“Landon, I know you’ve never been involved with women from Emma’s social class before,” Calvin said. He did not understand why Landon might be drawn to such a choice.“Everyone seeks novelty in a relationship. It’s especially so when someone like Emma sees a wealthy person like you. She’ll undoubtedly try to climb into your social sphere.”Emma would be foolish to let the opportunity for sudden wealth slip by.“Interest in the moment is one thing, but living together long-term is entirely different,” Calvin advised earnestly. “Don’t mistake temporary fascination for true love.“I admit, Emma is quite attractive, but don’t you have many more beautiful women around you?” Calvin continued to plead with Landon.Landon maintained a stoic expression as he listened. Once Calvin had run out of reasons, Landon finally spoke, “Is there anything else?”Calvin sighed heavily. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but…”“Then you shouldn’t say anything anymore,” Landon said sternly. “My min
In the past, Emma would not have asked. However, since she and Landon were now familiar with each other, showing concern for a friend felt natural.“Hmm.” Landon did not hide his feelings and nodded candidly.Emma turned off the stove, faced Landon, and asked, “What would you like for dinner tonight? I can cook it for you.”Landon thought for a moment and asked, “How about shrimp?”“Sure.” Emma nodded in agreement.“Garlic ribs,” he continued.“No problem,” Emma said without hesitation.“Green onion pancakes.” Landon glanced at the steaming rice cooker and added the somewhat extravagant request.“Alright.” Emma smiled, “That’s simple.”Landon's mood, which had been gloomy all day, brightened slightly. “That’s all for now.”Emma tilted her head and suggested, “How about adding a portion of hot and sour soup?”Landon’s eyes lit up. “Sounds good!”“Great! Go get changed and rest for a bit. I’ll have dinner ready soon,” Emma said with a smile.“If there’s anything you want t
Watching as the ingredients obediently transformed under Emma’s skillful hands, the delicious aroma soon wafted from the pots, filling Landon with a sense of contentment even before he had tasted anything.Previously, his meals were prepared by his family's chefs and were far more exquisite than Emma’s, but none gave him the same profound happiness as Emma’s cooking did.“Daddy!” Asher shouted in delight as he burst into the kitchen. His excited shout and the joy in his bright, clear voice made Landon’s heart lift instantly.“Hey, Ash!” Landon quickly responded. “Guess what Mommy is making for us?”“Hm?” Asher furrowed his brows as he concentrated. He sniffed the air, his little nose twitching as he eagerly inhaled the delicious scent. His eyes lit up with surprise. “Garlic ribs!”“Correct!” Landon smiled. “Do you like them?”“I do!” Asher beamed. He absolutely loved them.“We’ll have some soon. Mommy knows we love them, so she made them especially for us,” Landon said with
Emma blinked in surprise, then quickly realized what Landon meant and smiled, "You did have some troublesome relatives, but you’ve managed to distance yourself from them. You’ll only get happier from here on out."Landon looked at Emma and chuckled softly, "Yes, life does feel fantastic now." Coming home to Emma and Asher always brought him a sense of immense peace. How could life not be happy?Especially when he had made his food request, it was not like dealing with a cold, detached chef. Instead, Emma had indulged his whims and made him feel cherished. At that moment, he was not the head of a corporation responsible for countless lives; he was just someone in need of affection and pampering.Men are often expected to be strong, but they also have moments of vulnerability and need for understanding and support from their loved ones. Emma had provided all that."By the way, the food factory project for the company has started," Landon said."I’ve given instructions to pri
“Hmm.” Landon nodded in satisfaction.The food factory project had been set in motion for Landon, and with Stirling Group’s robust background, everything proceeded smoothly. The establishment of the factory would not only create numerous job opportunities but also address local employment issues.The development significantly improved the local government's impression of Stirling Group. Not only was Stirling Group a major taxpayer, but it was also now tackling the issue of employment for disabled individuals so they may live independently. In addition to the government subsidies for disabled workers, they would earn wages, which greatly improved their quality of life. Working in the factory meant a stable income, insurance, and various benefits, making a substantial difference in their daily lives.Since the factory was located in the suburbs, Landon ensured that transportation was well planned, with shuttle buses provided to ease the commute for the factory employees. Fro
Landon noticed Emma's embarrassment and asked curiously, "Are you feeling shy? What's there to be embarrassed about? You're just that good."Emma looked up abruptly and stared at Landon in shock. No one had ever praised her so plainly or acknowledged her worth so openly."There aren't many people like you who think about others while making money for themselves," Landon said confidently. "The key is that you're smart, combining your profit-making with helping others."It creates a powerful synergy, a mutual promotion that isn't common. Your sales philosophy is excellent."Landon continued, "Low-level sales are about selling products. Mid-level sales are about service. But the highest level of sales is about strategy."Many luxury brands, besides their craftsmanship, focus more on their brand philosophy. So, don't you think you're amazing?"Emma was stunned, her heart swelling with emotion. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, completely at a loss for words. She only knew
They completed all necessary procedures quickly since Stirling Group's initiatives were highly beneficial to society. Calvin nodded and set out to find the right people to expedite the process.Landon's actions puzzled the local business community. Landon was known for his strategic, meticulous methods, and people could generally discern his motives. Now, they were completely baffled. Stirling Group's significant move to establish a large food processing plant did not go unnoticed. Even though Leopold was no longer involved in the company, he caught wind of the development."It's ridiculous. When has Stirling Group ever dealt with food processing?" Leopold would complain, his face turning dark with anger. "He's going to ruin the company with his reckless actions!"Despite Leopold's rants at home, he did not have influence over Landon. Since taking over Stirling Group, Landon had cut all ties with his grandfather and Uncle Anthony’s family. They were akin to strangers to hi
Landon and Emma reviewed everything again to ensure her store's opening would go smoothly, and only then did they relax.“I'll come by to help on opening day,” Landon offered.“Oh! There’s no need for that!” Emma quickly waved her hands in refusal. “It's just a small shop so there won't be much to do. The giveaways are all prepared, and I've got enough supplies ready. Even if we get a lot of customers, we can handle it,” she said with a smile. “Plus, I've spoken with the mall's security manager. They'll have additional guards on duty to help maintain order, and I'm covering their overtime pay.”Landon looked at Emma without saying anything.Emma hesitated, then asked uncertainly, “Did I do something wrong?”She suddenly felt unsure about her plans. The security manager had not objected to her request.Landon chuckled, but his heart ached slightly. He had not said anything yet, but Emma was already worried she might have made a mistake. How cautious she was! He did not want
“Of course, marriage is about mutual benefit. You treat me well, and I treat you well in return. You help me shoulder life's pressures, and I offer you support. That’s what fosters a stable marriage,” Emma stated matter-of-factly.“It won’t work if one side keeps giving while the other takes without giving anything in return.“And sometimes, it may seem like one side isn’t contributing, but there are always invisible sacrifices being made.“Otherwise, how could any marriage last?” Landon wrapped his arms around Emma and sighed softly. “You know, what I love most about you is your clear understanding of things.“You give me a sense of security,” Landon said candidly. He knew Emma was not the type to overthink things as she was a very reasonable person.“You see, Asher has grown so optimistic and cheerful because of you. Being with you makes me feel incredibly at ease. That’s something money can’t buy.”Emma thought seriously for a moment. “If you need comfort, I feel like ther
Emma froze, her curiosity piqued. “What did you learn?”She was not surprised that Asher had absorbed her lessons as that was her goal in teaching him. But what had Landon learned? “I learned a lot,” Landon replied with a smile. “For example, your attention to detail and patience, your tolerance for others, and your ability to handle situations calmly—”Emma laughed, breaking his train of thought. “Stop, stop, stop! If you keep going, I might start believing I'm some kind of superhero! I’d be even better than you!” “Then I'd really be lacking in self-awareness if I think that,” Landon said as he wrapped his arms around her. “You genuinely possess many admirable qualities—exactly what I need.”“Alright, alright... what you need,” Emma replied casually.Landon gently tapped her shoulder. “Are you brushing me off?”Emma pouted. “You hit me…”Landon hurriedly rubbed her shoulder. “Did it hurt?”He had not even used enough force to swat a fly but hearing Emma say it made him do
People loved to take advantage of a good deal, and after consulting the owner, the manager anticipated such behavior from the customers when he proposed the solution. Besides, both the owner and the manager possessed a broader vision. They understood that they could not let a small financial loss tarnish their restaurant's reputation.The way they handled the incident turned into a great advertising opportunity. Those diners who experienced the situation firsthand became loyal customers. They now had a favorable impression of the restaurant and would be the first to recommend it for future gatherings or family outings. No amount of traditional advertising could rival the power of genuine recommendations from friends and family.Both the restaurant owner and manager knew how to effectively navigate a business crisis. What could have been a damaging situation had transformed into positive publicity due to their prompt action.“Let Daddy explain the specifics of the business
The restaurant manager politely apologized and thanked them before clearing all the food from the table. Emma smiled. "I really like this restaurant."Landon nodded, recognizing that this was a business that understood customer service. Just then, Emma spotted Asher’s confused expression. "Those dishes we had earlier might have been touched by that lady."If someone used a spoon that others had already used to scoop food for me, would you be pleased by that?" Asher shook his head vigorously. "Not at all!""Exactly! So, the food that might have come into contact with that lady's saliva was removed and destroyed by the restaurant staff," Emma continued. Asher looked concerned at Emma’s words. "That's such a waste!" "It is, but there's no other option," Emma sighed lightly. "If someone were to get sick from eating that food, it would be much worse. That was a terrible mistake that the lady made. "So the restaurant staff wants to make sure that the mistake was dealt with the
Asher nodded energetically. “Yes!”“Exactly! So, making mistakes isn’t scary, and not knowing things isn’t scary either. The key is to admit it boldly,” Emma explained.“When we make a mistake, we correct it. If we don’t know something, and it doesn’t affect others, we don’t have to learn it if we don’t want to.“But if it impacts others, we need to learn from it,” she continued.“Just like that lady earlier, she needed to learn not to use shared tongs to serve food. But for something like not wanting to do someone’s makeup, that’s okay, she doesn’t have to learn that.“Shared tongs are necessary for everyone, and they can’t be replaced. If you don’t want to do someone’s makeup, they can find someone else to help. That service can be substituted.”Asher listened intently and nodded his head. “I understand now, Mommy!”Landon watched the entire exchange and silently marveled at Emma’s approach. She had a knack for using examples from Asher’s own experiences to explain things, m
Asher beamed up at Emma, a sense of pride shining on his face.Emma finally gathered her emotions and turned to Asher. “Mommy makes mistakes too, Ash.”Asher’s smile faltered as confusion washed over him. “Huh?”Emma chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. “It’s not just Mommy who makes mistakes, Daddy does too.”“Really?” Asher exclaimed as he turned to look at Landon. His face was filled with disbelief.Landon smiled, though he was unsure where Emma was going with the conversation. Nevertheless, he cooperated without hesitation. “That’s right. Daddy makes mistakes too.”Asher’s mouth hung open in surprise, clearly shocked to learn that his impressive parents could also err.“Not just your parents,” Emma continued with a smile, “even people who are more capable than us make mistakes.”“Why?” Asher asked, furrowing his brows in confusion. “If everyone makes mistakes, then why do we even learn?”“Because we work hard to make fewer mistakes and try our best not to cause trouble
“What disruption? You’re just bullying your customers because your business is big!” The middle-aged woman exploded in anger. “Don’t think I’m easy to push around. I’m calling the police!”The restaurant manager nodded calmly. “Please do. Since your actions have caused damage to our establishment, we will also hold you accountable for those damages.”“Damages? What damages?” the woman shouted, stomping her feet in frustration.Unfazed, the manager responded evenly, “Because of your actions, we now need to remove and replace all the food at the serving stations. You’ll be responsible for covering those losses.“And if any customers request refunds because of this, we’ll refund them in full. If they ask for compensation, we’ll provide that too. All of these expenses will be your responsibility.”The woman nearly exploded at the manager’s words. “You’re deluded!“Come on, son, we’re leaving!” She yanked her son’s arm, pulling him toward the exit.But the restaurant staff was not ab
Since Asher had decided to eat one piece of cake himself, he chose fewer cakes, worried that he would not be able to finish them.‘Look at that! He’s already learning how to make his own choices,’ Emma thought proudly.Emma followed Asher’s lead, picking up the cakes he wanted. Just as they were about to leave, Asher suddenly grabbed her sleeve.Puzzled, Emma looked down and asked, “What is it, sweetie?”“They’re using tongs to feed each other,” Asher said, frowning in displeasure.Emma glanced over and saw a middle-aged woman holding a pair of tongs, about to feed a cake to her son. The boy, around eight or nine, reached out to take the cake with his hand, but the woman pulled the tongs back and scolded him, “Don’t use your hands! Just open your mouth.”Emma felt her face flush in disbelief. ‘What are they thinking?’ she protested quietly.The woman did not want her son to use his hands, claiming it was dirty, yet she was about to feed him with the tongs that everyone used to
Landon smiled. “I like eating too. Our whole family does. But what I enjoy most is eating with all of you.”Asher quickly agreed, “I’m always happy when I eat with Mommy and Daddy.”The family of three arrived at the buffet. Thankfully, Emma had already reserved a spot using her phone while they were still on the road.They headed straight to a small private room, ordered their food through the app, and waited for the server to bring it.“Mommy…” Asher called as he tugged at Emma’s shirt. “I want some cake.”Emma laughed and put on her sunglasses. “Let’s go get some cake.”Asher beamed with excitement. “Okay!” With one hand he held Emma’s hand tightly, while he swung the other one back and forth enthusiastically. He hurried along, and his wide, gleaming eyes searched eagerly for the cake display ahead.“Mommy, over there!” He spotted the table filled with cakes in an instant.Even though he was thrilled to see the cakes, Asher did not let go of Emma’s hand or rush ahead.