Chapter 0158
Seeing that Ethan remained silent, Shihua took the initiative, “Thank you, Uncle Lin, we will work hard and live well.”
The elders were quite taken with such a considerate and sensible girl, nodding in approval.
Mason felt a swell of pride at his old friends’ fondness for Shihua. As for Shihua? Not hearing any objection from Ethan, fireworks of elation burst within her. She thought to herself, surely he wasn’t resistant to the idea.
She was convinced! The moment Grant Uncle spoke up, Ethan would never disagree.
That Madison was just a temporary consolation for his loneliness, surely not someone to seriously consider as a wife.
Lost in her daydreams of a blissful life with Ethan, she was jolted back to reality by his abrupt question to Uncle Lin, “Well-matched? I wonder, sir, what basis do you have for such a claim?”
His blunt and unexpected inquiry caught everyone off guard.
Uncle Lin, caught by surprise, looked back and forth between the young man and woman before frowning, “You aren’t a couple…?”
“No.”
Ethan set down his chopsticks, blatantly ignoring Mason’s warning glare, “Shihua and I are merely colleagues. To put it more strictly, she is my subordinate. So, I’m puzzled about this talk of being well- matched. Perhaps the uncles can enlighten me?”
It was evident he was pushing the limits of maintaining appearances.
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The old men exchanged glances, hastily muttering, “No, no, no.”
“Then it’s our misunderstanding, we..”
Mason interjected abruptly, “Ethan, stop being petulant. Shihua is a good girl, you work in the same field, you’ve known each other since childhood. What’s with this immaturity over a little discord?”
Η
Ethan couldn’t help but laugh, “Where’s this discord coming from?”
His piercing gaze swept over to Shihua, “So, this dinner was your idea?
Shihua grew anxious, shaking her head vehemently, “No, not me!”
How could he refuse her?
Their relationship was the best it had ever been. When those rumors circula
company, he hadn’t denied them.
ad Madison spoken ill of her again?
vanished from Shihua’s face, replaced by embarrassment
nease.
Ethan had no intention of sparing her feelings or being chivalrous.
His gaze was sharp as a blade, “If it wasn’t your idea, why are you seated here?”
Confronted with Ethan’s unyielding questioning, everyone, including Shihua, fell silent, heads bowed, trying to extricate themselves from the awkward situation.
If Ethan had been some ordinary rich kid, the elders might have felt emboldened to speak up. But against Ethan, they dared not utter a word.
Even the bystanders felt uncomfortable, wishing they could vanish.
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Mason frowned, “Ethan, what is this attitude? I invited Shihua here. You’re no longer young; it’s time to settle down.”
Ethan’s response was nonexistent.
He just looked at Shihua.
He had given her enough face regarding the rumors that had spread days ago, sparing her from too much embarrassment.
Sadly, nowadays, no one seemed to know restraint.
Shihua felt like she was on pins and needles, aware that without a reasonable explanation, Ethan wouldn’t let this go easily.
Clutching her chopsticks tightly, she took a deep breath and, in front of everyone, announced, “We have been childhood sweethearts with shared interests. We should heed Uncle’s advice and get married this year.”
even dared to wrap her arm around Ethan’s, assuming posture.
oked at Ethan with pleading eyes, hoping he’d give her some
After all, these were prominent businessmen of Slandon Harbor. If word got out, she might struggle to maintain her social standing.
Shihua had thought Ethan would at least play along to some extent, but to her shock…
Ethan disentangled her arm from his without a care, all warmth gone from his face, “Shihua, keep some dignity for yourself. I don’t want to embarrass everyone.”
His words were a slap in Shihua’s face.
Her complexion paled instantly, overwhelmed by the stares of the
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guests, feeling utterly mortified.
Perhaps out of overwhelming emotion or sheer impulsiveness, Shihua lost her composure.
“Ethan! It’s just an argument. There’s no need for this, right? Uncles are here, at least finish the meal, okay?”
Mason, witnessing Ethan’s lack of courtesy and Shihua’s desperate plea, was even more convinced Ethan was the one being unreasonable.
“Ethan, will you ever be done?”
Mason’s temper flared, “Since it’s all out in the open, let me tell you, I don’t approve of the rumors with that female pilot from your company. I don’t mind a man having flings, but serious relationships
f the question. And I heard she’s divorced-second-hand How could you possibly…”
on.”
The two syllables, uttered coldly, enveloped the dining table with a chilling silence.
Mason’s old friends stood up at once, “Old Jiang, we just remembered an unfinished matter, we must leave first. We’ll invite you to our place next time.”
Before Mason could respond, they had hastily departed.
In a blink, the dining room was left with only a few.
Ethan remained motionless.
He was tired of arguing with Mason, with their irreconcilable views, any communication was futile.
His cold gaze returned to Shihua, indifferent as if she were a stranger.
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“We need to discuss family matters now. Would you care to excuse yourself?”
Shihua felt the sting of being dismissed so publicly, her
embarrassment acute.
“Ethan!” Mason rose, slamming his hand on the table.
Ethan didn’t even spare him a glance.
“If you don’t leave now, I’ll assume you’re trying to use him, to force al marriage alliance with me.” Ethan pointed a finger at Mason, who had risen from his seat, without turning his head.
Shihua’s complexion turned unsightly, but retreating now might mean losing everything.
After a few tense seconds, Shihua gritted her teeth, “Only I am the most suitable for you. Why won’t you listen to your elders?”
Ethan suddenly laughed, regarding Shihua with a stranger’s detachment.
Her heart sank.
Slowly rising to his feet, buttoning his suit, Ethan walked out, ignoring Mason’s shouting.
“From now on, I won’t return to this house. Unless one day you’re gone, I might symbolically come to send you off.”
Stepping outside, he dialed the HR department, “Tomorrow, terminate Shihua’s employment.”
Shihua followed him out, overhearing his instruction. Panic surged through her as she called out, “Ethan!”
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