Chapter 73: I’ll Treat You to a Roasted Sweet Potato
Vance Wyatt’s spine stiffened. The car keys in his hand fell straight to the ground. He was terrified. He immediately scrambled out of the car and searched the ground for the keys, a cold sweat breaking out all over his back.
"Huh?" Vivian Lowell looked at Vance’s panicked, fleeing figure. Finding it strange, she asked, "Vance, do you really hate being here that much?"
Vance didn’t dare to speak.
Today, he had run an errand for Vivian and received her gratitude. Later, when President Faulkner saw the trending topics online, he came to question him. Vance admitted to it, and President Faulkner had gotten angry!
Vance could see right through it. President Faulkner felt that for such a huge matter, if Vivian needed help, she should have gone to him, not Vance! President Faulkner was petty and prone to jealousy, yet the Madam couldn’t see it at all!
Groaning inwardly, Vance said to Julian Faulkner, "The Madam asked for my help because she trusts you, President Faulkner! Otherwise, with her connections, she could have found anyone else!
"She came to me because I can barely be considered ’one of the family’! Don’t you agree, President Faulkner?"
Vance deliberately emphasized that Vivian and Julian were a family. Sure enough, after hearing this, Julian’s expression softened significantly. He nodded and said nothing more.
Now, back inside the car, Vivian glanced between Vance and Julian. She poked Julian’s arm and said, "Stop scaring Vance. I know you’re just joking. Vance is great. With him by your side, I feel at ease!"
Julian had been in a foul mood and found Vivian’s words rather unpleasant. That is, until her last sentence. He thought, "She feels at ease? At ease about what? Is she relieved because she thinks Vance is highly capable and can help her?"
Julian seemed to understand something. He gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, then shot a disdainful look at Vance, who was still looking for the keys. "Hurry up!"
"Coming!" Vance breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly grabbed the keys, darted back into the car like a gust of wind, and started the engine.
As they left the company, they ran into quite a few reporters. The reporters blocked the car to ask Vivian about her relationship with Julian. After all, these journalists were shrewd; they knew Julian was not someone to be trifled with, so naturally, they didn’t dare to question him directly.
Vivian offered the reporters a sweet smile and answered, "Sharon Galahad’s tax evasion is illegal. The relevant authorities have already taken her away, and I believe she will face the full extent of the law!"
With that, the car drove off.
The reporters exchanged glances. Seeing that the key figures of what could be considered explosive news had left, they had no choice but to return to staking out the entrance of the Lowell Group.
The CEO’s wife committing tax evasion—the amount involved was definitely not small! Even if she paid the back taxes afterward, the company’s shareholders would certainly have objections. Who knew what would happen to the Lowell Group then! Staking out a financial news scoop didn’t seem like a bad idea either!
Meanwhile, in the car, although Vivian was looking at the street vendors outside, she couldn’t help but steal a glance in Julian’s direction from the corner of her eye.
He was actually looking at her! And his gaze didn’t seem all that friendly. She thought, "Is he still angry? What should I do? I can’t just go over and give him kisses and hugs. How am I supposed to coax a guy?"
Vivian was deeply troubled when she suddenly remembered some stories Grandma Faulkner had told her about Julian’s childhood.
Julian’s early years were actually quite different from those of other wealthy young masters. He didn’t attend an elite aristocratic school; he just went to a regular kindergarten. Back then, when he was cold in the winter, he wouldn’t say a word, even when his nose turned red. It was his mother who bought him a roasted sweet potato to hold and eat.
The roasted sweet potato was warm, and Julian loved it. After holding it and taking a few bites, his nose was no longer red, and his body warmed up. He happily held his mother’s hand and walked home with her. He even bought an extra roasted sweet potato to bring back to Grandma Faulkner. Grandma Faulkner had been overjoyed, praising Julian as the most filial child!
Julian liked eating roasted sweet potatoes! Recalling this story, Vivian confirmed this fact in her mind. Spotting an old man running a roasted sweet potato stand just ahead, she said to Vance, "Vance, pull over to the side. I need to get out and buy something!"
"Right away, Madam!" Vance didn’t overthink it and immediately pulled the car over.
Clutching her small purse, Vivian glanced back at Julian before opening the door. She gave him a sweet smile and said, "Don’t worry, I’m just going to buy you a roasted sweet potato!"
Julian was somewhat baffled. He wanted to say something, but noticing a bicycle riding past from behind the car, he merely warned, "Be careful getting out."
"Mhm!"
Vivian agreed and quickly walked up to the old man selling roasted sweet potatoes. As soon as she got close, the rich, fragrant aroma filled her nose. She pointed at the sweet potatoes and said to the old man, "I’ll take a large one, preferably very soft and sweet. My friend is upset, so I’m treating him to something sweet!"
"You got it. I’ll pick one out that will definitely satisfy you!" The old man agreed with a smile. He skillfully grabbed a sweet potato and weighed it on his electronic scale. "Two pounds. Is that big enough?" he asked, bagging the sweet potato.
Vivian was thoroughly satisfied. After scanning the QR code to pay, she turned around, only to see that Julian had actually stepped out of the car as well.
His brows were furrowed tightly as he stared at the massive two-pound sweet potato in the bag she was carrying. He really wanted to voice an objection. It was too big. If they ate all of it, they wouldn’t have any appetite left for the banquet later. Besides, sweet potatoes caused gas, so eating too much probably wasn’t a good idea.
Julian was just about to ask if they could exchange it for a smaller one. At that moment, the old man selling the roasted sweet potatoes smiled and said, "So you were buying it for your boyfriend! Little lady, your boyfriend is quite handsome!
"You two are a great match! Even though this roasted sweet potato is a bit large, it’s perfect for the two of you to share half and half!
"Don’t you agree, young man?" The old man even struck up an enthusiastic conversation with Julian.
Julian wanted to refuse and ask to swap the sweet potato, but the words caught in his throat. He even found himself nodding at the old man.
"Yes." His reply was soft, his voice very low. After answering, he felt he was acting strange and immediately reverted to his usual cold demeanor. Tugging at Vivian’s sleeve, he told her to get in the car.
"Let’s eat it in the car. There’s a lot of traffic here, and bicycles pass by all the time. Be careful," Julian urged her.
Vivian complied and got in. Once inside, she broke the massive sweet potato into two halves. The sweet, fragrant aroma instantly permeated the car’s interior. Looking at the thoroughly cooked inside of the sweet potato, Vivian felt immensely pleased and handed half of it to Julian.
"Here, eat up. Eating sweet things releases dopamine, so you won’t be upset anymore." Vivian was still very considerate as she added, "And you don’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty either. I brought wet wipes with me. Eat at ease, I’ve got you covered."
"Mhm." Julian took the sweet potato. He hesitated for a moment before taking a bite.
Watching him, Vivian immediately smiled. She thought, "He truly lives up to his title as President Faulkner. Even when eating a roasted sweet potato, he maintains such an elegant poise, as if he were completely detached from worldly affairs."
However, what should she do with the remaining half? Should she eat it herself, or give it to Vance?
"Um, Va—"
"Madam!" Vivian had only spoken a couple of words when Vance, nearly jumping out of his skin in fright, immediately interrupted, "I’m driving! You just... keep President Faulkner company."
He was practically crying internally. He didn’t even dare to say he didn’t eat sweet potatoes!
"Oh." Vivian didn’t overthink it. Holding her sweet potato, she glanced at Julian. The two of them shared a smile before lowering their heads to eat.
Inside the car, the atmosphere brightened considerably.