Watching the rich changes in Lila Sullivan's expression, Sophia Sullivan had already guessed most of her thoughts.
She gently patted Lila's hand: "If you plan to go to Hawaii, aunt will book the ticket for you. If you don't want to go, aunt will still book the ticket for you."
Lila blinked, not understanding what her aunt meant.
Sophia explained: "On the surface, we have to fool the people in Beijing to avoid them urging us every day."
Lila was about to act coquettishly when Sophia raised her hand to stop her: "Hold on, aunt also has a favor to ask you."
Lila immediately obediently took Sophia's arm, her tone sincere: "Whatever aunt asks, I will do it even if it means going through fire and water."
This was the kind of considerate junior.
With such bright and expressive eyes, even if she added water from wiping rags to her father's teacup, her father probably wouldn't have the heart to blame her.
Unlike her own daughter.
Thinking of her biological daughter, Sophia felt a headache.
"While you're in Macau these days, help aunt talk sense into Luna. Persuade her to give up the idea of going to the US as soon as possible."
Luna Carter was Sophia's only daughter, whom she usually cherished like the apple of her eye.
Lila was a little surprised: "Luna wants to go to the US?"
"She thinks Macau is too small and boring. She's been clamoring every day to go to the so-called 'Land of the Free'." Sophia sighed helplessly.
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of the front door locking came from a distance.
"Mom——" a clear yet somewhat anxious voice called out.
"What are you yelling about? Acting like a little madman." Sophia rubbed her temples.
"Mommy, you didn't throw away my leather pants, did you? I need them for the performance!" Luna hung headphones around her neck, poked half her head out from the door, and her rainbow-colored hair—dyed red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple—was extremely eye-catching...
Lila couldn't help it; she almost choked on her coffee, and tears welled up in her eyes. Even so, she didn't forget to squeeze in a thumbs-up: "It looks good, very fashionable."
Luna immediately excitedly pounced on her: "Sis, why are you here? I told you this hairstyle looks good! Mommy has no taste at all; she said I put a paint palette on my head. Sis, your taste is definitely top-notch!"
As she spoke, she raised her thumb and touched Lila's finger.
Sophia had a splitting headache: "Don't always indulge her."
As soon as Luna came over, she squeezed next to Lila.
"Sis, how long will you stay in Macau this time?"
"Depends on when the family comes to drag me back." Lila shrugged helplessly.
Luna immediately showed a look of sudden understanding: "My mom's the same, always controlling me and setting a curfew. Sis, do you remember that dessert shop we couldn't get into last time you were here? It's still early tonight; we'll definitely get in. How about it? Let's go now! I'll take you!"
The lights were on, and the night was falling.
A bright avenue ran through the city center, ablaze with lights.
The dessert shop they were going to was in the old town. Luna drove a sports car, speeding in the opposite direction of the city's prosperity.
After driving through two or three intersections, Luna frowned: "Why are there so many cars on the road today?"
Lila followed her gaze out the window.
At the traffic light intersection, a neat and solemn line of black cars was waiting with them. The light from the street lamps reflected one after another on the shiny car bodies, emitting a cold metallic glow.
There were no flowers or silk ribbons decorated on the leading car, so it was obviously not a wedding car. Instead, it looked like the procession of a big shot in a movie.
In Beijing, when someone with such a grand entourage traveled, the road would mostly be closed in advance, and it was rare to see them up close. Lila propped her head up against the car window, casually looking at the motorcade.
The wind drifted in through the half-open car window, gently blowing her long hair.
Luna was about to speak to her when she turned her head and saw a scene like a medieval oil painting—Lila leaned obliquely against the car window, her silky long hair fluttering in the wind, and a magnolia lamp just right cast a golden edge on her side profile.
"Sis." Luna opened her mouth, her tone a little hesitant, "I suddenly feel that my car is a bit unworthy of you."
"Got it." Lila nodded seriously, "When we go back, I'll talk to aunt and ask her to buy you a new one."
"..."
Luna scratched the tip of her nose. That wasn't what she meant, but Lila's proposal hit the spot.
The black motorcade next to them had already driven most of the way without them noticing. She quickly stepped on the gas pedal to follow. The roads in the old town were narrow, and soon it became a single lane. In the eyes of the motorcade driver, this red sports car became a reckless troublemaker that suddenly cut into the motorcade and shuttled freely.
The driver couldn't help but click his tongue loudly.
A lazy and indifferent male voice came from the back seat: "Xiao Zhong, stay calm."
"Brother Yu, it's not that I'm impatient, but this guy is driving too aggressively. If you weren't in the car, I would have taught him a lesson long ago." Xiao Zhong was a little indignant.
The man slowly raised his chin, revealing a section of slightly pale skin and a pair of deep eyes in the rearview mirror.
His gaze always had an inexplicable appeal when looking at people. Probably because his facial features were too handsome and harmonious, people couldn't help but look at him more. But at this moment, no one dared to look more— the solemnity in his eyes was really intimidating.
Xiao Zhong licked his lips and heard the man in the back seat continue to admonish him in a slow tone: "When doing things outside, we emphasize keeping a low profile. What have I always told you?"
He quickly sat up straight and replied respectfully: "Understood, Brother Yu."
The man in the back seat didn't speak again, but his eyes drifted out the window.
The red sports car happened to run parallel to their car again.
The car window was half open, and the warm evening breeze blew in.
The person sitting on the other side of the man, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them: "I said, why are you so cautious even on your own turf?"
"Caution is the parent of safety." The man replied indifferently.
"No wonder my grandfather values you so much and says you're most like him when he was young. By the way, don't forget what I told you just now. The family is having a banquet in a few days for my sister's birthday. Will you..." Seeing that the other party didn't respond, he reached out and patted his shoulder.
From his angle, he could only see the superior side profile of the man in front of him and the small light mole on his ear bone.
He couldn't help asking: "Ah Yu, what are you looking at? So engrossed."
3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second.
The green light came on.
The sound of the engine, carrying heat waves, pushed the red sports car forward rapidly.
"Nothing." Xavier leaned on his chin with one hand, slowly looking away, "Looking at the wind."
What's so interesting about the wind? Hudson muttered to himself.
He only knew that Xavier often said some inexplicable things, which made him seem particularly unpredictable in the eyes of his subordinates. To put it nicely, he was unfathomable; to put it bluntly, he was moody.
But Xavier had one biggest advantage: he was cautious in doing things.
The industries entrusted to him had never had any mistakes.
His grandfather favored him greatly. Sometimes Hudson couldn't help but suspect that Xavier was his real son.
Thinking about being scolded by his grandfather a few days ago for messing up something, Hudson felt upset.
He closed his eyes again: "You go to the dessert shop; I won't accompany you. That kind of small place doesn't even have enough room to stretch your legs."
Xavier's tone was polite: "Do you need me to bring you a takeaway?"
"Thanks, no need." Hudson waved his hand.
...
The roads in the old town were narrow, and the streets were lined with parked cars. The sports car could only stop one street away from the dessert shop.
At this time, a long line had already formed under the old doorplate, almost stretching to the street corner.
Lila looked at her watch; it was no more than 30 seconds.
Sure enough, money makes the world go round.
Speaking of which, should she also send Ethan Carter some hard work fees? Let him hold on for a few more days and not be urged back to Beijing by his family so soon?
She wondered if Ethan had arrived in Hawaii yet and if he could withstand the repeated questioning from the elders at home.
He had never been decisive since he was a child; he panicked when something happened...
At this moment, Ethan, who was sound asleep on the plane, suddenly woke up, feeling a chill down his spine: "Stewardess! Bring me a blanket!"
"Sir, here's your blanket."
"And a serving of mango pomelo sago."
...
"——Another serving of mango pomelo sago!"
In the small dessert shop, the boy's shout immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Luna was so angry that she knocked him on the head: "Are you crazy? Shouting so loud!"
"I'm just afraid my sister is hungry!" The boy rubbed his head aggrievedly, "Where's my sister? Why is she taking so long on that call?"
Lila originally wanted to perfunctory a few words and hang up the call.
There are two types of friendships formed since childhood. One is childhood sweetheart, and Ethan can barely be counted as one. The other is natural enemies.
It had been less than half a day since she left Beijing, and the news of her fleeing the marriage had already spread all over her social circle. As a result, her natural enemy called to "sincerely" greet her as soon as possible.
In the empty alley, a bell-like laugh came from the other end of the phone, extremely penetrating: "I'm concerned about you. I heard you're really going to marry Ethan? You've had a hard time all these years! I called to tell you that I organized a party a few days ago and accidentally invited Brother Oliver. Fate is such a wonderful thing. Sometimes, more than ten years of feelings can't compare to more than ten days of getting along! You worked so hard to pave the way for him, but I can get him to come with just one call."
Maybe the wind in the alley was a bit cold. Lila rubbed her arms, her tone flat: "Oh."
"I originally wanted to invite you to that party, but you know, if you had come, Brother Oliver might have found an excuse not to come again. Could it be that he's avoiding you? Actually, I don't quite understand. He usually pays great attention to social etiquette. But don't worry, I'll speak well of you in front of him later." Ava continued to chatter.
"Should I thank you then, Ava?" Lila rolled her eyes at the sky.
"No, no need!" Ava laughed even more happily, "You know what? At the banquet the other day, Brother Oliver even brought me a gift. Don't I like incense holders? He specially had a jade mountain incense holder custom-made, saying it suits my temperament perfectly..."
The light in the alley hit half of Lila's face, making it hard to see her expression. She held the phone a little farther away, and the words "Elder Tang" on the screen looked particularly dazzling.
The wind was getting colder. Why wouldn't this person stop talking?
How long did she plan to keep her on the phone?
Just as Ava was describing the craftsmanship and texture of the incense holder in detail, Lila finally couldn't bear it anymore: "Am I your dad? Do you have to report everything you do to me?"
Ava on the other end of the phone was obviously choked up and couldn't speak.
Not sure if it was an illusion, Lila seemed to hear a low laugh beside her.
She suddenly turned her head, but the dark alley was still empty.
She picked up the phone again, her tone cold: "I'll hang up if there's nothing else."
"Lila Sullivan, how can you be so vulgar!" Ava finally reacted, her tone sharp, "Please make it clear that you're marrying into the Carter family, not the Choi family. What right do you have to be so arrogant?"
There was a fixed circle in Beijing. Their business families usually gathered to eat, drink and have fun, but there were also some families that rarely showed their faces, which were the real top existences.
The Choi family was one of them.
Especially the only grandson of the Choi family, who was still unmarried at twenty-nine and was often coveted by people. Unfortunately, most people were not of the right social status and could only think about it in their hearts.
But Lila was already in a bad mood, and being provoked by Ava made her even more impatient.
"How do you know I don't know him?"
"Know who?" Ava was stunned for a moment, then reacted, "...Are you talking about the one from the Choi family? Heh, that's ridiculous! Keep making up stories!"
"I didn't want to be so high-profile." Lila sighed softly, her tone playful, "He has a small mole on his left ear bone and a light brown mole under his ribs. Guess how well I know him?"