2024-09-15 17:21:24"Hello? Brother-in-law? Is that you, brother-in-law?" Upon discovering that the call had connected, Heidi's anxious voice came from the other end.
"Um... Heidi, it's me, Joseph," Joseph calmly replied.
"Brother-in-law, what are you doing? Such a grown man, not answering calls, not replying to messages, disappearing for an entire day. Do you know how worried I was about you?"
"I called many neighbors and relatives, and they all said they hadn't seen you. I was so anxious that I was about to call the police."
"Do you have any idea how concerned I was that you might have jumped into the river in despair?"
"..."
Without letting Joseph say much, Heidi started scolding him.
Hearing all this, Joseph could only smile helplessly.
After thoroughly reprimanding Joseph, Heidi finally stopped, feeling much more at ease.
"Are you done?" Joseph asked with a smile.
"I'm done. Don't do this again next time. And I'm serious, don't think of doing anything rash," Heidi continued.
"I just didn't have my phone with me temporarily, so I couldn't answer the calls. I've been cooking this whole time," Joseph felt it necessary to explain.
"Whew... Speaking of eating, I haven't eaten yet. I'm starving to death," upon mentioning this, Heidi sounded so aggrieved that she was about to cry. When Joseph was around, he never let her go hungry. Today, with Joseph gone for just one day, she was already starving.
"What's going on? It's already almost 9 o'clock. Hasn't dinner been prepared at home?" Joseph asked casually.
"Brother-in-law, you have no idea. My dad's cooking skills are so bad that even dogs wouldn't eat what he makes," Heidi said.
"Of course, if my mom cooks, it's even more terrifying."
"The things they make are simply inedible. I took a bite and completely lost my appetite. I can only eat instant noodles now," when it came to food, Heidi rambled on and on.
"Before I left at noon, I put some prepared dishes in the second layer of the living room fridge. There are vegetables, meat, and even a steak. You can take them out and eat. It's enough for one meal."
"When your dad was cooking, he probably didn't open the living room fridge, so he didn't see the food inside," Joseph said offhandedly.
"Ah? Really?" Hearing this, Heidi was overjoyed.
"Go take a look, and you'll know. Just heat it up, and it'll be ready to eat," Joseph said with a smile.
"I'll go check," Heidi immediately took a bowl and chopsticks from the kitchen and hurried to the living room. She opened the second layer of the fridge and found that there were indeed five or six dishes inside, including her favorite cumin lamb chops. Heidi instantly had tears in her eyes.
"Whew, it's really here. Brother-in-law, you're truly too kind. You're the best brother-in-law in the world," Heidi directly took action, scooping a large portion of the lamb chops into her bowl, and secretly returned to her room.
Back in her room, she started eating.
"Wow, it smells so good. My dad's cooking skills can't even compare to yours," Heidi couldn't stop praising.
"Be careful eating it cold. You might get an upset stomach," Joseph reminded her helplessly.
"I can't be bothered about that now. I'm starving. Without you, I really don't even have food to eat," Heidi said.
"Brother-in-law, I miss you. I don't know how I'll live in the future. Do I have to eat out every day?"
"Brother-in-law, where are you staying now? Should I move in with you? That way, I can eat your cooking every day."
"..."
Heidi kept talking while eating.
"Right now, I'm staying at a friend's place. I don't have money to rent a place. When I have money, I'll see if I want to rent a house," Joseph said casually.
"Ah? Is that so? Then can I come over and freeload meals? I can pay for my share of the food. I have pocket money," Heidi said.
"Oh, right. Brother-in-law, you must be short on money now. I'll transfer some to you later."
"When you have money to rent a house in the future, I'll move in with you."
"By the way, about you and my sister getting divorced, don't be too sad. There are plenty of good women in this world. If my sister doesn't want you, it's her loss. One day, she'll regret it."
"If you really can't take it, I'll marry you in my sister's place. She doesn't cherish you, but I do," Heidi's words became more and more unrestrained.
*Pfft!* Joseph, who had just poured himself a glass of water and taken a sip, spat it out upon hearing Heidi's shocking statement.
"What do you mean by marrying me in your sister's place? Don't talk nonsense, okay? Can such a thing even be substituted?"
"Are you trying to sell yourself to me for a mouthful of food?" Joseph almost collapsed on the spot. This girl's way of thinking was truly bizarre.
"What's wrong with that? What's wrong with doing it for a mouthful of food? You're much better than those hypocritical jerks. Brother-in-law, why don't you consider it?"
"I'm very easy to support. As long as I have food to eat, it's enough. My monthly allowance is also not bad, but I never buy branded clothes or makeup. I basically spend very little each month," Heidi said solemnly.
"Stop talking nonsense. Eat your food properly. Don't you have school tomorrow?" Joseph laughed, not taking Heidi's words to heart at all.
"I do! Whew... In the future, no one will drive me to school, and no one will cook for me! When I'm sick, there won't even be anyone to buy medicine for me," upon mentioning school, Heidi immediately became sorrowful.
"Alright, you're an adult now. You need to learn to take care of yourself. If your stomach feels uncomfortable after eating cold food, there's medicine in the medicine box in the living room. I've written clear instructions on how to use the medicine," Joseph took the opportunity to remind her again.
"You're still the most considerate one, brother-in-law. You're such a good person, the best," Heidi felt touched in her heart. It was difficult to find another man in this world who was so meticulous and caring.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now," Joseph saw that they had been chatting for quite a while.
"Wait, brother-in-law. Have you figured out what work you'll do in the future? Is there anything I can help with regarding work?" Heidi suddenly asked.
"As for work, my friend should have arranged it for me," Joseph scratched his head, a bit uncertain.
"What do you mean by 'should have arranged'? Has it been arranged or not? What kind of work has your friend arranged for you?" Heidi was a bit exasperated upon hearing these vague words.
"If there are no issues, I should be going to work as a teacher," Joseph answered with some uncertainty.
"A teacher? An elementary school teacher? Or a kindergarten teacher? If it's an elementary school teacher, that's okay. Although the pay isn't high, it's stable," Heidi said knowledgeably.
"Not an elementary school teacher. A teacher at Nova University," Joseph explained.
"What? A teacher at Nova University?" Upon hearing Joseph's words, Heidi was startled. She suspected that she had misheard or that Joseph had made a mistake.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 13: I'll Marry Him in My Sister's Place
"Brother-in-law, say what you just said again," Heidi couldn't believe her ears."Not an elementary school teacher, a teacher at Nova University," Joseph repeated his words once more."No, brother-in-law, you're not joking, are you? Nova University is the nation's top institution. The teachers and professors here must at least have a doctoral degree or something. Even the cleaning aunties have bachelor's degrees.""Brother-in-law, your friend must be messing with you, right?" Heidi found it hard to believe."It's definitely not a joke. At first, I also felt that I might not be qualified to be a teacher at Nova University, but in the past couple of days, I've remembered some things.""It seems my educational background is quite high," Joseph said with a smile, calmly."No, brother-in-law, what is your educational background?""You've even forgotten your own educational background. I give up.""However, you're only twenty-five years old this year. You got married to my sister when you w
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 14: Beat Her Up and Steal Her Man
After sending the message, Heidi stretched her arms and took off her clothes, revealing her stunning figure, and walked into the bathroom.At this moment, Joseph had just finished showering, his upper body still bare. Over the years, he had persisted in exercising every day. Although the amount of exercise was not very large, his regular lifestyle and scientific training had given him an excellent physique. With eight-pack abs and an inverted triangle-shaped body, his build was of the lean and muscular type, making it difficult to tell he had such a great figure when clothed.He wiped his hair and was about to return to his room. However, at this moment, a sudden flash of light came from the direction of Alice's room, accompanied by a "click!" sound of a camera shutter.Joseph instinctively turned his head and saw Alice shrink back into her room like a rabbit and immediately close the door. Joseph chuckled helplessly. Was this girl foolish? She even forgot to turn off the camera flash
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 15: The Cooper Family's Crisis
"Ahem, don't joke around. You're taking a bath. What video call? Don't mess around," Joseph choked badly. Although he knew Heidi was just teasing him, he still felt a bit embarrassed."What's there to be afraid of? I'm soaking in the bathtub. You won't see anything. Even if you do see something, so what? Brother-in-law is not an outsider," Heidi directly sent a voice message, sounding completely nonchalant."Ahem, that's still not okay. Men and women are different," upon hearing Heidi's bold words, Joseph instantly felt awkward. This girl's way of thinking was too bizarre.Does this matter even differentiate between insiders and outsiders? Even if she's not an outsider, he can't just look casually. Joseph is a person with very traditional values.However, just as Joseph was at a loss for words, Heidi directly made a video call. Joseph was in a dilemma. Should he hang up or not? In the end, after an inner struggle and under strong moral constraints, he chose to hang up."Don't mess aro
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 16: The Comatose Old Mr. Cooper
"I... I was just using a metaphor. I'm your second uncle. Is this how you talk to me?" Hugh Cooper was stunned for a moment, unable to respond."If you don't know anything, just shut up, okay?" Fiona was quite disdainful."Fiona, my father is your second uncle, after all. You're talking to him like this. With such disrespect for your elders, I guess you don't respect Grandma in your heart either," Ryan Cooper spoke up."I don't want to waste my breath on you. If you want to investigate my character, you can do it in private.""Grandma, I just want to ask you one thing. Did you call me here to investigate my character too?" Fiona looked at the old lady and asked."Hugh, and you too, Ryan Cooper, did I let you speak? You're so eager to talk. Do you have any good solutions to solve the family's current predicament? If so, I'll let you talk all you want," the old lady tapped her cane on the ground, her expression very serious.Hearing this, Hugh Cooper and Ryan Cooper opened their mouths
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 17: Is My Flesh in the Right Places?
When the two entered a room, a doctor had just finished examining the old master's body."Dr. Morales, is there anything wrong with the old man's body today?" the old lady asked casually."Old Madam, Old Mr. Cooper's body is still the same. His bodily functions are as active as usual, but he just won't wake up.""Based on his physical condition, he shouldn't be in a coma, but he has been maintaining this state, which makes me feel helpless.""In my thirty years of practicing medicine, I have never seen such a situation," Dr. Morales said with a wry smile."Thank you, Dr. Morales. You can go and rest. My granddaughter is here to see the old man," the old lady had already gotten used to the doctor's words.Hearing this, Dr. Morales bid farewell and left with his assistant."Grandma, I want to talk to Grandpa alone for a bit," after the doctor left, Fiona said to the old lady."Alright.""You all can leave too. It's enough to have the young miss here," the old lady looked at the servants
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 18: Your Girlfriend Must Be Very Happy
"Ahem... You girl, don't be like this to others. You've grown up, not a little girl anymore. Men and women are different," Joseph's face turned red, feeling a bit embarrassed. Alice was already eighteen years old. Although slightly inexperienced, she had developed in all the right places. He didn't expect her figure to be so sexy."Of course. I'm not stupid. I'm only like this to Joseph. Joseph is not an outsider. What do I have that I can't show Joseph?" Alice chuckled. Seeing Joseph's awkward appearance, she found it a bit amusing."Didn't you say it was at noon before? Why did the time change?" Joseph purposely changed the subject. He was worried that if they continued talking, something he couldn't control might happen between them."Ah? That's because Principal Geoffrey Harris is going to receive a returnee with a doctorate. I heard that the returnee has many research achievements and has published many papers in famous international journals.""Nova University has always placed
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 19: Fiona's Rebuke
What kind of person was the young lady, and who among those who could be friends with her was a simple person?"It's okay. We're just ordinary friends," the guard's reaction made Joseph feel it was a bit exaggerated."Well, I won't disturb you then. I still have to be on duty. If you have any needs, just tell me," the guard said, nodding and bowing."Alright, thank you," Joseph said very politely."No need to thank me. It's what we should do," the guard nodded and left, looking very respectful."The young lady is a good person, and the friends she makes are of such high caliber. If it were other rich people, would they be so polite to us ordinary folks?" the guard returned to the security booth, muttering.A few minutes later, several luxury cars suddenly drove over. The guard hurried out to greet them.The window of the leading car rolled down, revealing an extremely beautiful woman wearing sunglasses."I'm Fiona Cooper from the Cooper Group. I have some business with your chairman,
The Rise of the Son-in-law After Divorce Chapter 20: Did You Two Have a Pleasant Time Together Last Night?
"Old Mr. Morgan, you overthink. I didn't mean that. The Cooper family and I have long had nothing to do with each other. If I interfere in the Cooper family's affairs, wouldn't that be meddling?" Joseph said with a wry smile."Indeed, Mr. Wilson's mind is still very clear," Blake Morgan chuckled."Well, Old Mr. Morgan, please don't call me Mr. Wilson anymore. It sounds too awkward. You have helped me a lot and are my elder in terms of seniority. Just call me by my name," Joseph started the car and said with a faint smile."Although your master and I can be considered friends, in the end, he did me a favor. Even in terms of status, I can't be on equal footing with him. Calling you Mr. is not only a sign of respect for you but also for your master," Blake Morgan thought for a moment, looking very serious."When my master was alive, he didn't like to fuss over these things. In this regard, I take after my master. Just call me Joseph," Joseph continued."Since that's the case, I won't dec
Latest Chapter
Chapter 242
The moment Fiona stepped into the room, Maria Long shot her a desperate look, silently pleading for help."Ask your dear parents yourself," the old lady said coldly, her face still carrying traces of lingering anger."Father, Mother, what exactly is going on?" Fiona asked again, her gaze sharp.Yet, both Maria Long and Stephen Cooper hesitated, fumbling for words but failing to provide a coherent answer.At that moment, Heidi spoke up. "Fine, I’ll explain. Charles Martin brought a tin of tea as a gift for Grandma, but it had spoiled—it was moldy and full of insects. Now, that in itself wasn’t a huge issue. But then Mom insisted that mold and bugs don’t affect the tea’s quality and that it was still perfectly fine to drink. She even claimed that we were ignorant about tea!" Heidi sneered. Her mother had always twisted facts at home, but to pull the same nonsense in front of Grandma? That was bold.Hearing this, Fiona glanced at the cup of tea in Maria Long’s hands. When her eyes landed
Chapter 241
"So, you were trying to pass off fake tea cakes to my grandmother?" Heidi scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm."Joseph, you're talking nonsense! You think you can just weigh them in your hand and determine they’re off? And based on that alone, you dare accuse me of giving counterfeit tea?" Charles Martin was livid at Joseph’s accusation."Joseph, what do you even know about tea? Spouting nonsense about weight like you're some kind of expert!" Maria Long sneered, her tone dripping with derision."If there's a dispute, why not weigh it properly? If the tea cakes turn out to be fine, Joseph, you’ll need to kneel and apologize to Charles," Stephen Cooper interjected, challenging him."Exactly! And you should bow your head too," Maria Long quickly echoed."No need to go through all that trouble," Joseph replied coolly, a faint smirk on his lips.Without paying them any further attention, he examined the tea cake in his hands. Then, with a sharp twist of his wrists, he snapped it cleanly
Chapter 240
Hearing this, Charles Martin clenched his teeth subtly. What was this old woman playing at? Was she deliberately making things difficult for him? In what way was he inferior to Joseph?At that moment, Joseph let out a cold chuckle."My treating the old master is an act of great kindness—not only to him but also to you privileged heirs who do nothing but waste away in idleness. Stephen, there's no need to argue with me. When the old master wakes up, the truth of who owes whom a debt of gratitude will become evident," Joseph said, his tone dripping with mockery as he looked at Stephen Cooper."Joseph, you really believe you have the ability to wake the old master? A useless man who only knows how to cook and clean!" Maria Long sneered, her voice filled with disdain."Maria, I heard Charles Martin’s cooking nearly poisoned two people. If I am nothing more than a lowly cook, then what does that make him? I can’t even tell whether you’re insulting me or Martin himself," Joseph countered wi
Chapter 239
"Grandmother, I think my brother-in-law is right. Using me as a replacement for my sister would be… strange. I believe everything should happen naturally," Heidi said, stealing a deep glance at Joseph as she spoke. "I was merely making a suggestion. I am not your grandfather—I would never force you into anything, nor would I force your sister into anything!" The old lady shook her head with a wry smile. "Your parents brought that man here today to gain my approval and support, to force your sister into marrying him. But they’ve miscalculated." Just then, Claudia re-entered the room. "Madam, Mr. Stephen has arrived. He has brought an unfamiliar gentleman with him and asked me to inform you that they are waiting in the front hall," Claudia reported with a slight bow. "They’re here." The old lady let out a knowing smile. "Let them wait. I’ll be there shortly," she instructed. "Yes, Madam," Claudia responded before quietly retreating. "Come, granddaughter, grandson-in-law. Let’s go
Chapter 238
"Grandmother, this is a bowl of chilled lotus seed soup that my brother-in-law made especially for you. Would you like to try some now?" Heidi asked as she ladled a portion into a bowl and placed it before the old lady. "Very well, I’ll have a taste," the matriarch said, lifting the bowl and taking a sip. A nostalgic expression crossed her face as she nodded approvingly. "Not bad—it’s just like I remember. Grandson-in-law, your skills in the kitchen are as good as ever. Unfortunately, I fear this may be the last time I’ll ever have the chance to taste your cooking." Her gaze lingered on Joseph, her tone carrying a weight of unspoken meaning. "Old Madam, if you ever crave it, just let Heidi know. I’ll make it, and she can bring it to you anytime," Joseph responded with a small smile. His interactions with the matriarch had been few, but he had always found her to be a kind and warm-hearted elder. As for the conflicts within Fiona’s side of the family, those were beyond the matriarch’
Chapter 237
Ryan rolled twice before landing straight into a ditch—an almost perfect reenactment of what had happened three years ago. Fortunately for him, the recent dry weather meant the ditch was empty; otherwise, he’d have been in for a much nastier experience. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Those who were on friendly terms with Ryan rushed forward to help him up, but the atmosphere had shifted. Joseph’s casual yet overwhelming show of force had silenced much of the murmuring. During his three years as the Cooper family’s live-in son-in-law, few had dared to cross him—not because of his status, but because of these very fists that everyone knew better than to challenge."Let’s go inside!" Joseph grasped Heidi’s delicate hand and strode forward. However, just as they were about to push past the crowd, another figure stepped into their path. It was none other than Hugh Cooper, the second master of the Cooper family and Ryan Cooper’s father—a man Joseph was all too familiar with. "You
Chapter 236
"Then why haven’t you slapped me?" Joseph raised an eyebrow."Because I enjoy it! I love hearing you praise me. No one else’s compliments ever feel as good as yours. Besides, how could I bear to hit you?" Heidi said with a hint of sentimentality.Joseph listened, a strange feeling creeping up on him. Somehow, her words seemed to carry an unspoken meaning. As this thought lingered, he felt an awkward heat rise to his face.The two continued chatting and laughing along the way, and before long, they arrived near the Cooper family estate.At this moment, the entrance to the estate was surrounded by a crowd. Several servants stood guard at the gates, wielding wooden staffs, ensuring that people dared not step too close. Joseph pulled the car to a stop at a short distance away."What’s going on? Why are there so many people here?" Joseph asked."What else? My parents and Charles Martin spread the word yesterday afternoon, making sure everyone knew about your bet with Charles Martin. The pe
Chapter 235
"You sure you don’t want to?"Mason frowned slightly."I’m sure."Joseph’s tone was firm."Fine. If you won’t touch, then I will!"Before Joseph could react, Mason suddenly pinched his thigh and gave it a sharp twist."Hiss—!"Joseph sucked in a sharp breath, nearly jumping to his feet."Professor Alvarez, are you insane?!"He snapped, utterly exasperated."You know, plenty of men would kill for a chance to touch me, and yet, I gave you the opportunity, and you rejected me?!""You’re insulting my charms as a woman!""Consider that your punishment!"Mason huffed indignantly."You—"Joseph was at a complete loss for words."What? Shut up.""If you dare say another word, I’ll tell Alice everything about how you kissed me at noon!"Mason shot him a warning glare.Joseph’s expression darkened instantly.At this point, he decided it wasn’t worth arguing with this crazy woman.By the time Alice finished her shower and stepped out, Mason had already slipped into the bathroom, seemingly intend
Chapter 234
"I see…"Mason Alvarez murmured, her expression thoughtful.Then, suddenly, a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes."Tell me, do you think it’s possible that he was already married? That he has a wife somewhere, maybe even a kid, but just doesn’t remember?"She teased deliberately."Impossible."Alice dismissed the idea without hesitation."Joseph’s first marriage was with the eldest daughter of the Cooper family, and it was nothing more than a loveless, arranged union.""For three years, they never even held hands. Their relationship was terrible—they could barely be in the same room without arguing.""Other than that, there’s nothing else. When it comes to his personal life, I know Joseph well."Alice glanced over at Joseph, her tone cer
