Caryn Zachmann, being younger, was also more impatient. She couldn’t stand listening to her father and grandfather talk about the current affairs of Beijing and didn’t care for aged preferences like green tea. In less than half an hour, she checked her phone incessantly and kept an eye on the ti, clearly struggling to sit through the older generation’s chatter without openly asking to leave.
Celine Tucker noticed her restless fidgeting and, lifting her eyelids, seemingly offhandedly ntioned, "Caryn, didn’t you say Professor Adelle needed to see you at school later?"
...
Caryn abruptly looked up, eting her calm gaze. She imdiately caught on to her opinion and was about to conveniently find an excuse to get away.
But just then, her phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID was Lincoln Hoffman, Caryn felt a headache coming on. She furrowed her brows, stood up to take the call in a corner, covering the receiver with her hand and lowering her voice, "Mr. Hoffman, didn’t I tell you that I haven’t t with Amadeus yet? The matter concerning Phoebe Hoffman has to wait until I have a chance to ntion it to him."
"It’s not about that."
"Then what is it?"
"Is Mr. Zachmann at ho?"
Looking for her grandfather?
Caryn furrowed her brows, glanced at her parents and grandfather, and humd a confirmation, "He’s at ho."
"That’s good. Please tell Mr. Zachmann that I’ll co to visit him shortly."
"Mr. Hoff..." Before Caryn could ask what it was about, the other end had already hung up. Listening to the dial tone for a long ti, she returned to her seat, deep in thought.
Just then, the servant brought in the delicate tea refreshnts.
Celine Tucker picked up a soft, delicious matcha pastry and, from the corner of her eye, saw Caryn’s return. She asked her casually, "Caryn, who called you that you had to step aside to talk?"
A bit irritated, Caryn pulled out a chair and replied, "Lincoln Hoffman, Mr. Hoffman."
Although the Hoffman Family only counted as a minor clan in Beijing, Lincoln Hoffman himself was an individual many families sought to curry favor with, and he had always maintained good relations with their family. Hearing that it was Lincoln Hoffman who had called, Celine put down the pastry she had picked up, looked at Caryn with confusion, and asked, "Him? What did he want?"
"It’s probably about Phoebe Hoffman’s issue," Caryn said, unsure herself. "Phoebe was recently expelled from The Ninth Institute. He heard I’m close to Amadeus and ca to to ask for help on Phoebe’s behalf."
Talking about this, she smiled faintly, displaying her pride and arrogance, "Mom, you know, in their ’little circle,’ I’m the one who has a say. Others can’t even get in, let alone speak up for Phoebe. He probably only had to turn to for help."
Celine certainly knew that her daughter got along well with figures like Sadam Vinson and Amadeus Yancey, mbers of the crè de la crè youth circle of Beijing. Since Caryn could mingle with the likes of Sadam and his friends, it reflected well on her, so she never obstructed.
After such an explanation, Celine roughly understood the situation and didn’t elaborate further. Her advice was indifferent, "Best let them handle their own affairs, and try not to worry too much about others’ business, lest Mr. Vinson and the others find you ddleso."
"I know." Caryn nodded, taking her advice to heart, but she didn’t ntion how she had approached Sadam Vinson and how he hadn’t given her any "face," even suggesting that if she couldn’t pull her weight with Amadeus, it was not her place to intervene.
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