Chapter 178: Chapter 179: So This Is How Young People Date Nowadays
When Ian Preston spoke, Foreman Leigh and the others were truly taken aback.
Foreman Leigh was usually quite composed and had seen a lot in his time, but now he was so shocked that he stammered repeatedly.
"Mr. Preston, this, this..."
Ultimately, it was Thea Lynch who couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to help. "My third brother usually loves to joke around. It’s fine, you guys can head back first."
Well, for someone like Ian Preston, the "cold-faced demon," how could he be joking?
However, since Thea Lynch had spoken, Foreman Leigh didn’t linger and quickly led his people to retreat.
After everyone left, the hospital room suddenly became empty.
Looking at the tightly closed door, Thea Lynch let out a slow breath, withdrew her gaze, and looked at the instigator, "Why did you scare them like that?"
"Did I?" Ian Preston was puzzled. "They’re your colleagues; shouldn’t I be nicer to them? There’s no such thing as scaring them."
From start to finish, Ian Preston indeed had no such intention. He rarely jokes, and this time it was out of respect for Thea Lynch that he seemed so "approachable."
Thea Lynch was speechless.
She couldn’t help but say, "You should still be more serious usually, try to maintain your persona. After all, they’re not familiar with you, and what you did just now was indeed quite frightening to them."
Ian Preston: "..."
"What persona?"
Thea Lynch took a sip of sweet porridge, then tried some salty porridge, unsure which one to choose.
Upon hearing his words, she put down her spoon and replied, "Don’t you know how others privately evaluate you in The Coronet Circle?"
"I don’t think so. I can hear some evaluations about me."
"Like?"
"Just the same things over and over." Thea Lynch was very frank.
In the circle, no one dares to speak ill of her behind her back. Mentioning her is nothing more than envy for her good family background, wide connections, and the advantages of time, place, and people.
A long time ago, she didn’t think there was a problem with these voices.
Gradually, as she became young and proud, she tried to change things. But she was not trying to get rid of these labels; her parents paved a perfect road for her current life, and she didn’t want to deny their efforts.
She just wanted to prove herself on this basis.
She wanted to add brilliance to the achievements, letting people talk, but with their first reaction being her own accomplishments.
"So, my third brother hasn’t heard these voices?"
Ian Preston: "No."
Thea Lynch clicked her tongue, "Indeed, no one dares to mention it."
Sure enough, she was overthinking it. Not to mention, in The Coronet Circle, who would dare to risk their life evaluating him?
"You seem to have a lot of opinions about me." Ian Preston saw through her little thoughts.
Thea Lynch quickly shook her head, "I don’t."
With a look that says ’don’t talk nonsense.’
Ian Preston pulled a chair over and sat by her bedside, "Just right, take this opportunity, have a chat?"
Thea Lynch swallowed down the porridge, "Chat about what?"
"My persona."
"..."
"In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"
She immediately replied, "Very outstanding, young achiever, decisive in actions, uniquely insightful."
Thea Lynch doesn’t like flattery, but that doesn’t mean she can’t do it.
She’s usually just too lazy to say it.
Key moments, for instance now, who can’t give some exaggeration? Surely, you pick the nice things to say.
Look, look, all good words.
The man smiled and replied sarcastically, "Foreman Lynch is quite good at humoring people."
"..." Thea Lynch coughed, "Where’s the humor in that, it’s all facts."
"So in your eyes, I have no flaws? You like me that much."
Hearing the first half of the sentence, Thea Lynch remained calm, even able to sip some porridge. Until she heard the latter half, had she not drank quickly, this mouthful of porridge might have sprayed onto his face.
She raised her head with unspeakable expression to look at him. Ian Preston appeared normal, not at all feeling there was anything wrong with his statement.
"What?"
"Nothing..." Thea Lynch felt a bit choked, paused, and then replied to his question, "There are still some flaws, though you can’t really call them flaws."
"For instance, the one mentioned just now, you’re too serious overall, feeling like a cold-faced demon. Strong aura is good, but privately, I feel you could maybe... tone it down a bit."
"Hmm, anything else?"
The man, looking eager to learn, signaled her to continue.
With his look, Thea Lynch dared not say more. But in front of him, she doesn’t know what reserve means.
So, she laid down the spoon, sat up straight to face him, and enumerated the issues he currently has seriously.
Overall, it’s still a matter of too strong an aura.
Of course, he certainly isn’t doing it on purpose, naturally needing such presence in usual work situations, but always maintaining it has made him habitual privately.
"So your meaning is, let me have a gentler attitude towards others privately?"
Thea Lynch thought for a moment, then shook her head, "Not necessarily."
Ian Preston raised his eyebrows, adept at spotting key points, "Then just for you?"
Originally thought she’d be embarrassed to admit, who’d expect her to look straight into his eyes and seriously nod, "Yes."
Suddenly being so frank caught Ian Preston somewhat off guard, he laughed, "Privately, I’m not good enough for you?"
"Good and gentle attitude aren’t the same thing. You... talk to me mostly in a serious tone. Not at all like it’s normal communication. Instead, more like superior-subordinate."
"Like that?" Ian Preston realized, seemingly understanding something. "How are others like? A bit more gentle? Like Julian Zimmerman, you’d like that?"
"Not necessarily like others or like second brother." Thea Lynch knew, asking him to do this was indeed too much. "But, at least a little, move a bit in that direction?"
"Do you understand my meaning?"
Her words remained tactful, embarrassed to bluntly express.
Luckily, Ian Preston followed her train of thought, "I roughly get it."
Thea Lynch breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as you get it..."
"Your meaning, isn’t it just, not wanting me to put all the so-called affection in action, but also verbally share it?"
Thea Lynch: "..." He is indeed good at summarizing.
Though sounded odd, thinking closely, it was indeed the point.
"Alright." He nodded to himself, "Then from now on, tell you once a day I like you."
"... It’s really not necessary."
His comprehension exceeded her expectations. "Don’t exaggerate, it’s bothering both of us."
Ian Preston: "Not bothersome, only too willing."
Thea Lynch was about to say something, then heard him say, "Thea Lynch, I like you."
Thea Lynch: "..."
She silently turned around, picked up the spoon, "I’m eating."
"Nowadays, young people in relationships do this, huh." He seemed to have learned quite a bit.
Thea Lynch held back, but still couldn’t, "We’re not in a relationship yet."
Ian Preston looked indifferent, "It’s fine, just an early practice."
