Chapter 211



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Joseph’s face did not look good.

The once warm atmosphere also turned a bit cold, invading Hayden’s marrow and spreading the chill throughout his body.

Hayden who was clutching his chopsticks froze, frowned at Joseph and replied, “Didn’t I tell you, just a friend, what’s the matter with you?”

“What’s his name, is he a man or a woman?”. Joseph’s expression was a little grim, but his tone had softened a little, “I want to know.”

“You don’t know him.” Hayden looked at him suspiciously, and said a little jokingly and a little seriously, “You’re not going to be jealous of me answering a friend’s call, are you?”

Joseph secretly clenched his fist. At this moment, Hayden’s attitude made him feel that he was very ridiculous. It was obvious that the truth was near, but they were both covering it up.

Finally, he took a step back, pulled out his chair and sat down before saying quietly, “I just want to know what other friends you have besides Alayna. Can’t I know?”

“I don’t have many friends. When I was overseas, Alayna was the only friend I had.”

Hayden smiled and told Joseph matter-of-factly.

“His name is Edison Godfrey. He was my senior when I was studying here, but his generation was a few years before mine. He was starting a business when I came to the U.S. and was a little short of money. I was quite wealthy at the time, so after learning that he and I were alumni of the same university, I helped him out. They were friends in adversity.

As Joseph listened to his words, he felt more suffocated, as if the air was not circulating and he had the feeling that he was lacking oxygen.

Hayden finishing introducing Edison in a few words, but not telling him the most important thing, which was the marriage between her and Edison. “This chicken wing is quite tasty, but the flavor can still be improved.”

Hayden commented on the taste of the chicken wing and put another piece in Joseph’s bowl.

“Taste it and guess what could be improved.”

The chicken wings were covered in a brightly colored sauce, which looked especially tempting.

Joseph was a little distracted and took a big random bite under Hayden’s excited gaze.

“How was it?”

“Um.” Joseph nodded.

“Uh…” Hayden looked dumbfounded, “Are you sure the taste is okay?”.

Joseph looked at her questioningly, “What flavor?”.

“It’s not cooked, Joseph.”

Hayden pointed to the remaining half of the chicken wings in her bowl. She made a shocked face as the chicken wings were still oozing blood, she couldn’t believe he was able to take such a big bite and swallow it without changing his expression.

Joseph’s face turned pale, and he immediately ran to the bathroom with a complicated expression on his face.

After a while, Hayden rested his head and arms on the table while laughing nonchalantly.

“Hahaha… What the hell were you thinking about while you were eating?”. Joseph’s cooking skills were really considered good and he was talented in the kitchen, although he hadn’t cooked much before, today the dishes he served included a meat dish, a vegetable dish, as well as a pot of soup. The vegetable dishes made by him were well sautéed. In addition, the fish soup was also quite nice under Hayden’s guidance by his side.

The only thing was, Hayden always felt that Joseph seemed to be preoccupied during the meal.

When he came out of the bathroom, Joseph’s face was a little pale.

“Are you okay?” Hayden poured him a bowl of fish soup. Seeing his doubtful expression, he couldn’t help but explain, “I’ve tasted it, the soup is fine. Drink it to nourish your stomach.”

Only then did Joseph exhale a sigh of relief.

Although it was his first time cooking, he didn’t want to feel embarrassed either, did he?

As he drank the soup, he glanced at Hayden out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking at him with concern. Her gaze was like water, and it was much softer than when she worked with him.

If he compared it to the sharp look he had when they first met, it was a real contrast.

“Why are you looking at me? Eat your soup.” Hayden winked at him and said, “You’re looking at me while you’re drinking soup because you think I’m pretty?”

Joseph coughed twice. When he looked up again, his face was red.

Not only was she treating him more gently than before, but also more brazenly.

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It was already dark in the U.S. When the videoconference was over, Edison returned home. His house was on the 60th floor, high enough to overlook the entire city, which was the economic center of the world.

Edison leaned against the French window pane. Stylized folds were visible in his handmade, well-tailored suit. As he gazed out at the bustle of the city, he looked a little dejected.

If one were on top of the world, he would realize that he would be truly lonely.

“Edison, this is the research report for the market in China.”

He heard Lorraine say something from behind him. The language she spoke was Chinese, but with a strong American accent.

“Put it there – is the trip over for next week?”. Edison turned around, and the dejection in his eyes had been duly contained by now.

Lorraine drew herself upright. Her mixed-race facial features were pronounced, but had just the right combination of oriental softness. She looked at the man before her, showing her appreciation and concern for him.

“It has been modified, tickets have also been booked. There are already some companies in China interested in working with us. I’ve included an opinion on the order of approaching them in the market research report I just did.”

Edison just nodded seeing how meticulously his assistant was working, without commenting too much. This meticulousness in doing his work might seem odd to ordinary people, but in places like this, it was a mandatory quality in a worker.

“When I get to China, I’ll set aside some time to travel personally, and it will be enough for you to interact with those companies.”

Lorraine nodded obediently, “No problem.”

Edison wagged his finger, indicating he could go.

“Edison, are you going to meet with Hayden?”. Lorraine didn’t leave, but asked him a personal question in a soft tone, unlike the curt tone she usually used when she was working.

“Yes.” Edison’s eyes showed a hint of warmth when she mentioned Hayden.

Hayden was the light of her life, brightening the weather when it was gloomy, but she seemed to have treated him like a friend for so long that she had neglected the fact that he was also a normal man who would like good women around him. He was too afraid of scaring her, which was why he had always treated her with caution all these years.

A glint of loss appeared in Lorraine’s eyes and she smiled bitterly.

“Then rest easy, Edison.”

Once the door to the room was closed, the room was silent again.

Edison removed his gold-rimmed glasses and rested it nonchalantly on the desk, pinching his brow bone to kill the boredom. He glanced sideways at the family photo on the table. He was transfixed for a moment, then looked up tenderly.

The photo showed a family of three. At that time, Stella was still very small and only babbled and called her parents ‘pa’ and ‘ma’. She was too cute and there were very few Chinese children here, so when she was taken out for a walk, passersby would pinch her cheeks and she would get angry. Then, when she wanted to go out again, she would shamelessly ride on Edison’s shoulder, since no one could reach her when she did that.

Thinking about them, she realized that it had been almost a year since she had seen them, and that the number of times she saw them a year was very few.

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