Chapter 19: She did, what?

Penny didn’t mean to eat the last bag of chocolate in the fridge last night. However, resolving an issue for over an hour while standing up and with her arms over the desk that was almost above her chest was tiring. She could still feel her arms ache.

Those chocolates were Slater’s, and she knew he was saving them for special occasions, but she ate them anyway.

Just as Penny prepared herself from Slater’s wrath, she saw everyone gazing down at her pajamas.

It was a printed duck pajama!

"Penny... it really is you. When I went to get some water last night, I saw you enter Uncle Haines’s study room." Nina’s meek voice snapped everyone back to their senses. "You should apologize to Uncle Haines because it seemed you deleted an important file from his computer. I know you’re new here, but you shouldn’t touch important stuff."

"Penny, look what you’ve done!" Slater hissed. "Dad, she should be grounded for an entire year! She’s only allowed to eat three times a day! No more snacks!"

The couple’s worry consistently increased because they knew they had to discipline Penny if she ruined Haines’s work.

To everyone’s surprise, Haines suddenly cheered.

"Penny, you are a godsend!" Haines rushed to her and tried to lift her happily. However, Penny was too heavy and big, he ended up falling on his knees.

Everyone: "???"

Penny blinked and blinked, tilting her head to the side. "Uncle Haines, are you okay?"

Did he just try to lift her like a baby? Even Jessa complained when Penny had to sit on Jessa’s lap for hours on her mahjong nights. She was only three at that time.

"Hehe. Yeah, I’m okay." Haines smiled proudly, although he felt like he mildly sprained his wrist. He was so happy he thought he could he could lift her like a baby.

"Haines?" Charles called because Haines seemed overjoyed instead of miffed. "What’s going on?"

This time, Haines couldn’t help but beam.

"She did it, Charles!"

"Did what?"

"Penny resolved the issues everyone had been stuck with for months!" Haines announced enthusiastically, his voice almost echoing in the dining room. His lips stretched from ear to ear, looking at Penny with eyes twinkling, as if he was almost certain he could retire early if she showed an interest in the company.

"You are a genius, Penny!" Haines cheered. "Did you really do it?!"

"Are you... are you sure!?" Charles gasped in surprise as the looks on everyone’s faces gradually changed.

Atlas and Hugo were curious, while Allison was relieved. Slater, on the other hand, was just utterly confused while Nina’s sly smirk slowly cracked.

SHE DID WHAT?

Charles briskly squatted in front of her with an expectant look. "Penny, you’re very smart! How did you know we’re having problems in the company?"

"Uncle Haines, did Penny really resolve an issue in the company?" Atlas couldn’t help but ask.

He heard that Haines and even his father had been stuck with this problem for months! How could a thirteen-year-old resolve a problem the adults couldn’t?

"That’s amazing," Hugo blurted out quietly, but Slater’s face turned sour.

"Really?" Slater looked doubtful. "There must be a misunderstanding here! How could she do that?!"

Nina bit her lips and darted her eyes between Penny and Haines. "Uncle Haines, if you’re trying to help her out because you know Penny will be in trouble, I’m sure Dad won’t —"

Nina flinched when the least expected person she thought would scold her suddenly spoke.

"What nonsense are you saying, Nina?" Atlas frowned, looking at her with displeasure. "Do you see Uncle Haines as that shallow? Although I still think there’s a misunderstanding, Uncle Haines wouldn’t lie to us just to protect Penny."

Atlas regarded his parents and even his Uncle Haines as highly esteemed.

"Atlas, that’s enough." Charles wasn’t pleased. "Nina only means well."

"I know, but she’s been here forever. She should know how to use her words carefully."

Slater pursed his lips but didn’t defend Nina. After all, their Uncle Haines was known for his work integrity. And even as a person, Haines was worthy of admiration and respect. What Nina was trying to say was a complete contrast to the children’s image of their uncle. They didn’t like it. It sounded like slander.

Nina hung her head low, her ears drooping. The sadness in her eyes slowly shone with spite.

This was the first time Atlas scolded her without gentleness and Slater didn’t even defend her like usual. Peeking up, all she saw was everyone shifting their attention at Penny. Although she couldn’t tell what her brothers thought, their expressions were less repelled.

"There’s no misunderstanding here," Haines clarified with conviction. "Penny is a genius -- she’s gifted! I will never mistake this problem since I’ve been facing it for the past months."

The couple and Haines looked at Penny with pride and joy. It was as if they were looking at their only daughter. The brothers didn’t say anything because of Haines’s resolute tone.

Nina couldn’t help but clasped her hands on her lap as a seed of jealousy grew inches in her heart.

While this was going on, Penny was simply relieved this wasn’t about the chocolates.

Now, on to the pressing matter.

Penny looked at the beaming Haines and the proud Charles and was about to deny it when Charles spoke.

"Penny, I know you’re very smart and you just saved us a lot of time and resources!"

Haines nodded. "When I saw the file when I woke up, I was stunned! I can’t believe it!"

"No, it wasn’t —"

"What do you want to eat, hmm?" Charles insisted. "I’ll give you everything you want!"

"No. I’ll invite a good friend of mine who is a chef!" Haines suggested. "She can ask him to make her anything she wants!"

Hearing this, Penny’s mouth began to water. She could already think of a wide range of dishes she wanted to try.

"Ahem!" Allison cleared her throat aloud, snapping her husband and Haines to reality. It’s been a while since she saw these two get this giddy. "I’m sure you two are excited, but Penny just woke up. Dearest Penny, are you hungry?"

’Goodness gracious. I thought I’d starve first before that chef arrives!’

"Yes!" Penny grinned and happily strode away from Haines and Charles, joining Allison for breakfast. She simply brushed off the two as she wasn’t good at compliments or receiving gratitude. She was hopeful she could keep this thing a secret, but Nina saw her.

While Penny joined the table without care, Haines and Charles looked at her and sighed.

Penny resolved an issue no one else could for months. Yet, while looking at her, they thought she was still a child who seemed unaware of how big of an achievement she had achieved. She didn’t even say a word about it.

What a truly delightful child.

The two men couldn’t help but laugh at themselves and joined the family for breakfast. This was a good day for them.