CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 40: NOT TAKING THE SWEET DATE

"I’ll let you buy shares. If you need money, just ask me. When you make a profit, give me dividends. How about it?" Elliana Lyle calculated well because she knew Zane Bennett would establish a gaming company in the future, which would become a global sensation that year.

But at that time, she was too caught up with the Southwell Family to pay attention, and Zane Bennett even told her he had found the love of his life.

"Really! You’re not lying to me?" Zane Bennett seemed a bit incredulous.

"I’m not lying. When have I ever lied to you?" Elliana Lyle said and then gossiped, "Have you got a girlfriend?"

Zane Bennett suddenly got impatient: "...You’re just like my dad!" Then he felt something was off and quickly spat twice to dispel the thought.

"If you don’t, then you don’t. You should tidy up. I have to go to the film set tomorrow."

"You’re actually acting now? Well, I wish you become a big star soon." Zane Bennett rarely said something decent.

"Thanks for the kind words!" Elliana Lyle said as she returned to the master bedroom.

Lana looked at Zane Bennett and said, "Young Master, I’ll tidy your room. Do you need me to put away the things in your suitcase?"

Upon hearing someone wanted to touch his suitcase, Zane Bennett got anxious: "I’ll handle my suitcase myself, don’t touch it!"

"Understood, Young Master." Lana nodded respectfully.

...

After taking a shower, Elliana Lyle lay in bed scrolling on her phone. Having missed out on gossip for a few days, there seemed to be quite a bit on Weibo.

One of the headlines caught her eye.

Title: Shocking! Business mogul Norman Bennett visits the South Wind Song set to support his fiancée. The two were spotted!

The content was just them hugging—what’s the fuss about, yet it was still the third trending topic.

My sweet couple: "I’m so envious, I’m shipping them!"

Heart Fluttering Breeze: "It’s so strange, how did these two get together? Wasn’t Elliana Lyle chasing Shane Southwell a while ago?"

Little Sakura @Heart Fluttering Breeze: "She got rejected by Shane Southwell."

Seeing the comments from netizens, Elliana Lyle didn’t care. As a public figure, one must have a thick skin against public opinion.

Looking at the photo of Norman Bennett hugging her, she unknowingly smiled. Norman Bennett looked handsome from every angle!

However, the last trending topic made her heart skip a beat!

Joy Lyle got terminated by Roland, claiming it’s due to poor character!

"???"

She might believe that the president of Roland has poor character, but how could Joy Lyle be of poor character?

Without checking further, she called Joy Lyle directly.

"Sis, did you see the trending news? What’s going on?" Elliana Lyle’s tone was a bit anxious, tinged with worry.

Yet Joy Lyle didn’t seem affected at all and calmly said, "I saw it. I don’t intend to renew my contract with Roland, so Roland sold my contract to the Art Elegance streaming company, and since they won’t resell it, I think I won’t have a chance to appear this year."

"What? Shane Southwell is just disgusting." The more Elliana Lyle thought about it, the more upset she got. Not only did Shane Southwell slander and defame, but he also sold her off.

If no company could buy Joy Lyle out, then she’d just be stuck in the streaming company all year.

In this rapidly evolving era, who would remember anyone by next year?

"Alright, don’t worry, Elliana. I’ll be fine. Focus on your acting. It’s your first role ever, so give it your best." Joy Lyle gently comforted her, not wanting Elliana to do anything for her sake.

Elliana Lyle had more to say, but Joy Lyle interrupted her: "Alright, Elliana, it’s late. It’s time to sleep. Listen to your sister, okay?"

"...Okay, good night, sis."

"Mm, good night."

Elliana Lyle hung up, then received a message from Luna, immediately feeling her wallet was not safe.

Surprisingly, Luna wasn’t asking for money.

Detective Luna: "Something has come out about Rupert Zeller. The child was aborted, and the parents will be imprisoned for their crimes. The sentence isn’t out yet, but it’s confirmed. Her uncle is applying for legal guardianship."

Kitty: "Thank you for telling me."

Rupert Zeller getting a new guardian is a good thing. Hopefully, this child will have a better future.

Detective Luna: "You’re welcome. By the way, I found out something about George Lyle. Before he went abroad, he returned every year to pay respects at his parents’ graves. Ever since coming back from abroad, he hasn’t returned home."

Hasn’t returned home at all? Would going abroad cause such a drastic change in character?

Detective Luna: "I need to check what George Lyle did overseas. It’ll cost 300,000."

Asking for 300,000 just like that, why don’t you go rob someone?

Of course, Elliana Lyle only thought that to herself. Conveniently, her mother had transferred her 400,000 for living expenses yesterday, so she sent the money over rather straightforwardly.

Midnight at 12.

Elliana Lyle still hadn’t gone to sleep, squinting at her phone, waiting for Norman Bennett to return.

But she was on the verge of losing it, so she decided to go wait in the living room. Lana and Zane Bennett had already rested.

At that moment, she was the only one in the living room.

Sure enough, fortune favors the patient, and Norman Bennett returned at 12:12 a.m.

Norman Bennett walked in a bit tired, while Elliana Lyle eagerly took his jacket, holding it in her arms and sniffing it.

Smells really good.

Such behavior from the little girl made Norman Bennett a bit exasperated. He couldn’t bear to scold her, yet it seemed like she wasn’t afraid in the least.

"Why aren’t you asleep?" he asked.

Elliana Lyle tilted her face up and replied with a grin, "I’m waiting for you, Norman Bennett. Want me to run you a bath?"

"Sure."

With his consent, Elliana Lyle put down the jacket and dashed to the master bathroom, adjusting the water temperature to fill the bathtub.

However, the man had already come in and stood behind her; she just hadn’t noticed yet.

Seeing the water level rise, she thought it was about enough. She stood up, and when she turned around, the man scared her so much she stumbled.

Stepping back, she fell directly into the bathtub, causing water to splash everywhere!

"..."

The man’s pupils contracted, initially wanting to pull her up but retracted his hand when he saw Elliana stabilize herself and then comfortably squat in the tub.

Cough, cough!

After coughing up some water, Elliana Lyle looked up at the man, who was looking down at her, appearing elegant and noble, with water droplets still falling from his body.

"Why are you always so clumsy?" The man’s tone, though stern, held a touch of indulgence.

However, in the next second, the man’s expression changed. Elliana’s sleepwear had gotten wet, becoming slightly see-through. He turned his head away and sternly commanded, "Get out."

...

It’s not like she can’t get scared—why be so harsh?

Elliana stood up from the tub, soaked entirely, as the man wrapped her in a towel and instructed, "Go dry your hair. Don’t catch a cold."

Seeing the girl’s displeased face, the man realized his tone had been harsh and said, "Be good."

She didn’t buy the sweet talk, dodged the man’s approaching hand, and left the bathroom in a huff.

In less than three seconds, she returned, not forgetting to close the door for the man even in her anger.

When Norman Bennett came out from his shower, the girl seemed to have already fallen asleep.

Carefully, he climbed onto the bed, lying at the edge, slowly moving closer, gently pulling her into his embrace as she slept.

Her hair was still damp, only about sixty percent dry.

"Elliana! Didn’t I tell you to dry your hair? Did you think my words were meant to be ignored?"

The girl in his arms slept deeply, unaware and unable to respond to him.

Sigh...

The sound of a hairdryer suddenly startled Elliana Lyle awake, and she found Norman Bennett holding her... drying her hair.

She looked up to see only seriousness on his face.

"What did I ask you to do when you came out?" Norman Bennett asked, his face returning to its usual icy demeanor, possibly with a hint of anger.

"Uh..." Elliana Lyle thought for a moment, unsure, "Dry my hair?"

"No more doing this!"

"Oh~"

In no time, her hair was fully dried, and the drowsiness that had been weighing on her eyelids finally allowed her to sleep.

At first, the man just held her, but Elliana Lyle kept shifting to find the most comfortable sleeping position, moving restlessly the whole time.

A soft smack landed on her behind, followed closely by a deep voice from above: "Sleep, don’t move!"

Sure enough, it worked wonders. The little girl in his arms settled down, soon followed by the soft sound of her breathing.