By the time Nia Mitchell hung up the phone, Maxwell Peary's Tomato and Egg Noodles were already served in front of her. Seeing her about to eat the soggy noodles, Maxwell Peary reached out and took away her chopsticks.
"Let me make a fresh bowl for you." He stood up to go to the kitchen, but she stopped him.
"No need, I can eat this too, thank you." Her voice was a bit hoarse from crying.
Maxwell Peary simply nodded without insisting further. Seeing Nia with red eyes, his expression became somewhat unnatural.
"Cough! On the phone, you…"
"Huh?"
Nia Mitchell scratched her head. Just moments ago, she had been sitting right here on the phone. Not only had she failed to tell her father about what happened tonight, but she'd also claimed everything was fine. She'd even said the engagement went smoothly and that she would be getting her marriage certificate first thing tomorrow morning...
「The next day,」
Maxwell Peary was still in his white shirt and black trousers, sitting at the end of the long dining table, gracefully reading the newspaper.
There were two servings of Chinese breakfast on the table, with steaming Millet Porridge spreading a pleasant aroma.
Nia Mitchell rushed out of the bathroom, a pink toothbrush dangling from her mouth, her white fluffy slippers going TAP-TAP-TAP on the floor. Her mouth, full of white foamy bubbles, looked incredibly cute.
"Mmm...Millet Porridge…"
Maxwell Peary heard her, put down his newspaper, looked at Nia running out still in her pajamas, and frowned slightly.
"How impolite, coming out like this."
Nia rolled her eyes, gave a few embarrassed laughs with a mouthful of bubbles, and quickly returned to the bathroom.
One minute later—
"Millet Porridge! Steamed Dumplings! Crystal Shrimp Dumplings! Here I come!"
She plonked down in a chair, making a loud scraping noise against the white floor, but Nia didn't seem to care as she picked up her chopsticks.
"I didn't know you ate these things in the morning, Uncle Peary. I thought people like you always had coffee and sandwiches. That's not real food at all. I've always felt that people who eat those things are abusing their stomachs."
She deftly snagged a small Steamed Dumpling with her chopsticks, popping it into her mouth. It was so juicy and delicious; she felt utterly satisfied.
Seeing her eyes squinting in joy, Maxwell Peary shook his head helplessly. What does she mean by "people like you"? Her words create such a huge distance between them... he didn't like it.
Nia carefully observed Maxwell Peary, then tried to muster a smile, revealing two small white teeth.
"About what I said last night... you said you would consider... how... how is it?"
Maxwell Peary raised an eyebrow. He had to revise his opinion of Rabina Mitchell; she wasn't timid at all. She had actually proposed to him last night. Cough! Well, that wasn't really a proposal, was it?
"If I refuse, will you… not eat this breakfast?"
Nia bit her lip, her hand holding the chopsticks freezing. She looked at the adorable Crystal Shrimp Dumplings in front of her.
"Uncle Peary…"
Maxwell Peary responded with a smirk, "Since you're currently penniless, with nothing to your name but your household register, and furthermore, you were the one who proposed, I suppose I can reluctantly agree."
The man chuckled evilly, a faint grin on his face.
Nia Mitchell: ...!!!
"Uncle Peary, so you're willing to get the marriage certificate with me?"
Nia Mitchell's face lit up. Dad has never met Hendry Hampton, so he won't know if I marry Uncle Peary instead! This way, Dad won't be sad.
"Yes, I agree to your marriage proposal. Judging from your current expression, you are on the brink of tears with joy, aren't you?"