Chapter 74 Show Him What You've Got
Those two pens Leopold brought weren't ordinary fountain pens you could just pick up anywhere on the street - they were custom-made.
The gifts he prepared for Elijah also showed he'd put real thought into them: a case of fine wine, a luxury brand shirt, a box of premium coffee, and what surprised Elysia most was that he'd even bought a fishing rod.
"The fishing rod is nice, but my husband is so busy these days, I'm afraid he won't have time to fish." Elysia closed the fishing rod case.
Leopold smiled slightly and replied politely, "He doesn't have time now, but who knows, maybe he will someday. Better to have it ready. When he wants to fish, I can go with him. I used to go fishing with my dad all the time."
He mentioned his family so naturally that Elysia didn't find his background so unacceptable anymore.
Leopold was a good person - too bad his mother hadn't chosen the right path.
Elysia felt sorry for him, but without realizing it, she wasn't as resistant to Leopold anymore.
She said, "Leopold, why don't you sit for a bit and have some fruit? Just two more dishes and dinner will be ready. My husband should be home soon, then we can eat."
Leopold took off his jacket. "Mrs. Tudor, let me help you cook. Two people work faster."
Elysia paused. How could she let a first-time guest cook?
She quickly pulled him back. "No, I can't let you cook."
Leopold's eyes crinkled slightly. "Don't trust me? I'm a really good cook - ask Caroline."
Elysia looked at Caroline, who said, "Let him show off his skills."
Caroline was also helping Leopold out, hoping to give him more chances to make a good impression on her parents.
"What needs to be made?" Leopold asked.
Elysia hurried into the kitchen. "You can make the broccoli, I'll do the other dish." Seeing Leopold in his white shirt, she called out to Caroline, "Caroline, come tie an apron on Leopold so he doesn't get his clothes dirty."
Caroline brought the apron and tied it behind his neck. Leopold held out his hands with a smile. "Help me roll up my sleeves."
While Elysia wasn't paying attention, Caroline said quietly, "Custom pens and fishing gear - you really thought of everything."
Leopold's eyes gleamed mischievously as he chuckled softly.
The kitchen was bustling when Elijah came home from work. Walking in, he said, "It's freezing today."
"Dad, you're home." Caroline stood at the door, very respectful.
Elijah nodded, his expression unchanged. "You're here."
Caroline took his coat with both hands and hung it up. "Leopold is in the kitchen helping Mom cook."
"What?"
Thinking he'd heard wrong, Elijah frowned and looked up at her. Caroline explained, "He insisted on helping."
Elijah looked toward the kitchen and actually saw Elysia and Leopold chatting and laughing together.
What was going on?
Yesterday Elysia had said she didn't approve, so why were they so harmonious today?
"Dad, change into slippers." Caroline placed the slippers on the mat. After Elijah changed, he asked seriously, "Your election is coming up soon, right? How's your preparation going?"
Caroline stood straight, as if reporting to work. "I've prepared all the election materials. The wind power project is working in my favor right now. I'm confident."
Elijah's frown deepened. "I don't see much confidence."
Caroline clenched her fingers. "You told me not to talk too big before things are done."
Elijah's brow relaxed slightly. "Of all the things I've said, you only remember what benefits you. The things I told you not to do - I still couldn't stop you."
Caroline understood what he meant - he was referring to Leopold. Elijah had once made a requirement that she should find a boyfriend from a complete, happy family.
"Dad, go wash your hands. Dinner's almost ready."
Elijah sighed silently, shook his head, and went to the bathroom.
The moment he left, Caroline let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
Growing up, Elijah had been strict in her education and discipline. Being around him always gave Caroline the feeling of dealing with a superior. Since she could remember, she'd never acted cute or playful around Elijah.
Leopold brought the dish to the table, and looking up, saw Elijah approaching. He greeted him calmly, "Mr. Tudor, you're home. I was in the kitchen and didn't hear you come in."
Elijah nodded and said to Elysia as she came out, "Having an outsider cook - what were you thinking?"
The word "outsider" made Leopold's heart skip a beat, but his face remained composed. "It's fine, I cook regularly anyway. I just don't know how it tastes. I came late today and couldn't help much."
Elysia pulled out a chair and sat down. "Stop chatting and sit down to eat."
Elijah fell silent.
But since Elijah didn't sit, neither Caroline nor Leopold dared to sit either.
Elijah noticed this - Leopold at least understood proper etiquette.
Elijah sat down and said to them, "You two stop standing there and sit down to eat."
"What would you like to drink?" Elysia asked Elijah. "Red wine or beer?"
Elijah asked Leopold, "Did you drive here?"
Elysia said, "Leopold drove, but it's fine - we can call a designated driver. Oh, and he brought you lots of things: wine, cigarettes, a belt, and one thing you'd never guess - he brought you a fishing rod."
Elijah's face rarely showed pleasure, though his words didn't reveal it. "Why buy a fishing rod? I don't have time to fish now. What a waste of money."
Leopold read the room. "Weekdays are busy with no time to fish, but you could go on weekends. Behind my hotel there's an abandoned fish pond. Someone used to lease it, but stopped when it wasn't profitable. I know the pond owner. When you have time, I could go fishing with you there. Usually no one's around - it's quite peaceful."
"Really? No one around? That's not bad." Elijah could finally find a quiet place to fish.
Caroline was a bit surprised.
Elysia lowered her eyes, smiling slightly.
This Leopold had some skills.
Leopold's social abilities really put Caroline to shame. Before the meal was even over, he seemed to have already worked his way into her family.
When Leopold was chatting enthusiastically with her parents and frequently toasting, she thought if she had Leopold's abilities, she could probably expand her social circle tenfold.
He not only had great social skills but also impressive alcohol tolerance and good drinking manners. Even when his face was flushed and he was clearly tipsy, his words and behavior remained perfectly proper.
"Elysia, go reheat the beef soup." Elijah filled another glass of wine.
Leopold quickly stood up and picked up the soup first. "I'll do it."
With his long arms and legs, he'd already carried the soup into the kitchen before finishing his sentence. Elysia ended up getting blamed by Elijah instead. "Leopold's here for the first time, and you're either having him cook or heat soup. What kind of host are you?"
Elysia said, "Did I ask him to? Leopold is being thoughtful - he did it on his own."
Elijah looked at Caroline. "You too - bringing your boyfriend home, he's a guest. How can you let him run back and forth to the kitchen?"
Caroline felt quite helpless.