Inside the elevator, Sienna Thornton observed Quentin Thorne through the reflective walls.
Perhaps due to it being the eve of Clear and Bright Festival, Quentin Thorne was dressed in black, with his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Judging by the skin condition on his hands, he appeared much younger than his actual age.
His hair was thick and black, without the common issues of thinning or balding that middle-aged n often face, and his facial skin showed no signs of wrinkles, glowing with radiance.
His facial features were deep and well-defined, with hardly any flaws.
It seed the Thorne Family had good genes, good looks and age gracefully.
Sienna thought to herself, no wonder his diocre-looking wife had turned into a control freak. Speaking of diocre looks, Mina Thorne was completely held back by her mother’s influence.
Sienna finally understood why she and Mina Thorne looked alike, yet she appeared much more refined—it was all thanks to the beautiful linda Linton, who did not dilute Quentin Thorne’s genes.
With a "ding," the elevator arrived.
Sienna snapped back to reality, taking Quentin Thorne’s arm.
Quentin Thorne gently patted her hand and said with a smile, "Good, holding daddy’s arm."
The carpeted hallway of the Chinese restaurant felt solid as they walked to the midpoint, where Quentin Thorne raised his hand to push open a door.
Sienna suddenly felt a bit nervous, holding Quentin Thorne’s arm tighter.
Quentin Thorne sensed it and laughed gently, "It’s okay, don’t be afraid, daddy’s here."
She smiled at him and followed his lead inside. The originally lively private room fell silent as soon as they entered.
Five tables of people turned their gaze toward them simultaneously.
Sienna looked at the large round table in the center, where an elderly lady with slightly grey hair and kindly eyes was smiling at them. Beside her were two empty seats.
Quentin Thorne led Sienna to the lady and introduced her, "Mom, Annie’s here!"
Afterwards, he told Sienna, "Annie, this is Grandma!"
The elderly lady was full of smiles, her eyes brimming with affection as she extended her hands toward Sienna.
Sienna quickly stepped forward, bowing slightly to hold the lady’s hands, "Hello Grandma, I’m Sienna."
"Good, good!" The lady held her hand, looking up at her, and gradually her eyes began to redden, "Annie, dear child, you finally ca ho! You look just like your father, truly beautiful, my dear granddaughter!"
Though often praised for her beauty, being complinted so openly among the Thorne family’s many relatives made Sienna’s cheeks burn intensely.
Her flushed face made her more beautiful, with clean, delicate skin showing a healthy, natural pink.
Quentin Thorne said to the lady, "Mom, let introduce Annie to everyone."
The lady nodded repeatedly, agreeing.
Quentin Thorne gestured for Sienna to place her coat and bag next to the lady, then led her around to introduce her to the relatives at each table.
Each table seated one or two elderly mbers, and Quentin Thorne introduced who were the elders and who were of the sa generation.
The Thorne family mbers were very friendly and didn’t ask too much, evidently Quentin Thorne had smoothed things over.
After making the rounds, it was nearly ti to start the al. Quentin Thorne brought Sienna back to the table where the elderly lady was seated.
Sienna sat beside the lady, who imdiately handed her a red envelope and a red velvet pouch.
She looked down without opening them, politely saying, "Thank you, Grandma."
The lady smiled warmly at her, "Quick, open it and see if you like it."
Sienna opened the velvet pouch to find a jade bracelet. She couldn’t tell what kind of jade it was but could see it was green and translucent, similar to those on TV appraisal shows.
The lady said from beside her, "Annie, go ahead and put it on. This was part of my mother’s wedding dowry to , originally a pair, one went to Mina’s Mom, and the other I’m giving to you now."
"Thank you, Grandma!" Sienna said sweetly, putting on the bracelet, "It’s beautiful, I really like it."
The lady was delighted, holding Sienna’s hand and continuously stroking her hand.
Sienna smiled subtly, glancing at her tablemates out of the corner of her eye.
Ian Grant sat beside Quentin Thorne, with Mina Thorne next to Ian Grant.
Predictably, Ian Grant’s look was fierce, as if he was eager to rush over and slap Sienna the next second.
Mina Thorne, anwhile, maintained her usual blank expression.
Sienna calmly withdrew her gaze.
Quentin Thorne began introducing her to other relatives at the table, explaining their various relationships, though Sienna couldn’t quite grasp who was related to Quentin Thorne in what way, having t too many people in one evening.
Soon the al began, everyone eating and chatting. During the discussion, soone asked, "Where is Annie working now?"
At family gatherings, the "three-question package": Where do you work? How much do you earn a month? Do you have a partner?
For those married, add two more to the "three-question package": Have you had kids? When are you planning to have a second child?
When a relative asked where Sienna worked, she was about to answer when Quentin Thorne proudly said, "Annie is now the head of the ’Trade Law Section Two’ in the Treaty and Law Departnt under the Ministry of Comrce."
Upon hearing that Sienna held a position equivalent to a county-level chief, the relatives were sowhat surprised and asked, "How old is Annie this year?"
Quentin Thorne replied, "Annie is the sa age as Mina but seven months older."
Sienna looked younger, and casually dressed today, leading the relatives to believe she was two to three years younger than Mina. Quentin Thorne’s explanation surprised the relatives, inevitably wondering whether she obtained the job due to Quentin Thorne’s influence.
Naturally, Quentin Thorne was aware of the relatives’ thoughts, so to clear any misunderstandings about his eldest daughter, he added, "Annie ca back from the United States, initially working full-ti at a law firm before starting her own practice. Three or four years ago, the Treaty and Law Departnt had been keen on recruiting her, and coincidentally their head of the Trade Law Section Two resigned this year, so that’s where Annie went."
The Thorne family relatives had decent jobs, with Quentin Thorne being a national vice-level official, there were also university professors and bureau chiefs of various departnts among them.
When everyone realized the Treaty and Law Departnt’s offer was extended before Quentin Thorne recognized her as his daughter, they also acknowledged Sienna must have acquired the chief position through her own abilities.
A relative sitting opposite Quentin Thorne asked at this point, "Annie, did you study in the United States before?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers