CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: THREADS OF AFFECTION, SEEMINGLY THERE AND NOT (3)_1

Rachel Bailey wouldn’t say she was interested in Benjamin Robinson in a romantic sense; she was merely curious. In a place like this, what was a stone-faced man like him doing? Was he on a case? Or was he on vacation, having afternoon tea here just like them?

"Miss Bailey," Hansen Ruiz suddenly leaned in close and said with great kindness, "Do you know who Stone-face is? Being the captain of the criminal investigation division of the municipal public security bureau is just his ordinary identity. He is actually the only son of the current municipal party secretary, a genuine second-generation official, a child of a high-ranking cadre."

Rachel arched an eyebrow. What was he implying? That she shouldn’t aspire to reach for Benjamin Robinson? She had an interest in Benjamin Robinson—well, alright, it was more like admiration. She’d always admired police officers and soldiers ever since she was young. Was that not allowed? The speed with which Benjamin Robinson had apprehended those criminals last time made her feel he was a true man, which was why, after snapping at him, she still wanted to know his name.

"What does that have to do with me?" Rachel threw a nonchalant remark at him and then moved the two steamer baskets of buns in front of herself. Buns were good; at least there was something to eat.

Watching her eat the buns, Hansen Ruiz’s eyes grew deep, but then he smiled again and waved over the waiter to order some more delicacies.

Rachel was straightforward and had grown accustomed to frugality. Seeing Ruiz order so much food again, she picked up a shrimp dumpling and said, "That’s enough. We won’t be able to finish if you order more. Don’t waste it; that would be a shame."

Hansen Ruiz then stopped his ordering.

He was already full and sat across from Rachel, quietly watching her eat rapidly. Although her upbringing was not noble, her table manners weren’t unseemly. Even when she ate quickly, she didn’t lose her grace—probably a refinement cultivated during her three years as a white-collar worker.

Unconsciously, a smile that was doting, yet not entirely so, appeared at the corner of Hansen Ruiz’s lips.

「Horne Family mansion.」

In the courtyard, under the pavilion, the old lady was half-reclining on a comfortable rocking lounge chair, with Mei standing behind her. The old lady was of great age, and the younger generation, concerned for her well-being, allowed Mei to follow her around all day, essentially serving as a personal servant.

The afternoon sunlight sprinkled a little under the pavilion, falling upon the old lady’s legs. She didn’t mind, just squinting her sharp old eyes.

"Mei, how many days has it been?" the old lady suddenly asked.

"Madam, including today, it’s only been ten days." Mei knew the old lady was thinking about the Elder Mistress who was currently on her honeymoon in France.

"Twenty more days." The old lady sighed softly, opened her eyes, and watched a BMW drive in from outside—that was her granddaughter’s car. "I miss Julia, that girl. If she were here, I wouldn’t be this bored." She had a host of children and grandchildren, but the only one who truly understood her loneliness was the granddaughter-in-law who had just married into the family. It was a rather poignant realization.

"Even if the Elder Mistress returns, she’ll likely be busy with many things," Mei said, referring to the subsidiaries and chain stores that had spun off from the Valence Group.

The old lady mused, That’s true. That girl isn’t the type to sit back and let others provide for her—she likes to be self-reliant. Glades really dotes on her, even taking care of these thoughts of hers, a sweet warmth spreading through her heart as she thought of how her precious grandson cherished Julia Bluen.

"The Young Master has always been so good to the Elder Mistress. Madam, the Young Miss is back," Mei said, seeing Adele Horne emerge from the BMW with a dark expression on her pretty face, stomping her way towards the pavilion.

The old lady narrowed her eyes again and responded faintly, "Her return isn’t for keeping this old lady company; she’d rather galavant anywhere with that Orlando Evans than sit with me for half an hour. Now, I suspect she’s come to complain to me about her grievances."

Mei smiled and said no more.

When Adele Horne entered the pavilion, it was extremely quiet.

"Grandma!" Adele Horne, as soon as she walked into the pavilion, threw herself into the old lady’s arms with a gloomy face.

"Adele, what’s wrong?" the old lady asked with a gentle smile, tenderly stroking Adele’s wavy long hair, her kindness naturally shining through. No matter how willful Adele was, she was her only granddaughter, and the old lady actually loved her dearly, but Adele herself could not feel it, constantly feeling that the old lady only favored Julia.

"Grandma, Julia bullied... my sister-in-law’s good friend bullied me!" Adele Horne began by naming Julia, but after the old lady suddenly tugged at her long hair, causing her pain, she quickly corrected herself, playing the victim who complains first.

After making her accusations, she did not forget to sarcastically add, "My sister-in-law is already married into our Horne family, no longer a Bluen Family miss. Our Horne family is a prestigious clan, watched by countless eyes. If my sister-in-law continues to associate with such lowly people, it will also tarnish our Horne Family’s name. Grandma, when my sister-in-law and elder brother come back from their honeymoon, you have to enlighten her."

"What do you mean by ’lowly people’? Adele, from a human perspective, everyone is equal, all born of parents, all loved by parents, with no distinction between high and low. Whomever Julia chooses to befriend is her business. If she deems them worthy, even a street sweeper can be a friend," the old lady chided Adele with some seriousness.

"Grandma!" Adele Horne stamped her foot fiercely. I knew it! Grandma always favors Julia! "I’m going out. I won’t be back for dinner." After saying that, she flipped her long wavy hair and turned to leave.

Watching her granddaughter leave in a huff, the old lady sighed sorrowfully, commenting softly, "Julia is only four years older than Adele, yet she’s so much more sensible. Both were raised in luxurious conditions, so how come one is independent and self-reliant, while the other only knows how to indulge and sow discord?"

"Madam, please don’t be angry. The Young Miss is still young and will mature in time. It’s just that the Elder Mistress might have a hard time gaining the Young Miss’s approval," Mei consoled.

The old lady stood up from her recliner, her expression returning to one of tranquility as she replied, "I believe in Julia, and I believe even more in Glades." With a husband who spoiled his wife to the skies, she was willing to bet that Julia would surely win this battle, conquering the hearts of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Nightfall arrived unnoticed every day.