Oh, I see now."
Kevin suddenly understood. He took off his jacket, removed his sunglasses, and then adjusted his freshly washed short hair using the car's rear-view mirror, making his appearance look more ordinary. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Ofelia, "How about now?"
"Not bad."
"Alright, let's go." Kevin said as he opened the car door and grabbed four nutritional supplements from inside. "Why are you bringing stuff?"
Ofelia was planning to take him to the supermarket to buy a fruit basket, but it seemed he was already prepared.
"A boyfriend meeting his future mother-in-law without bringing anything? What does that look like?" Kevin raised an eyebrow at her and smiled.
"Fine. I'll transfer the money to you later." "No big deal." They walked into Saint Virtue Hospital together. On the way, Kevin asked about Ofelia's parents and took the opportunity to inquire about Ofelia's birth date.
He claimed it was to avoid making any mistakes in front of her mom, but in reality, he just wanted to know more about her.
Even though everyone thought Ofelia was somewhat unattractive, Kevin found her to be genuine, straightforward, and not the least bit fawning towards him. She was, indeed, a unique presence.
When they reached the 21st floor of the inpatient department, Ofelia led Kevin into the hospital room. "Mom, I've brought you some food."
Kevin followed Ofela into the room. Upon seeing Giselle, he immediately shed his usual playful demeanor and offered a polite smile. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Kevin Hamilton, Ofelia's boyfriend. I just got back from a business trip and came to see you. Please don't be upset that it took me so long."
Giselle looked at Kevin, noting his white shirt, suit pants, short black hair, and handsome, clean-cut features. He seemed like a very neat and capable young man.
"Oh, you didn't have to bring anything. Just come in and sit down," Giselle said, pointing to the sofa and inviting Kevin to sit down. She then sat next to him. "Your name is Kevin Hamilton, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Kevin replied.
Normally, Kevin had a carefree and rebellious air about him, often lounging on sofas with his legs crossed and arms draped over the backrest, exuding an air of nonchalance. But in front of Giselle, he sat upright, his usual roguish expression replaced with one of respect and seriousness.
"You're quite a handsome young man with a good demeanor. How did you end up with my daughter? Are you sure you're not just a hired boyfriend she brought home?" Giselle asked, her motherly instincts immediately sensing something was off.
Ofelia's heart skipped a beat, and she began to worry that Kevin might mess up their facade.
"Ma'am, I don't appreciate that implication. I, Ofelia Hamilton, have never judged anyone by their looks. Ofelia may not be a beauty queen, but she has a kind heart, and I truly like her," Kevin said earnestly.
"Really?" Giselle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course," Kevin affirmed.
"Then have you two thought about when you'll get married?" Giselle's question came out of nowhere, leaving Ofelia unsure if her mother was genuinely worried about her getting married or if she was trying to catch Kevin off guard to test his sincerity.
"Oh, Mom, how could you ask Kevin such a question the first time you meet him?" Ofelia was at a loss for words.
"Shut up, I'm talking to him not you," Giselle snapped.
Kevin glanced at Ofelia, his hands unconsciously rubbing together, feeling a slight twinge of nervousness. It had been years since he felt this way.
He offered a polite smile. "Auntie, marriage is something that Ofelia and I need to discuss. It's not something to rush."
"Alright, cut the act," Giselle said, patting Kevin on the shoulder. "I can tell my daughter isn't a match for you with her 'plain' looks."
The young man in front of her was strikingly handsome. Though dressed simply, he exuded an aura that suggested he was anything but not ordinary.
"Mom..." Ofelia was on the verge of tears, shocked that her mother had seen through the facade so quickly.
"Fine," Kevin shrugged helplessly and sighed. "Since Auntie has figured it out, I won't pretend anymore."
He stood up and walked towards Ofelia. Just as Ofelia was about to scold him, he suddenly stopped in front of her and spoke, "Since Auntie is here today, I might as well confess again. Ofelia, I've liked you for a long time. Will you be my girlfriend? I may not seem reliable, but I'll prove with my actions that I'm someone you can depend on."
Ofelia's eyes widened in shock, completely stunned by the sudden turn of events.
What on earth is Kevin up to? Just as she stood there dumbfounded, Kevin gave her a quick wink, signaling her with his eyes.
It dawned on her—this guy was putting on a show! "Uh? I... I..."
Ofelia quickly caught on and played along, "I just asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend, Kevin. Don't do this. We're really not a good match."
"Whether we're a good match or not, we can only know after spending time together. I'm not someone who judges by appearances, Ofelia. In front of your mom today, I hope you'll give me a chance."
"Forget it, we can only be friends. I'm not good enough for you."
Kevin suddenly grabbed her hand, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a small square box from his suit pocket. "Beautiful faces are a dime a dozen; I've seen enough of them. But you're different. You may not be the prettiest, but you're kind-hearted, hardworking, and ambitious. Ofelia, will you be my girlfriend?"
His sudden gesture, paired with the box containing a delicate necklace with a four-leaf clover pendant, was stunning.
Every word he spoke seemed heartfelt, and his eyes were so sincere.
If it weren't for the wink he gave her earlier, Ofelia might have believed Kevin was genuinely confessing his love.
His acting skills were on par with those of popular stars.
"Wow, a handsome guy is confessing his love!"
"He's so good-looking, and he likes such an ordinary girl. It must be true love."
"I'm so jealous! I want a boyfriend like that too."
...
Because the hospital room door was left open, a few nurses who had just finished their meal happened to witness the scene. They stopped in their tracks, even pulling out their phones to record the video.
These nurses were quite familiar with Ofelia, as they saw her every day.
"Ofelia, say yes!"
"He's so good to you, just say yes already."
"Exactly, you don't want to miss this chance."
The nurses, who had stopped to watch, were jumping up and down with excitement, looking even more thrilled than Ofelia herself.
Giselle, who was sitting on the sofa, watched the scene unfold with a knowing smile. "Ofelia, I can see that Kevin is truly sincere about you. Maybe you should give him a chance?"
Despite Kevin's willingness to overlook Ofelia's 'ugly' appearance, Giselle thought he seemed like a decent guy. Maybe they should give it a try.
When the time is right, and it's time to meet the parents, both she and her husband would likely be out of the hospital. By then, Ofelia wouldn't have to pretend to be ugly in front of the Griffins Family anymore. She could meet Kevin's parents with her true face, and a marriage could be arranged.
"Mom, I..."
Ofelia finally understood. Her mother was truly worried that she would never find a boyfriend with her plain looks and was eager to push her out into the dating world.
Ofelia sighed and glanced helplessly at Kevin. "How about... we just give it a try?"