Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Can Apply for Intangible Cultural Heritage

Mrs. Miller looked at Joshua Lawson in astonishment. His mother had injured her finger, yet he didn’t offer a single word of comfort and was even rushing her.

Mrs. Miller was just a maid; she was angry but didn’t dare say a word.

She lowered her head and, after disinfecting the cut, wrapped Noelle Sutton’s finger with a band-aid.

As Mrs. Miller was putting away the first-aid kit, Joshua Lawson began to press Noelle Sutton again.

"Mom, can we book the plane tickets now?"

Noelle Sutton finally began to sign. "I’m not feeling well, so I don’t want to travel far. If you want to go see your father, I’ll contact his secretary and have him take you."

Joshua Lawson thought that would work too.

’Mom doesn’t seem to like Sophie very much. If she actually went and got into an argument with Sophie, he wouldn’t know whose side to take.’

"Alright."

Noelle Sutton beckoned for Mrs. Miller to come over.

She typed on her phone, "I’m going to call Tristan Lawson’s secretary. When I do, please tell him to come to Westhill Villa to see me."

"Okay."

Noelle Sutton dialed the number, put the call on speaker, and it quickly connected.

"Mrs. Lawson, hello."

"Secretary Shaw, this is Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Lawson would like you to come to Westhill Villa."

"Of course. I’ll be right over."

Noelle Sutton hung up and signed for Joshua Lawson to go eat.

Joshua Lawson had originally wanted to eat a meal cooked by Noelle Sutton, so he was still in a bit of a bad mood over her refusal.

But the thought of finishing his meal quickly so he could pack and prepare to go abroad to find Sophie made him happily go to the dining table.

Normally, it was Mrs. Lawson who looked after the young master.

This time, however, Mrs. Lawson remained seated, so Mrs. Miller had no choice but to go and wait on him.

About half an hour later, Secretary Shaw arrived.

"Mrs. Lawson, you wanted to see me?"

Noelle Sutton had already typed a message on her phone.

"Joshua wants to go to Zentha in Aridia. Take him there."

Secretary Shaw was taken aback for a moment. "Does CEO Lawson approve of this?"

This was no small matter. He would be escorting the Lawson family’s young master. If anything were to happen, he couldn’t bear the responsibility.

"You can call him now and ask his opinion."

After seeing the message on Noelle Sutton’s phone, Secretary Shaw immediately dialed Tristan Lawson’s number and informed him of the situation.

Noelle Sutton had blocked his number again, so Tristan Lawson had no way of contacting her.

Secretary Shaw’s words made him furious.

"Give her the phone."

"Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Lawson wants you to take the call."

Noelle Sutton waved her hands, refusing.

"CEO Lawson, Mrs. Lawson doesn’t want to take the call. If you give the approval, I’ll book the tickets immediately and bring the young master over."

On the other end of the line, Tristan Lawson’s expression darkened.

He thought for a moment, then said, "Put the phone on speaker."

"Alright."

Secretary Shaw put the call on speaker.

Tristan Lawson’s voice came through the phone.

"Noelle, Zentha is a beautiful city. You should come over with Joshua. Our family can have a vacation here before we all head back together."

’The ocean views here are stunning,’ he thought. ’I could even take her to get our wedding photos taken.’

However, he was met with silence.

Noelle Sutton’s delicate features remained expressionless.

Secretary Shaw, feeling awkward, prompted her, "Mrs. Lawson, you could type your response on your phone. I can read it and relay it to CEO Lawson."

Noelle Sutton didn’t want to type a single word.

She simply stood up, walked into the master bedroom, and shut the door.

"Secretary Shaw, did she hear that?"

"CEO Lawson, Mrs. Lawson heard you, but she didn’t say anything. She went into the bedroom."

"Forget it. Never mind her. Just bring Joshua over."

’Joshua has never met his maternal grandfather, even after all this time.’

’It’s about time his grandfather got to see him.’

A little over ten minutes later, Noelle Sutton heard the sounds of Joshua Lawson leaving with Secretary Shaw.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to dispel the oppressive weight in her chest.

Mrs. Miller stood outside the master bedroom door, raising her hand several times as if to knock, wanting to go in and comfort Noelle Sutton.

In the end, she let her hand fall.

’It seems Mrs. Lawson can’t be persuaded anymore...’

「The next day.」

Noelle Sutton took her finished paper-cutting artwork to a framing shop.

After picking out a frame, she took her finished piece out of a bag and typed a message to the shop owner, asking him to frame it for her.

When the shop owner saw Noelle Sutton’s artwork, his eyes widened in amazement. "This was cut from paper?"

Noelle Sutton smiled and nodded.

"You cut this?"

Noelle Sutton nodded again.

The shop owner gazed at the artwork with admiration.

"It’s simply incredible. To think that paper-cutting can achieve such a realistic, three-dimensional effect."

The piece Noelle Sutton had cut was a portrait of a Song Dynasty court lady.

The decor in Joy Rhodes’s home was in the style of Chinese Song Dynasty aesthetics.

The shop owner admired the piece so much that he began to frame it himself.

Once it was in the frame, it was almost impossible to believe it was a paper cutting.

The three-dimensional effect was so good that if you stared at it long enough, it seemed as though the court lady’s eyes might blink.

"Ma’am, excuse me, but is this piece for sale? I have a client who is very fond of Song Dynasty paintings, or any art related to the Song Dynasty. Although your piece is newly made, it’s a traditional craft. I think he would absolutely love it."

The Yates Family was no ordinary family, so when Noelle Sutton went out to choose a frame for them, she naturally wouldn’t pick a low-quality one.

The shop she chose was on Antique Street, considered a very high-end establishment.

Therefore, the shop owner’s clients were likely to be well-off.

Noelle Sutton typed a message to the shop owner, explaining that the piece was a commission and not for sale.

The shop owner found this kind of art incredibly novel and pestered Noelle Sutton, asking if she could design another piece. He really wanted to commission one for his friend.

Noelle Sutton nodded.

The shop owner quickly exchanged contact information with her.

The portrait of the court lady wasn’t small, so when Noelle Sutton paid, she asked the owner to help her arrange for a delivery vehicle.

The owner readily agreed.

Noelle Sutton went with the vehicle to the Yates’s home.

When Joy Rhodes saw the artwork Noelle Sutton had brought, she was stunned speechless.

"Noelle, was this really cut from paper?"

Wyatt Yates, sitting nearby, stared at the artwork, the admiration in his eyes practically overflowing.

’After so many years, The Little Mute has really become something else.’

Noelle Sutton nodded at Joy Rhodes.

Joy Rhodes said with satisfaction, "Noelle, the student has truly surpassed the master. You’ve become a true artist. By the way, is this what you do for work?"

At the mention of work, the smile on Noelle Sutton’s face faded slightly.

She took out her phone to type a response.

Wyatt Yates said, "You can just sign. I can understand. Typing on your phone is too much work."

Noelle Sutton put her phone away and began to sign.

Wyatt Yates’s brow furrowed slightly as he translated for her.

"Mom, Noelle says she became a full-time housewife after getting married and hasn’t been working."

Joy Rhodes looked regretful. "I’ve never seen such beautiful paper-cutting. I feel like your craft could qualify as an intangible cultural heritage."

Joy Rhodes pulled Noelle Sutton down to sit beside her. "Modern women can have their own careers, not just stay at home supporting their husbands and raising children. Noelle, look how beautifully you create. Don’t you want more people to see your art?"