Michelle really didn't feel like taking Lizzy out to play. However, when even Mr. Alex, known workaholic that he was, said such a thing, she, a mere freelance professional, found no ground to refuse. Alex, after all, was someone who dealt with multi-million-dollar businesses. Every minute he spent was potentially worth millions. If he believed that spending time with a child was more important than work, how could her drafts, possibly deemed worthless, ever compare to the importance of a child? Michelle had on more than one occasion asked Alex to spend more time with Lizzy. Now, the roles seemed to be reversed. If she declined now, she suspected Alex would have a reason to rebut her in the future. Reluctantly, Michelle agreed. However, she made it clear to Alex that she had commitments in the afternoon. She could only join them for a morning outing. Alex had no objections; he had plans to return to his office in the afternoon to attend to some matters. The two novice parents, as i
Michelle stared at the earnest-faced man in front of her, expressionless. In her mind, she muttered a curse. "How could someone so handsome be so... off?" she mused internally. "Such a waste of good looks." She locked eyes with the man for a moment, then with a serene and gentle smile, suggested, "Shall we get back to discussing Lizzy?" Meeting her gaze, Alex's eyes and tone were as gentle as possible. After all, he had unintentionally frightened her to tears during their last interaction. He didn't want a repeat of that episode. "I've always felt that you're evading things," he began, "Whether it's about Lizzy or about you." At his words, Michelle paused, then looked up, her gaze searching. "Have I?" she questioned. Alex nodded. "You've always seemed... elusive to me." Michelle met Alex's eyes, a playful glint in her own. "Maybe it's because your brain doesn't function well." He watched her, noting her feigned composure, as if she had no secrets to hide. He felt a hint of amuse
Michelle sent her draft to someone named "Bald but not stronger". Perhaps the recipient was busy, as there was no response. After waiting for ten minutes, exhaustion overwhelmed Michelle, and she decided not to wait any longer. In a drowsy haze, she shut down her computer and went to bed. The instant she closed her eyes, sleep swept over her. As she drifted into unconsciousness, there was a vague feeling that she'd forgotten something crucial. However, she was too tired to think straight. Her brain felt like it had gone on strike. ...Whatever it was, she'd deal with it after waking up. Today, Lizzy was in low spirits and somewhat upset because no one came to pick her up after school. She sat on a small bench and waited for what seemed like forever. Most of her classmates had left, and she was the only child remaining. Neither her mother nor her father was in sight. Recently, Lizzy had quickly forged a bond with Sophie. To keep Lizzy company, Sophie had even stayed a little longer a
Regarding the decision of whether or not to continue funding NexRealm Studios, Alex needed some time to deliberate. He didn't provide Derek with any instructions or hints, simply asking him to get back to work. Derek, relieved not to receive a reprimand, sensed Alex's foul mood and hastily left to attend to his duties. Among all the companies under Alex's purview, NexRealm Studios had been the biggest money pit. Alex had considered letting go of the gaming firm for some time. But the decision to ax NexRealm Studios wasn't solely his to make. He had to take into account the wishes of his nostalgic friend, his moody cousin Brandon, who had abandoned the project halfway, and Eleanor, who seemed to take pleasure in seeing him squirm. Years earlier, Eleanor had acquired an online literature company. With the backing of both the Ye and Su families, she was flush with resources. She then invested heavily, hiring top-tier online novelists to drive traffic to her platform. The once-dying web
Alex often seemed lost in thought, appearing as if he was pondering over something deep. His demeanor always gave off an air of "Will I bother to acknowledge you or not?" Michelle wasn't sure if Alex was truly lost in his thoughts. She usually wouldn't initiate a conversation with him. She was afraid of interrupting him, and even more afraid that he would ignore her. In such cases, she'd be the only one left feeling embarrassed. Michelle watched children fly kites in the plaza, letting her mind wander. She was reminded of some matters she had pushed aside for some time. She was currently living in a place that was previously rented under her name. It was an old one-bedroom apartment with inconvenient transportation. She had long wanted to move out but had been too busy writing to look for a new place. She wanted a bigger, more comfortable home. Living in an old house was taking a toll on her mood and quality of life. With this thought, she pulled out her phone and downloaded a prope
Michelle's refusal to "Leonard," who had a quirky username, was influenced by two primary factors. First, she was hesitant to leave Lizzy behind. Alex was known for his workaholic tendencies, and Michelle wasn't far behind. She dreaded coming home to a sobbing child, knowing the onus of comfort would fall on her. Such a scenario was emotionally taxing. Secondly, Michelle disliked complications. A structured job was too restrictive for her taste. She cherished the freedom to manage her own time. However, Leonard persisted even after her initial refusal, continuing to send messages. Leonard: "If you prefer working from home, that's an option. Just ensure tasks are completed on schedule." Leonard: "As for the compensation, we can offer you this amount." He sent a screenshot of a lucrative figure. The sum tempted Michelle; she realized it was equivalent to half a month's pay for just a few assignments. Noting her hesitation, Leonard sensed an opportunity. Leonard: "Take your time and
Upon hearing Michelle's words, Alex's first instinct was: Is Michelle short on money? Why wouldn't she ask him for it? Almost immediately, he felt ashamed for thinking that way. Michelle wasn't that type of person. She never seemed to want to gain any benefit from him. Well, unless you counted using him as a ride for picking up and dropping off Lizzy at school. In the past, when Alex had offered to buy her a house, she'd declined without even thinking about it. With her character, how could she possibly ask him for money? Thus, Alex fell silent. After a brief pause, he inquired, "What exactly is the job you're considering?" If Michelle wished to work, he could arrange a position within his company. He had so many businesses under his control; there was bound to be a vacant role somewhere. However, Michelle looked at him with an innocent expression and replied, "I don't know yet. I'll find out during the interview." Thinking about how easily Lizzy got swindled and realizing that s
Michelle truly wanted to wander around, window shop, and perhaps make a few purchases. However, the prospect of doing so with Eleanor made her reconsider. It wasn’t just the apparent generational gap between them; the mere fact that Eleanor was Alex's biological mother gave Michelle chills. Michelle had once lived with the Ye family and, although her understanding of Eleanor was rather superficial, she knew that Eleanor was a homebody. The older woman rarely stepped out, preferring to have her needs delivered to her doorstep, leading what Michelle deemed a rather dull life. Yet, for such a woman who seldom left her comfort zone, Michelle felt nothing good would come from their sudden rendezvous. Detecting Michelle's reluctance, Eleanor looked at her, the curve of her lips painting a perfect smile, yet her eyes betrayed little warmth. Michelle hesitated, but eventually yielded. There was something about Eleanor’s almost mocking smile that intimidated her. She always had this lingerin