From cordyceps and sea cucumbers, to bird’s nest and quality tea leaves, and even expensive red wine, everything was there. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, paired with a black, double-breasted long woolen coat with vertical lines, his coordination made his features look divine. With his lush black hair combed into a natural 3:7 hairstyle, he looked clean-cut. The maids immediately became fans of his face when they saw him. Having completely been entranced by Stanley’s looks, they couldn’t take their eyes off him. Each one started gabbling in hushed voices, praising Stanley’s good looks. “Ahhh! Our young master is really handsome. I can’t breathe.” “Miss has really good taste.” Xyla and Jeremy were drinking tea in the living room when they heard the commotion at the door. Both of them looked over at the same time. Stanley gave Xyla a faint glance before nodding respectfully at Jeremy. Then, he brought the gifts over to the older man. Putting the gifts gently down on the tabl
“I won’t be leaving anymore and I’ll open the hospital soon,” replied Stanley. Xyla’s heart squeezed when she heard that. She had informed Five Batton of every detail, all except this one. Now that he had told her father that he wouldn’t be leaving, and that he would soon start up a traditional hospital, that would mean that they would have to live together. To ingratiate themselves with her father, they would have to be in frequent contact. That wouldn’t be a problem, but the most important issue was the traditional hospital… She had said that her husband returned to the country to open his own traditional hospital. If they didn’t do it after being in the country for so long, her father would definitely suspect them! Five Batton was such a smart person, so why did he have to slip up at a time like this? Even if she forgot to tell him, he should have said that he would soon return to Country Y, so the hospital wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. That would have saved them a l
Xyla was utterly speechless. Mother? Was she worthy of that title? “You’re not worthy,” Jeremy snapped coldly. That one sentence was enough to put Xyla at ease. “Alright then. Stan, we met yesterday. I’m May Conner, Xyla’s stepmother. Welcome to our home,” said May, grinning.She was completely unfazed by Jeremy, unleashing her shamelessness to its full potential. It was impossible to tell that she had been at odds with them just yesterday. Stanley nodded out of courtesy. “Hello.” “If you don’t have any business here, hurry upstairs. Don’t stay here and be an eyesore,” said Jeremy. He sounded aggravated. “That won’t do! It’s Stan’s first time at our house, so I have to personally cook him a feast,” replied May, rolling up the sleeves of her white home clothes. Jeremy remained ice-cold. “Don’t. I’m scared of you spitting into the dishes.” “Honey, what are you saying? I couldn’t possibly do that. If you’re so worried, I’ll let the maids work with me. It’s fine if someone
“I bought that mansion a long time ago, together with this one. It’s been empty this whole time. The renovations and interior layout are very much like this one. What do you guys think?” asked Jeremy. For a moment, Xyla didn’t know how to answer. Because of one minor oversight, many things now had to change. Since Five Batton had said that he would reside in the country permanently, her father would definitely arrange for a house for them to live together. If she kept living at her maternal home like an unmarried young lady, it would be most inappropriate. “It’s okay, Dad. Don’t I have a duplex building under my name in the city center? My husband and I can stay there instead…” she said. She couldn’t possibly agree to stay next door. If she did, that would mean having to spend every single day with Five Batton. If they didn’t stay together, her father would definitely find out. Hence, it was better to say that they would live in the city center. That place was far from home, far
“Xyla, take Stan next door to take a look,” said Jeremy. “Okay…”This was perfect, as she had just wanted to pull Five Batton away on some pretext to talk to him anyway. Stanley leisurely stood up and tipped his head down politely. “Dad, I’ll be back soon.” Jeremy waved them off. “Go on, go on.” Xyla latched onto his arm affectionately as the two left the house. Out the door, Xyla led him to her Maserati. Once the car door was closed, Xyla pinched the bridge of her nose helplessly, her expression a little sullen. “Why did you tell my dad that you’ll be residing in the country permanently? See how everything has spiraled out of control once you said that.” Stanley looked indifferent. “I didn’t think too much.” Xyla put her hands up in defeat. “Forget it… It’s my fault too for not briefing you properly.” Unable to suppress her suspicions, she looked at him and asked, “Did you do it on purpose?” “On purpose? Would that benefit me in any way?” he asked in return, looking n
“On purpose?” Stanley took a draw of the cigarette, slowly puffed out smoke, then looked calmly at her. It really was troublesome when a woman was too smart. “Were you hoping for a chance to get a raise, so you didn’t reject my father on purpose?” asked Xyla. Stanley frowned slightly. “No.” What was that assumption? “Then, that means you just want to be with me, don’t you?” Xyla wasn’t giving up on pressing the earlier question. Stanley kept quiet. Stubbing out the cigarette with one hand, he tossed it into a nearby trash can. His movements were swift, precise, and utterly captivating. His gaze gently traveled across her face. “What do you think?” Staring at his calm expression, Xyla gradually removed the suspicions inside her heart. She must have been thinking too much. Judging from all their time spent together, right up until this very moment, Xyla felt that Five Batton was not a person who hungered for money. It was like he thought money was crap. They had not bee
Xyla hurried inside, with Stanley following close behind her. Upon entering, she changed into a pair of slippers before looking at him and asking, “Do you have a large luggage bag?” “Yeah, it’s in the bedroom,” he replied, pointing to the bedroom. “Can I go in?” “Yeah.” Xyla immediately entered his bedroom. Entering after her, Stanley opened the closet and pulled out a huge black luggage bag from the bottom, laying it open on the floor. There were hardly any clothes in his closet. They consisted of basic colours—black, white, grey, and dark blue. “Will you be taking all these with you?” asked Xyla. “You decide.” Hearing this, Xyla took out all the clothes from his closet and placed them on his bed. She started concentrating on folding them one by one, putting them into the luggage bag. When she was done, the bag was now almost filled to the brim. Xyla let out a long sigh of relief, pulling the luggage bag to the wall. “You can pack up your personal items on your own.”
“So, the dishes I made the other day were sweet?” exclaimed Xyla in disbelief. If that was true, that would mean that everything she cooked had been inedible. “Yeah,” replied Stanley softly. That sweet dinner had left a deep impression on him. “It wasn’t edible at all, was it? I’m sorry.” “It was delicious,” Stanley answered casually. “How could it be delicious? I used sugar instead of salt!”Although Xyla had never eaten dishes that only tasted sweet, she could imagine just how disgusting it tasted. “I like sweet things,” he said. Xyla felt warm inside. While Five Batton looked apathetic on the outside, he was quite a warm person on the inside. He knew how to comfort and care for others. “Alright, stop saying things you don’t mean. Be honest, you tossed away all the dishes that day, didn’t you?” “I didn’t,” he answered. Xyla was stunned. “Did… did you finish them?” she probed. “Yeah.” Xyla immediately gave him a big thumbs up. “Amazing.”Pointing his chiseled