Chapter 15
We walked up to a building where the inner curtains were drawn, but I guessed it was probably a tea room.
Perry stopped in front of the door, signaling for me to go in
The cool air from the air conditioning was a relief after walking through the intense heat. Stepping inside, the chill swept over me, and I felt some comfort. But when my eyes met the elderly man’s, my heart sank.
He simply looked at me with a calm expression, yet I could already feel the weight of his gaze pressing down on
- me.
“Sit.”
He gestured to the side of the tea table. I lifted the hem of my dress, took a few steps, and was just about to sit when the door suddenly burst open.
Ben rushed in, panting. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up.
He walked over and pulled me behind him.
“What are you going to do to her?”
The moment the words left his mouth, I immediately imagined scenes of family infighting, rebellious teenagers running away, or elopements.
The elderly man, sitting in the main chair, looked utterly innocent.
“What do you mean? I’m just inviting my granddaughter–in–law for some tea. I’ve brought out the best tea for her.
11
Ben froze.
“Calvin, I understand you have a girlfriend. But can’t I just take a look at her? Why won’t you let me meet her?”
At this, Ben fell silent. He lowered his gaze and quietly took my hand. His finger gently traced across my palm, a teasing touch.
“Sh–she’s not my girlfriend yet.”
This time, the old man also went quiet.
Then, as if he were a salesperson, he began to sell me his grandson.
“Miss, do you have any concerns? Calvin is a good catch. When he was a child, he always got perfect scores. And look at his looks–top–tier, right? Most importantly, you don’t need to worry about money with us. Our family is loaded. I know you young folks don’t care much about money, but I’m sure you know you can’t do much without it
Before he could finish, Ben cut him off.
“Grandpa, how about you mind your own business? I heard you’ve been messing around with the opera troupe again. Go watch your opera and stop worrying about my girlfriend.”
Before I could even ask Ben how I became his girlfriend, he grabbed my hand and started walking out.
He pulled me along a path of white gravel, winding past a few water features.
We arrived at a small building that looked elegant and ancient on the outside.
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+25 BONUS
