After becoming unemployed, Audrey suddenly found herself with a great deal of free time. Having been busy for half her life, she naturally felt very unaccustomed to it.

  Fortunately, her daughter was by her side during this period, often taking her out for walks, so the days didn't feel dull at all.

  She also finally had the time to cook for her daughter some of the delicious dishes she had always wanted to make but never had the chance to before.

  Like roast goose.

  And soy sauce chicken, among other things.

  That day, the mother and daughter had just returned from shopping. Grace had bought her mother a pile of new jewelry—some pure gold, some platinum, and some set with diamonds.

  Looking at the stacks of shopping bags, Audrey felt happy but also thought it was too much.

  "This much? If I hadn't told you to stop, I think you would have cleared out the entire counter," Audrey said, somewhat helplessly.

  Grace raised an eyebrow, unconcerned. "Is it a lot? It doesn't seem like much. You can just wear them on different days. I never saw you wear much jewelry before."

  "Company rules didn't allow wearing jewelry at work. It could easily snag the bedding or guests' clothes."

  "Well, now you're not working, so it's the perfect time to wear them."

  Grace knew her mother's company did have that rule. But what she knew even better was that her mother had never owned any proper jewelry; she simply couldn't bring herself to spend money on such external things. Even the clothes in her closet were styles Grace remembered her wearing since she was a child.

  So over the past few days, she had completely refilled her mother's wardrobe.

  Audrey naturally understood her daughter's filial intentions, so she didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm. When her daughter bought things for her, she accepted them. But this really was an excessive amount.

  "Grace, should I make you some 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew'?" Audrey suddenly suggested, looking at her daughter.

  'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew' ---- It is an elaborate, slow-braised soup or stew, traditionally prepared and served in a large ceramic jar or pottery urn.

  Grace was taken aback, then promptly refused. "Mom, you should really rest! How can you be like this? As soon as you're not working, it seems you want to bury yourself in the kitchen every day—making barbecued meats, soy sauce chicken, and now you want to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? That's far too much trouble!"

  Audrey smiled gently. "It's because you're home. Once you go back to school, you won't be able to eat it even if you want to."

  Grace chuckled. "I'll be back for the New Year. In at most half a year, I'll bring you to Aethelburg. Then you can make whatever you want. The kitchen in the new house is enormous."

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  "About going to Aethelburg... I haven't really made up my mind yet."

  Hearing this, Grace was stunned. "What's wrong, Mom? Don't you want to go?"

  Audrey let out a soft sigh. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just... it's an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. I'm afraid I won't get used to it."

  "Mom," Grace took her mother's hand, comforting her. "Chloe and I are both in Aethelburg. Tony will also try to get into a university there. Our whole family being together is what's most important."

  "The other day I asked Tony where he wanted to go to university. Guess what he said?"

  Audrey replied, "I asked him too. He said he wanted to go to Novastra University."

  Grace said, "But Tony's grades are good enough to get into any top university in the country. He said the reason he's considering Novastra University is that he's afraid you'll be left alone in Novastra. He's worried you won't have anyone around you then."

  "He said that?"

  Audrey looked shocked, her heart instantly filled with a complex mix of emotions.

  Her son was always cheerful and joking all day; she never expected him to be so thoughtful.

  Grace nodded, looking at her mother seriously. "It's not just Tony. If you really stayed alone in Novastra, Chloe and I wouldn't feel at ease either."

  Audrey nodded with a conflicted expression, finally saying, "I'm not saying I won't go. I'm just a little apprehensive. But you're right. Our whole family being together is what's most important."

  Hearing her mother say this, Grace finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "When the time comes, I'll figure out a way to get Auntie and Uncle settled there, too. With them around, you'll feel much more secure."

  Upon hearing this, Audrey pursed her lips. "Your aunt might not necessarily listen to you. The business at her and your uncle's shop is getting better every day. I'm afraid she won't be willing to leave it."

  "There are always more solutions than problems. Don't worry, Mom."

  Indeed, there are always more solutions than problems. That day at the restaurant, the only trace Audrey left behind was her image on the video surveillance footage. Beyond that, there was no other useful information.

  But Chris used his connections. From the surveillance footage, he found the scene of them getting out of the car. Then, by tracing the license plate number in reverse, he tracked down the location where they had gotten into the car.

  Next, from surveillance cameras near the pickup point, he found footage of them entering and leaving the Waterside Sanctuary private spa club—and this club operated on a strict private membership system.

  Finally, from this establishment's member payment records, based on the time they left, he managed to locate Audrey's information!

  "Robert, first go and contact the other party. After getting the address, arrange a time with them. I will go in person to express my thanks."

  Chris handed the information obtained through his friend to Robert.

  Robert took the information and looked at it for a long moment. Especially when he saw the age listed, a look of hesitation appeared on his face.

  Seeing this, Chris frowned. "Is there a problem?"

  Robert looked up and reported honestly, "President, it says here she's 44 years old. But I remember that lady didn't look that old at all. She seemed to be around your age."

  Chris is 40 this year.

  "Can't someone look younger than their actual age?"

  Robert quickly nodded. "The President makes a good point. The environment and climate in Novastra really are good for preserving youth. I'll go check your upcoming schedule and then coordinate a time with the other party."

  Robert turned to leave but was stopped by Chris, who said softly, "Don't check my schedule. Prioritize this matter above everything else. Adjust my time based on the other party's availability."

  Robert hesitated, as if he wanted to say more. "But we still have upcoming meetings with Chairman Scott of Brilliant Group and the Construction Steel Group..."

  Before he could finish, Chris forcefully interrupted. "Make them wait!"

  "Yes."

  Not daring to say another word, Robert quickly retreated.

  Audrey had almost completely forgotten about the incident, so receiving Robert's call came as a great surprise.

  She never expected the other party to actually track down her information and phone number.

  "Ms. Dorothy, I am truly sorry. I know investigating your information privately is very presumptuous behavior. But our President was also extremely eager to find you. He sincerely hopes to thank you in person. We beg you to please give us this opportunity."

  Robert's words were carefully chosen. He first expressed an apology, then gave the reason, and finally stated the purpose.

  His attitude was also very sincere.

  However, Audrey's first reaction was still to refuse. "You really are too polite. I have already received your gratitude. There's really no need for you to trouble yourselves to make a special trip just for this."

  Hearing this, Robert gave a somewhat apologetic laugh. "Ms. Dorothy, this matter is extremely important to our President. You saved his life; that in itself is no small matter. The fact that your information was found by our President is proof enough of how determined he is about this."

  "And to be completely honest with you, let me be frank. Knowing the President as I do, even if you don't give me your address today, he will still try every possible means to find you. Would you have the heart to let him go through all that trouble again?"

  "I promise you, we just want to thank you face-to-face. Half an hour at most. We absolutely will not cause you any trouble or disturb your life."

  Although Audrey felt somewhat helpless upon hearing this, she also sensed the other party's sincerity and persistence.

  In the end, she couldn't help but laugh and cry as she nodded in agreement. "Alright then."