The e-library upstairs was quite spacious, with an entire wall of large screens and a variety of advanced electronic devices. A few staff members stood by, nodding respectfully as Evelyn and the others entered. With a gesture from Damien Huo, they activated the display screens before he turned to Evelyn and said, "Miss Evelyn, let's start by understanding the current situation of the catering industry.""Okay, sure," Evelyn replied.Damien Huo signaled, and the staff began to work. Soon, a professional-level PowerPoint presentation appeared on the screen, and the staff were ready to explain.Lanting realized something was amiss. What was this? Nathan's dad had brought out PowerPoint and assistants, and now his dad was on the same track?What happened to the romantic tutorial they were promised? Why had it turned into a professional meeting?This was, of course, unacceptable!Lanting decided he had to turn things around and protested, "Dad, this is lazy of you; it's definitely not okay
When Damien Huo mentioned viewing the PowerPoint, Evelyn quickly nodded, eyeing the remote in his hand, "Mr. Huo, may I have the remote? I can flip through it myself, and if there's anything I don't understand, I'll ask you. That way, you can attend to your own matters. Otherwise, it feels like I'm imposing on your time."It seemed inappropriate to make such a busy, important person accompany her to look at a PowerPoint.Damien Huo calmly met her gaze, "I'm not busy."Evelyn: "Then—"Damien Huo handed her the remote, "You go through it, and I'll watch with you."Evelyn had no choice but to accept the remote. As she did, her fingers inadvertently touched his, feeling cool to the touch. She was surprised by the chill of his hands given the warmth of the room.However, she didn't have much time to ponder this as she began to flip through the PowerPoint. It started with an overview of the development and future trends of the catering industry in China, followed by descriptions of profit m
As she pondered, Damien Huo suddenly called out, "Lanting, come in." Evelyn looked towards the door, which was shut, and felt a bit surprised. Was Lanting outside? Just then, the door opened, and Lanting walked in grinning, "Dad, how's mom's lesson going?" Evelyn quickly replied, "Very well, I feel like I've learned a lot. Things I used to see every day have been transformed into business concepts after your dad's analysis!" Lanting's face was filled with pride, "Of course, my dad is awesome. Mom, you probably don't know, but dad has been smart since he was young. He won first place in the American Math Competition, he's skilled at skiing, skydiving, can fly a plane, won equestrian championships, went to an Ivy League school at thirteen with a full scholarship, and at fifteen, during a social practice, he turned a ten million investment into three billion profit in just two months, becoming a classic case study at Harvard..." Lanting continued, but Damien Huo interrupted him, "Do
The winter afternoon sun was warm and comforting, with a brisk scent of grass and wood in the air that refreshed the spirit. Looking out, the yard behind the Huo family villa was not too large, but it was uniquely designed, standing out with its simple, clean lines and structure amidst the withered grass of winter. One could imagine that come spring, when life renews, the yard would take on a whole new charm.Lanting walked in the middle, looking up at his dad and then his mom, unable to suppress his giggles. His chubby little body bounced along, his sneakers cheerfully crunching the fallen leaves spiraling to the ground."Dad, this reminds me of Kimmy. His dad also goes for walks with him!" Lanting blinked, deliberately saying this to his father.Damien Huo was well aware of his son's insinuation. He knew that Lanting was trying to say that Kimmy had both a mom and a dad to accompany him, while in the past, he only had his father.Damien Huo didn't speak; he knew his son was brimming
"I've been asleep for twenty-five years?"When Evelyn heard these words, her eyes still carried an unexplainable moisture. Everything that happened in the past seemed like it just occurred yesterday. At the age of 18, she was diagnosed with a rare disease, forcing her to interrupt her education and budding career for treatment. After two years of medical trials, Dr. Lawrence decided it was time for a critical, life-saving surgery.The success rate of this surgery was a mere 0.5%; success meant conquering the rare disease, failure meant death. Waking up, Evelyn thought the surgery must have been a success, and just as the joy of survival began to fill her heart, she received such startling news.She looked at the doctor in front of her, unable to comprehend. The doctor's name was Chen, fifty years old this year, claiming to be a disciple of Dr. Lawrence.Dr. Lawrence was only 28 years old, and he already had a disciple who was fifty?Just a sleep, and upon waking up, twenty-five years
Evelyn stared at the woman in her forties before her. The pronounced crow's feet, age spots that not even thick makeup could cover, sagging skin, and deeply etched nasolabial folds – all marks of time that couldn't be erased. And yet, through these traces of years, she recognized Margaret, her stepsister who was only a few months younger than herself.Evelyn's mother had passed when she was just twelve, and her father had remarried, bringing Margaret into her life. The two girls, of similar ages and classmates, clashed within months until their grandmother intervened and took Evelyn under her wing to calm the waters.But later, Evelyn fell ill with a life-threatening disease, and after their grandmother's death, the treatment funds left for Evelyn were "borrowed" by her stepmother for Margaret's private study abroad.These grievances were carved in Evelyn's heart. The mere thought made her grind her teeth, itching to pummel Margaret. But now, perhaps the shock of waking up to a world
While everyone around was still reeling, utterly gobsmacked and virtually nonfunctional, Evelyn was tucking her eight hundred dollars into her pocket and zipping up her suitcase, pondering her next move. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she missed the conversations happening right beside her.Standing up after squatting for too long, she felt a slight blackout—a combination of hunger and the day’s stress; after all, she'd only had a meal on the plane and was prone to low blood sugar.As she steadied herself, a pair of strong, polite hands reached out to steady her by the shoulders, a touch so courteous it avoided any hint of offense.Surprised, she glanced up to meet the cool, sharp gaze of a man whose features were so chiseled, he could have stepped out of the pages of a romance novel she once read.And now, here he was, expertly and considerately steadying her. Since leaving the institute, Evelyn had felt adrift, and now, the unexpected kindness from a stranger warmed her.
After the meal, Quentin inquired about Evelyn's plans, "We can reclaim the house, but it will take a couple of days. Do you have a place to stay until then?"The question struck a chord with Evelyn's current predicament. Of course, without the house, she had nowhere to go. Her closest relative had been her grandmother, now deceased, and any distant family ties had long since been severed over the past twenty-five years. Friends? Evelyn’s social connections had dwindled to none since her illness struck shortly after starting at the film academy. The only constant had been her boyfriend, Lucas. The thought made Evelyn's brow furrow slightly: “I don't have accommodations, so I was planning to rent a place to stay until I can reclaim my house."Quentin nodded, tentatively broaching the subject of finances—a delicate matter given their newfound relationship and her likely unfamiliarity with current economic standards, “Mother, do you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses?”Evelyn ha