Simon Adler blinked, watching Silas Grant impassively.

"Is that so?"

He lowered his head and sniffed his sleeve. There did seem to be a faint, sweet scent.

He had a habit of wearing cologne, usually something with a cedarwood scent.

This faint, baby-powder-like scent mixed with the cedarwood was indeed a little out of place.

He probably picked it up from spending so much time with Mia Grant in the car during the day.

He hadn’t had time to go back and change at noon.

’But is Silas Grant a bloodhound? How can he even smell that?’

"I must have just brushed up against something."

"Not a girlfriend?" Silas Grant seemed very interested in his personal life.

Simon Adler calmly opened the file in front of him. "Not yet."

Hearing this, Silas Grant chuckled softly.

"Has Mr. Jacobs been nagging you recently?"

"No."

"Then what brought on this sudden change of heart? Which family’s daughter is she?"

Silas Grant was naturally perceptive. In his view, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The meeting hadn’t officially started yet. It was an international conference call, and they were waiting for the other party to come online.

So the two of them had plenty of time for small talk.

"I’m keeping it a secret for now. I’ll tell you when things get serious." Simon Adler was perfectly composed. "I’m not a young man anymore, and I’m not a monk. It’s normal to have needs, isn’t it? No need to make such a big deal out of it."

A faint smile touched Silas Grant’s lips. "It’s normal. It’s just that your life has been too quiet these past few years. It’s surprising to hear you’re suddenly seeing someone."

"Aren’t you the same?"

Simon Adler looked at him.

Silas Grant’s brows twitched slightly. A thought seemed to cross his mind, and his eyes softened. "I’m different from you."

’It’s not like someone just suddenly appeared in my life.’

’She’s always been there.’

"I heard you went to the Hughes family’s home last night?"

"Yes." Simon Adler’s expression didn’t change; he knew this question was coming sooner or later. "Weren’t you busy? The old gentleman had no one with him, and my house is being renovated because of a water leak, so I’m staying there for a couple of days."

"The old gentleman was asking about your blind date this morning. He wanted to know how you and Miss Young are getting along." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Simon Adler quietly changed the subject.

"It’s fine."

"Then you should bring her to have dinner with the old gentleman this weekend."

"I have a business trip this weekend."

"Manara?"

"Yes."

"Then some other time. Christmas Eve?"

Behind his lenses, Silas Grant’s dark eyes narrowed. He smiled and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It’s what the old gentleman wants. He asked me to sound you out."

Simon Adler gave a helpless smile. "Christmas Eve, you bring Miss Young home for dinner. The next day is Christmas, so you’ll even have time for a date."

"No time." His throat felt itchy. Silas Grant really wanted a cigarette, but it was inconvenient in a conference room.

Picking up the coffee beside him, he moistened his throat and added, "I have to go to Jynsia on Christmas to meet a business partner."

"Oh?" Simon Adler raised an eyebrow.

’A... business partner in Jynsia.’

"What kind of company is that? The boss actually works overtime on Christmas. As dedicated as you are."

Silas Grant shot him a look. "I’ve noticed you’ve been speaking in a rather snide tone lately."

"Have I?" Simon Adler smiled.

Silas Grant put down his coffee. "What, do you have a problem with me going to Jynsia?"

"Of course I don’t. I’m just worried about a certain someone..."

Silas Grant watched him impassively, letting him continue. "...not being able to hold back."

"It’s Christmas, after all. I think going to see an old flame is a bit more reasonable than discussing a partnership. Don’t you think?"

Silas Grant said nothing.

The vice president sitting nearby, who had been listening to their chat, chuckled. "Mr. Grant has been single for so many years. Where would he find an old flame?"

Simon Adler said, "He spends a third of the year on business trips in Jynsia. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away, so who’s to say? Maybe... he really is keeping someone there."

The VP continued to smile. "I don’t think our Mr. Grant is that kind of person."

"Why not?"

"A man like Mr. Grant, if he really had a secret lover in Jynsia and was running back and forth so many times a year to see her, he would have brought her to his side long ago. He’d probably want to keep her in his pocket if he could."

"Mr. Grant, am I right?"

"Yes." Silas Grant’s lips curved, and a hint of a smile crept into the dark eyes behind his lenses. "It’s the only way to feel secure."

"So our Mr. Grant can be insecure when it comes to relationships too. If what Mr. Adler said is true, then there’s only one possibility: Mr. Grant hasn’t won her over yet."

"But given Mr. Grant’s personal charisma, that’s impossible."

No one believed that Silas Grant would ever compromise and abase himself, stooping so low just to pursue someone.

At first, Simon Adler had thought so too.

But now...

Heh.

「The Hughes Family Residence」

With the old gentleman not at home, Mia Grant felt completely relaxed, staying in her room to read.

Her final exams were coming up as soon as she went back, so she had to hurry and review.

Her phone’s battery was critically low, so she left her desk and went back to her bed to rest while it charged.

Her phone vibrated slightly. An incoming call.

Mia Grant glanced at the caller ID and froze.

After hesitating for a moment, she pressed the answer button and put the phone to her ear.

"Hayes?"

They hadn’t spoken since she’d toasted him at the engagement party.

He had left that day before the engagement party even ended. It seemed he’d gotten an urgent call and had to rush back to work.

"Yes, it’s me." His gentle voice was like a cool summer breeze drifting over a mountain ridge.

"Are you at school right now? I made some soup and was going to bring it to you."

Mia Grant quickly sat up. "No, no, no..."

The phone’s charging cable wasn’t very long. As she sat up, the cord caught on a water glass on the nightstand, which fell to the floor and shattered with a loud CRASH.

Naturally, Hayes Hughes heard the sound on his end.

"Did something fall? Be careful not to cut your feet. Put on some shoes."

"Ah, I knocked over a glass." ’This is no time to worry about a glass.’ Mia Grant worried her phone would die. She scrambled to plug the charger back in and said to him, "Hayes, I’m not at school right now. I’m in Adjacen with my roommate."

"Adjacen?" Hayes Hughes frowned. "Why did you suddenly go so far away?"

"It’s not that far, only a little over a hundred kilometers. My roommate came to see a concert, so we came together."

"I see."

"A few girls out on your own... you need to be careful. Do you need me to come pick you up?"

"No, no, it’s fine. Our hotel is right across from the venue."

"Alright. Well, head back early after it’s over tonight."

"Okay."

"Are you coming back tomorrow morning?"

"Ah, I’m not sure yet. Is there something urgent?"

"No, I just wanted to... see you."

"Then... then..." Mia Grant wasn’t sure when she would be back. Her mind was a complete mess, and she couldn’t give him a precise time.

Hayes Hughes chuckled. "I have to fly to Portia tomorrow afternoon. Wait for me to get back. I’ll bring you back some egg tarts, and we can meet then."

He didn’t press her. "Have fun with your friend."

"Ah..."

Unfortunately, hearing his words didn’t make Mia Grant relax at all.

Mia Grant’s eyes went wide. "Hayes, you... you’re coming to Portia???"