CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 377: SUITED FOR BEING SINGLE

Franklin shot her a glance: "Do I really need you to say that? Are you underestimating your brother’s professionalism? Hurry up and leave, I’ll send a car to take you back."

"Thanks, second brother!"

"Mm, contact me on the phone from now on, don’t just come over without a reason."

"Mm!"

"By the way, wait a moment."

Audrey Sutton stood by the door, looking back at Franklin. He scratched his head and said, "... Spend more time chatting with your sister-in-law when you have nothing else to do."

Audrey Sutton: "... What’s the matter? We chat regularly."

Franklin: "Well... Did she say anything?"

Audrey Sutton was puzzled: "Second brother, what are you referring to?"

Franklin: "Just... did you talk about me?"

Audrey Sutton shook her head without thinking.

Hearing this, Franklin breathed a sigh of relief and said to Audrey Sutton, "It’s nothing, you should go back quickly."

Audrey Sutton, however, thought deeply and asked, "Did you make your sister-in-law angry again?"

"What did I do to upset her? I didn’t do anything! She’s ignoring me for no reason."

Audrey Sutton took a breath: "Not to criticize you, second brother, but while work is important, you should also balance it by spending time and effort with your sister-in-law. She’s not the kind to make unreasonable scenes; if she’s sulking, it’s definitely because you did something wrong. You should reflect on it carefully."

Franklin looked distressed: "Why can’t problems just be said directly? Why do I have to guess? I can’t guess correctly, and then she gets even angrier. I tell you, you women are so contradictory."

"Second brother, I think you’re just suited for being single."

"Seems like you don’t want to investigate this case anymore."

Audrey Sutton immediately backed down, offering a sheepish smile: "Actually, sometimes women get angry over a very small thing. Once you realize it, just admit your mistake and apologize, and it will be fine. If you force her to say it out loud, it makes us seem unreasonable over trivial matters. If you then say something like ’You’re upset over this little thing?’, she might feel even more displeased."

Franklin was a bit bewildered. Audrey Sutton concluded: "Just remember two things: One, ’soothe’; and two, ’apologize’. Soothe her until her emotions settle, then apologize. Once she’s comfortable, she will naturally talk things out with you properly."

"Is it that simple?"

"Simple? There’s a lot to learn about this. Figuring out how to soothe her is enough for you to ponder; don’t start by asking ’Why are you upset?’ She won’t want to talk to you when you ask like that. The less she speaks, the more anxious you’ll get. Don’t always try to figure everything out at once; first, soothe, then listen to what she says. Never, ever leave her alone thinking she’ll calm down by herself. If she settles her anger by herself, she might have realized that you’re not worth it. In that case, singlehood might not be far away for you."

Franklin: "..."

Why did it feel like he had stepped on every landmine? He often thought about talking to her after a few days when she had cooled down.

"I tell you, second brother, spend less time on criminal investigation materials, and more on books about love psychology and analyzing women’s emotions."

"Alright, alright, hurry back!"

Audrey Sutton chuckled, and before leaving, she reminded him once more: "Don’t forget what you just promised me!"

After all this commotion, it was already past four when she got home.

Audrey Sutton changed to a TV channel and started preparing dinner.

Just after five, she heard the sound of a car outside. The General immediately got up from the carpet and ran to the door, wagging his tail as he looked towards it.

Audrey Sutton wiped her hands on her apron, walked over to open the door, and saw Shane locking the car and walking over with an umbrella.

"Why are you home so early today?"

"There was nothing at the office, so I came back."

Shane walked into the hallway, putting away the umbrella and about to hang it on a hook near the door, when he noticed another umbrella hanging there, dripping water. He asked, "Did you go out?"

Audrey Sutton followed his gaze and looked at the umbrella she had used not long ago. She nodded and said, "I just went to the nearby supermarket to buy some seasoning."

"Aren’t there unopened ones in the cupboard?"

"Really? I didn’t know."

Shane walked inside, changing shoes while saying, "In the cabinet all the way to the right of the dish cupboard, there are still a lot."

"Oh, I’ll use those later then. You should go take a hot shower downstairs, I just washed the vegetables and haven’t started cooking yet. I thought you wouldn’t be back so soon."

"Take your time, I’m not very hungry either."

"Then I’ll go run the bath for you."

Saying this, Audrey Sutton dashed upstairs, and Shane smiled, following her at a leisurely pace.

"I’m not taking a bath, don’t fill the tub. Just help me find some clothes."

"Okay."

Audrey stood in front of the wardrobe, casually took a robe, and some folded towels, and brought them to him in the bathroom. He was standing by the showerhead undressing and smiled when he saw Audrey come in: "Shower together?"

Audrey shot him a playful look, placed the clothes beside him, and walked out, muttering, "I’m not showering with you, you’re never well-behaved, and I already showered this afternoon."

Then, Audrey left the bathroom and closed the door for him.

Shane finished undressing and stood under the showerhead, splashing water on his face.

After washing his face, he wiped the water away and suddenly saw a milk tea cup sitting on the shelf next to the bathtub.

The cup was transparent, but it was clear that two-thirds of the milk tea was left.

This wasn’t like her usual style; she could easily finish two cups in one go on a regular day.

So, after his shower when he was heading downstairs, Shane asked Audrey: "Wasn’t the milk tea good today?"

Audrey, while stirring the pan, answered, "It was good."

"I saw more than half a cup left."

Audrey paused as she finally remembered the milk tea left by the bathtub. Preoccupied, she had forgotten about it entirely.

"I soaked in the bath too long and got a bit fuzzy. You reminded me, or I’d have forgotten about it. Could you grab it for me? I’ll heat it up and drink it later."

Shane stopped midway down the stairs, watching her silhouette busy at the kitchen counter, sensing something unusual.

Turning back, he went to the room and brought down the half-finished milk tea.

Outside, the rain had been pouring all day, with the sky perpetually overcast. Despite it usually being seven or eight before it darkened, it was already pitch black now.

The swing in the yard was soaked through by the rain, with some dried leaves blown down onto it by the wind, while others landed on the grass.

The scene looked somewhat desolate, even though it was just the beginning of summer.