Chapter 323: I’m going on a date

"Good morning!" Penny’s voice rang in the dining room as she skipped in.

Everyone in the dining room glanced at the entrance where she was coming in.

"Someone’s in a good mood," Atlas pointed out before sipping his coffee.

"Penny, did something happen?" Charles, who was also enjoying his coffee, followed his daughter’s figure with his gaze. "My daughter is..."

"Glowing," Hugo finished his father’s remark, eyes on Penny. "Penny, you are glowing."

Penny paused as she dragged her chair back, trying to fix the smile on her face but failing. At the same time, Allison returned with a tray in her hand.

"Oh, good morning, Penny..." Allison trailed off as her brows slightly knitted while she smiled. "Did you have a good night?"

Just yesterday, Allison had been very worried about her daughter because of her boy problems. Although Charles was openly against it, he eventually shut up under Jessa and Allison’s deadly gazes. They stayed in the restaurant a bit longer, after all, discussing Penny’s crush and how innocent she seemed.

They thought if it continued, it would dishearten her. But it seemed they were overly worried for nothing.

Penny smiled at her. "I had a good night," was all she said, but her brothers and father looked at her suspiciously.

"Good morning." Just then, Haines’s voice was heard in the dining room. When he stepped in, he noticed the strange atmosphere. It didn’t feel like there was a problem they were discussing, but something was slightly different.

Haines carefully walked over to his usual seat, his eyes glossing over everyone. When his eyes landed on Penny, he furrowed his brows.

"What’s wrong with you, Penny?" he asked, noticing that there was something different about her.

"That’s what we’re asking," Hugo snapped, his eyes on Haines as the latter dragged the chair back. "She’s glowing, isn’t she?"

Haines looked at Penny again and nodded. "She is, indeed, glowing. Did something happen?"

"Well..." Penny stopped.

"I think it’s me," Atlas remarked, earning everyone’s attention. "I resolved one of the issues Penny was having."

Hugo scrunched up his nose. "I doubt that’s the reason." He then shifted his eyes back to her. "In my eyes, it’s something else."

Penny was an overachiever. It wasn’t like she was arrogant, but with all the achievements she had earned since she was a kid, achieving something as an adult was something Penny rarely celebrated. If not for her family and friends, Penny wouldn’t even recognize or celebrate her accomplishments.

"Penny, seriously, is everything okay?" Hugo asked, seriously this time. For some reason, he felt a little nervous. "I know this is not a problem, but it’s a little worrisome... for some reason."

Penny pursed her lips and scanned everyone’s faces. Aside from Hugo, everyone was using the waiting time to drink their coffee or eat some bread. She bit her bottom lip before her eyes fell on her mother. Allison carried this encouraging look, as if it was alright if Penny didn’t want to tell them — nothing would change.

"Ahem!" Penny cleared her throat and smiled at everyone. "I’m going on a date."

As soon as those words rolled off her tongue, Atlas almost choked on his coffee. Charles spat out a bit of his while Haines spilled his coffee on the table. Hugo, on the other hand, blinked a few times before his eyes went wide.

"What!?"

The mansion shook as their voices rang out in surprise, making even those servants in the kitchen and doing some morning chores flinch. As for Penny, she covered her ears as if her body already knew what to expect.

"Penny, what did you say?" Hugo gasped while Atlas looked at her in surprise.

"You’re getting married?" Fortunately, everyone was too shocked by Penny’s confession, and Atlas’s inquiry easily slipped by.

Charles’s face turned red as he looked at his princess. "Penny, what?!"

"You’re going on a date?" Haines asked in disbelief, a look of disapproval plastered on his face. "Don’t you have a boyfriend?"

When Haines said that, Atlas, Charles, and Hugo cast Haines a deathly look.

"What did you say?" asked Charles.

Atlas also quickly expressed his sentiments. "Uncle, didn’t you say you wouldn’t let her have a boyfriend as long as she’s under your care?"

"Uncle, are you keeping secrets from us now?" Hugo remarked.

"Well, I thought she had a boyfriend when she moved out," explained Haines, feeling his life was in danger. "I didn’t do anything."

"Uncle Haines, Dean isn’t my boyfriend, okay?" Penny sighed, earning everyone’s attention again. "I don’t know what made you think he’s my boyfriend. He’s not even my friend, let alone a boyfriend."

"Penny." Unlike the men in the house, Allison smiled at Penny proudly. "Is it your crush?"

"Mhm." Penny nodded, smiling from ear to ear at her mother. "He asked me out last night."

"Oh, baby." Allison couldn’t help but get up from her spot and sit beside Penny. She clasped her daughter’s hand and stroked her hair gently. Her eyes twinkled softly, assessing how beautiful her daughter was.

As mentioned, Allison was worried about Penny last night. However, seeing her daughter glowing so early in the morning, she couldn’t help but have mixed emotions.

"Penny—"

"Whatever you have to say, Charles, keep it," said Allison without casting her husband a look, eyes still on Penny. "Is he going to pick you up today?"

Penny nodded. "I don’t know where we are going, though."

"Then, should I help you out with your dress or your look?"

"Well, I might need your opinion." Penny couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. ’Although he won’t see me, I still want to look pretty.’

"Aww..." Allison couldn’t help but tear up. "Then, I’ll help. Don’t worry about your dad and your brothers. If any of them say another word, they’re going to have to go back to their own places."

"Honey, but I live here..." Charles trailed off when his wife cast him a fatal glare.

Penny chuckled, seeing that her mother picked up some of Jessa’s intimidation. But she was glad Allison was here. Well, Penny wouldn’t even announce this if Allison wasn’t here, knowing her brothers and father would cause a huge fuss about it.

"Thanks, Mama," her voice sounded adorable.

"What’s going on here?" Just then, Slater’s voice entered the dining room. He darted his weary eyes at everyone, only to squint when he saw the apparent two different moods in the dining area: a gloomy one on his brothers’ and father’s side, and a twinkling air around Penny and his mother.

"Am I missing out on something?" he asked, but he was ignored... completely.

Only when Penny and Allison were preparing for Penny’s date did Slater find out about this abomination.