Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Are You in a Relationship?
"No worries, even if the store isn’t at the original location, I can get in touch with someone later and buy it," Ian Preston assured her confidently.
Ian’s way of speaking wasn’t like Sean Bell and Silas Cheney’s, who often liked to exaggerate. He was straightforward and never evasive. As Auntie says, his word is his bond.
"Thanks, third brother," Thea Lynch silently breathed a sigh of relief, as Ian indeed seemed reliable.
It’s remarkable that he still remembers things so clearly after all this time.
Knowing him for so long, it seems there’s nothing he can’t handle.
The two drove for half an hour before reaching their destination.
The roads here were narrow, making it inconvenient for vehicles. They got out of the car and started wandering from one end of the street to the other.
"About midway through," Ian was trying hard to recall.
He couldn’t recall the exact location but could only somewhat pinpoint the area.
Back then, Aaron Lynch exercised a lot and burned through energy quickly, and combined with his growth spurt, he’d get hungry fast.
Before and after exercising, he’d buy some food around here.
Ian wasn’t quite sure if it was a sweet pancake.
"Alright, I’ll take a closer look," Thea eagerly said, gazing up at the signs along the way, her steps quickened.
"Hey, hey, hey, watch out!" A delivery truck on one side had its doors open, blocking Thea’s path.
It was her blind spot.
Just a second before the driver could warn her, Ian reached out and pulled her back to prevent her from bumping into it.
Thea stumbled, falling into his arms.
She could hear his heartbeat, loud and clear, near her ear.
Coming to her senses, Thea quickly escaped from his embrace, standing upright.
She tugged at her lips, softly saying, "Thanks, third brother."
"Watch where you’re going," Ian bypassed her and walked in front this time.
With him leading the way, Thea didn’t worry about bumping into anything even if she wasn’t looking ahead.
She wondered if that was his intention in taking the lead.
They walked from one end of the street to the other, where the area had long since transformed from rundown small shops to stylishly decorated restaurants.
After all, more than a decade had passed, and it was only natural.
Now, Thea could only rely on Ian to see if he could find a way to contact that store.
Back at the apartment, Ian stopped at the door, "Leave this to me; you don’t need to worry. I’ll try to find it within three days."
"If you can’t find it, don’t push yourself too hard, third brother. If it’s impossible, we’ll just choose another, and my brother will surely understand."
Thea naturally hoped Ian could find it.
But she was also afraid he’d be too serious about it.
"I know." Ian handed over the items he was holding, which were fruits Auntie had prepared for Thea.
"Get inside and rest early."
"Okay." Thea nodded, entered the code, and opened the door.
Before closing the door, she hesitated for a moment, her gaze locking onto the figure in the hallway. Ian was still standing there, seemingly not planning to leave until he saw her safely inside.
Noticing her pause, Ian asked, "Anything else?"
"..." Thea pressed her lips together, finally giving him a smile, "Nothing, goodnight, third brother."
Just like that, she went inside; leaving without saying anything felt awkward.
After all, Ian helped her a lot tonight.
A simple goodnight was something she could say to strangers, so why hesitate with Ian?
Ian seemed a bit surprised, staring at her for a while before nodding slightly, "Goodnight."
——
The next morning, Thea appeared at the company on time.
After two days away, some documents had piled up, but thankfully, nothing urgent. Most tasks had been shared by Foreman Chandler and the team.
"Foreman Lynch, you’re here early today," Foreman Chandler and the others were still the same, always arriving and leaving work together.
In an instant, the once-quiet office became lively.
Foreman Chandler handed Thea a cup of coffee from his bag, "Foreman Lynch, here’s your iced Americano."
"Thank you." Thea accepted it with a smile.
In the mornings, Foreman Chandler often brought her coffee.
She had once complained about the office coffee’s taste, and since there was a coffee shop across from where Foreman Chandler lived, he brought her a cup once. After she liked it, he began bringing it regularly.
Thea had tried giving Foreman Chandler money a few times, but he never accepted. Eventually, she gave up and started inviting them for afternoon tea instead.
Sipping his coffee, Foreman Chandler leaned on his desk, observing Thea across from him, his smile widening with a fatherly affection.
"Foreman Lynch seems in a good mood today."
At this, Thea chuckled, not stopping her work with the documents. "How can you tell?"
"You’ve seemed pretty low-spirited lately, but today you’ve got a smile on your face. Tsk, tsk, tsk," Foreman Chandler teased, "Were you on a blind date during these days off?"
"Found someone? You seem so happy, like you’re in love."
Immediately, the others in the office huddled closer, openly eavesdropping.
In their R&D department, although many were single, everyone took an interest in Thea’s life more than their own.
Thea paused, glanced at them, and replied with a laugh, "No way."
"It’s just that a brother of mine came back home."
"The one you mentioned before, serving in the army?"
"No," Thea shook her head, "It’s the family friend one. He was transferred back from abroad, hadn’t been home in years, so things have been lively at home."
She quickly shifted the topic, "Any updates from him?"
It was clear to everyone who she was referring to.
"Seems all quiet. With you gone, he had little work as your assistant and left early every day."
"He did mention working overtime with us but just seemed polite. When we said it wasn’t necessary, he really left."
In the evening, Thea began packing her things, getting ready to leave.
"Knock knock," the office door was rapped twice.
"Come in."
Her assistant soon entered, handing her a document, "Foreman Lynch, does this data seem off?"
Thea reviewed it—it was the fake data Foreman Chandler had intentionally leaked in the group chat that day.
"It’s not," Thea maintained her usual expression, explaining the two aspects she found unjustifiably questionable.
Afterward, she tried to reassure him, "Since it’s organized by Foreman Chandler, there shouldn’t be major issues."
Handing the document back, Thea shouldered her bag and asked, "Is there anything else?"
He hesitated, "About the school reunion next month... is Foreman Lynch going?"
Their only shared experience was at Westmere High School.
The reunion must refer there.
But Thea hadn’t received any notification.
"Why not come along with me, Foreman Lynch?"
