In the evening, just as he was about to leave work, Lance received a call from his mother.
"What's up?"
"Come home for dinner tonight. Your father and I haven't had a meal with you in a while," Samantha's gentle voice came through the phone.
Lance couldn't refuse and nodded in agreement.
When he arrived, dinner wasn't ready yet, so he sat on the sofa in the living room, keeping his parents company.
During this time, Samantha handed him an invitation and explained, "Kelly's birthday is in a few days. She had Bella send over two invitations, inviting you to attend."
Looking at the exquisite invitation in front of him, Lance frowned slightly, clearly reluctant to accept.
But Kelly was an elder, and he couldn't refuse to celebrate her birthday, so he nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Samantha smiled with satisfaction.
During a moment of free time, she stepped aside and called Bella because she knew Bella was waiting for her news.
As soon as the call connected, Bella's nervous voice came through.
"Samantha, did Lance agree to attend the birthday party?"
"He agreed," Samantha replied with a smile.
Hearing this news, Bella was overjoyed. She clenched her fists and vowed in her heart to seize this opportunity!
After dinner, Lance offered to leave but didn't go home immediately. Instead, he went to Deanna's house.
Seeing the handsome man at her door, Deanna was quite surprised. "Mr. Mercer, it's so late. Why are you here? Are you feeling unwell?"
She asked because that was the only possibility she could think of.
Unexpectedly, Lance shook his head, his voice low and magnetic. "I'm not unwell. I just came to ask if I need treatment this weekend. I have a social engagement I can't avoid."
"Then go ahead, but don't drink alcohol."
Knowing that any engagement Lance couldn't avoid must be important, Deanna sensibly told Lance he didn't have to receive treatment this weekend.
Lance nodded.
The two stood at the door in silence for a moment.
Deanna should have invited Lance inside to sit, but she forgot due to their serious conversation earlier.
Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, the two little ones heard Lance had come and ran out of their room.
"Handsome Uncle, why are you here?"
Chloe ran up to Lance with a joyful face, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him.
Seeing her, Lance's usually stern features softened even more. "I have some business with your mommy."
"Have you finished your business?" Gregory quickly asked.
Lance nodded. "Yes, why?"
"Nothing much. Just wondering if you plan to leave right after finishing his business?" The little guy continued to ask.
This time, before Lance could answer, Chloe grabbed his hand and started to plead in her sweet voice. "I don't want you to leave. Since you're here, why not come inside and sit for a while? I miss you."
Seeing his sister's actions, Gregory also nodded in agreement.
He looked at Lance with hopeful eyes. "Uncle, I've started learning advanced math recently. It's very interesting but some parts are hard. Could you teach us?"
Hearing this and seeing their expectant faces, Lance couldn't bear to refuse and agreed.
"Alright then." He then looked at Deanna and smiled lightly. "Looks like I'll be staying for a bit."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two little ones dragged him into the room, leaving Deanna standing there with raised eyebrows, amused and exasperated.
The reason was simple: her two kids had indeed started learning advanced math recently, but they didn't have any difficulties with it!
Clearly, the two little ones had said this on purpose to keep Lance around longer.
Unaware of this, Lance followed them into the study room and saw the advanced math textbooks on the table.
Although it was just basic level stuff, it was still early for the two little ones to be learning it.
Thinking about it, he was once again amazed by their intelligence and asked, "What don't you understand?"
The two little ones exchanged a glance and each pointed to a problem.
"Uncle, I don't quite get this one."
"I don't understand this one either."
Lance glanced at the problems they pointed out and began explaining them in the simplest way possible, full of patience.
The two little ones listened intently and showed impressive intelligence. They grasped the concepts after just one explanation from Lance.
Of course, they admired Handsome Uncle even more.
Chloe looked at him with admiration and praised, "Uncle is amazing. Your explanations are so clear; I understood right away."
"I understood too," Gregory added eagerly.
Deanna overheard this as she brought in some fruit and couldn't help but tease, "So does that mean Mommy's explanations were complicated?"
Hearing this, the two little ones playfully stuck out their tongues.
"No, no. Mommy's explanations were easy to understand too."
"Yes, very easy."
They laughed mischievously, trying to cover up their fibs.
Lance realized that these two weren't struggling with their studies; they just wanted an excuse to keep him around longer.