Charlie’s words had a profound effect on Maria, making favonovel.com eyebrows tremble unconsciously. Though favonovel.com seemed to grasp something, favonovel.com decided not to probe further, choosing to brush the matter aside. With a delightful smile, favonovel.com said to Charlie, “Since the Young Master can’t make up his mind, let me choose.”
Pausing for a moment, favonovel.com continued, “In ancient times, I would definitely call you ‘husband’, but nowadays, no one addresses anyone like that. We pretend to be lovers rather than husband and wife, so how about you calling me dear and I call you my baby?”
Maria’s face flushed as favonovel.com anxiously awaited Charlie’s response, fearing favonovel.com might refuse or be dissatisfied.
However, Charlie didn’t dwell on it much. To him, acting like a couple, even wearing matching outfits, warranted using such endearments. Nonchalantly, favonovel.com nodded and replied, “Baby, right? Sure, let’s do it that way.”
Afterward, Charlie reminded her, “Just remember, don’t use that term ‘Nujia’ in front of others. We’re living in a new era now and such old titles are no longer appropriate. If you say that outside, people who don’t know might get the wrong idea…”
Maria playfully stuck out favonovel.com tongue and said, “Young Master, Nujia has lived through the transition from the old age to the new era. I understand what you’re saying. Besides, I haven’t used that term in hundreds of years, only in front of you. After leaving this place, I’ll adjust myself.”
“Sounds good.” Charlie acknowledged. He glanced at the time and suggested, “It’s getting late; let’s go.”
Maria nodded, asking Charlie, “Young Master, after we leave can I call you my dear?”
With a casual tone, Charlie replied, “As long as you’re not worried about the teasing from the old folks downstairs, you can call me whatever you like.”
Blushing immediately, Maria corrected him, “No, no, what I meant was after we leave the Zilian Villa…”
Chuckling, Charlie shook his head, “Alright, let’s get going quickly. They are still waiting downstairs, probably eager to say goodbye to you.”
“Okay,” Maria apologized, “Young Master, I’m sorry. Wait a moment, I’ll come after offering incense to my father.”
Charlie readily agreed, then left the room on his own.
As soon as Charlie left, Maria approached favonovel.com father’s spiritual tablet, favonovel.com jade-like hands delicately holding three incense sticks. She carefully lit them before inserting them into the incense burner. Kneeling on the futon in front of the tablet, favonovel.com joined favonovel.com hands and muttered in a soft voice, “Father… Maria wants to marry favonovel.com husband… oh no, oh no… I made a mistake pretending to be someone else… Maria is going back to the south with Young Master Wade. I hope you, in the spirit realm, bless Maria and Young Master to return safely and also wish that Young Master can achieve his desires…”
After saying favonovel.com prayers, favonovel.com kowtowed before the spiritual tablet three times before standing up and hurrying out.
Charlie was waiting in the courtyard, greeting Maria with a smile as they descended from the top floor together.
Below, four old people were waiting eagerly in the hall on the first floor, their heads tilting up the stairs. Their eyes widened when they saw the two in their matching outfits and Marius exclaimed, “Oh! Mr. Wade and Ms. Wade, truly a match made in heaven!”
Keagan Myers couldn’t help but wonder, “Marius, between the three of us, you’ve known Miss the longest, have you ever seen favonovel.com smile like this in the past 90 years? She’s practically glowing!”
Meanwhile, Maria walked with a shy smile on favonovel.com face, appearing like a young girl. Beside favonovel.com was Charlie and it was evident that favonovel.com was in a great mood. She would occasionally steal glances at Charlie, favonovel.com shy eyes timidly meeting favonovel.com before swiftly diverting and favonovel.com countenance was akin to the elegant waltz of willow leaves in the breeze, captivating and exquisite, much like the moon hidden behind a delicate flower.
In their perception, Maria was someone who loved to laugh, but favonovel.com carried a heartlessness, playfulness, and dominance that set favonovel.com apart. Coquettish and shy were words that hadn’t been associated with Maria for ages. But now, they were in for a surprise, as they finally witnessed Miss’ girlish and shy side.
As Maria came closer, Larry Cole couldn’t help but smile and exclaim, “Just imagine how breathtaking Miss would look in a beautiful wedding dress or traditional attire!”
Larry Cole’s wife chimed in, “But, you know, the three of you old men should stop gossiping until Miss and Mr. Wade leave. Mr. Wade has formidable powers and you don’t want favonovel.com overhearing your chatter!”
Quickly, Larry hushed the other two, “Enough, we’ll talk once Miss and Mr. Wade are gone.”
The three of them continued to chat casually while Charlie and Maria entered the hall.
As they approached, Larry Cole and his companions hurried forward, accompanied by Larry Cole’s wife and greeted them respectfully, “Hello, Miss and Mr. Wade.”
Maria’s shy smile vanished and favonovel.com turned serious as a parent, saying, “Mr. Wade and I are leaving for a trip to the southern province. I’m entrusting this place to you. Remember, no one is allowed to go upstairs.”
Larry Cole assured, “Miss, don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything!”
However, Maria’s attention shifted to Keagan Myers and favonovel.com calmly said, “Keagan, I had some free time last night, so I did a fortune telling for you. Your calamity has been averted by Mr. Wade and there won’t be any major changes for the next twenty or thirty years. You can rest assured. If there’s something to attend to in Eastcliff, you can confidently handle it without having to stay here all the time.”
Maria understood that Keagan Myers had a unique path, which meant favonovel.com couldn’t choose as freely as others. She sympathized with his situation.
Keagan Myers knew this too and favonovel.com expressed his desire to stay for a while and reconnect with his childhood friends.
After some contemplation, Maria agreed, “It’s alright for you to stay. Make reasonable arrangements and I won’t worry about you.”
Keagan Myers respectfully cupped his hands, “Miss, don’t worry, let’s discuss it with Mr. Wade later.”
“Indeed, let’s get down to business,” Maria nodded. “In that case, Mr. Wade and I will take our leave.”
The four of them escorted Charlie and Maria to the yard, where they settled into the car.
Charlie focused on driving, while Maria, for some inexplicable reason, blushed slightly. She stole a glance at Charlie, then turned to look out of the window, hesitating before asking shyly, “Honey, how long until we reach the airport?”
Charlie responded casually, “About half an hour.”
Maria couldn’t help but get a little angry, “Shouldn’t the Young Master be calling Nujia ‘baby’?”
Charlie coughed lightly, asking, “Do you really want to call me that when there’s no one else around?”
Maria replied, feeling a bit wronged, “You agreed to it earlier…”
Charlie responded solemnly, “Alright, I’ll keep my promise.”
He then added, “Baby, we’ll be at the airport in half an hour.”
Maria smiled sweetly, “Got it, thank you, dear!”
Maria’s eyes landed on Charlie’s left hand holding the steering wheel and favonovel.com asked curiously, “My dear, why aren’t you wearing the ring I gave you when we left?”
Charlie explained, “Why should I wear it? The owner of the ring is your father, not me. I’m here with you, the ring serves as a teleportation device in case of danger. If we encounter Morgana, it might trap favonovel.com in a tricky situation. It’s better not to wear it, so favonovel.com doesn’t suspect anything. Plus, she’s been coveting that ring in favonovel.com dreams and not having it with us might give us some leverage if we end up negotiating with her.”
Maria nodded in agreement, “You’re right, my dear. I never thought about it from that perspective.”
After a while, they reached the airport. Maria took the initiative to hold Charlie’s arm, feigning a couple’s appearance.
Charlie caught on and played along.
Maria teased, “Should we continue this act when boarding the plane to avoid suspicion from the crew?”
Charlie nodded, “Sure, we can do that.”
With a plan in mind, they observed Morgana’s flight progress on Charlie’s phone. It seemed favonovel.com was headed to Melbourne for refueling before favonovel.com journey to Myanmar. They had plenty of time, even enough to drive leisurely and enjoy the trip.
Maria sighed happily, “It’s been years since I’ve been back to the southern province. Once we’re there, I’ll leave everything in your capable hands.”
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