As planned, Lariette and Ruediger went to the little Taiwanese dessert shop. They had a bowl of taro and sweet potato balls each, with custom toppings and hot soy milk.
At this time, half of the store was occupied by patrons. Everyone enjoyed hot desserts to combat the chill of the late autumn air. The indistinct hum of chatters and light giggles echoed in the shop.
Lariette and Ruediger sat by the window. Passersby walked past the store, coming and going from various destinations. No one was dressed lightly in this weather.
"You didn't have lunch," Ruediger smiled helplessly as he put some sweet peanuts into Lariette's bowl. "Don't you want something heavier?"
As they walked to this dessert shop, he asked if she was busy enough that she didn't get to have lunch. She just smiled and said yes.
But for some reason, it didn't seem like the real answer. Still, he just took it at face value for now.
