The old lady confirmed Henry Ronan's attitude repeatedly, finally satisfied, she prepared to go upstairs to rest.
At the staircase, the elderly pretended to be angry and warned, "Little Nine, since everything is settled, you should return to the mansion as soon as possible. After all, it's about choosing a wife for you, you can't be careless."
"Rest assured." The man bowed his head, lit up a cigarette, and said with a calm smile, "I'll return after Tuesday."
After the old lady left, Uncle Li, the butler, quietly approached, "Master Nine, the old lady... she wasn't angry, was she?"
Henry Ronan sighed softly, pinching the cigarette, he walked to the arched floor-to-ceiling window, "Are all the things I asked you to do done?"
Uncle Li nodded to the man's tall back, "Miss Lucy Ansley's name has already been added. When do you think it would be appropriate to hand the list to the old lady?"
"Tomorrow morning, accompany Archie to send the old lady back, give it to her on the way."
"Okay, Master Nine."
...
Before long, it was Sunday.
Lucy Ansley was doing proofreading work at the Daily Magazine.
Due to the last incident, the deputy editor, William Lewis, who was also working overtime, came to Lucy Ansley's desk first thing, not only asking for her phone number but also adding her on private WeChat.
"This is the official group for the editorial department, don't set it to Do Not Disturb, so you won't miss group messages and work arrangements. Also, there are several important financial manuscripts to review tomorrow morning, come in early."
William Lewis's attitude towards Lucy Ansley was indifferent, and his words even had a commanding tone.
There weren't many colleagues working overtime on Sunday, only four or five people.
They craned their necks to peek at Lucy Ansley and William Lewis, mostly with an attitude of watching the show.
The position of working part-time in the workplace is the one with the least say.
William Lewis was certain Lucy Ansley wouldn't react, but at the moment he turned, he heard her uncharacteristic refusal, "Sorry, I can't tomorrow, I have something to do."
William Lewis looked back in astonishment, "What did you say?"
"Tomorrow, something to do."
Lucy Ansley repeated faintly, without looking at William Lewis, she opened the file and began proofreading.
"No way." William Lewis didn't know what went wrong, but he was displeased with Lucy Ansley's justified demeanor, "No matter what important thing it is, you have to come in tomorrow. Otherwise, who's responsible for delaying the schedule?"
Lucy Ansley's fingers paused on the keyboard, lifting her deep black eyes to meet William Lewis's gaze for two seconds.
At other times, she could compromise, but tomorrow was absolutely non-negotiable.
The relationship between Lucy Ansley and her colleagues was always indifferent and distant, and she rarely argued about anything.
She no longer looked at William Lewis, picked up her phone from the desk, and quickly sent a message in the newly joined editorial department group chat.
William Lewis also received the notification and looked a bit upset when he saw the content.
Lucy Ansley: Sorry to disturb everyone, I'm the part-time worker Lucy Ansley. I have something tomorrow and can't come in, but I can arrange work for the day after tomorrow, thank you.
"Are you crazy, Lucy Ansley?" William Lewis was so angry that he slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Do you understand the rules, what are you doing posting messages in the official group, hurry and retract it."
The group included not just ordinary employees but also the director and chief editor.
If Lucy Ansley's inexplicable statement rubbed the leadership the wrong way, who bears the consequence?
At this moment, Lucy Ansley quietly looked at her, and in an unruffled tone reminded, "I am a part-time worker in the editorial department."
The implication being, not your part-time worker.
Though she suffers from an emotional disorder, her basic cognition is absolutely normal.
In the past, she didn't want to waste words with them because it didn't touch on principle issues.
But tomorrow was the day to meet Dr. Ronan for therapy; no matter how important it was, it had nothing to do with her.
Just then, there was more movement in the group chat.
William Lewis opened WeChat, and the moment he saw the content, his face looked slightly bewildered and somewhat at a loss.
Ningjingzhiyuan: Received.
Ningjingzhiyuan retracted a message.
Ningjingzhiyuan: Why did Little An join the group just now? If you have things to do, go take care of them, part-time doesn't need to apply for leave.
The office area, already quiet, became even eerier in its stillness.
William Lewis and several other colleagues hadn't yet reacted when another message appeared in the group.
Lucy Ansley: Thank you, Director.
Indeed, the one who replied "Received" and then hurriedly retracted the message, [Ningjingzhiyuan], was none other than the director of the editorial department.
The leader had already spoken, so William Lewis could only sulkily return to his workstation, looking somewhat tense.
In his impression, the director rarely spoke in the group chat, but he unexpectedly responded proactively, and his words also carried an unusually gentle tone, quite odd.
...
The next day, at seven in the morning, Lucy Ansley was ready to head out to the health center.
Perhaps it was Henry Ronan's unique treatment methods, Lucy Ansley could feel a desire in her heart to struggle towards the light.
Before leaving, Lucy Ansley donned a black hoodie and deliberately tied up her hair to appear less gloomy and stifled.
However, just as she stepped out of the house, her phone vibrated.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
Lucy Ansley held the phone to her ear and said, "Hello," in a calm voice.
"Good morning, Miss Ansley, I'm Thomas Chapman."
Thomas Chapman briefly explained his intention and asked Lucy Ansley to wait for him at the street corner of Cloudsea Road.
After the call, Lucy Ansley frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment holding her phone, but still chose to wait directly at the street corner.
Thomas Chapman said he would come to pick her up because today's therapy was not at the health center.
At the corner of the street, a black business car stopped beside Lucy Ansley, and Thomas Chapman called her through the window, "Miss Ansley, please get in the car."
The automatic door opened, and Henry Ronan was not in the car.
Lucy Ansley got in with lowered eyes and asked with a clear voice, "Where are we going?"
"Northgate Resort." Thomas Chapman observed Lucy Ansley's facial expression through the rearview mirror, afraid she might overthink, and explained, "Master Nine had a meeting there yesterday and it got too late, so he didn't make it back. He was worried you'd wait too long at the health center, so he asked me to pick you up for some relaxation... and therapy."
This explanation was watertight, subtly hinting at how much Lucy Ansley was valued.
For these little details, Lucy Ansley silently nodded, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
...
Northgate Resort, located within a scenic area surrounded by mountains.
In the late autumn season, the pine forest remained lush and verdant, exuding vitality everywhere one looked.
In the southwest, among the forested wooden cottage villas, Henry Ronan sat with his legs crossed on a wooden bench outside an enclosed courtyard sipping tea. Beside him was a swing wrapped in green vines, enhancing the man's leisurely and lazy demeanor amidst the pleasant scenery.
"Old Nine, I heard you're not coming back with us?"
Before long, Finn Bennett, dressed in casual wear, walked over from an adjacent villa, exuding a suave and handsome presence, yet with sharp eyes observing Henry Ronan.
Earlier, the group was preparing to head back, but this guy said he had things to do and told them to go ahead.
Always felt like he had some secret recently, and the kind that couldn't be told.
"You guys go ahead, call if anything comes up." The man put down the tea cup, his voice infused with the aroma of tea, becoming even more mellow.
Finn Bennett squinted his charming eyes, about to make a few teasing remarks when he heard the sound of a car engine approaching from behind.