Shelly had not thought of that and said, "Forget it. I don't want to disturb him."Seeing how polite Shelly was, the receptionist desperately wanted to help her. "Please wait, Ms. Taylor. I will call up to see if Mr. Tate is busy," the receptionist said and picked up the landline. "Mr. Taylor from Courtney's Cafe brought some kimchi for Mr. Tate. Can you help to ask Mr. Tate if she can come up?"Shelly felt embarrassed.She did not want to deliver anything to Hayden at first. However, her mother made some and since Hayden treated both her and her mother to dinner during the weekend, her mother insisted on returning the favor.Shelly did not think that a man of Hayden's status would be interested in homemade kimchi, but her mother insisted that it was thought that counted and that a favor had to be returned.Sometime later, Hayden's secretary said, "Mr. Tate asked Ms. Taylor to come up.""Okay." The receptionist hung up and smiled at Shelly. "Ms. Taylor, Mr. Tate asked you to go u
"Why do you also have a computer in here?" Shelly stared at the computer in the room and wondered why there was a need for two computers in an office."That's for gaming," Hayden said.Lunch for Hayden was a three-course meal. "I will get Eliam to send in another set. You can start first," Hayden said.Shelly refused without hesitation, "It's served on your personal tableware, right? You should eat. I can wait."Hayden blushed. "Sorry, I forgot."He proceeded to eat and Shelly opened the jar containing the kimchi."It's fine. I know that you are just trying to get me to eat first," she said.Hayden picked out a piece of kimchi and placed it into his mouth; it was crunchy and slightly sweet which gave way to sourness and ended on a spicy note. Hayden could not help but reach for another piece."Hayden, you don't have to eat that much just because my mom made it. It's cool if you like it, but don't force yourself to eat if you don't. I don't mind at all," Shelly said because
"There's too much food for the two of us," Shelly exclaimed."You can pack the leftovers and take them with you if you don't want the food to go to waste." Hayden knew that Shelly was an easygoing woman and tended to relax around her."That's hardly appropriate!" Shelly smiled sheepishly. "Let's try our best to finish it all! I'm starving.""Eat more and take the fruit with you if you can't finish it. I don't like fruits."Hayden was not in the habit of eating fruits as they were all either too sweet or too sour, so he preferred water if he needed something after a meal."I love fruits, but I rarely buy them," she said. "Fruits are so expensive these days.""Why did you buy a fruit basket when you came to visit my family, then?" Hayden asked and reached for another piece of pickle.Shelly's mother indeed made great kimchi, and it went perfectly with the food they were having."I couldn't go empty-handed, could I? It would have been rude to do so." Shelly's nervousness slowly di
"He invited you to have a meal in his office. Isn't that considered a date?" Courtney felt that their relationship, even if not romantic, was definitely not ordinary."It's just a meal, it can't be considered a date. Besides, it wasn't his idea to invite me for a meal. It was because I brought him my mom's homemade kimchi, and out of politeness, he invited me to eat. You don't know how awkward it was. There was only one serving of food on the table, and after I arrived, he asked his assistant to buy some food for me," Shelly recalled sheepishly."Hahaha! He accepted your kimchi, which means he still has some positive feelings toward you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken it. He must have had all kinds of delicacies, so he can't possibly be interested in tasting kimchi," Courtney said.Shelly had a different opinion. "Is it possible that he has had too many delicacies and wants to try something different, like kimchi?""I understand now!" Courtney exclaimed.Shelly was startled by
Shelly accepted the gift with a smile. "Ivy, there's no need for formality. I appreciate whatever you give me. Next time you come, you don't have to buy me a gift.""Shelly, it's just a small gift, not very valuable." Ivy chuckled. "I don't have classes this afternoon, so I came here to see you. I hope I'm not disturbing your work.""Of course not. I've hired a few more employees in my shop now, so I'm not as busy as before," Shelly replied. "Your older brother's company is near our dessert shop. Would you like to go and see him later?""I see him every evening, so I won't go out of my way to see him," Ivy said, not wanting to disturb her brother at work. "Shelly, you met my brother last Saturday, right? What did you think of him?"Ivy was acting as her family's representative, and she was here to talk to Shelly. Their hopes were riding on Shelly's response, as they needed to understand how Shelly saw Hayden. "He's very nice!" Shelly replied without hesitation. "Your whole family
"I like Shelly and wanted to check out her cafe." Ivy did not intend on sharing the conversation she had with Shelly, as she felt that she should leave it to fate to see if Hayden and Shelly would end up together."Her cafe is quite ordinary and small. There's nothing much to see," Hayden said."You are being too blunt, Hayden." Ivy chuckled. "I'm sure Shelly's cafe will grow bigger.""I'm only saying this to you. I won't criticize her to her face.""Alright. You should get back to work, Hayden! I'm going home for a nap.""Sure. Next time you come by my office, at least come inside and see me," he said."Alright. I will do that next time."After the call, Hayden stared at the screen on his phone hesitantly, before sending Shelly a message. [Did my younger sister go to see you?]Shelly happened to be free and replied right away. [Yeah! How do you know?][She told me. What did you two talk about?][She told you that she came to see me, but didn't mention what we talked about?]
Eliam was an intelligent person.After hearing what Hayden said, he immediately understood that Hayden saw Shelly differently. However, from his perspective, Shelly was undoubtedly not a match for Hayden.Hayden likely felt the same and intended to test Shelly; it remained to be seen whether Shelly could withstand the test.It was half-past six in the evening, and Shelly was getting ready to leave work.With the addition of a few more employees in the shop, she no longer had to stay late at night.As she stepped out of the shop, a man immediately intercepted her path. Despite his somewhat brusque demeanor, his face carried a gentle and friendly smile."Shelly, do you remember me? I came to your shop last time to buy cakes, and we chatted for a bit," the man who spoke was Fergus Bailey, an employee from the Administration Department of the Dream Maker.Shelly immediately smiled and replied, "Of course, I remember you! We're from the same town! It's my first time meeting someone f
On the other end of the phone, Shelly's mother burst into laughter. "I've played poker with your mother before! I didn't expect you to run into Shelly here! That's wonderful!"Upon hearing her mother's words, Shelly suddenly felt a closer connection to Fergus.They went to the restaurant he had mentioned.Fergus took the initiative to grab the menu and ordered a few signature dishes before passing it to Shelly. "Order whatever you like. I earn a decent salary, so you don't need to worry about saving money for me."Shelly noticed that the dishes he ordered were enough for two people, so she did not order anything else. "Even if you earn a good salary, it's still important to spend wisely, unless you plan on going back to our hometown." Shelly hoped that he would continue to improve his life. "As for me, I don't plan on going back. My goal now is to earn money and settle down here.""That's impressive! You are so young and already a boss running your own shop. You even turned my bos
Three years later…Ivy and Robert stood at the airport in Aryadelle, anxiously waiting."It's been three years! Your boyfriend is finally here to see you!" Robert exclaimed before shifting the conversation. "He's not here to break up with you, is he? After all, you haven't seen each other in three years. A lot can change."Ivy sighed, "Robert, can you not jinx it? Although we haven't met in three years, we talk on the phone and video call every day!"Robert quipped, "Digital romance.""Anyway, he promised me that he's going to settle down in Aryadelle this time, and we won't be apart again," Ivy said. Robert smirked. "He's got a strong sense of pride. When he meets Dad later, they might not hit it off, and he'll buy a ticket to leave tonight!"Feeling helpless, Ivy was at a loss for words. Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Ivy!"Ivy immediately looked over to the source of the voice and saw Lucas stepping out of the exit, dragging his suitcase behind him. A smile sp
Mr. Woods did not expect Hayden to be so direct, and he found himself momentarily caught off guard. He had come to ask Hayden for money, but he had not thought about exactly how much he wanted. After all, Hayden's family was extremely wealthy, and he did not want to ask for too little and feel shortchanged, nor did he want to risk asking for too much and having Hayden refuse. It was a tough decision. After a brief internal struggle, Mr. Woods turned to Hayden and said, "I know your family is one of the wealthiest in Aryadelle, so why don't you name the price? I trust you won't mistreat my son and our family." Hayden furrowed his brows slightly. Shelly, noticing his hesitation, quickly chimed in, "Uncle, why don't you make an offer? We're not very familiar with this process. If you insist on us naming a price, we might need to consult my father-in-law." "Elliot Foster, you mean?" Mr. Woods asked. Shelly nodded. "Yes. My father-in-law isn't as easygoing as my husband. After a
"All right. Let's find a place nearby to sit and talk." Mr. Woods breathed a sigh of relief. "Good! Our house is actually nearby. Would you like to visit? Ivy has been with us for many years, and our staff has a close relationship with her." Hayden glanced at Shelly and asked, "Should we go?" "Sure!" Shelly said. Mr. Woods immediately invited Hayden and Shelly into his car and drove them to the Woods' mansion. Upon arriving, Mr. Woods instructed the servants to serve tea and refreshments. He pointed to the butler and said to Hayden, "This is our butler. He hired Ivy's grandmother." Hayden nodded. Mr. Woods then introduced Hayden: "This is Irene's older brother, the renowned businessman Mr. Hayden Tate." "Hello, Mr. Tate. Irene was a wonderful young lady," the butler said. "We all liked her very much. When we heard of her passing, we were truly saddened. Fortunately, she didn't actually pass away! Ivy is a very sensible and resilient girl, one of the strongest I've eve
Ivy's eyes were red as she said, "Hayden, Lucas' mother has passed away, so I won't be able to spend time with you for a few days." "It's okay. Given what has happened, we're not in the mood for fun either. After we attend his mother's funeral, Shelly and I will return," Hayden said. Ivy nodded. "How are funerals handled here?" Hayden asked. Given Lucas' relationship with Ivy, his younger sister, he felt a sense of duty to help Lucas with the funeral arrangements. "It's similar to how it's done back at home. Wealthy people can have elaborate funerals, and those with less money can opt for simpler ceremonies. Those who can't afford much at all can forgo the ceremony and opt for a simple burial," Ivy said. "What if someone wants a more elaborate funeral?" "Hayden, do you want to help with his mother's funeral? He doesn't have any close relatives here, so there's no need for an elaborate ceremony," she explained. "I see. Go and talk to him about it. I'll help with whatever I
Lucas hung up, tears welling in his eyes. Ivy stood by his side and asked, "What's wrong, Lucas?" "My mom has passed away. You should keep your brother company! I need to head back to the hospital." "I will come along! Aunty seemed fine just now, so why did she suddenly pass away?" The two hurried toward the car, completely forgetting about Hayden and Shelly. Hayden and Shelly watched as they left awkwardly, and Shelly said, "Honey, let's go to the hospital. I think Lucas' mother has passed away." "Sure." The two caught a taxi and hurried after Lucas. Meanwhile, in the hospital, Lucas arrived to first encounter the doctor and then his father. Mr. Woods tried ingratiating himself with his son, saying, "Lucas, I came to the hospital to see your mother, but when I arrived, she had already passed away. What a shame!" "Are you sure she had already passed away before you came? I was here earlier today, and when I saw her, she was still alive!" Lucas said. Mr. Woods reto
Mr. Woods sneered, "What do you mean? Are you looking down on me? Although the Woods family has fallen on hard times, we're still a prominent family in Taronia! Lucas may be foolish, but are you any wiser? If it weren't for me backing Lucas, would the Fosters even look at him?" "Shut up! The Foster family isn't narrow-minded like you! Ivy's family doesn't dislike Lucas, so don't go causing trouble! They don't want to see you at all!" Lucas' mother retorted. Mr. Woods scoffed. "Is that so? Do you really think they don't look down on him? Why wouldn't they? Are they planning to make Lucas marry into their family instead of the other way round?" "It's none of your business! You never cared about Lucas, and now that he's independent, he doesn't need you anymore! You wouldn't have come to me repeatedly if Ivy wasn't Elliot Foster's daughter and if she wasn't interested in Lucas. Do you really think I have no idea what you are plotting?" Mr. Woods countered, "What nonsense are you ta
Ivy did not hesitate, immediately shaking her head. "I'm not leaving. Don't worry about me; just focus on yourself." "Staying here is just a waste of time." "I've been studying and interning so hard for so long. What's wrong with taking a break now?" Ivy argued. Before long, Hayden and Shelly had finished their shopping, and Ivy and Lucas immediately joined them to go to the hospital. Lucas' mother had no idea that Ivy's brother and sister-in-law were coming to visit her, so she appeared a bit uncomfortable when they arrived. She tried to sit up, but her body failed her. Ivy raised the head of the hospital bed. "Aunty, my big brother and sister-in-law came over to Taronia for a visit. They wanted to see Lucas and you." "Oh, this is really embarrassing. It's a blessing for my son to know Ivy..." Lucas' mother muttered sheepishly. Shelly reassured, "Aunty, don't say that. Lucas is outstanding. Otherwise, Ivy wouldn't have fallen for him." Lucas' mother continued, "I've
Throughout the meal, Ivy found it hard to enjoy her food. Lucas and Hayden discussed everything that mattered, and the conversation went smoother than anyone had anticipated. Hayden was not upset, nor was Lucas. It was a better scenario than what Ivy had hoped for, but she still felt depressed. "Lucas, my husband and I would like to pay your mother a visit. Would that be okay?" Shelly asked after finishing her food. "Sure," Lucas said. "Don't we need to ask your mom first?" Ivy asked. "It's fine. We can just head over right away and introduce them once we arrive." Lucas' mother grew weaker every day and had stopped using her phone altogether, so it was her nurse, whom Lucas had hired, who reported his mother's condition to him daily. "You restarted your business and have to take care of your mother simultaneously; you're really strong. Most people would crumble under the pressure," Shelly commented. "Ivy had a tougher life before. She didn't crumble, so I won't eith
After what Ivy said, Lucas added, "I want to focus on my career for now. Marriage is secondary until I become more successful." Hayden sneered. "Running a business isn't as simple as it seems. What if you fail or never achieve anything out of the ordinary?" "If that happens, I won't drag Ivy down," Lucas said. "At least you know your place." Ivy felt as though her cheeks were on fire. "Hayden, even if Lucas fails, I won't give up on him. I won't let him go just because of his financial state." Shelly grabbed Hayden's hand again, signaling to him to control his temper; he could be rude to others, but he could not be so demanding with Ivy. Ivy sensed that she was slightly out of line, and her tone eased. "Hayden, we shouldn’t judge people based on their wealth. Our family is rich enough, and there really aren't that many people out there who can compare to our financial state, so why does it matter how wealthy my partner is?" "Ivy is right. Love matters most. Even if we man