Chapter 140: Chapter 140: He’s Liked Her Since He Was Eighteen
Julian Zimmerman perfectly inherited all the good qualities from his parents.
Thea Lynch loved going to the Zimmerman Family’s home to play since she was young.
Unfortunately, Julian Zimmerman’s parents didn’t live in the neighborhood for long due to work reasons.
Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are both very easy-going and straightforward, without any airs. Both are government officials and quite approachable.
Thea Lynch and Aunt Qing sat in the same car.
Aunt Qing asked about her recent situation.
"I’m doing well, don’t worry about me."
"Still living in the neighborhood?"
"No, I live alone near the company, and I go back to the neighborhood to stay for two days on weekends."
"I see." Aunt Qing looked at her lovingly, gently patted her hand, and after a while, asked the key question:
"So... in terms of relationships, any progress?"
The driver, Sean Bell, chuckled upon hearing this and chimed in, "Aunt Qing, do you even have to ask? Look at her, she doesn’t seem like someone who’d be dating."
Thea Lynch: "..."
Aunt Qing disagreed with this, "Thea is quite nice, surely she has a boy she likes?"
Sean Bell said nothing this time, just watched with amusement.
He also wanted to know how Thea would respond.
Thea hesitated for a moment, "I want to focus on work for now, as for other things... we’ll see later. I’m not in a hurry."
Upon hearing this, Sean Bell raised his eyebrows, his smile growing wider.
Aunt Qing nodded and quickly changed the subject.
At noon, they had a simple meal at a restaurant. Sean Bell had a sudden matter to attend to, so he dropped off Thea and Aunt Qing at their destination before leaving.
"Uncle Julian, Aunt Qing, something urgent came up at the law office, I really can’t avoid it," Sean Bell explained after getting out of the car.
"No problem, you handle your business," Aunt Qing patted his shoulder, "Join us for dinner tonight. We’re heading back to the neighborhood tonight."
When Sean Bell wasn’t acting out, he seemed quite normal. He wasn’t wearing glasses, and his smile had a youthful vibe, "Alright, then I’ll make the arrangements for tonight."
Silas Cheney accompanied the elders inside first, while Thea found an excuse to chat with Sean privately.
"Do you really have something to do?" Thea couldn’t help but doubt him, as he hadn’t been focused on work lately, always idling around.
"What else?"
Sean Bell sat in the car, watching the silhouette bent over outside, "Come on, I do have legitimate work."
"Okay." Thea nodded, "Then go on."
Sean Bell put on his glasses, calling her back, "Hey."
"What’s up?"
Thea lowered her head again.
Sean Bell handed her a card.
"..." Thea clicked her tongue, "You kind of look down on me, don’t you."
"I’m a year older than you, it’s not right for you to pay." With Uncle and Aunt back, it’s natural for us younger ones to entertain them properly.
With the third and fourth brothers not around, this task naturally fell on Sean Bell’s shoulders.
"No need." Thea didn’t take it, "Just a meal, do I look like I lack money?"
Sean Bell: "Business is business."
"Come on, pay for me. Just consider it doing me a favor."
Thea pursed her lips and took the card.
"The password is your birthday, handle the rest as you see fit."
"Got it." Thea replied.
——
The lunch was very quiet, the Zimmerman couple wasn’t fond of chitchat during meals.
After the meal, Thea didn’t forget the responsibility Sean Bell entrusted to her, she found an excuse to go out and settle the bill.
Julian Zimmerman caught up just as Thea finished swiping the card.
"Still missed it," Julian laughed helplessly, "It’s not right for you to pay."
Thea signed the receipt, saying, "It’s fine, I used Sean Bell’s card."
"Little Sean?"
"Yeah. He said he couldn’t join for lunch with Uncle and Aunt, so asked me to help with the bill. You know his way, second brother, if I didn’t agree, he might keep nagging."
"Second brother, just consider giving him a chance, he has plenty of money anyway."
Thea put away the card and pulled Julian back, "Let’s go, let’s not dwell on this."
Julian let her lead him.
As they approached the corner near the private room, he suddenly stopped Thea.
Thea halted, "Hmm?"
"Since coming back, we haven’t had a proper chat."
Julian looked at her with a smile in his eyes.
Thea paused for a moment, quickly realizing.
Their eyes met briefly, she seemed to guess what he wanted to talk about...
"Later," Thea hesitated, "We should help Uncle and Aunt back to the neighborhood first, then sit down and talk slowly."
This place wasn’t ideal for a conversation.
After all, it’s not good to keep the elders waiting too long.
"Alright." Julian was easy-going.
In the afternoon, back at the Lynch Family’s place, Uncle and Aunt were chatting with the Big Uncle and Aunt, while Thea took the opportunity to call Julian out.
"Want to go for a stroll?" Julian suggested.
"Sure."
Thea didn’t refuse.
As they left the Lynch Family’s house, Thea couldn’t help but ask, "What do you want to know, Second Brother."
"The other day, before visiting big brother, I had a private chat with Ian Preston, you might have already known."
"Yeah, Fourth Brother told me. I kind of guessed what you talked about."
Julian laughed, "Thea has always been smart. Yes, it’s what you think."
Thea walked by his right side, lowering her head, "We’re not what you think."
After a pause, she added, "At least not now."
"Ian Preston’s words were along those lines," Julian seemed a bit thoughtful, "I hadn’t expected it to be you two. Initially, I thought if you had someone you liked, it would probably be Sean Bell."
"...Certainly not." Thea found talking about Sean Bell rather stressful.
"Precisely because of that, I misunderstood. I always thought you and Little Sean were like a pair of rivals. Although at odds often, you were of similar age and had many topics to chat about."
"Honestly, I never imagined you with Ian Preston."
"A long time ago, big brother even discussed this with me."
"Huh?" Thea was stunned.
"Back then, big brother kept thinking you liked me, while I always thought you and Little Sean were the best fit. Neither of us ever considered Ian Preston."
Thea: "..."
"Especially hearing Ian Preston say he’s liked you for a long time, felt like a dream."
"He told you that?"
"Yes," Julian chuckled softly noticing, "He never mentioned it to you?"
Thea pressed her lips together, remaining silent for a moment.
Julian didn’t rush her, and after a while, she spoke slowly, "He didn’t say when."
"He didn’t give specifics to me either, but I concluded it probably started when you were in your teenagers. At least before he went abroad for school, he’d already liked you."
Hearing this, Thea widened her eyes, "Second Brother, are you sure it was before he went abroad, not before I went abroad?"
If it was before she went abroad, that timeline was reasonable; she wouldn’t be surprised at all.
But thinking of Ian Preston...
He went abroad for college, even if it was at eighteen, she was only still in junior high school at that time.
