CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 122: THREADS OF AFFECTION, SEEMINGLY THERE AND NOT (2)_1

Was he afraid that if he spoke clearly, Julia Bluen would instead accuse him of wasting her sister’s youth, or was he worried that Julia might think her presence was the reason her sister jilted her fiancé?

But no matter the reason, Rachel Bailey wouldn’t point it out, as it was a matter between husband and wife. She also believed that her friend would one day understand that Glades Horne loved her truly.

"You seem eager for me to leave?" Hansen Ruiz put on a sad face, pretending to be aggrieved as he said, "After all, I’ve helped you out twice." It was the first time a woman had seemed eager for him to leave.

Rachel Bailey’s eyes widened as she gave him a hard stare, then pulled out her phone, feigning to make a call. Hansen Ruiz watched her amusedly, but she suddenly asked him, "Do you know the phone number for Judge Bao?"

Hansen Ruiz was taken aback, bewildered. Judge Bao? *The* Judge Bao? The real Judge Bao was a reputable official from the Song Dynasty. If a modern official gained the public’s heart, they might also be dubbed Judge Bao. But which Judge Bao was Rachel Bailey referring to? The one from the Song Dynasty? That Judge Bao had long since passed away, and besides, how could there have been phone numbers in the Song Dynasty?

"Which Judge Bao?" Hansen Ruiz had to ask.

He really couldn’t fathom Rachel Bailey’s thoughts; this woman’s mind moved as quickly as her mouth did.

"Judge Bao Zheng, of course. I want to call and file a complaint. I’ve been terribly wronged," Rachel Bailey said earnestly. Hansen Ruiz burst into laughter after understanding. This young woman was truly interesting; no wonder Julia Bluen considered her a good friend.

"Have I wronged you?" Hansen Ruiz asked with a smile, while a strange glint, one he’d never shown before, flickered deep in his eyes.

"You said you had a meeting. I kindly suggested you return to your company, and yet you accuse me of rushing you off. Isn’t that a terrible injustice?" Rachel Bailey said, walking into her small room and leaving her pretty back to Hansen Ruiz. A moment later, she emerged and said to him, "You don’t need to go back for the meeting; I have to go out anyway."

Hansen Ruiz said nothing but stood up and followed her out.

As they stepped into the elevator again, he suddenly reached out and placed his hand on Rachel Bailey’s shoulder. Before she could react, he chuckled, withdrew his hand, and murmured, "Alright then."

This time it was Rachel Bailey’s turn to be taken aback. She almost thought she had imagined his touch on her shoulder. How could he possibly touch her shoulder?

"My meeting was over long ago. Let’s go, I’ll take you out for afternoon tea."

After saying that, he was the first to step out of the elevator.

Rachel Bailey furrowed her brow. Something felt off. However, when Hansen Ruiz waved to her from inside the car, she shook off that uneasy feeling and quickly got into his vehicle. Just as she was about to close the door, a strong hand reached over from her side and shut it for her. After closing the door, Hansen Ruiz’s gentle face lingered close to hers. His warm, deep eyes, seeming somewhat profound, locked onto her small face. His next words made Rachel Bailey blush: "I was afraid you’d slam it hard again like last time. My car door is quite fragile; it can’t take that kind of force."

Rachel Bailey broke out in a cold sweat!

This man sure knew how to hold a grudge.

Hansen Ruiz drove Rachel Bailey to a rather upscale establishment called Golden Phoenix Inn on Prefecture Front Street. He hadn’t taken her to the Emperor Hotel, not because he was unwilling, but because he considered Rachel Bailey’s feelings, worried she wouldn’t be comfortable in such an overly lavish place.

The Golden Phoenix Inn offered afternoon tea at reasonable prices, so it was especially popular. Many people who weren’t exceptionally wealthy, yet not poor either, liked to meet friends there in the afternoon. They would sit, drink tea, and chat for the entire afternoon, finding such days relaxing and pleasant.

"Would you prefer to sit in an Elegant Room or in the main hall?" After leading Rachel Bailey into the inn, Hansen Ruiz first took her up to the main hall on the second floor. Looking at the bustling hall, he considered taking her to an Elegant Room, but he still gallantly asked for her preference.

"Let’s stay here," Rachel Bailey said. She didn’t want to go to an Elegant Room. She always felt that Elegant Rooms were for people like lovers. She and Hansen Ruiz were nothing like that; even calling them friends was a stretch, so she didn’t want to go to an Elegant Room.

Hansen Ruiz had no objections and led her to a table near a window, where they sat down.

"What would you like to eat?" Hansen Ruiz asked politely after they were seated.

"I’m not picky," Rachel Bailey replied, scanning the surroundings out of habit.

Hansen Ruiz didn’t ask further. He called over a waiter and ordered a lot of food.

Though it was called afternoon tea, it was really no different from a full meal. It was simply the term people were accustomed to using.

"Huh?"

Rachel Bailey picked up her disposable chopsticks. Just as she was about to tear open the wrapper, she suddenly saw a strong, somber figure flash past outside. It looked like Benjamin Robinson. She couldn’t help but let out a small gasp.

"What’s wrong?" Hansen Ruiz asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I think I saw ’Coffin Face.’ You eat first; I’m going to see if it was him," Rachel Bailey said, then put down her chopsticks and hurried off.

Hearing her say she saw Benjamin Robinson and rush out to investigate, the warmth on Hansen Ruiz’s face subtly receded, replaced by a touch of gloom. However, the gloom vanished in an instant, and his gentle expression returned. He continued to smile faintly as he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat by himself.

A while later, Rachel Bailey returned.

"I couldn’t find him. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. How could you eat all the good food?" Rachel Bailey exclaimed as soon as she sat down, discovering that Hansen Ruiz had devoured most of the delicious dishes, leaving only two steamers of buns for her.

"You went off chasing some handsome guy. I was bored, so what else could I do but eat?" Hansen Ruiz said nonchalantly. "You yourself said you weren’t interested in that fellow. I wonder what your actions just now signified?"

"I..." Rachel Bailey trailed off. She herself didn’t know why she had chased after him. Benjamin Robinson’s ’Coffin Face’ had left such a deep impression on her that she really wanted to know when, if ever, he would smile.

She said she wasn’t interested, but in her heart, she was very interested.

Aloof men always sparked a lot of speculation. One couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman it would take to melt such a frosty man.