Chapter 42 Why Don't You Try It and Find Out?
Michael choked on his words, immediately raising three fingers. "I swear to God! That's absolutely not what I meant!"
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Then what did you mean?"
Michael pouted pitifully, grasping her hand in his palm. "I just wanted to act a little spoiled with you."
Sophia narrowed her eyes, teasing him with obvious disdain. "Michael, you've been getting weirder and weirder lately."
Michael chuckled softly, not bothering to deny it.
He couldn't help it—his Sophia was almost eighteen.
Before switching their relationship dynamic, there had to be a transition period to help her adjust.
"Enough with the sweet talk, I'm here to discuss business with you." Sophia had even prepared the contracts. After finishing their business discussion, she planned to visit his parents at the hospital with him.
Since Vertex Innovations Ltd.'s founding, they'd been dedicated to developing chip technology. Just an hour ago, their new chip had successfully passed testing and could completely replace Pacific Group's chips. Sophia had rushed over with the contract to ensure Michael wouldn't be constrained by Pacific Group's unreasonable demands any longer.
When it came to business, both became serious and focused. One representing Vertex Innovations Ltd., the other representing Green Group, they refused to yield even the smallest advantage, engaging in an hour-long battle of words before finally settling on terms and signing a new contract.
"What do you want for lunch?"
With work concluded, Michael returned to his usual demeanor, affectionately ruffling Sophia's hair, only to have his hand swatted away.
"Don't mess up my hair!" Sophia glared at him reproachfully, smoothing down her hairstyle before saying casually, "I'm craving spaghetti and meatballs."
Michael laughed. "Alright, let's get you some spaghetti and meatballs."
As they took the elevator downstairs, every employee they encountered greeted Sophia respectfully, calling her "Ms. Johnson."
Sophia sighed wistfully. Michael pinched her cheek, asking with concern, "What's wrong?"
"When will I become the most dazzling?"
Though she'd invested in many companies and some people would flatter her with a respectful "Sophia," she still lacked any official position.
Michael had only become CEO because of his family's crisis—she didn't envy that.
She just felt that only when she could make a name for herself in Emerald City under her own merit would she truly have the credentials to stand proudly before Andrew, rather than being treated like his plaything, thinking small favors could win her over.
Michael chuckled softly. Sophia's aspirations remained straightforward and consistent—her mind held nothing but making money and building her career. The more Andrew tried to suppress her, the more determined she became to climb higher, learning about investments, building networks, and establishing businesses. Despite countless failures, she remained resilient.
This was the Sophia he loved—regardless of her surname, she was the only girl he'd ever want.
The intensifying rain couldn't dampen their good spirits.
Settling into the passenger seat, Sophia looked at the young man beside her with suspicion and fear. "Are you actually any good at driving? You're not going to send me flying halfway there, are you?"
Michael couldn't help but laugh. "Why don't you try it and find out?"
Sophia glared at him.
"Don't worry, I've been driving for over a year now." Michael leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, joking, "I'm definitely not as good as John, who can drive a car straight into a banquet hall, but I don't have that kind of nerve."
Sophia laughed. Finding someone as crazy as John in this world would be quite the challenge. "Speaking of which, John hasn't come looking for me since that night."
"He went to Imperial City for a race. Apparently, he won an award in Lumaria last year and has quite a fan following in racing circles. The organizers specifically invited him to make an appearance this time."
John had been rebellious since childhood, disliking the boring financial studies his family arranged for him. Whatever his family wanted him to do, he'd do the opposite. The Smith family valued their reputation and propriety above all else, so naturally, he'd chosen racing.
The first thing he'd done after getting his license at eighteen was buy a sports car and drive it at ninety-five miles per hour through downtown streets. The speeding tickets he'd accumulated were thicker than a dictionary. After being lectured by George and Jane dozens of times, he'd taken to the mountain roads instead, racing with friends on winding mountain passes with beautiful women as companions, gambling for thrills.
His reputation had spread far and wide. Everyone in Emerald City spoke of him disparagingly, using him as a cautionary tale for raising the next generation.
Sophia had once been dragged by John to participate in a privately organized mountain road race, forced to sit in his passenger seat. The mountain curves were dangerous enough without his breakneck speed—they'd nearly plunged off a cliff. Though Sophia had survived the race, she'd been too traumatized to ride in a car for a month afterward.
Sophia had always thought John's recklessness went too far. Not caring about his own life was one thing, but wanting to drag her down with him was another.
Later, John had defied his family's opposition and public criticism to become a professional race car driver.
He'd indeed won numerous competitions, but such honors weren't recognized by elite families—they were seen as symbols of rebellious delinquency.
"John's like a death-wish gambler, risking his life and future to rebel against the Smith family's arrangements. Who knows if he'll come back from one of these races someday?"
"Worried about him?"
"Considering how I've managed to survive these seventeen years, I won't be worrying about him."
Michael nodded knowingly. He understood that Sophia wasn't being stubborn; she genuinely despised John. If not for divine intervention, she might have died at John's hands long ago.
Driving at a moderate speed, they smoothly reached a restaurant called "Bella Pasta Bistro" near the company.
Sophia loved the spaghetti and meatballs here. During elementary school, when she often didn't want to go home and face John and Andrew, she'd come here to fill her stomach before heading back.
After elementary graduation, whenever she craved this particular dish, she'd drag Michael along.
"Seth, two bowls of spaghetti and meatballs," Michael called out familiarly upon entering.
"Coming right up!" Seth Allen responded, dropping pasta into boiling water with a smile. "Haven't seen you two in ages. Where are you going to school now?"
"Still local, but who knows about next year," Sophia replied with a radiant smile, completely unpretentious.
Soon, Seth brought over two bowls of spaghetti and meatballs, placing the one without basil in front of Sophia. "Here you go—no basil for you."
"You remembered that?" Sophia stirred her pasta, mixing the sauce into the noodles.
Seth chuckled. "How could I forget? You once forgot to tell me to hold the basil, and this guy picked out every single piece for you. Such a thoughtful boyfriends is rare—he left quite an impression on me!"
Sophia pressed her lips together, her ear tips suddenly flushing pink.
She'd barely taken one bite when her phone rang.
Unknown caller.