward. She’d never opened up like this to anyone before. Not even during her previous dates with the others had she shown this side of herself. 

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