Chapter 126: Overacted
"Oh, that’s really..."
Shawn Grant glanced at Leah Sinclair, busy in the kitchen. "By the way, Third Brother, how did you meet Leah? She looks so young. Younger than me, right?"
"Mhm, she just graduated. We met... by accident, I guess." Asher Keating tapped on the sofa. ’It really was an accident.’
Shawn Grant calculated Leah’s age in his head, but his expression didn’t show it. "Tsk, tsk, fresh out of college and already corrupted by you. But I never expected Third Brother Keating to be into this type. What was her major?"
"Civil engineering. She works at Aevon."
Asher Keating saw Shawn Grant giving him another suggestive look and added, "I wasn’t at Aevon yet when she started."
"Heh, so she’s a top student. What do her parents do? Is she an only child? You’re with her, and your family has nothing to say?" Shawn Grant continued to press.
Asher Keating was silent for a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly. Seeing his somewhat scrutinizing gaze, Shawn Grant’s heart skipped a beat.
’Third Brother Keating is way too vigilant. It’s all Nash’s fault. Why did she have to say that last night before she left? Now it’s hard for me to dig for info.’
He shrugged. "Don’t look at me like that. We heard rumors back in Kingsford about Madeline Sterling saying she wouldn’t marry anyone but you. When that thing between you two was trending, my sister mocked her, saying she was trying to use her fanbase to pressure you."
"My sister said back then that even if Third Master Keating married an ordinary girl, he would never marry Madeline Sterling. And then yesterday, after meeting your girlfriend, my sister said on the way back that you really did find an ordinary girl. Madeline Sterling must be furious enough to die."
"Hah. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Leah only has her grandmother, and now she has me," Asher Keating said, slowly taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Ew, stop with the PDA."
Shawn Grant muttered to himself, then grabbed his phone and sent a WeChat message to Nash: "This is all your fault. Why did you have to say that stuff yesterday about whether she’s a good match for me? I only asked a couple of questions, and the look Third Brother gave me could kill."
"..."
Nash replied instantly with an ellipsis, followed immediately by a second message: "Are you stupid? Why are you asking him?! Can’t you just ask Leah while you’re chatting? Third Master Keating won’t necessarily tell you, but if you ask her directly, she’ll be too embarrassed to refuse you!"
"...Why don’t you do it?"
"Get lost."
"If you curse at me again, I’m not coming home tonight! I’ll sleep at Third Brother’s place! Or at Hale’s place!"
Shawn Grant suddenly shouted into his phone. After yelling, he huffily threw the phone on the table. A moment later, the phone went PING. He played the voice message, and Nash’s voice came through: "Stay out for all I care! You’d be better off getting lost and going back to Kingsford."
"Damn it! Third Brother, Hale, you heard that, right? With that attitude from my sister, I’m not going back tonight. Which one of you has a place for me to stay?"
Shawn Grant was furious. "She always yells at me. Is she even my sister?!"
"Nash just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Don’t you know that by now? Stop messing around. You two just got back to Riverfall. If you don’t go home tonight, she’ll worry," Chester Hale pointed out.
"Worry about what? I’m twenty-six, not six. I don’t care. If you two won’t take me in, I’ll just get a hotel room," Shawn Grant said, angrily lighting a cigarette.
"You can pick any of my places to stay, but Second Master Hale is right. If you don’t go back, Nash will worry," Asher Keating added, trying to persuade him.
"So what am I supposed to do? I acted all tough just now. Am I supposed to go back with my tail between my legs? I’ll lose so much face," Shawn Grant grumbled, still a bit angry.
"I have to go back to the old family home this afternoon for something. Why don’t you have Second Master Hale take you home? That’ll give you an out," Asher Keating said, looking at him with amusement.
"I... alright. Shawn, I’ll take you home after dinner. And, well... I’ll see Nash too," Chester Hale said with a hint of resignation.
"Fine. Since you both insist, I guess I’ll go back. What can I do? She’s my sister, after all," Shawn Grant sighed.
"Third Brother, Dr. Hale, Mr. Grant, dinner is ready!" Leah Sinclair called out to the three of them as she placed dishes on the table.
"I’m going to wash my hands," Chester Hale said, getting up and heading to the restroom.
Asher Keating curved his lips into a smile and patted Shawn Grant’s shoulder. "Rein it in a little. You’re overacting."
"Hehe, I knew I couldn’t fool you, Third Brother. If it weren’t for this, Hale and my sister probably would never have found an excuse to see each other."
Shawn Grant looked smug. He had done it on purpose—partly to let Nash know it was difficult to get information on his end, and partly for Chester Hale to hear so he would offer to drive him home. He hadn’t expected Asher Keating to see right through his little scheme to get Hale to drive him, and even play along by suggesting it himself.
"I’m sorry, Dr. Hale, Mr. Grant. I’m afraid I wasn’t the best host."
Leah Sinclair was a little embarrassed. Their visit was so sudden. Although there was plenty of food, she hadn’t had time to make any elaborate dishes. She could only whip up a few home-style meals.
"Wow, and you call this not being a good host?"
Shawn Grant looked at the table. Although it wasn’t a lavish feast, the dishes looked incredibly appetizing. "Look at this—ribs, fish, beef... this is a huge spread."
Chester Hale also smiled. "We’ve been eating nothing but rich food lately. This is a welcome change."
"Well, please try it. I hope it’s to your liking," Leah Sinclair said with a smile, then turned to go back to the kitchen.
Asher Keating grabbed her arm. "Stop fussing. Eat with us."
"I have one more soup. It’ll be ready in a minute. You guys start without me." Worried about the soup on the stove, Leah Sinclair hurried back in.
"Tsk, tsk. Third Brother, say what you will, but you’re definitely lucky when it comes to food. Mmm, delicious." Shawn Grant picked up a piece of celery and beef stir-fry with his chopsticks. The beef was tender, the celery was crisp, and his eyes lit up as he ate.
Asher Keating smiled and pushed the fish dish toward them. "Try this. Leah makes great fish. It’s Ethan Shaw’s must-have dish."
"Why do I get the feeling that Third Brother is showing off?" Shawn Grant said, casting a long glance at Asher Keating.
"Be more confident. He is," Chester Hale said slowly after taking a bite of fish.
"Don’t be jealous." Asher Keating helped himself to some food. He hadn’t had a proper home-cooked meal by Leah in a while, and he missed it dearly.
"Third Brother, can you move a plate?"
Leah Sinclair called from the kitchen. Asher Keating moved a plate and was about to get up to bring the soup out, but Leah had already carried it out herself.
The soup was fresh off the stove and scalding hot. After putting it down, Leah pinched her earlobe to cool her fingers. Asher Keating frowned, pulling her hand over to look. Her fingertips were red from the heat. He pulled a wet wipe from the dispenser on the table and pressed it to her skin. "Couldn’t you have waited for me to get it?"
In front of Chester Hale and Shawn Grant, Leah was a bit shy. She tried to pull her hand back but couldn’t, so she said softly, "It’s fine. It’ll be okay in a minute."
"...I can’t eat this meal anymore. I’m already full from all the PDA," Shawn Grant whined, looking mournfully at the couple across from him.
In the end, the one who said he couldn’t eat anymore ended up eating the most. Leah had made a crucian carp and tofu soup, carefully filtering out all the bones. The pure white broth, combined with the tender tofu, was incredibly delicious. Shawn Grant alone drank three bowls of the soup, only stopping his chopsticks when he was absolutely stuffed.