CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS

Audrey Sutton found that series of numbers, took a brief look at his information, the avatar was somewhat strange, white background with black letters forming a large "Five".

She didn’t ask what it meant, just added him.

"President Warner?" At this moment, a voice came from beside her, Audrey didn’t even look up to guess who it was.

She saw Lan Irving walking over from the opposite side, accompanied by Faye Xavier.

"President Warner, Mrs. Warner, didn’t expect to see you here."

Audrey watched Lan Irving put on an act, so she joined her in the performance.

Pretending to walk to Lan Irving’s side, she linked arms with her, smiling, "Ms. Irving, do you think Shane looks good in this outfit? I just bought it for him today."

Lan Irving smiled without speaking, while Faye Xavier kept flattering, "Master Shane, with his figure and looks, what outfit wouldn’t look good on him? Besides, the outfit chosen by his wife, her taste is indisputable, absolutely stunning!"

The two men were unaware of the backstory, only Audrey and Lan Irving knew what calculations they had in mind.

The reason Audrey said this was to slap Lan Irving in the face, who was saying all day that Young Master Warner wouldn’t wear a striped suit, yet here he is wearing it just fine.

Lan Irving feigned composure, smiling gracefully, "President Warner looks good in anything."

Audrey smiled slyly and said, "It’s mainly because I have good taste, not only in husbands but also in choosing clothes."

Faye Xavier, being somewhat oblivious, didn’t notice anything unusual, but Young Master Warner sensed the tense atmosphere.

"There’s a bar over there, Anna and I were planning to check it out, Master Shane, care to join us?"

Young Master Warner glanced at Audrey Sutton and then at his watch and said, "No, it’s getting late, she should go back and rest."

In truth, he thought that with the tension between the two women in less than a minute, who knows what might happen at the bar, better to avoid having them interact too much.

Although he couldn’t tell who was right or wrong, he didn’t want to stir up hostility over some unfounded issues.

Especially since he didn’t want to see Audrey Sutton upset; it made him uncomfortable whenever she was emotional.

After exchanging a few more words, Faye Xavier took Lan Irving and left, while Young Master Warner walked with Audrey Sutton, asking her, "What’s the issue between you two again?"

Audrey raised her eyebrows, not hiding anything, "She said you wouldn’t wear a striped suit."

"Just because of that?"

"Yeah, she pretends like she understands you well."

Young Master Warner chuckled, "I indeed haven’t worn a striped suit before."

"Why not? You don’t like it?"

"No, it’s because my brother liked wearing them, so it can’t help but remind me of him."

Audrey’s expression changed slightly, her eyes lowered apologetically, feeling as if she might have made another mistake.

Although when he mentioned his brother, he seemed relaxed, his gaze always turned deeper than usual.

After a moment’s silence, Audrey switched the topic, "Didn’t you say you wanted to head back?"

Young Master Warner looked ahead, "Let’s go back using another route, show you a different scenery."

People were bustling around, creating a noisy atmosphere, yet her eyes were only on him.

His warm grip on her wrist seemed to pulse into her heart, setting aside distractions, for that moment she felt happy and content.

The next morning’s flight was returning to the country, and to adjust her jet lag, Audrey took a day off.

Coincidentally, Laura Yates invited her out, discussing some modifications to the comic, raising some professional questions about the plot’s coherence and key framing details.

Although the teacher had taught related knowledge in class, it was not as substantial as the insights Laura Yates brought.

After an afternoon of exchanges, Audrey felt she’d learned a lot, no wonder everyone says Autumn, the editor, is the hidden big shot behind the scenes; her success isn’t just luck.

"That’s all for today, focus more on the framing, not much else has issues, your art style is exquisite, it will be popular."

Audrey smiled, for the first time feeling confidence in herself.

Given her family’s conditions, though she doesn’t need to earn huge amounts, she still aspires to have her own career and achieve something in the industry she loves.

The appearance of Laura Yates saved her from being a couch potato, encouraging Audrey to devote more time and energy to her comics.

A week passed, comments under her comic evidently increased severalfold compared to before, almost all were positive, plus more readers were urging for updates.

Audrey smiled brightly as she browsed through each comment, carefully reading every single one.

Because when she released updates previously, it felt like playing a single-player game, not many people saw them, now with each update comes reader discussions, greatly encouraging her, making her drawing feel effortless.

"Comrade Sutton, it’s Flora’s birthday today, you can’t miss it again," Barry Barrett sent a WhatsApp message reminding her in the morning.

Audrey checked the calendar and remembered it was Flora’s birthday today.

The dorm sisters always gather for birthdays, and this time missing it would be inexcusable.

Audrey closed her computer and sent Young Master Warner a WhatsApp message: It’s my friend’s birthday tonight, won’t be home for dinner.

Young Master Warner didn’t reply, but she believed he had seen it.

Audrey didn’t have time to prepare a gift, she simply ordered a birthday cake.

The party location was chosen at a new disco near the school, not only offering discounts but also having many handsome guys; as Flora put it, the chances of an encounter are higher.

Flora was the most open-minded among the dorm roommates, having extensive romantic experiences; just in the two years of college, she’s had seven or eight boyfriends.

She seemed to never have downtime, saying she broke up one day, sadly pulling them out for drinks and karaoke, the next day showing up with a new boyfriend, happily pulling them out for drinks and karaoke.

She often looked down on Audrey for getting married so young, saying, "You haven’t seen this colorful world before locking yourself in a cage."

Then Barry Barrett added, "Comrade Sutton, that’s not an ordinary cage, it’s pure gold and even has diamonds; if it were me, I’d willingly squeeze into that cage."

Audrey smiled awkwardly, "Actually, he doesn’t control me much, it’s not as exaggerated as you say, a cage, I’ve flown out now, haven’t I?"

Flora pointed at a handsome guy at the bar, "Then tell me, with your married status, would you dare to approach that handsome guy?"

Audrey glanced in that direction, dryly chuckling, "...I wouldn’t dare even when I wasn’t married."

Flora patted Audrey’s head, "Timid! No ambition! Looking like a flower and being spoiled by an old man."

"...He’s actually just a little older, otherwise quite good."

Flora was indignant, "Look at you, look at you, married only a short time and already defending him!"