Chapter 77 Our Happy Family
Leopold was very tactful and took the initiative to say it was getting late, and he should leave so as not to disturb the elders' rest.
Before leaving, Elysia prepared an envelope with money as a meeting gift for Leopold. He refused to take it no matter what, but Caroline signaled him to accept it.
The two walked out of the elevator, and Caroline said, "You brought a meeting gift, and my mom giving you one back means she approves of us being together."
"Really? That's great." Leopold happily took Caroline's hand. "From now on, we can be together openly."
Caroline said, "The way you put it makes it sound like we were sneaking around before."
Leopold laughed. "I misspoke. I meant we can be together openly in front of your parents now."
Caroline asked, "Were you nervous meeting them?"
"Of course I was nervous. You don't know how sweaty my palms were."
"Was it that bad?"
"How could it not be? If I didn't perform well, they might have kicked me out." Leopold put his arm around Caroline's shoulder. "Then it would be hard for me to get through your door again."
After getting in the car, Leopold drove her home.
Just as they arrived at the community entrance, before the car had stopped, a WhatsApp message from Elysia came through, sent in a chat group called Our Happy Family.
JoyfulSerenity (Mom): Caroline, are you home yet?
Caroline (JoyfulBaby): Just arrived at the entrance, what's up?
JoyfulSerenity: Nothing, video call me when you get home, I have something to say.
Caroline: Got it, I'll call you back when I get upstairs.
JoyfulSerenity: Okay.
Leopold asked, "What's wrong?"
Caroline tapped the screen. "See? My parents are keeping tabs on me."
Leopold smiled. "They don't trust me yet, worried I might kidnap you halfway."
"Pretty much." Caroline replied.
"Mrs. Tudor's WhatsApp name is JoyfulSerenity?"
"Yes."
Leopold was simply curious. "What's Mr. Tudor's WhatsApp name?"
Caroline opened the group member list. There were only three people, and Elijah's nickname was PeacefulRealm.
"As expected of a good public servant, his high moral consciousness shows through in every aspect of life. Wait—" Leopold discovered something interesting and scrolled up to see Caroline's nickname in the group.
"JoyfulBaby?" He stared at her.
Caroline quickly locked her phone screen. "Don't laugh, my mom made me use that."
Leopold said with feeling, "Your family atmosphere is really nice."
"It is pretty nice, though my dad drags it down a bit. He's too serious." Caroline gave an objective assessment, which was also her impression of Elijah since childhood.
"Really? I didn't feel that way. Although he was a bit serious when we first met, it got better as we chatted. He's actually quite gentle." Leopold didn't want to compare Elijah with Preston, but he was already doing so in his mind.
His relationship with Preston was more like that between superior and subordinate, while with the seemingly serious Elijah, it felt more like father and son.
After dinner, watching TV and drinking coffee together, chatting about everyday matters and current affairs. Elijah would listen carefully to Leopold's thoughts. In Elijah's eyes, there was no impatience, but more tolerance and patience.
"You still have some misunderstanding about him. You'll understand better over time." Caroline checked the time. "I should go up now, or my mom will start video calling soon."
Leopold said, "I'm heading straight back to Solstice Mountain. Lily is taking time off tomorrow. She didn't take any leave last year, and I heard her father has some health issues, so she's taking him to the hospital for a checkup."
Caroline: "So we won't see each other for a week?"
Leopold sounded helpless. "Yes, I'm sorry I can't be with you."
"What's there to apologize for? I have a lot of work too. I won't have any free time until the election results come out." Caroline got out of the car and waved to the person inside. "Bye."
Watching her enter the community, Leopold only started the car and left.
The first thing Caroline did when she got home was video call Elysia. After connecting, Elysia said, "Why did it take you so long to get upstairs?"
"I went to the convenience store at the entrance to buy yogurt." Caroline held up the shopping bag to show her. "There wasn't any left in the fridge."
Once Elysia confirmed she was home, she felt relieved. "Remember to brush your teeth after drinking yogurt tonight."
Actually, Caroline knew Elysia was just making an excuse to check if she had gotten home, so she agreed. "I know. Anything else?"
Elysia said, "Nothing else, go wash up and sleep early."
"Okay, I'm hanging up."
Caroline did feel tired. After months of intense mental pressure, either the wind power project hitting bottlenecks or various behind-the-scenes manipulations appearing in the election, even when sleeping she was thinking about these things, which led to terrible sleep quality in the past two weeks, with occasional night terrors.
During Leopold's time away from Seaside City, they were both busy with their own things. Although they couldn't see each other, there was no shortage of care on WhatsApp, and they would video call after work.
He knew how to please people. Even when not in Seaside City, he made sure Caroline constantly felt his presence.
When it snowed heavily in Seaside City, Leopold ordered hot milk tea and small desserts for her. She liked seafood, and just as she got home, she received a call from a delivery person with seafood. When she said her stomach hurt, in less than half an hour, a delivery person brought hot cocoa and desserts.
In short, he tried his best to accompany her in his own way. Caroline finally understood a saying.
Some men always use being busy as an excuse, with no action, just saying they miss you. But if someone really likes you, no matter how busy they are, they'll find ways to care for and look after you, because affection can be felt.
A week passed quickly with all the busyness. Caroline thought Leopold would come back on the weekend, but she received news that he couldn't make it. Lily's father needed surgery for gallstones, and she had to stay at the hospital to care for him, so Leopold had to keep working.
Leopold looked at Caroline in the video, with sunlight falling on her face, making her seem to glow. He leaned back in his chair, unable to take his eyes off her face.
"Don't miss me too much."
Caroline smiled with pursed lips. Leopold asked her, "What are you smiling about? Did I hit the mark?"
"I'm smiling at your wishful thinking."
Leopold asked, "What did you have for lunch?"
"Haven't eaten yet, I'm on video with you."
Hearing this, Leopold was about to end the video call. "Go eat quickly, or there won't be anything left in the cafeteria."
Caroline checked the time. "It's too late to go now, I'll order takeout later."
"What do you want to eat?" Leopold asked her.
Caroline knew what he meant and said, "I'll order it myself."
"I'll order for you, tell me what you want to eat." Leopold was already operating the food delivery app. "If you don't tell me, I'll just order randomly, and don't blame me if it's not good."
Caroline couldn't resist him. "Pasta, and a lemon water."
He operated the ordering page, muttering, "Pasta, lemon water, okay, I've ordered it, just wait, my JoyfulBaby."
Ever since learning her nickname in the family chat, Leopold would mention it from time to time.
"By the way, does Mr. Tudor have the weekend off? If so, come fishing at my place."