CHAPTER 817: CHAPTER 817: DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL SHAME?

"..."

Julian Rathborne, with a face ashen, walked up to the coffee table, pulled out a few tissues to cover his nose, and his muscular chest began to rise and fall. She had caught him off guard again; this joke would likely keep her amused for an entire year.

The man’s pride was shattered.

Seraphina Linden hadn’t expected him to have a nosebleed. She looked at herself; she wasn’t dressed too revealingly. Now, she believed it—the old lady was right—all these years, he hadn’t been with a woman!

"Mr. Rathborne~" Seraphina called out to him.

Julian Rathborne turned to look at her, sounding quite irritable, "What?"

Seraphina Linden, "Mr. Rathborne, you seem... like you’ve never been out in the world."

"..." Julian Rathborne gave her a sharp look, said nothing, and turned to go into the bathroom.

Seraphina watched his retreating back, wondering why this man seemed so awkward but, in a way, also... cute.

...

Julian Rathborne came out from a cold shower, while Seraphina had already changed into a normal nightgown and was leaning against the headboard reading a book.

Upon hearing a sound, she looked up, playful and wise water eyes glanced at him, "Oh, Mr. Rathborne, you took a really long shower this time. Could it be that you secretly... had a happy moment alone in there?"

It took Julian several seconds to realize she was... making a risqué joke with him!

"Shut up!" He spat out two cold words from between his teeth.

Seraphina used her book to cover half her face, leaving only her watery eyes shifting playfully, laughing in delightful convulsions at his embarrassment.

Julian Rathborne returned to his sofa, feeling extremely frustrated.

"Mr. Rathborne, there’s something I want to tell you; I’ve been here for two days now, and I’m leaving tomorrow."

What?

She’s leaving tomorrow?

Julian Rathborne suddenly felt empty inside. Though she only stayed for two days, he had gotten used to having such a lovely person in his room.

Every night when he returned home, he saw the warm yellow lights and heard her and the old lady’s joyous laughter.

Her clever wit in coaxing the elder, her playful and teasing act, and her mischievous quips all made him very... happy.

He unexpectedly desired such days to last for a long, long time.

But now she suddenly told him she was leaving tomorrow.

Julian Rathborne’s gaze landed on the document in his hand, seemingly indifferent to this topic. After a few seconds of silence, he appeared to speak casually, "If you leave suddenly, how will you explain it to the old lady?"

"I just told the old lady that I want to go pursue my career, she supports and understands entirely, she even said that women should have their own careers, the old lady allowed me to leave."

It seems she is determined to leave; the old lady already knows, and he’s the last person to find out.

Julian Rathborne looked up from the document, his sharp eyes falling on her bright and beautiful face, "What kind of career are you going to pursue?"

"This..."

Can she tell him?

How to tell him?

Say she’s going to be a madam?

NO!

"Secret." Seraphina said with a smile.

If she won’t say, then she won’t say; Julian Rathborne certainly doesn’t think much of her little venture.

Not long after, Seraphina’s Phoenix Plume Pavilion opened grandly, with her daughter Serena Sterling and Leah Thorne among an array of beauties gracing the event, causing a sensation in the community, Julian Rathborne, "..."

With a "snap", Julian Rathborne closed the document and slammed it directly onto the table, "Leave, quick, leave, nobody’s keeping you, go to sleep!"

He lay down on the sofa and closed his eyes.

"..." Seraphina Linden felt disoriented again; what’s up with him now, why is he angry again?

This person is so hard to please.

"Mr. Rathborne, there’s one more thing I want to discuss with you. I’ve kept the old lady entertained as promised, so you should have some peace for awhile. Now, don’t you think you owe me something?" Seraphina hinted.

Julian Rathborne directly turned around, back facing her.

Seraphina, "..."

Forget it, I’ll bring it up tomorrow morning. Anyway, she must take the martial arts manual away, he can’t get away with it!

Seraphina closed the medical book and lay down to sleep.

Julian Rathborne remained awake, but he knew Seraphina had fallen asleep because he heard her peaceful and long breaths.

Julian Rathborne truly felt like getting up at this moment and shaking her awake, this heartless woman!

Julian Rathborne lay back, staring at the crystal chandelier above, it was always like this; she barged into his life boldly, and when leaving, whisked away without a trace, while his originally calm life was stirred into chaos, leaving him abandoned like a forsaken husband!

Julian Rathborne realized in his heart; he had fallen for this woman.

After that serene and romantic encounter, he couldn’t forget her, her quirky spirited nature further deepened his affection.

Turning and tossing, Julian Rathborne simply sat up, retrieving the martial arts manual.

The martial arts manual in hand was sealed, its contents hidden from view, piquing his curiosity; what precisely was inside that made her so attentive?

Julian Rathborne unsealed the package and flipped open the martial arts manual.

Little did he know that opening it would be a shock; Julian Rathborne’s pupils suddenly contracted.

This martial arts manual was actually...

Each page depicted two little figures in various intimate poses.

Judging by the yellowed pages, it should be a rare collected edition, and she wanted this?!

Julian Rathborne immediately got up, rushing to the bedside, "Seraphina Linden, wake up!"

Seraphina was sleeping soundly, feeling as if an annoying mosquito was buzzing around her ear, so bothersome.

Opening her eyes, Seraphina immediately saw Julian Rathborne standing beside her bed.

So the temperamental Julian Rathborne was this irritating mosquito!

Seraphina was grumpy and unhappy, rubbing her sleepy eyes with both hands, she complained, "Mr. Rathborne, what’s wrong now, can’t you let people sleep in the middle of the night..."

Before she could finish, with a "snap," Julian Rathborne directly threw the martial arts manual onto her blanket, "Look at this, what is it!"

Her martial arts manual!

Seraphina’s eyes lit up, quickly flipping through the manual, looking at it seriously while exclaiming in awe, "Wow, amazing, I’ve learned so much, truly worthy of being the long-lost manual!"

Beside the bed, Julian Rathborne, "..."

He thought after being caught she’d be embarrassed, ashamed, and wish to hide.

But now, delightfully admiring and even commenting on the manual, who was this woman!

"Seraphina Linden, you’re a woman, do you even know how to spell the word shame?"