Chapter 130: Chapter 130: I Wish Ian Preston Would Always Be Here
"..."
Ian Preston’s words left Thea Lynch at a loss for what to say.
But it was also the truth.
The elders, witnessing this scene, let their imaginations wander, but what they imagined wasn’t entirely just fantasy.
The fact that Ian Preston gave her the bracelet is true; her liking him previously is true; his feelings toward her have also been mutual, which is true.
The hot water hasn’t boiled yet.
Thea Lynch hung her head, staring dazedly at the rising temperature numbers.
Ian Preston hadn’t left yet, and was selecting tea leaves from the cabinet. The old gentlemen were particular; the tea brewed earlier wasn’t satisfactory and needed to be replaced.
Time passed silently. Thea Lynch thought for a moment, then spoke, "Third Brother, this..."
The man took out some tea leaves, gently interrupting her, "If you’re thinking of returning the bracelet, then there’s no need to bring it up."
"..."
Thea Lynch coughed, "No, I was thinking of finding a similar one for you another day."
"No need."
"It’s alright, I’ll keep an eye out first. If I can’t find one, then we’ll talk later." She’s not very knowledgeable about these, so she’ll have to ask someone to help inquire.
Ian Preston let her do as she wished.
"Any wishes for this year?"
He asked.
Aside from the seven years apart, he would ask this every year in the past.
Back then, when he asked, she wasn’t shy about stating her wishes, and he would help her fulfill them one by one.
But now...
Thea Lynch paused, then said, "This year’s wish is a secret."
When Grandma asked her in the morning, she hadn’t figured it out yet.
Now, she probably has a clear goal.
"In what aspect specifically?" Ian Preston was not someone who could be easily dismissed; at other times, he would give her space by not pressing further.
"Work?"
He kindly offered a direction.
If she were to lie, Thea Lynch could easily follow his lead. That was also her answer to Grandma in the morning.
But she didn’t.
"No." She gently shook her head, "It’s about feelings."
"..." Ian Preston’s hand froze. He had considered many potential answers she might give.
But never thought in this direction.
His jaw tightened, expression unchanged as he placed the tea leaves back into the high cabinet.
The sound of the cabinet door closing coincided with the alert for the boiling water. Thea Lynch was lost in thought, startled by the sudden noise, her heart pounding fiercely.
"Thea?"
"Thea!"
Outside, Auntie was urging her.
Thea Lynch stood up, "I’ll trouble Third Brother to brew the tea, I’m going out first."
"Alright."
Obviously, Ian Preston wanted to ask more, but knowing that it wasn’t the right time, he restrained himself from speaking.
——
Today’s birthday cake was prepared by Silas Cheney.
A five-tier cake, the top tier was larger than Thea Lynch’s face.
It didn’t even look like a cake.
Still had a princess theme.
Seeing her gaze at the cake in a daze, Silas Cheney stepped forward, resting his hand on her shoulder, seeking credit, "How is it, beautiful right?"
"..." Thea Lynch gave him a look for him to interpret it himself.
"Isn’t this good looking?" According to Silas Cheney’s aesthetics, there’s nothing wrong with this cake. "I asked when I bought it, they said young girls now like this style."
"Yes." Thea Lynch nodded, agreeing with the statement. "But I’m not a young girl anymore."
After this birthday, she’ll be twenty-five, rounding up it’s not twenty anymore but thirty.
She really doesn’t relate to being a young girl anymore.
Thea Lynch hadn’t celebrated birthdays much in recent years, at most, her uncle would prepare a gift for her. But nothing this grand.
Plus, having not left campus, she hasn’t been very sensitive to her age these years. At least in her own understanding, she’s still a student.
"Who says!" At her words, Silas Cheney was the first to object, lifting his hand from her shoulder and patting the back of her head, "If not you, then who."
"If it were a few years back, I might have suited this style." Thea Lynch chuckled.
"Alright, it’s still beautiful."
No matter what, it was Silas Cheney’s thoughtful gesture.
"Oh, what happened earlier?" Silas Cheney tilted his head, whispering.
Outsiders weren’t allowed inside, he had just gone to the entrance to wait for the cake.
Upon returning, he found the elders very pleased; even Grandpa Preston, who usually kept a stern demeanor, had a smile on his face earlier.
There was clearly something going on.
At such occasions, he couldn’t directly ask his grandfather. Failing to find Thea Lynch and Ian Preston, and with the second brother not here yet, he could only ask Sean Bell, but that guy deliberately kept him guessing.
"Nothing happened." Of course, Thea Lynch wouldn’t reveal anything.
Silas Cheney looked at her with disdain, "You’re treating your brother like this?"
"Fourth Brother is so smart, figure it out yourself." Thea Lynch smiled, swatting his hand away, heading to the opposite side.
Silas Cheney: "..."
Julian Zimmerman arrived ten minutes later, "I was supposed to be on leave, but a relatively important meeting came up unexpectedly, so I returned to the office."
He didn’t forget to explain.
Reasonably speaking, keeping so many people, especially elders, waiting for a junior like him really isn’t proper.
But Julian Zimmerman’s work is quite special, and the elders understanding his situation is reasonable. After all, his job isn’t easily postponed.
Unlike Ian Preston or Silas Cheney, who can make their own decisions.
Once everyone was present, Thea Lynch was pushed to the cake. Silas Cheney diligently lit the candles on her behalf, and Sean Bell followed by turning off the lights.
In the midst of silence, Thea Lynch slowly closed her eyes.
What wish did seventeen-year-old Thea Lynch make?
Hope her brothers have smooth paths and return safely. Hope she recovers quickly. Hope Ian Preston is always there.
What wish did twenty-five-year-old Thea Lynch make?
Hope Ian Preston is always there.
This is the one wish from seventeen-year-old Thea Lynch’s three which hasn’t been fulfilled yet and can still possibly come true.
——
The yard has been incredibly lively lately, clearly showing the elders are very happy.
On the pretext of celebrating Thea Lynch’s birthday, Grandpa White coaxed and tricked his way into opening a bottle of white wine. Today, being the protagonist, Thea Lynch got up to toast each person.
Initially, she didn’t plan to drink so much.
The elders tried to hold her back.
But after a cup of white wine, her whole body started to heat up.
She took a deep breath, inexplicably pouring a second cup. Her motion was firm, and no one could stop her.
"Alright, alright." Seeing her drink four or five cups in a row, Grandpa White was so startled that he didn’t know where to place his hands.
After all, he opened the wine, and if Thea Lynch had any problems, he’d be the "culprit" as an old man.
"It’s fine." Thea Lynch coughed, aside from feeling increasingly warm, she felt no other discomfort.
Seeing her steady on her feet, Ian Preston silently sat back down.
Thea Lynch finished toasting and returned to her seat to eat. While eating, she remained quiet, not liking to talk, forming a stark contrast to the elders’ chatter across the table.
Aunt softly asked, "Do you feel alright?"
Fearing she might have drunk too much.
Still, Thea Lynch shook her head, "Really, nothing feels wrong."
