"I thought you were here to catch up with me." Sean Kerr smiled faintly at Rona Muir. "Rona, it's been a long time since we talked in the office."
Rona Muir sighed. "Let's just talk business today, okay?"
"Of course we can." Sean Kerr smiled gently. "Don't say you just want a Shine Mall counter—if you want the whole Shine Mall, I'll give it to you. No, if you want Jolene Cosmetics, I'll give you that too!"
Rona Muir sighed again.
Sean Kerr continued, "As long as you come back to me, anything is negotiable."
"You know that's impossible." Rona Muir refused flatly.
"Rona, I don't believe you've really forgotten our past!" Sean Kerr shook his head. "I don't believe it! Your eyes tell me you remember every detail of our time together."
"Yes, I remember," Rona Muir answered honestly. "But those days were just as colleagues, as superior and subordinate, as mentor and protégé—never as lovers. Sean, you could say we were never truly together, not for a single day. You never confessed, and I never believed. It's that simple. We could've kept things pure and uncomplicated between us."
"Yesterday, I went to look at a ring. It was beautiful. I thought, if you wore it, it would look stunning on your finger." Sean Kerr changed the subject, unwilling to respond directly to Rona's words. "They say a man can only custom order one in his lifetime. I placed the order—it should be ready in a few days. Would you try it on for me?"
Rona Muir fell silent.
Sean Kerr gave a bitter smile. "Forget it. I won't force you. You'll get the Shine Mall counter."
"Thank you," Rona Muir replied softly. "In this competition, let's rely on our own abilities."
Sean Kerr nodded slightly.
Rona Muir stood up. "I'll head back now. Goodbye."
As Rona turned to leave, Sean Kerr called out behind her, "Rona, take care of yourself. I'll always be here waiting for you. You have the right to refuse me, and I have the right to keep waiting."
Rona didn't reply, her eyes lowered gently. "You take care too."
With those words, Rona Muir quickly left the office.
Watching Rona's retreating figure, Sean Kerr slumped heavily against the back of his chair.
He let out a bitter laugh.
Deep down, he never wanted to make things difficult for her—he just wanted an excuse to see her again.
Knowing full well that meeting him or not makes no real difference.
But I just can't help myself.
Rona Muir returned to her car, calmed herself, and called Cecilia Gu: "Cecilia, I've handled everything at Shine Mall."
Cecilia Gu was stunned, clutching her phone: "What? You went to see Sean Kerr? He didn't try to bargain with you?"
Rona Muir gave a bitter smile: "You know him so well, you really don't know? But it's fine, I didn't agree to anything."
Cecilia sighed in relief: "Alright, leave the rest to me. You just focus on taking care of yourself."
"Yeah, this free trial event will last about three months. We'll officially launch on May Day, so this is make or break for us." Rona cheered Cecilia on: "I believe in you! You can do it!"
Cecilia encouraged her back: "We will succeed, for sure!"
After handling things at Shine Mall, Rona finally felt relieved and drove home.
On her way, Jiro Hirayama called. Rona answered via Bluetooth: "Jiro, what's up?"
"Nana, I'm really sorry. I just found out myself," Jiro Hirayama said apologetically over the phone. "My mother just called me. My niece suddenly flew to China and has already landed. Could you please swing by the airport to pick her up?"
"Niece?" Rona raised her voice, remembering that at the wedding in Japan there was a teenage girl who called Jiro 'uncle.'
"Yes, she's my older brother's daughter," Jiro explained. "She insisted on coming to China, and the family tried to stop her. She snuck away from the servants and bodyguards and came on her own."
"Alright, I've got it. I'll go pick her up now," Rona answered immediately. "She's your niece, so she's family to me too. You don't need to worry about it."
After hanging up, Rona turned the car around and headed for the airport.
When Rona arrived at the airport, the bodyguards and servants were already waiting.
Rona stood at the arrivals exit and asked the bodyguard, "When is Michelle Hirayama arriving?"
"She should be on this flight," the bodyguard replied, looking confused. "But almost everyone’s come out already. Why hasn’t she?"
Rona frowned, puzzled. "Are you sure it’s this flight?"
"Yes, absolutely!" the bodyguard insisted. "I checked carefully, no mistake!"
Just as the bodyguard finished speaking, a girl in a trench coat, shorts, and knee-high boots came out, dragging her suitcase and happily following a man.
The man looked frustrated, but when he saw Rona, his eyes lit up and he ran over: "Ms. Muir!"
Rona blinked, then, recognizing him, smiled: "Oh, it's Little A! What, just got back from overseas?"
This man was none other than Little A, Charles Yin's assistant.
"Wow, you all know each other! What a coincidence!" Michelle Hirayama immediately grabbed Little A's arm. "And you said you had nothing to do with me?"
"Michelle!" Rona felt a headache coming on seeing her niece. "Did you tell your family before sneaking off to China?"
Michelle stuck out her tongue: "Auntie, I just missed you guys!"
"Now that you're in China, you need to follow the rules here, got it?" Rona said, taking on her elder's role. "No causing trouble. Little A has work to do, don't keep pestering him."
Michelle finally let go of Little A's arm, looking disappointed.
Little A was practically in tears, grateful to Rona.
"But I like him!" Michelle boldly pointed at Little A. "I've got my eye on him!"
If Jiro Hirayama heard this, he'd definitely scoff and say: Who do you think you are?
But while Jiro could say that, Rona couldn't.
Rona's face darkened. "Enough, stop fooling around! Time to go home!"
Michelle thought about it—since they all knew each other, it was fine. She obediently waved goodbye to Little A.
Little A saw them off before leaving the airport himself.
On the way home, Michelle chattered nonstop about Little A: "Auntie, do you really know that guy? He’s so handsome! I love his vibe."
"Enough," Rona said, rubbing her tired head. The maid came over to massage her temples.
Seeing Rona really didn't want to talk about that man, Michelle finally shut up.
Once home, Rona asked the housekeeper to prepare a guest room for Michelle.
Michelle looked at Rona curiously: "Auntie, are you still living with Uncle even though you’re pregnant?"
Rona gave her a strange look: "If I don’t live with him, who would I live with?"
Michelle quickly waved her hands: "No, no, that’s not what I meant. I mean, who takes care of Uncle while you’re pregnant?"
Rona looked even more puzzled: "Even if I’m not pregnant, I don’t need to take care of his daily life! What do you think the servants are for?"
Michelle quickly added: "No, no, that’s not what I meant! I mean, now that you’re pregnant and can’t live with Uncle like before, haven’t you thought of a way to solve his problems? When my mom was pregnant, my dad always had someone to help him out."
Rona’s face instantly turned dark!
What does that even mean!
Huh?
What kind of nonsense is this!
Who told her to say these things?
Rona was never one to hold back—she wasn’t like Cecilia. She asked directly, "Who told you to say that? Was it you, or is someone putting words in your mouth?"
Michelle's eyes widened. "Of course it was me! Am I wrong?"
Wrong my ass!
Rona nearly cursed out loud!
"This is China, this is the Mu Family!" Rona said sternly. "This villa is under my name! So I make the rules here! The men in our family don’t have that problem!"
Michelle pouted. "Auntie, you’re so fierce! No wonder Uncle doesn’t come back to China!"
Rona's temper was already short from her pregnancy; hearing that, she almost exploded.
Is this really a granddaughter raised by the Hirayama family?
Aren’t they just raising an idiot?
Just then, Jiro Hirayama wandered in from outside. The moment he saw Rona’s dark expression, he hurried over and supported her: "What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset?"
Seeing her husband come home, Rona finally had someone to vent to. She pinched Jiro and gritted her teeth: "Your wonderful niece is telling me I should find you a mistress while I’m pregnant!"
Michelle actually nodded in agreement: "Yeah, yeah! That’s what my mom did!"
Jiro Hirayama was a character—well, all the Hirayamas were a bit stubborn.
So Jiro said straight to his niece: "If your mom’s crazy, that’s her business. If you follow her, that’s yours! Stay out of our family’s affairs!"
Hearing Jiro say that, Rona finally calmed down a little.
But before she could relax, Michelle turned and begged Rona: "Auntie, fine, I won’t butt into your family stuff! Just tell me about that guy!"
Rona said helplessly, "Tell you what? Little A just got married. His wife is my good friend’s assistant!"