When Evan Lin got home, it was already past seven.
He happened to run into Charles Chen driving out. The car stopped next to Evan, and Lucy Lu rolled down the window.
“Evan, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Lucy sat in the car, looking at Evan who just got back. Evan nodded.
“Then hop in, I’ll take you to get something to eat.” Lucy let Evan into the car. Lynn Chen, sitting in the back seat, frowned. “Mom, aren’t we going to Uncle Sheng’s for dinner? Is it really okay to bring him along?”
Charles glanced at Evan, wanting to refuse, but when Lucy looked over, the words got stuck in his throat. He glanced at Evan’s clothes and frowned, “Go upstairs and wash your face, change your clothes, then come back down. We’ll wait for you.”
“Okay.”
Evan nodded. After the fight at the bar, he was covered in sweat and honestly looked pretty grimy.
Lucy handed Evan the keys. Once Evan went inside to change, Lynn slumped in her seat, looking annoyed. “Why do we have to bring him?”
“Lynn, we didn’t cook at home tonight. Are we just going to let Evan go hungry?” Lucy frowned, her tone a bit displeased.
“He can go buy his own food. If people find out I live with him, what am I supposed to do?” Lynn retorted.
“So what if we live together? It’s not like we share a room. Lynn, why are you always so prejudiced against Evan?” Lucy’s tone sharpened. Lynn clammed up, turned to stare out the window, and didn’t argue back.
“Alright, alright, why are you two arguing?” Charles shook his head and rubbed his temples. “Don’t expect tonight’s dinner to be so comfortable. When we get there, Lynn, just stick with Evan and eat as much as you want.”
“If anything else happens, just pretend you didn’t see it.”
Charles reminded them, his face tinged with worry.
“How many people did Haiyang Sheng invite this time?” Lucy asked softly, watching Charles’s expression.
“He invited some doctors from the hospital, Ping Nianhua, Liu Zhao, and that Miracle Doctor Wu. Shouldn’t be too many.” Charles sighed. “Ever since President Sheng got cured by the miracle doctor Ping Nianhua brought in, their relationship has gotten a lot better. My situation, though, is getting worse.”
“Plus, President Sheng had a talk with me today. Sounds like he wants Shen He to take my position and transfer me to HR. Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Charles’s face darkened as he spoke. “Once I’m in HR, it’ll be hard to get out. You know how things are in the company—the HR department is basically just for show.”
“Want me to chat up Xueping later?” Lucy asked. Charles didn’t reply, and the mood in the car grew heavier.
Evan came back in clean, fresh clothes, opened the car door, and got in.
Lynn tilted her head, refusing to even glance at Evan as he got in, clearly still hung up about what happened at Imperial Grand KTV.
Evan leaned back in the rear seat. Charles started the car and slowly drove away from Brightsea Garden Court.
“Evan, tomorrow’s the weekend. Got any plans?” Lucy turned around in her seat, her voice gentle.
“Tomorrow? I don’t think I have anything going on.”
Evan thought for a moment. He’d promised to help Yu Weida with underground boxing, but that wasn’t for a while. Schoolwork wasn’t urgent, and aside from that, he didn’t have much else to do.
Of course, if you counted tracking down Shawn Young for that money, maybe that’d be something.
“Well, tomorrow you can go hiking with Lynn. She’s already made plans with her classmates. You young people should get out more, don’t stay cooped up at home all the time.”
“I’ve noticed you’ve been studying late these days. I bought you some milk—drink a glass every night before bed, okay? Take care of yourself.” Lucy reminded him.
“Got it. Thanks, Aunt Lucy.” Evan listened to Lucy’s words, feeling a wave of warmth in his heart.
“Mom!”
But when Lynn heard Lucy’s words, her expression changed.
“All my classmates are going hiking tomorrow! What’s Evan coming with me supposed to be, anyway?” Lynn protested, glaring at Evan beside her.
Evan could only put on an innocent look. This wasn’t his decision at all.
“So what if they’re your classmates? Evan’s your age too—why can’t he hang out with you guys? Besides, with Evan there, I can relax and let you go. Otherwise, what if something happens?”
“That’s final. If you don’t let Evan go, you can stay home and do homework all day tomorrow!” Lucy’s tone grew even more stern. Lynn grumbled and glared at Evan again.
The car rolled along the road and soon arrived at a villa community called Mountainview Garden.
The houses and landscaping here were a bit nicer than Brightsea Garden Court, making it one of Brightsea City’s more upscale villa neighborhoods.
“Once you’re at the table, you two should eat plenty.”
Lucy reminded them again from the car.
Charles drove into the community and parked in front of a villa.
The group got out of the car.
“This place is way bigger than our house.” Lynn muttered as she looked around.
The standalone villa had three floors, a cobblestone path leading to the door, and was surrounded by white stone walls—a touch of minimalist, old European style.
Right in front was a peach tree taller than a person, next to a little flower bed full of colorful blooms.
“Well, Manager Chen is here too.”
Just as Charles and the others got out, Liu Zhao happened to walk over. He squinted at them, greeting Charles with a fake smile.
“Yeah, you’re early. Has President Ping arrived yet?” Charles asked. He never liked Liu Zhao, and Ping Nianhua had always looked down on him. Liu Zhao was Ping’s guy, so the relationship was obvious.
“President Ping went to pick up Miracle Doctor Wu, so they’re not here yet. But Manager Chen, you brought the whole family to celebrate President Sheng’s recovery? You’re really thoughtful. Still, don’t blame me for saying this—President Sheng always says, when we do projects, it can’t just be for show. The most important thing is to get real results.” Liu Zhao smiled, looking at Charles.
Charles’s face darkened. Liu Zhao was clearly trying to put him in his place, but right now, Charles couldn’t afford even the slightest mistake.
Ever since Miracle Doctor Wu supposedly cured Haiyang Sheng, President Sheng had started favoring Ping Nianhua’s people and grown distant from Charles.
“Let’s head inside. President Sheng is waiting for us.”
“But Manager Chen, you’ll have to drink plenty tonight.”
Liu Zhao looked at Charles, his eyes full of mischief and meaning.