"We could go see a movie," Dexter interjected decisively, speaking to Bianca.
Bianca: "..."
Her colleague giggled with delight. "Great idea! Bianca, you really need to relax."
Bianca was helpless.
How did things escalate to this?
"I'll have the braised beef noodles," Bianca hurriedly changed the subject and ordered.
"Sure," Dexter nodded with a smile, not pressing the movie issue further. He acknowledged her order and turned to the colleague. "And for you, beautiful? What are you having?"
"Same for me," the colleague replied cheerfully, adding a playful wink at Dexter.
"Got it. Just a moment," Dexter didn't waste words. He turned and walked away, calling out to Vivian as he went. "Vivian, send over two fruit platters."
Vivian beamed. "On it."
Once Dexter was gone, the colleague immediately leaned in, whispering excitedly to Bianca as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Bianca, what's wrong? Not satisfied with him?"
Bianca shook her head. "No... I just don't know him well, that's all."
"Hey, hang out a bit more and you'll get to know him," the colleague said breezily.
Bianca didn't know what to say, so she lowered her head and stayed silent.
The colleague knew Bianca was interested—otherwise, she wouldn't have suggested coming here for dinner. She was just a bit reserved. So, the colleague continued her well-intentioned encouragement.
After listening for a while.
Bianca couldn't take it anymore. "Fine, fine! I'll go see the movie, okay? My ears are bleeding from your nagging."
"Haha!" The colleague was very satisfied with this result. "You woman, saying one thing but meaning another."
"I am not!" Bianca glared instantly, denying it.
"Whatever. When you become the Boss Lady here, you have to treat me to meals often. I can't afford the food here; it's too expensive," the colleague sighed.
Bianca glanced furtively at the kitchen. "No way."
Colleague: "???? You bitch, seriously?"
"Seriously!" Bianca feigned sternness, answering crisply.
The two women bickered quietly, clearly enjoying themselves.
---
Lip and Debbie rushed to the doorstep of Sheila's house.
Bang, bang, bang!
Lip pounded heavily on the door, shouting angrily, "Frank! Frank!"
Sheila had just finished making dinner and was worrying about Frank, wondering where he had run off to. Hearing the noise, she hurried to open the door.
Seeing Lip and Debbie, Sheila looked disappointed. "Oh, it's you two. Frank left around noon and hasn't come back since."
"He's not here? Where did he go?" Lip demanded immediately.
Sheila pursed her lips and shook her head. "I wish I knew. I made dinner and was waiting for him."
Lip raised an eyebrow, fell silent for a moment, and thought about it. If Frank wasn't here, he was almost certainly at the Alibi Room. He prepared to leave.
However, before leaving...
"Is Karen back?" Lip hesitated for a second, then asked.
Sheila nodded. "She's back."
Getting a positive answer, Lip instantly abandoned his hesitation and quickly kicked off his shoes. "I need to talk to her."
Saying that, Lip turned to Debbie. "Debbie, wait for me a sec."
Debbie knew what Lip wanted to talk to Karen about. Her face was full of worry, but she didn't know what to say.
Just then.
Karen's voice drifted out from inside the house. "Mom, don't let Lip in. I don't want to see him!"
The words hung in the air.
Lip, who had just taken off one shoe and was reaching for the other, froze. The anger on his face spiked dramatically. Whoosh.
Sheila glanced back into the house, then looked at Lip awkwardly. "Lip, maybe come back another day. Karen doesn't want to see you."
Lip was so angry the veins on his forehead pulsed.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Driven by rage, Lip shoved his foot back into the shoe he had just removed, then roared into the house, "Karen! Fuck YOU!!!"
With that, Lip turned and stormed off.
Debbie had to scramble to catch up.
Behind the door, Sheila couldn't believe Lip would curse at her daughter like that. She was furious. Slam! She shut the door heavily and hurried back to Karen. "Karen, does that Lip have brain damage? How dare he curse at you!"
Karen flashed a brilliant smile and nodded happily. "He definitely has brain damage. I think he's a psycho. He should be locked up in a mental hospital."
Sheila believed it instantly. "Mmh, I think so too. You have to be careful. When a psycho like that goes crazy, who knows what they might do."
"Yeah," Karen agreed obediently.
Sheila sighed with emotion. "I really can't understand how a man as excellent as Frank could raise a psycho son like Lip."
Karen: "..."
"Yeah," Karen didn't want to hurt Sheila, so she played along, letting Sheila continue her beautiful dream about that scumbag Frank.
"Sigh," Sheila sighed again, hesitating slightly. "I don't know when Frank will be back. Let's eat dinner first. We'll save some for him."
"Okay," Karen nodded.
---
Lip was furious, practically sprinting toward the Alibi Room.
Debbie could barely keep up. "Lip, slow down! Maybe Frank didn't do it. Don't be so hasty."
Lip had a chest full of rage with nowhere to vent. Hearing this, he snapped and roared at Debbie, "Debbie, stop being naive! It was definitely him! A piece of trash like him, what wouldn't he do?"
Debbie cared about Frank. Hearing this, she got anxious too and defended Frank excitedly. "Lip! He's our dad! Don't talk about him like that. He's not actually bad!"
Lip couldn't be bothered to explain to Debbie. He stopped talking and just kept running forward.
Running into the Alibi Room, he quickly scanned the place. Not seeing Frank anywhere, Lip asked Kevin angrily, "Kevin, Frank didn't come in?"
It was peak hours at the Alibi. Kevin was swamped. Hearing the question, he didn't stop moving. He thought for a second and shook his head. "Hasn't been in all day. It's weird."
Hearing this, Lip subconsciously clenched his fists. "If he comes in, tell him for me: Tell him to never set foot in the Gallagher house again. Or I will kill him!!"
Lip said it loudly and decisively.
The words echoed.
Quite a few wealthy patrons from other neighborhoods looked at Lip in surprise.
Seeing this.
Kevin panicked. He rushed over to Lip. "Okay, I'll tell him. Don't talk like that in here. You'll scare away the rich customers."
Kevin didn't realize that for Lip, right now, those words were pouring gasoline on the fire.
Lip's bloodshot eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief. "Great. Just great. Kevin, I thought we were friends!"
"Now I can't even say a word in your place?"
"All you see is money now, right?!"
"Fine!"
"Fuck you!"
"Fuck you all!" Lip roared, cursing at the rich patrons. Done venting, he turned and stormed out.
Kevin froze: "???"
A few seconds later.
Kevin got angry too. "Fuck! Stupid Gallagher! Fuck you too!!!"
---