"Dinner? Who do you think I am? Do I look like someone who eats just anywhere?" Terrence Grant glanced at Seraphina Sterling, then surveyed the spacious courtyard with obvious disgust, making Seraphina want to slap him across the face.
Seraphina Sterling struggled to maintain the faint smile on her face. "That's a real shame." 'In reality, she was already scorning Terrence Grant with all her might. It's not like we made you dinner. Besides, we don't want you to stay!'
But Terrence Grant didn't leave. He remained standing in the courtyard, his presence overwhelmingly powerful.
Seraphina Sterling really couldn't figure out what on earth this guy was thinking. 'She truly didn't understand why a creature as peculiar as Terrence Grant existed in this world!' "Mr. Grant, we're about to have dinner!" 'In other words, isn't it time for you to leave?'
Terrence Grant strode forward on his long legs, and a smirk that begged to be slapped slowly spread across his face. "I'm waiting for my inkstone! Didn't you say you were giving it to me as a thank-you gift? Or did I mishear you?"
Seraphina Sterling prided herself on being able to remain composed and calm in the face of anyone, never letting her emotions get the best of her. However, this man before her, the absolute epitome of arrogance and insolence, always sparked an impulse to slap someone!
'The inkstone she had saved from Philip Hale with such great difficulty... does she really have to hand it over to Terrence Grant?'
"You weren't just saying that to trick Philip Hale, were you? If so, he probably hasn't gotten far..." Terrence Grant's lips curled into a wicked smile. The blatant threat filled Seraphina Sterling with the urge to kill.
"How could you think that, Mr. Grant? This inkstone was always meant for you." Seraphina Sterling went back to her room and reluctantly retrieved an inkstone from the late Early Dynasty that she had dug up from a street stall a few days ago.
'Although this was also an antique, Dongpo Sullivan's Snow Hall Inkstone was far more precious. The two couldn't even be compared in price. That said, this was still an antique, a cultural relic! It was very valuable! For someone as short on cash as her, this was like carving off a piece of her own flesh! Since Terrence Grant was being so impolite, he couldn't blame her for returning the favor!'
"This is the inkstone? That old geezer Philip Hale really has terrible taste!" Terrence Grant held it using a blue-and-white checkered handkerchief, taking his mysophobia to the extreme.
'If you find it so disgusting, then just don't take it!' Seraphina Sterling wanted to shout. But it was as if Terrence Grant knew exactly what she was thinking. He handed it, handkerchief and all, directly to Hughes. "Since you've gone to such lengths to thank me, even though the gift is subpar... well, it's the thought that counts. I suppose I can do you the favor of accepting it!"
'What the hell!' Seraphina Sterling desperately wanted to curse out loud. 'Such a valuable gift, and he had the nerve to call it a "small token"! If you don't want it, then don't take it! Nobody's begging you to!'
Seraphina Sterling watched helplessly as the treasure she had painstakingly unearthed vanished into Terrence Grant's possession. Her eyes narrowed, but her smile was warm. "I wasn't finished speaking. This isn't just a gift; it's my tuition! Since you've already accepted it, Mr. Grant, I'll be counting on your diligent instruction from now on. Seeing how you handled a four-person attack so calmly the other day, I suppose you're just barely qualified to be my teacher."
When Terrence Grant heard this, he realized he had seemingly stumbled into more trouble. "When did I..."
"Oh, so I was getting ahead of myself. It seems Mr. Grant has no intention of taking on a student. In that case, I'll just take this inkstone back. Tollan Town might be a bit remote, but I'm sure I can still find a place to learn some self-defense!" Before Terrence Grant could finish, Seraphina Sterling cut him off and rushed toward Hughes, intending to snatch the inkstone back.
Watching her lunge for the inkstone, Terrence Grant immediately changed his tune. "Who said I don't want a student! However, my standards are very high. Looking at you..."
"I know, I'm too ordinary. I could never meet Mr. Grant's standards, so I'll just take this inkstone back!" Seraphina Sterling interrupted him again, lunging toward Hughes on her tiptoes, ready to grab it.
This time, Terrence Grant took the inkstone into his own hands, the smile on his lips growing even more arrogant and roguish. "Although your aptitude isn't great, your physical conditioning isn't great, your looks aren't great, and your age isn't great... but what can I say, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll do you the favor of accepting you!"
"Accept what?" Kimberly Jennings had just finished clearing the table and came out to hear that last sentence.
"Oh, school is starting for me soon, you know? I asked him to help me with some tutoring, do a little cramming, otherwise how will I pass the entrance exams! The inkstone Philip Hale was talking about was his tuition fee!" Seraphina Sterling explained, jumping in before Terrence Grant could speak. She was worried his arrogant tone would frighten her mother.
"Oh, I see. In that case, Teacher Grant, please stay for lunch. Consider it a thank you for tutoring Seraphina." Kimberly Jennings was very warm and welcoming. Her daughter's schooling had been her biggest worry these past few days, so hearing that she had a tutor, she was naturally filled with gratitude.
"Mom, Mr. Grant isn't used to simple fare like ours, we..."
This time, it was Terrence Grant's turn to interrupt Seraphina Sterling. "Who says? After being so used to exotic delicacies, some home cooking sounds pretty good."
Seraphina Sterling gritted her teeth in frustration. 'Who was it just now who was so seriously looking down on their home?!'
Hughes was equally shocked. 'The Young Master is a severe mysophobe, how could he agree to eat at the home of someone he barely knows?' Hughes had a faint feeling that ever since meeting this girl, Seraphina Sterling, the Young Master had been gradually changing.
The lunch felt like a world war.
Kimberly Jennings had made Seraphina Sterling's favorite dish: fish. With just a few glances, Terrence Grant noticed her special fondness for it and immediately launched an offensive on the sweet and sour fish. Of course, Seraphina Sterling was no pushover. The speed of her chopsticks more than doubled, and she deboned the fish with such quick skill that not even a cat could keep up!
Hughes could only look at Kimberly Jennings apologetically. 'The Young Master's behavior was utterly shocking. He'd never seen him show such a fondness for fish before!'
"Your mother is an excellent cook. For the sake of this lunch, I'll be sure to train you with everything I've got from now on!" Terrence Grant ate to his heart's content, but a chill ran down Seraphina Sterling's spine. 'Had she made a terrible mistake?'