After breakfast, Mason Ming busily helped clean up the table. When he picked up Sis Cherry’s phone by accident, he happened to see an unread message at the top.
That night, Max Ming had a dream.
"Morning! Jake Kee shoved Max Ming next to Yina Yin, then doggedly sat beside Sis Cherry, trying his best to please her. "Sis Cherry, did you sleep well last night? Was it hard to sleep in a new place? Sis Cherry, you’re used to expensive beds, but now you’re sleeping on a simple wooden board—did you manage? If you didn’t sleep well, eat something and rest a bit more later. Max Ming and I can handle the work here!"
In the dream, Yina Yin even rebelled against her family for him, going on a hunger strike in protest.
Sis Cherry really is from a rich family!
In the end, forced by circumstances, the two could only part ways.
Finally!
When Max Ming woke from the dream, he couldn’t stop crying, soaking his pillow with tears.
Once she got her hands on those things and destroyed them, that jerk of a dad would never be able to threaten her again!
Honestly, how could the eldest daughter of the Yin family ever look at someone like him?
Just then, Jake Kee came over and knocked on the door. "Hey? What happened to you? Your eyes are so swollen, they look like peaches."
"N-nothing." Mason Ming quickly covered his face. "I dreamed about my mom last night. I miss her."
Mason Ming panicked a little and lowered his head even more. "No, I just don’t eat much. Are we helping out at the Grant Senior Center’s vegetable garden today? I’ll get to work now!"
Hearing Jay Kee say that, Mason Ming felt even more uneasy inside.
"Alright, alright, just find some time to go see her, no need to cry like this!" Jake Kee slung an arm around Max Ming’s shoulders and said quietly, "Did you remember what I told you last night?"
"What was it again?" Mason Ming hadn’t caught on yet.
"I told you to get close to that Yin pretty boy! Are we brothers or not? My happiness with Sis Cherry depends on you!" Jake Kee said earnestly, "When I succeed, I’ll never forget your help! With me backing you up, Mr. Quinn won’t dare bully you anymore!"
Mason Ming groaned, "I can’t do it, I just can’t."
"What do you mean you can’t? You have to! It’s settled, no changing your mind!" Jake Kee grabbed Max Ming and pulled him out. "Come on, let’s go eat."
Max Ming was dragged to the dining room by Jake Kee, where he saw Yina Yin and Sis Cherry already getting ready for breakfast. Just thinking about last night’s melodramatic dream, Max Ming couldn’t bring himself to look at Yina Yin.
His gaze kept dodging, refusing to meet Yina Yin’s eyes.
Last night, Yina Yin had been comforted by Cherry Miller and was feeling much better. She greeted Mason Ming and Jay Kee cheerfully, "Morning!"
"Morning!" Jay Kee shoved Mason Ming next to Yina Yin, then doggedly sat beside Cherry Miller, trying his best to please her. "Miss Cherry, did you sleep well last night? Was it hard to sleep in a new place? Miss Cherry, you’re used to expensive beds, but now you’re sleeping on a simple wooden board—did you manage? If you didn’t sleep well, eat something and rest a bit more later. Mason Ming and I can handle the work here!"
Listening to Jay Kee, Yina Yin nearly burst out laughing.
Oh my god, she’d seen people try to please someone, but never like this.
Isn’t this a bit too much?
Cherry Miller looked helpless and said, "Not at all. I’m from a poor family too, so I’m used to this."
"Miss Cherry, you’re joking! With such a deep family background, if you’re calling yourself poor, then I must be from a slave society!" Jay Kee thought Cherry Miller was teasing him and laughed, "Miss Cherry is just kind, afraid Mason Ming and I will feel inferior, so she’s pretending to be humble!"
At that moment, Cherry Miller’s phone rang.
When Cherry Miller saw the number, her expression changed slightly, but she quickly recovered. She picked up her phone and said to Yina Yin, "You guys eat first, I’ll take this call."
With that, Cherry Miller turned and walked away, answering the call in a low voice.
Jay Kee’s curiosity was instantly piqued. He really wanted to know who was calling.
Was it the man from yesterday’s video?
Is that guy really chasing her so hard?
Afraid of losing Miss Miller as his sponsor?
Jay Kee was burning with jealousy.
Jay Kee stood up and said, "I’m going to get some soup."
Then, pretending to be casual, Jay Kee walked toward Cherry Miller, trying to overhear her conversation.
He managed to get close and even heard what Cherry Miller was saying on the phone, but... he couldn’t understand a word!
Damn, Cherry Miller was speaking French!
With her back to Jay Kee, Cherry Miller had no idea he was trying to eavesdrop. She asked urgently in French, "Are you sure? Did you find where he’s hiding the stuff?"
"Yes, Miss Miller," the person replied in French. "Our people have been tailing him for days. He’s very cautious and has strong counter-surveillance skills. We almost lost him several times. To avoid alarming him, we had to let him leave for a while so he’d drop his guard. After multiple lines of tracking, we’re sure he has a hidden place in Nice. What you want is most likely stashed there. We’re trying to get closer, but he’s very alert. Several of us have tailed him before, so we’re worried he’ll recognize us."
"Send someone else to investigate, money isn’t an issue." Cherry Miller decided instantly. "I’ll give you another hundred thousand francs. Once you get the stuff, your reward will double."
The other person replied excitedly, "Don’t worry, Miss Miller, we’ll get it done."
"Good." Cherry Miller didn’t waste words and hung up, immediately transferring the money.
Cherry Miller gripped her phone tightly.
Finally!
After holding back for so long, there was finally a lead!
As long as she could get those things and destroy them, that scumbag father would never be able to threaten her again!
She wouldn’t have to worry about Madam Yin and her own mother getting dragged into this either!
Cherry Miller took a deep breath and turned to go back, only to find Jay Kee standing right behind her. She jumped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Jay Kee snapped out of it, his voice tinged with jealousy. "Who were you calling just now? Another puppy you’re keeping?"
Cherry Miller couldn’t help but laugh and cry at once. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"As long as it’s not, that’s fine!" Jay Kee brightened up after hearing Cherry Miller’s denial. "I’ll go get you some soup. It’s good to have soup in the morning."
With that, Jay Kee turned and went off to get soup.
Cherry Miller shook her head speechlessly, not even sure what to say anymore.
Back at the table, Cherry Miller put her phone face down and continued eating.
Yina Yin didn’t ask anything.
For someone like Cherry Miller, being the Chief Special Assistant, having lots to deal with was normal. It would be weird if she didn’t.
After breakfast, Mason Ming busily helped clean up the table. When he picked up Cherry Miller’s phone by accident, he happened to see an unread message at the top.
It was a transfer notification.
The amount made Jay Kee’s heart race!
Wow! So much money!
Miss Miller really is from a rich family!
She spends money like it’s nothing!
And she says she’s not supporting a bunch of guys?
She’s clearly giving out so much cash!
Jay Kee was so jealous he couldn’t stand it!
But Jay Kee also knew that for rich people, having a few side guys was normal!
He wished he could be one of them.
On the other side, Yina Yin asked Mason Ming, "Mason, what’s up with you today? Are you feeling sick? Why do you keep your head down and barely eat?"
Mason Ming panicked a little and lowered his head even more. "No, I just don’t eat much. Are we helping out at the Grant Senior Center’s vegetable garden today? I’ll get to work now!"
With that, Mason Ming made a hasty escape.
Yina Yin was totally confused.
What’s up with Mason Ming?
Is he avoiding her?
He’s such a cute guy!
Mason Ming rushed to the vegetable garden, feeling super annoyed.
Why was he feeling so guilty?
Miss Yin had no idea what dream Mason Ming had last night!
Now it just looks even more suspicious!
Mason Ming grabbed a hoe and started digging furiously.
Today, they were helping the seniors here by turning over all the vegetable plots and checking for pests.
Soon, Cherry Miller, Jay Kee, and Yina Yin all came to help, working alongside the seniors from the Grant Senior Center.
With more people, Mason Ming relaxed a lot. When others talked to him, he could finally respond.
The vegetable garden wasn’t big, and with so many people, the work was done in no time.
Yina Yin saw Mason Ming’s flushed face from the heat and tossed him a bottle of water. "Catch!"
Mason Ming passively took the bottle, opened it, and drank a sip. It tasted incredibly sweet.
Sweeter than any water he’d ever had before.
Was it because Miss Yin gave it to him?
Mason Ming felt so conflicted.
He’d already convinced himself not to have feelings for Miss Yin, but whenever he saw her, his heart raced and he couldn’t help wanting to be close.
Sigh, he really was crazy.
"Does it taste good?" Yina Yin saw Mason Ming hugging the bottle, cheeks flushed, and asked, "Are you used to it?"
"I am! Totally used to it!" Mason Ming blurted out. "Water you give me always tastes amazing."
Yina Yin burst out laughing and went off to hand out water to the others.
Everyone got a bottle, no more, no less.
Mason Ming saw that Yina Yin treated him just like everyone else, no special attention, and felt a pang of disappointment.
Clearly, in her eyes, he didn’t stand out at all, did he?
It really was disappointing.
After finishing with the vegetable garden, they helped out with other tasks at the Grant Senior Center.
After lunch, it was time for them to head back.
As they left, both Jay Kee and Mason Ming felt a little reluctant.
They’d never done this kind of work before.
But here, they could spend time with Cherry Miller and Yina Yin every day!
That kind of company was priceless!
On the way back, Yina Yin asked Cherry Miller, "Are you going to the office later?"
Before Cherry Miller could answer, Jay Kee’s ears perked up!
Cherry Miller thought for a moment and said, "Not today. I’ll go to the office tomorrow."
Yina Yin nodded. "That’s fine too."