Chapter 168: Chapter 169: I Wish You All the Best
Ian Preston: "I hope everything goes smoothly for you, not just so I can fulfill my own wishes."
Thea Lynch was stunned on the spot.
It was past ten o’clock at night in Coronet when a light rain started.
After washing up, Thea sat on the balcony, staring blankly at the nearby Stratus Tower.
When the phone rang, she didn’t look at the screen, already guessing who it was.
She pressed the speaker button, put the phone back on the table, and pulled the blanket tighter around her, covering her arms and legs thoroughly.
"Is it over?" Silas Cheney asked eagerly.
He and Sean Bell had left the cinema, and both Ian Preston and Thea Lynch were nowhere to be seen, so they didn’t follow them anymore.
He didn’t know where the two had gone, but he had just seen Thea post an article from the Stratus official account on her social media.
Since she had time for such things, she must have already returned home.
"Yes."
Thea’s voice was very soft, combined with the rain outside, Silas didn’t hear clearly, so he asked again.
She said, "It’s over. I came back forty minutes ago."
"So you finished watching the movie, and had other plans? Where did you go?"
"We just sat in a small tavern opposite the cinema for a while, didn’t go anywhere else."
Silas: "..."
He seemed to have driven past there.
Surprisingly, he didn’t bump into them.
"How did it feel?" Silas inquired about the details, "Any thoughts?"
Knowing she was about to say something, Silas hastily said, "Don’t just brush me off."
Thea pondered for a while before saying, "I did gain something. It’s a bit different from what I imagined."
She thought it would be awkward and abrupt.
This official statement made Silas feel like nothing was said, but thinking about it, he realized Thea wasn’t being intentional.
He changed to a more direct question, "During the entire process tonight, was there any moment that made your heart race like a little deer?"
"Similar to how you breathe and your heart races after an 800-meter run."
His metaphor sounded a bit ridiculous, but when Thea recalled it, she truly felt it.
She couldn’t lie, and earnestly replied, "Yes."
Hearing this, Silas knew everything was on track.
Stopping there, he didn’t probe further, "Next time, whenever you’re free, I’ll arrange something for you two again?"
Thea didn’t decline either, "Let’s talk about it after I return from the business trip."
"Alright." Silas’s smile grew broader, "Then remember to prepare your things, we’ll gather with the company someday. It’ll be a tough week ahead, but I rely on you."
Thea: "No problem, it doesn’t matter if I’m tired, as long as Mr. Cheney becomes the richest man in Coronet."
Silas laughed for a long while after hearing that, "Well, whether I become the richest is all up to Foreman Lynch."
——
Thea spent a couple of days over the weekend at their family compound.
Her aunt thought she planned to move abroad again when she heard about the overseas trip.
Thea bit into a peach and quietly said, "No, it’s for a business trip. Just for a week."
"I can’t refuse because the team needs to go."
Since it’s for work, her aunt couldn’t say much more. "Well, you could take the time to visit your uncle."
"Yes." Thea nodded, "Tomorrow after work, I will take a trip to Westmere, grandmother has some things that need to be brought there."
"By the way, do you have plans for the Spring Festival this year?" her aunt asked.
"Spring Festival?" Counting, it’s only three months away. "Aren’t we just staying at home?"
"Don’t you want to go out? New Year travel seems to be quite popular."
Thea shook her head, "I don’t want to go out."
"You, becoming more of a homebody," her aunt paused her work, her eyes settled on Thea, "Look at this, Thea."
She handed Thea a tablet.
On it was a necklace of emerald jade.
"Quite beautiful." Scanning the introduction below, Thea understood, "The auction is near my hotel. If you like it, I’ll check it out then."
"Will it disturb your work?"
"Of course not." Thea smiled, "I have plenty of time in the evening. After all, even the hardest-working donkey needs rest."
Her aunt chuckled and patted her arm, "Why speak about yourself like that."
"Well, make sure you help me take a look when you’re free." Her aunt gave her a price range, "If it’s suitable, bring it back for me."
Thea agreed, "Alright."
——
On Wednesday morning, the Stratus exhibition team arrived at the airport. With a lot of equipment, their luggage delayed them for quite a while.
Overall, Stratus had twelve people this time.
Besides Thea’s research department with two or three other girls, the only girl from other departments was Silas’s little niece, seemingly named Melody.
After boarding, the two sat together. The moment she got on, she busied herself with product introductions, trying to memorize them.
Thea didn’t disturb her, putting on headphones to rest.
Waking up again, it was lunchtime, but Thea wasn’t very hungry, so she ate casually.
When her gaze fell upon the notes beside her, Thea raised an eyebrow, "You haven’t finished memorizing them?"
"Halfway through." Melody scratched her head and whispered, "I’m also here with tasks. My uncle said someone will be supervising me. If I fall short, I’ll end up in the canteen back home washing dishes."
Thea: "..."
"Heard you’ve become the sales department manager?"
Hearing this, Melody shook her head in panic, "No no no! I’ve only been here a while. But... I’m probably close."
The young girl wasn’t very cunning, and having met Thea before, she spoke openly and without reservation.
Thea laughed, "Heard you’ve closed a major deal?"
"The contract hasn’t been signed yet. Probably next year." Melody giggled, "Once this contract is closed, it’s about time."
"Yeah." Thea nodded, glancing at her notes, and finally reminded her, "Focus on the four main products, get familiar with these first."
"Got it!"
Seeing she was about to sleep again, Melody handed over the earplugs, softly asking:
"Do you want to switch earplugs, sis? My uncle didn’t see you earlier and gave these to me, saying they’re better."
"Thanks." Thea didn’t take them, asking first, "You don’t need them?"
"I don’t need them. I’m not bothered by noise; I can sleep anywhere."
Only then did Thea accept them.
Once she lay down, Melody instinctively fell silent, minimizing her presence.
During the plane’s landing, Thea felt discomfort in her ears, but Melody chatting with her quickly distracted her.
After disembarking, Thea received a call from Silas.
"I think I can join you in the last two days."
"No worries." Thea pushed her luggage ahead, "It’s fine if you don’t come. Trust me."
"I absolutely trust you. Just worried about that girl not being reliable. Could you keep an eye on her for me these days?"
Thea glanced back at the approaching Melody and replied, "Alright, I got it."
