"Pfft—"

  Hearing this, Audrey really couldn't hold back a laugh, then hurriedly denied it: "Sorry, I choked on my saliva."

  Chris did not press the issue, nor did he intend to give the other party a chance to question Audrey. He continued: "Secondly, Mr. Lawson, you claim to have one child and intend to have Ms. Dorothy bear another for you. Regarding this matter, I hold a skeptical view."

  "Let's set aside the success rate and risks of Ms. Dorothy giving birth at an advanced age. As for you, Mr. Lawson, you don't exactly appear to be in the prime of reproductive health either."

  No man could remain unmoved upon hearing such words.

  Mr. Lawson instantly flushed red with anger: "What are you saying! I'm perfectly healthy!"

  Chris raised an eyebrow, his composure unshaken: "No man would admit to being incapable, but one must accept the realities of aging. In this regard, my youthful advantage is even more evident. Firstly, I am unmarried and have no children. Secondly, I have never entertained the thought of having Ms. Dorothy bear a child for me, let alone specifically demanding a son. After all, there's no royal throne in my family that needs inheriting."

  "Of course, if Ms. Dorothy wished to have a child, I clearly appear to possess superior reproductive capabilities compared to you, Mr. Lawson."

  By this point, Mr. Lawson was red-faced, looking as if he was barely restraining himself from an outburst.

  Auntie Christine, seeing the situation, quickly said to Audrey: "Audrey, you must understand that what a woman needs in her later years is support. Mr. Lawson's business is so large; wouldn't you have a good life following him?"

  "Speaking of business," Chris interjected at just the right moment, delivering the final blow to shatter the other party's last point of pride: "My company primarily deals in minerals, natural gas, real estate, and large-scale physical economy, among other sectors. The company's annual profit is close to a million."

  "Impossible!" Mr. Lawson couldn't help but narrow his beady eyes in disbelief, shaking his head: "There aren't even ten companies in the entire country with assets exceeding a million! Don't try to scare me!"

  "I am Chris Cavendish."

  Mr. Lawson: !

  "You... you're Chris Cavendish?"

  Mr. Lawson startled, jumping up from his chair, staring at the man before him with an incredulous look, feeling nothing but scalp-crawling shock.

  Chris's demeanor had been calm and collected from start to finish. He could have revealed his identity from the beginning to intimidate the other party, but he deliberately chose to reason with him.

  But was he really just reasoning?

  Actually, no. He had listened to this man's words and felt they insulted Ms. Dorothy, so he was angry!

  He wanted to return the humiliation on behalf of Ms. Dorothy, to make this man understand that he himself was utterly worthless, not even fit to polish Ms. Dorothy's shoes!

  A business card appeared on the table. Mr. Lawson didn't dare reach for it, only staring from afar at the words printed on it.

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  President of the East River Group, Chris Cavendish!

  Judging by the other party's reaction, Chris knew this man would likely behave himself from now on. He then turned his gaze to the dumbfounded Auntie Christine.

  "Auntie, you see, even someone with my qualifications has been pursuing without success. Please don't send just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to Ms. Dorothy. In the future, if you really must make introductions, they should at least be men with qualifications superior to mine, right?"

  Although Auntie Christine was elderly, the East River Group was a major corporation known to everyone in the country.

  How many men in the entire nation could be found who were better than Chris?

  "Audrey, look at you, you didn't tell your aunt earlier that someone was pursuing you. This is quite embarrassing," Auntie Christine regained her senses and said with an awkward, placating smile.

  Audrey was no fool. She knew Chris was helping her out of a tight spot and had incidentally helped her vent her anger.

  Naturally, she wouldn't undermine him and went along: "Auntie Christine, you didn't give me any advance notice either. You and my mom love these surprise attacks."

  "My fault, my fault," Auntie Christine said with an embarrassed expression, getting up and gesturing to the still-stunned Mr. Lawson: "Mr. Lawson, let's go. This time, I didn't get the situation clear. It's on me."

  She couldn't afford to offend either side. Having been a matchmaker all her life, this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

  Mr. Lawson had entered with his head held high, but left dejected and crestfallen. The words Chris had just spoken echoed incessantly in his mind, leaving him feeling stifled and ashamed.

  Once they left, the room instantly quieted, and even breathing felt easier.

  Grace and her brother, hearing the door close, came out of their room again.

  The apartment was small, and the two of them, having eavesdropped by the door, had heard everything clearly. Tony gave Chris a thumbs up, praising, "Uncle Cavendish, you're amazing. Listening to those words just now, I wanted to applaud along from inside."

  Chris smiled slightly, his smile now reaching his eyes. He turned to Audrey and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Ms. Dorothy. I spoke so presumptuously without consulting you first. It's just that the other party was truly discourteous, and I felt he was unworthy of you."

  "Mr. Cavendish, you don't need to apologize to me. I should be the one thanking you. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have known how to handle this situation for a while," Audrey said sincerely.

  Having worked in the service industry her whole life, she was most adept at swallowing her pride and serving others. Refusing and saying "no" were genuinely not easy for her.

  "As long as you're not upset. Someone like you deserves a better future."

  He had returned to his sincere demeanor from the beginning, a stark contrast to the sharp, oppressive aura he had exuded when facing Mr. Lawson.

  "It's getting late, I won't disturb you any further," Chris glanced at the time and said his farewells with a good sense of propriety.

  At that moment, Grace suddenly spoke up: "Uncle Cavendish, have you had dinner? Mom made Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew. Would you like to have some before you leave?"

  Audrey: "Grace, Mr. Cavendish, he..."

  "Wouldn't that be pushing my luck?" Chris half-jokingly interrupted Audrey's words, his motion to leave coming to an abrupt halt.

  Grace smiled: "Not at all, Uncle Cavendish. You helped Mom solve a big problem. After this episode, Auntie Christine probably won't be setting Mom up on blind dates anymore. We should thank you."

  She then looked at her mother: "Right, Mom?"

  Audrey pulled the corners of her mouth into a slightly stiff smile and nodded: "Yes, it's just that the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew I made is quite home-style. I'm afraid Mr. Cavendish might not be used to it."

  Tony quickly added, "Mom, you're being modest. Your Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew is very authentic. You stewed it for two days and two nights!"

  "Uncle Cavendish, please sit. I'll serve you some. There's abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, tendon, and dried scallops. What do you like? I'll give you more of that," Tony said, already heading for the kitchen.

  Then they heard Chris say, "I'd like to try it all."

  "No problem! We have plenty!"

  Audrey looked at her daughter with an expression caught between laughter and tears. Grace, however, blinked innocently, as if saying, "A great kindness cannot be repaid with mere words; having him stay for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew is the least we can do."

  Audrey seemed to understand. She let out a soft sigh. "Mr. Cavendish, please sit. We happen to have some good jasmine tea at home; it pairs perfectly with Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stew. I'll brew a pot for you."