Chapter 64 You're Not Dating Already, Are You?
Back at Whispering Pines Cottage, Benjamin had drunk himself red-faced and started rambling incoherently, finally bringing the dinner party to an end.
Brian helped Benjamin upstairs to rest, then returned to see the guests off.
"By the way, could I listen to some of your songs?" Sophia asked with a smile as they reached the door.
Since he'd submitted his resume to record labels so many times, he must have recorded simple demos of his compositions. She wanted to hear them.
"Of course." A smile spread across Brian's face, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Sophia.
"Let's connect on Facebook, and you can send them to me later." Sophia was always decisive and straightforward, addressing the matter without any other emotions, as if she were discussing work.
After adding each other as friends, Sophia left.
Michael drove Sophia and Lucas home.
Just thinking about the way Brian had looked at Sophia made him uncomfortable, and his tone carried obvious jealousy, "Could you stop charming everyone wherever you go? I'm feeling seriously threatened here!"
Sophia paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Are you jealous? Brian and I barely know each other. I only added him on Facebook for business purposes."
"You want to help him?"
"I'll listen to his songs first, then decide whether to help or not."
Sophia had no personal interest in Brian. She wanted to hear his work to evaluate his worth and assess whether he was a project worth her investment.
She knew practically everyone in Emerald City and held stakes in businesses across various industries in the commercial sector.
But that wasn't enough for her—she wanted to start making money in the entertainment industry.
Brian was her first target for evaluation.
Michael sighed, his heart still restless. "Sophia, I'm waiting for you to turn eighteen. So please, wait for me too, okay?"
Sophia's red lips curved upward. "I won't wait for you. I'll keep moving forward."
No one could make her stop. Only by holding money and power in her hands could she have the right to speak in any situation.
This was what she'd learned during her time with the Smith family.
The car reached the apartment building entrance. Lucas politely thanked them before getting out with his backpack alongside Sophia.
The two walked hand in hand toward home.
Watching the tall and short figures disappear into the residential building, Michael smiled slightly and looked away.
"Drive on."
As soon as Lucas entered the apartment, he excitedly ran to Mary on the sofa, threw himself into his mother's arms, and looked up with his little face beaming, "Mom, Mr. White taught me to paint fruit today! And tonight Mr. White cooked dinner—it was so delicious!"
"That amazing? Let Mommy feel your tummy to see if Lucas ate enough."
Mary never dismissed any of her children's words, always providing emotional support. She actually touched Lucas's round little belly. "Oh my, looks like Lucas really enjoyed Benjamin's cooking!"
"Yes!" Lucas sat up straight, unzipped his backpack, and pulled out a gift box, continuing, "Tonight, Sophia's friend also gave me a present, and he's really handsome!"
Lucas opened the gift box to reveal a watch inside.
Children don't understand the value of gifts, but how could adults not know brand prices?
This children's watch was produced by a brand under the Green Group, featuring a touch screen that could make calls and access Facebook, with a built-in GPS, priced at nearly two hundred dollars.
Giving such an expensive gift to a child upon first meeting would make any parent uneasy.
Both Mary and Ray widened their eyes and looked up at Sophia, seemingly asking with their gazes whether it was appropriate to accept such a gift.
Sophia understood her parents' look and smiled. "As long as Lucas likes it."
"What kind of friend gives such an expensive watch on the first meeting?" Ray was concerned, worried that Sophia might owe someone a favor.
"I've known him for over ten years," Sophia said frankly.
She was honest about her relationship with this "friend" but didn't reveal that this "friend" was actually Michael, the current CEO of Green Group.
Ray and Mary exchanged glances, then both looked back at Sophia.
Mary asked carefully, "Sophia, you're not dating already, are you?"
Or perhaps she'd been engaged since childhood and already had a fiancé?
Guessing her parents' thoughts, Sophia found it amusing. "He's not my boyfriend, and he's not my fiancé either. He's simply a close friend I've known for many years."
Regardless of whether she and Michael had mutual feelings, their current relationship could indeed only be described as relatively close friends.
Ray and Mary breathed a sigh of relief. If their daughter, after leaving the world of wealthy families, still dated those elite heirs, they feared she might be mistreated, and the Johnson family wouldn't be able to protect her.
Such a huge difference in family background was destined to bring unhappiness.
"I need to find James about something. I'll head in first."
After speaking softly, Sophia went to knock on James's door and brought him to her room to apply medicine.
When she'd gone to buy Benjamin's gift that afternoon, she'd also had a special healing ointment prepared that was very effective for broken skin wounds.
James sat backwards on the chair, his shirt removed, revealing his somewhat thin torso. Lines of bloody scratches were particularly striking against his fair skin.
Just seeing these wounds felt like damp cotton was stuffed in Sophia's chest, making her breathing uncomfortable.
"Bear with it." Sophia frowned, dipped her fingertip in some pale yellow ointment, and gently applied it to the bleeding scratches on James's back.
The cool ointment dispelled the burning pain of the wounds, with only a slight stinging sensation that could be ignored.
James chuckled softly, comforting his sister, "It doesn't hurt."
Sophia pressed her lips together, feeling that James was just being tough.
She'd prepared this ointment herself—how could she not know whether it hurt when applied?
"Fortunately, the costume was thick enough to provide some protection, so you didn't injure muscles or bones. Otherwise, you'd be lying in a hospital bed for half a month."
She rarely nagged, but her tone clearly showed she was annoyed that James could still smile despite being so seriously injured.
James only smiled without speaking. Of course, he was happy that Sophia was worried about him.
For the following period, Emily didn't cause any trouble, staying so quiet that Sophia found it strange. She always felt Emily must be brewing some conspiracy.
Every day of classes passed particularly quickly.
A month went by, and James's first web series, "Timeless Love," officially went online.
Amelia was probably James's first loyal fan. As soon as class ended, she'd hold her phone, watching the series, fast-forwarding through all scenes without James.
When James appeared, she'd return to normal speed, watching carefully and analyzing repeatedly.
Finally, she concluded, "James is really so handsome!"
Sophia was speechless.
'Look at your fiancé sitting right next to you—his eyes are practically shooting sparks!'