Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Jenson Forrest Will Be Moved
"Jenson."
Joanna Sherman showed up at Jenson Forrest’s company.
She had known from the news that Jenson Forrest’s communications company was booming, but it was only upon entering his office building that she truly felt the grandeur of SwiftShift.
Jenson Forrest’s business had done well in the past, but he had never managed to surpass Vincent Grant. However, on the most recent "Most Eligible Bachelors of Crestfall" list, Jenson had already overtaken Vincent and was now on par with Levin Sawyer.
When Jenson Forrest saw Joanna Sherman, he was taken aback. His expression cooled slightly, but he still greeted her. "What brings you here?"
Joanna Sherman presented the proposal in her hand. "I have a project here—guaranteed to be incredibly profitable. I want to partner with you."
Keeping things strictly business, Jenson Forrest took the proposal despite his dislike for Joanna Sherman.
His long fingers quickly flipped through the pages.
Joanna Sherman was full of confidence. "So? What do you think? If you’re willing to invest, when the project succeeds, we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty."
Before coming, Joanna Sherman had someone look into it. SwiftShift currently had over ten billion in cash sitting on its books, waiting to be spent.
She was certain Jenson Forrest would be tempted.
Jenson Forrest read through the proposal again several times.
"I need to make a phone call."
"Okay."
Joanna Sherman strode over to the reception area, sat down, and crossed her legs to wait.
Jenson Forrest’s secretary brought her some tea.
Jenson Forrest went into his office. Through the glass wall, she could see his profile as he spoke on the phone.
A hint of tenderness hung at the corners of his eyes.
Jenson Forrest had always treated people with a gentle warmth, but it was a warmth that always maintained a certain distance.
Not like now, when his gaze was soft enough to drown in.
It was the first time Joanna Sherman had seen him look this way, and she couldn’t help but be slightly stunned.
Before long, Jenson Forrest came out.
He returned the proposal to Joanna Sherman. "Sorry, but I can’t invest in this project at the moment."
"Why not?"
This outcome was completely unexpected!
Joanna Sherman had been one hundred percent certain she would succeed, that this proposal would move Jenson Forrest!
"Jenson, you should be well aware of this project’s potential. All it needs is a ten-billion initial investment, and then we just sit back and collect the profits!"
She didn’t understand why Jenson Forrest had suddenly become so cold toward the proposal.
Jenson Forrest rubbed his brow and gave a slight smile. "On the surface, that does appear to be the case, but... I’m sorry. I can’t invest."
With that, he gave a polite nod. "I have something else to attend to, so I have to go. I’ll have my secretary see you out."
Jenson Forrest turned and walked away.
Joanna Sherman watched his retreating back, consumed by a profound sense of failure.
Not until the secretary’s voice broke in. "Miss Sherman, this way, please."
Joanna Sherman walked out, dejected.
Once in her car, she slammed the proposal onto the center console and repeatedly pounded the seat.
Only after her anger subsided did she smooth her hair, take out her phone, and dial a number. "Ma Lane, did you receive the Tang-style jacket I sent you?"
"I did, I did!" Ma Lane’s voice was cheerful. "I’m actually wearing it today. It’s so festive and stylish. Thank you, Miss Sherman."
Joanna Sherman got straight to the point. "Ma Lane, that tutor you mentioned last time, are Jenson and Lillian still in contact with her?"
"Still in contact? Of course they are." The moment the topic was raised, Ma Lane sounded displeased. "Those two siblings practically worship her. Which city Lillian should go to for university, which school to attend, what to major in—they ask her everything!"
"They’re on the phone with her every other day!"
"Jenson listens to her, too. Lil is a girl, and after listening to her, she actually wants to study materials science, and in another province at that! And he actually said it was a good idea!"
"A girl should just stay local, learn piano and dance to cultivate her temperament, and marry a good man in the future! All this other stuff is useless!"
Although Ma Lane was just a servant, she had been around wealthy circles for so long, hearing other servants talk about socialites, that she naturally assumed this was the proper path for a rich girl.
"Oh, right. I think Jenson just called her, too, asking about some investment. And she actually gave him her opinion! She’s just a tutor, getting way too full of herself!"
Ma Lane felt that both Lillian and Jenson Forrest were acting abnormally.
’They’ve absolutely been bewitched.’
Joanna Sherman paused for a moment.
’So, my proposal was rejected because of that tutor?’
This answer, unexpectedly, made her feel a sense of relief.
’What could a mere tutor possibly know about the world? She must have gotten scared when she heard how large the investment was. Jenson’s willing to give up a business deal just to humor his little teacher!’
Joanna Sherman asked with a smile, "So, that teacher is already living at the Forrest residence?"
"Not yet," Ma Lane answered truthfully. "It’s just that Lil’s exam scores came out today. She scored over six hundred, so they specially invited her over to celebrate."
To be precise, Lil had scored over six hundred and fifty.
It was a huge improvement over her previous performance.
But Ma Lane scoffed at the thought.
’What’s the use of a girl getting such high scores and studying so much? In the end, won’t she just end up serving her husband and having children?’
"I see." Joanna Sherman started the car.
’People who haven’t seen the world are timid but greedy. If I just give her some expensive gifts, she’ll surely relent.’
Joanna Sherman went to a department store, bought a very expensive gift for Lillian Forrest and a handbag worth tens of thousands, then drove straight to the Forrest residence.
At that moment, Jenson Forrest was standing at the entrance to his own home.
Thinking of the person he was about to see, he still couldn’t control his heart. THUMP, THUMP, it beat wildly.
Not until he heard Lillian Forrest’s voice.
"Brother, why are you still standing at the door? Sophie has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lillian Forrest came out, holding her guide cane.
She was so familiar with her brother’s presence that she easily found his location.
The young woman pouted slightly. "I invited Faye over for you, Brother. You’d better seize this opportunity!"
Lillian Forrest really, really liked Sophia Shaw, and she also knew her brother liked her.
When Jenson Forrest had called just now, it was her phone he’d dialed, and she had deliberately asked Sophia Shaw to answer for her.
’My dear brother,’ she thought. ’The moment he heard Sophie had come over, he rushed right home.’
Lillian Forrest laughed to herself.
’My brother is even more anxious than I am.’
"Come on, let’s go!"
Lillian Forrest gave Jenson Forrest a push.
Jenson Forrest finally grunted in acknowledgment and helped her inside.
In the yard, Lillian Forrest had long since had someone put up balloons and set out tables.
Her exam results had come out today.
Hearing that she had scored over six hundred and fifty, many of her classmates had come to celebrate.
Sophia Shaw was standing in the crowd, holding Bun.
Although she was clearly much older than the people around her, her features were gentle and graceful, her face showing no trace of time’s passage.
If she weren’t holding Bun, an unknowing observer might have thought she was about the same age as the students.
Everyone had heard that Lillian Forrest’s huge improvement was thanks to Sophia Shaw’s tutoring. They also knew Sophia was a "rocket genius" and looked at her with worshipful eyes.
Timid yet unavoidably curious, they asked her all sorts of questions.
Sophia Shaw was approachable and answered whatever they asked with great earnest.
Lillian Forrest walked closer. "Alright now, stop crowding around my Sister Sophie. Go and play somewhere else."
Lillian Forrest took Bun from Sophia Shaw’s arms and thrust the baby into Jenson Forrest’s hands. "Brother, take good care of Bun and Sister Sophie."
Jenson Forrest was momentarily flustered, his hands scrambling to secure Bun.
Fortunately, he had experience from holding Lillian when she was a baby, and he adjusted his hold after only a moment.
Lillian Forrest giggled and walked off with her classmates in another direction.
Someone sighed in a low voice, "Lillian, you’re so lucky! You actually managed to get the ’rocket genius’ as your tutor!"
"Why aren’t I that lucky?"
"I want the ’rocket genius’ to be my tutor and my big sister, too."
Lillian Forrest’s laughter was as crisp and clear as a lark in the trees.
Jenson Forrest watched his sister walk away before saying in a low voice, "Thank you. Because of you, Lillian has been able to become so outgoing."
Bun wriggled in Jenson Forrest’s arms.
Her little nose kept sniffing.
’This isn’t Uncle Sawyer’s scent. But this uncle smells nice, too. So clean.’
Bun then used her little hands to pull herself up by his clothes, trying to get a look at Jenson Forrest’s face.
’His face is handsome, too.’
Though the little one was only about nine months old, she was already a sucker for a handsome face.
Jenson Forrest gently patted her back.
She stopped wriggling and settled obediently in his arms.
Sophia Shaw could more or less see her daughter’s weakness for handsome faces. Seeing how well-behaved she was now, she found it both amusing and exasperating.
Hearing Jenson Forrest, she quickly shook her head. "She’s made progress because she was willing to put in the effort. I just offered a little guidance."
Jenson Forrest naturally knew she was just being modest.
He couldn’t stop his gaze from drifting toward her face.
The woman’s gentle face was serene and lovely, more beautiful than any painting.
Standing far away, even Ma Lane could feel the torrent of love surging in Jenson Forrest’s eyes. She snorted in disdain.
’She’s been married before! What’s so special about her!’
Sophia Shaw didn’t particularly want to stand there with Jenson Forrest.
Their relationship wasn’t that close. If Bun weren’t nestled in his arms, she would have left already.
Sophia Shaw wracked her brain, trying to figure out how to pry her little looks-obsessed daughter out of Jenson Forrest’s arms.
