Chapter 335
Sebastian Evans hadn't even finished speaking when Alexander Laurent cut in.
"Old Lin, you've had too much to drink."
"They're still students. Their studies come first."
"Don't talk about these baseless things."
"It won't be good for anyone if this spreads."
Lin Jingsheng paused, suddenly realizing his mistake.
"Look at me, a few extra drinks and I start talking nonsense…"
"Students should focus on their studies."
"As for other matters… let nature take its course!"
He turned to attend to other guests.
Alexander remained standing there, his gaze calm.
"You shouldn't have said that earlier."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Does Professor Laurent have an opinion?"
"No parent wants to hear someone speak poorly of their child."
"Mr. Evans can do as he pleases."
"But next time before you speak, consider whether it might implicate others."
Sebastian frowned.
"You think I didn't consider Sophia Sullivan?"
"Was that consideration?" Alexander turned to look directly at him.
"Mr. Evans is a smart man. Some things don't need to be spelled out."
"Don't act so thoughtful."
"You're not the only one in this world who cares about Sophia Sullivan."
"I care about her more than you do."
"Fine. Since you care, don't put her in dangerous situations."
"Dangerous? It was just a sentence. No need to be so tense, Professor."
"Today it's a sentence. What about tomorrow?"
"People who are used to acting on impulse also act without considering consequences."
"The Lin family is magnanimous."
"If it were another family, or another person, what do you think it would bring her?"
Sebastian's expression faltered slightly, his gaze deepening.
"If you truly want what's best for her, you should consider every aspect."
Having said that, Alexander turned and left.
…
After eating cake, Sophia had cream on her hands.
Even after using a tissue, they still felt sticky.
She told Hannah Morse and went to the restroom.
She ran into Sebastian on her way out.
He handed her a bottle of mineral water.
"The cake is very sweet. Have some water."
During the dinner, Sebastian noticed she took one sip of her drink and never touched it again.
Clearly, she didn't like it.
Sophia was正好 thirsty and reached out to take it.
"Thank you."
The two walked together from the restroom back to the main courtyard.
They had to pass through a connecting corridor and make two turns.
The Lawrence family's courtyard was very large and complex.
Two courtyards, corridors connected to corridors, many similar small paths.
They obviously got lost.
Sophia looked at Sebastian.
He spread his hands.
"Don't look at me. I don't know the way either."
"Aren't you a relative of the Lawrence family?"
"So distant we're in different genealogy books."
Sophia was speechless.
"But my sense of direction is pretty good. Follow me and let's try."
Sebastian led Sophia through countless twists and turns until they arrived at a small courtyard.
The courtyard had a bamboo fence serving as an exhibition wall, hung with photos of Marcus Lawrence as a child.
From birth to full month, then first birthday, five years old, ten years old…
Sophia picked up one photo.
It showed Marcus just born, crying with snot and tears all over his face, wrinkled like a little monkey.
There were also several from when he was three years old.
A little boy the size of a radish, wearing a furry onesie and a girl's headband with two Teletubby-like antennae.
His nose and eyes were red, tears not yet dry from crying.
Ten years old…
"So fat?!" Sophia blurted out.
In the photo, Marcus had lost his childhood cuteness and was fat like a little black bear.
Not only fat, but also dark.
The fat on his face squeezed his eyes into two slits.
He wore a summer shirt and shorts, revealing stout and plump limbs.
Sophia cleared her throat and said sternly to Sebastian, "Don't look. It's not good to peek at privacy."
"Didn't you look too?"
"I did it unintentionally. I'm not looking now."
Sebastian said, "Isn't displaying it here meant for people to see?"
"Wow! Is this little chubby ball Marcus Lawrence?"
"How is he like an inflated balloon?"
Sophia: "...You're really mean."
Sebastian retorted, "You're not mean? Then stop laughing."
Sophia quickly pressed her lips together but still couldn't hold back.
Thinking of the usually disciplined Marcus, who avoided carbonated drinks, having such a sad history.
The corners of her mouth were harder to suppress than an AK.
No wonder he was so disciplined; he had suffered from being a chubby kid.
Sebastian saw her struggling to hold back and laughed too.
Suddenly—
"What's so funny?" Alexander's faint voice sounded behind them.
Sophia's smile vanished instantly.
"P-professor, why are you here?"
Sebastian turned to look at the newcomer.
Alexander's gaze swept over the two, lingering on Sophia's not yet retracted smiling face.
He paused, his tone slightly softer.
"Something good? Can you tell me?"
Before Sophia could speak, Sebastian spoke first.
"Sorry, this is between us... a secret~"
Alexander ignored him, only asking Sophia, "Is that so?"
Sophia rolled her eyes at Sebastian.
"What secret? You make it sound so exaggerated..."
"Professor, come look."
Alexander stepped forward, positioning himself between the two, separating someone.
Sebastian: "..."
Sophia pointed to a photo.
"Professor, guess who this is?"
Alexander glanced at it.
"Do you think Marcus Lawrence knows you're doing this?"
Speak of the devil.
Hannah: "Sophia, so you're here—"
"Marcus and I have been looking for you everywhere—"
"What are you all crowded together looking at? Let me see too..."
Then...
"HAHAHAHAHA..." After a burst of wild laughter, Hannah couldn't straighten up.
"Marcus, why didn't you tell me you used to be fat?"
"Even fatter than me! So huge!"
She gestured with her hands just how huge.
Marcus, who was a step too late to stop her: "..." Doomed!
…
Marcus led the way, and the group returned to the main courtyard.
Lin Jingsheng and Omelas Lihua were seeing guests off.
The elder Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence had left early after cutting the cake.
"Marcus is back?" Lin Jingsheng smiled and waved.
But...
Why did his son look so upset?
He didn't think too much of it.
"Arrange for the driver to take the classmates back..."
Sebastian: "No need. I'll take Sophia Sullivan."
Lin Jingsheng was stunned.
"You?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"MIT isn't on the way to your place, is it? Did I remember wrong?"
Sebastian: "..."
Alexander: "I'm on the way."
He took out his keys and said to Sophia, "Let's go."