Chapter 570

Phoebe chuckled softly at Jack's words. "Thank you for the praise." Their conversation, as always, seemed to hit a wall. Her calm, detached demeanor left Jack struggling to find the right words. He couldn't just force some meaningless small talk—someone as sharp as Phoebe would see right through him, just like when she'd uncovered his original excuse for borrowing the book. The silence stretched awkwardly. Finally, Jack said casually, "Well, goodbye then. Have a smooth journey. Maybe we can grab a meal when you're back." Deep down, he hoped Phoebe would ask him to stay a little longer. However, she merely nodded. A pang of disappointment struck him. Did he really mean nothing to her? Jack sighed and turned to leave. Since Phoebe showed no intention of continuing their conversation, it would be awkward to insist on staying. "Jack, wait." Her voice stopped him mid-step. Jack turned back to find Phoebe gazing at him, her eyes bright. She asked, "Do you have time right now?" Joy