Chapter 33 Y*u're Such A Big Eater

Aunt Wren reappeared from the kitchen holding a bowl of vegetarian wontons. “Sir mentioned that I can begin introducing a little bit of oil into your diet starting today,” the woman said with a smile.

Sarah’s eyes twinkled with brilliance. She had completely forgotten about Jon upon discovering the wontons in Aunt Wren’s hands.

Jon lifted the newspapers again. An enigmatic smile flashed across his face when he witnessed Sarah shoving the food down her throat. “I didn’t notice before that you’re such a big eater.”

Sarah threw him a deathly stare. “You would too, if I starve you for ten days consecutively and forbid you from eating meat and fish.”

With that, she stuffed another wanton into her mouth. “Eh? Would you like to try one as well? They’re made with vegetarian fillings, pretty delicious to be honest,” she asked with her mouth full.

She delivered the spoon she was holding toward his direction.

Jon threw a cold glance at the spoon in her hand and turned his head away abruptly.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

“…”

Jon was working in the study room. Both his legs were crossed gracefully and a laptop was placed on his laps. The silhouette of his profile was unbelievably attractive.

Sarah, who was wearing a pair of light pink cotton slippers, silently canted her head back from the study room. She wondered why Jon was staying in today.

Aunt Wren was walking out of the study room after cleaning the interior thoroughly. Sarah quickly approached the lady, hoping the latter could satisfy her curiosity. “Is he staying in today?”

Aunt Wren, who was caught by surprise, shook her head a couple of seconds later. “I’m not sure but he mentioned that he’s staying for lunch.”

Sarah was over the moon. She felt delight in her heart even when she discovered Nunu was currently biting on Aunt Wren’s slippers.

Nunu was pestering Aunt Wren to play with it by holding onto the latter’s thigh tightly. In the end, Aunt Wren had no choice but to limp down the stairs while dragging the weight of that dog behind her.

Ignoring both of them, Sarah glued herself to the door frame and shifted her attention into the study again.

Suddenly, Jon looked toward her direction. The unexpected surprise frightened Sarah.

“Bang.” She slammed the door shut behind her and scrambled away as if her life depended on it.

The cell phone that was placed on the massive bed vibrated. Sarah shuffled toward the source of the noise, still wearing that light pink slippers.

Curiosity filled her eyes when she discovered the series of unfamiliar numbers that appeared on her phone screen. Besides, she remembered she had turned the ringtone volume up last night for fear of missing Jon’s text.

She threw the questions aside and decided to answer the call first.

It was Whitney Tate. She was one of her friends from the university in England.

Whitney and Sarah were accepted into the same university in the same year albeit pursuing different courses. There were not many Chinese students on campus to begin with thus, the two of them became familiar naturally.

Whitney came from an affluent family. Her father was involved in the leather business industry whereas her mother managed several hotels simultaneously. She grew up in an agreeable environment which granted her the privilege to never have to worry about money.

Whitney teased over the phone. “Sarah, is it true that absence makes the heart grow fonder? You must’ve made up with Henry by now? Tsk, tiny goosebumps formed all over my body at the thought of both of you clinging on to one another.”

Sarah’s heart sank at the mention of Henry’s name.

The simple-minded Whitney laughed when there was a silence on the other end of the phone. “See, I told you so. I’m sure he’ll come running back to you as long as you’re willing to take the first step. I didn’t doubt that for a second.”

For reasons unknown to herself, Sarah did not want to speak about Henry at this moment hence she changed the topic of conversation immediately. “Whitney, where did you acquire this number? Why did it show that you’re calling from Shanghai?”

“Can you guess?” Whitney laughed mysteriously into the phone.

This caught Sarah by surprise. “You came home? I thought you weren’t going to?”

“I’m getting bored of staying in England by myself. Besides, my father hoped that I’d come home to celebrate Chinese New Year… Oh, right, your birthday is coming up in a few days. I could surprise you by booking a flight to Jin City?”

“…”

Sarah was at a loss of words.

……

Jon received a call before lunch and suddenly decided to take his leave.

Sarah quickly blocked his path before he could leave.

He was wearing a nicely tailored suit and the overcoat was draped over his arm.

The man shifted his attention to Sarah. “Is something wrong?”

“Um, not really. Didn’t you agree to have lunch here? Aunt Wren has already prepared the food…” She was flustered thus she made up an unconvincing excuse on the spot.

Jon retrieved his gaze calmly and extended his hand to turn the doorknob. “Something came up.”

“Um… I get bored staying here by myself. Can I hang out with my friend?” Determined, she tried again.

Sarah regretted almost as soon as those words escaped her throat. This strange emotion that overtook her without warning made her sound like an unreasonable person.

He turned to look at her in silence.

“It’s your decision. You’re only staying here temporarily and I’m not limiting your freedom…” He finally said casually when the cell phone in his pocket began to ring.

Jon answered the phone call before she could form a response.

“Bang.” The man disappeared within her sight as the door slammed shut.

For reasons unknown to herself, Sarah wished her freedom was indeed being restricted at the moment. Somehow, she was hoping that Jon would prohibit her from leaving the house.

——————

Jon was slightly surprised when he realized his mother calling him.

The elder woman told him over the phone that Big Brother had returned. She urged Jon to bring Penny home for a family reunion dinner.

The “big brother” she was speaking about was Jon’s brother, Charles Leeson.

The latter had been living in New Zealand in recent years. He rarely came home, not even for the Chinese New Year holidays.

Jon agreed obediently. He immediately took his leave from Xijing Villa to head toward the old mansion by the river.

However, he did not invite Penny to come along.

……

It was unusual for the house to be bustling with life.

After changing into the home slippers, Jon handed over the coat to the housekeeper. It was right then that Penny and Grandpa Leeson’s laughter suddenly rang in his ears.

He froze for a split second. Julia was walking out of the kitchen simultaneously.

“Hey, how could you be later than Penny…” Julia rebuked her younger son with a glare.

Penny turned to the source of the commotion. She quickly rose from the couch and walked toward them. “Aunt told me that Big Brother has returned from abroad hence she invited me to the gathering. How is it going with the important affairs at work?”

Jon shifted his attention away from Penny’s face calmly. “It’s already been sorted.”

She nodded with a smile. “That’s good to hear. I feel sorry to see you being so occupied with work lately…”

Julia had already crept away silently. She did not want to get between the two lovebirds.

The ninety-three-year-old Grandpa Leeson called for Penny out of the blue. He urged her to continue teaching him how to expand his territory on the online game.

Penny mumbled a soft reply before turning to face Jon again. “Big Brother and Uncle are over in the study room. You should probably join them too…”

“OK,” he replied curtly before turning around to the stairs.

……

The study room was situated on the second floor. The door was opened ajar.

Jon headed to the study room in big strides. However, Charles’ voice rang in his ears before he could push the door wide open.