Chapter 138 Preparing to Go Back
After Aria and Lucy finished catching up at the company, they said a quick goodbye and she left with Jasper.
Lance offered to drive them back to the hotel, and the car ride was quiet and peaceful.
Outside the window, familiar yet renewed street scenes kept passing by. The city's changes over the past five years were clearly visible.
Various flower shops and studios lined the streets in an orderly fashion, radiating vibrant energy everywhere. This gave her a real sense of the broad prospects for the floral industry back home, and the idea of returning to develop her career here became increasingly clear and firm in her mind.
When they arrived at the hotel, Aria looked at the well-behaved Jasper beside her and thought about the phone call from Iceland earlier. The street where her flower shop was located was about to undergo renovation, requiring her to find a new location.
Combined with the differences in educational environments between Iceland and home, she couldn't just think about her own comfort and ease anymore. She couldn't let her personal preferences cause Jasper to miss out on the most crucial and suitable educational environment for him.
After weighing the pros and cons several times, she finally made up her mind to end her life in Iceland and return home to develop her career.
She was carefully choosing her words in her mind, wanting to tell Lance about this important decision, but unexpectedly Lance spoke first. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable certainty, "Aria, I'm planning to return home."
Aria was clearly stunned. Still working on her wording, she hadn't expected to hear this from Lance. She instinctively looked at him, a flash of shock in her eyes, "Return home?"
She hesitated for a moment, couldn't help but ask, "Why so sudden? Did something happen?"
Lance looked away, gazing at the busy street ahead. His tone was calm but held deep helplessness, "Nothing major, just that Grandpa is getting old, his health declining year by year, and my father is also feeling overwhelmed now.
All these years I've been abroad doing my own thing, leaving Gray Corporation matters to professionals. This time back, my father specifically talked to me about it, meaning he wants me to come back and take over.
My family needs me, the business needs me. After thinking it over, I feel returning home to develop is the most solid choice."
Hearing his reasons, Aria's anxious heart relaxed a bit. Good thing she wasn't the one who brought it up first, otherwise she would have assumed Lance was doing this for her sake.
Then she'd be teased by Lance again.
Aria steadied herself, her face returning to calm. She looked at Lance and spoke frankly, "Actually, I was also planning to return home to develop my career."
She paused, honestly explaining her reasons, "Iceland called this morning - the street where my flower shop is located is being renovated, so I must find a new location.
Plus there's Jasper's education. After comparing, I still feel home is more suitable for him. Whether it's the growing environment or educational resources, home is better than Iceland."
"I was actually planning to tell you about this too."
She smiled lightly, "Didn't expect you'd have the same idea."
Hearing this, Lance suddenly turned to look at her, a meaningful smile playing at his lips, his tone carrying some teasing, "Oh? What a coincidence? Looks like we're on the same wavelength."
Hearing Lance's teasing "same wavelength," Aria helplessly furrowed her brow slightly, didn't respond, just pretended not to hear, to avoid him continuing to tease her.
Seeing she wouldn't take the bait, Lance stopped teasing and quickly became serious, talking business, "Since you've decided to return home, you'll definitely need to arrange housing. You can't keep staying in a hotel with Jasper - it's inconvenient and inappropriate."
Aria was slightly stunned. Before she could think about the housing issue, she heard Lance continue, "I have a vacant apartment that no one's been living in. It's been well maintained. You and Jasper can move there temporarily."
Worried she'd overthink, he immediately added, "I don't live there, won't disturb you two, don't worry."
After a pause, he specifically emphasized the most crucial point, his tone showing careful consideration, "Plus that apartment is in a school district, the best kindergarten in the area is right nearby, which would solve Jasper's schooling problem perfectly."
The conditions Lance proposed were too perfect, each point addressing her most pressing difficulties. The offer was so tempting she couldn't find a suitable reason to refuse.
She'd just decided to return home and everything was still up in the air. If she had to find a place now, handle paperwork, clean and furnish it, it would definitely consume a lot of energy.
She couldn't possibly drag young Jasper around looking at places every day - it wasn't safe or convenient.
Thinking it over, accepting Lance's help was undoubtedly the most stable choice and best for the child.
Aria gently bit her lower lip and finally nodded, but her eyes were firm and her tone carried serious determination, "I can move there temporarily, but I must pay you market-rate rent. I can't live in your place for free."
Lance was worn down by her stubborn nature and sighed inwardly.
He knew Aria too well - the more genuinely kind you were to her, the more she'd retreat, afraid of owing favors, refusing to budge an inch.
If he said more, she'd overthink it, treating goodwill as a burden, which would only backfire.
So he went along with her temperament, saying casually, "Just pay whatever you think is fair, I'm not hurting for money."
After a pause, he added, his tone so light it was like discussing something trivial, "If I didn't happen to have a vacant place, I wouldn't have anything to help you with anyway."
Aria looked at his nonchalant expression - how could she not understand?
He was deliberately making it sound casual, deliberately making this help seem light as a feather, just so she'd accept it.
Aria took a light breath, her voice softening a bit with genuine sincerity, "Thank you, Lance."
Lance looked at her eyes, rarely letting down their guard, and the corners of his lips curved up unconsciously. He changed the subject with a relaxed tone, "No need to be polite. The place is cleaned daily, bedding is all fresh, everything's there. How about we go up now and move your things over? We can also see what else needs buying and get it all sorted, so you two can sleep well tonight. What do you say?"
Aria looked down at the child who had tired himself out playing and fallen asleep. Her last bit of hesitation vanished completely.
She nodded gently and replied softly, "Okay."
With Lance's help, Aria quickly packed up her and Jasper's luggage. After checking out of the hotel, she followed Lance to the new place.
Lance led Aria inside with practiced ease. The whole way was quiet, with only occasional insect chirps and the sound of wind through leaves.
Aria held Jasper's hand, looking at the clean and comfortable surroundings. She felt relieved inside - this place was indeed much more stable than a hotel, and felt more like a home.