Chapter 363: Active

"Second Master—" Butler Jen halted, looking around the empty living area. "Second Master Hugo? Where did he go? Did he go to bed without drinking some soup?"

Normally, whenever Hugo would come home after having some drinks with his friends, he would want to drink some hot soup. But he was not here. Deep lines appeared between Butler Jen’s brows before he heard the door creak open from the outside.

"I’m home..." Slater announced lazily, lifting his gaze to Butler Jen. The latter was already holding a tray with a bowl of soup on it. The corner of Slater’s lips hooked up, glancing at the steam rising from the bowl.

His heart felt warm, assuming Butler Jen prepared him hot soup the moment he found out he was home. Surely, he was Butler Jen’s favorite.

"Butler Jen, you didn’t have to prepare me hot soup," he said as he approached Butler Jen. "Though I appreciate it. What else can I do? You always stay up for me, Butler Jen, now I feel bad. Don’t worry, I’ll start going home early from now on."

Slater stopped in front of Butler Jen, smiling appreciatively at him, holding the other end of the tray. "I’m on a diet, but I’ll eat for you, Butler Jen."

"..." Butler Jen offered a short smile, letting go of the tray and watching Slater bring it to the coffee table. He didn’t say more, knowing the truth might hurt Slater’s fragile heart. ’Moreover, Second Master Hugo suddenly disappeared. I didn’t think he was that drunk, though.’

Butler Jen looked back at the entrance, only to arch a brow when he sensed a gaze from above. Looking up, he furrowed his brows.

There was no one.

’Am I sleepy so I’m seeing things?’ he wondered, thinking of the time. ’Well, it’s already past my bedtime.’

But with Slater eating his soup with a content heart, Butler Jen smiled kindly and slowly sat on the couch across from him.

"Third Master Slater, how was your day?" asked Butler Jen, wanting to indulge Slater since the latter was a very hardworking man.

Slater glanced up at Butler Jen, and his face brightened up. "Not good, Butler Jen! A lot of things happened today starting with the first endorsement photoshoot! The photographer’s assistant messed things up, and..."

With Butler Jen asking about his day, Slater didn’t waste a second detailing every second that happened throughout his day. Butler Jen kept his lips pressed, realizing why the other young masters and Penny never asked Slater about his day. If anything, they avoided that question, especially Atlas.

While Butler Jen and Slater idled in the living area, Penny on the second floor slowly peeked over the railing. Her face soured, thinking that it would take a while for Slater to finish rambling on and on.

Meow.

Penny gazed down at her cat as it purred faintly. "Shh," she hushed with her index finger in front of her lips. "Quiet, Chunchun. If they find out we’re sneaking out, they’ll drag me back here."

Chunchun tilted its head while staring at the pinkish face of her mother. ’But Mom, you’re not thirteen anymore.’ But it seemed to Penny right now, she was a kid.

Who would have thought that when Penny was drunk, she would forget about the time and year?

While Penny was thinking of a Plan B she hadn’t thought of, she sensed an approaching figure. She perked up and panicked before she swiftly hid in the dark corner, crawling under the small round table in the mezzanine.

"My goodness, Charles..." Soon, Allison’s soft voice was heard. "It’s already late. Why do you suddenly want to take a walk?"

Charles sighed while dragging his feet. "Honey, I can’t sleep for some reason. You shouldn’t have come with me if you’re already sleepy."

"How can I not?" She was holding his arm, shaking her head. "If I don’t come with you, you’ll disturb Haines."

"Ali, my honey, I feel like I should get jealous of Haines."

Allison looked at him with slight dismay. "You don’t have to. There are plenty more options."

"This can’t be right." Charles stopped right in front of where Penny was hiding.

Penny pursed her lips and slowly covered Chunchun’s face, hoping her cat wouldn’t purr right this second. She stared at the pair of legs in front of her, knowing her parents were facing each other.

Of all the places they would stop, why right in front of her hiding place?

"Allison, my dear, please tell me the truth," Charles dramatically expressed, holding his wife’s shoulders. "Do you not love me anymore?"

Penny and Chunchun: "Please not here!"

Allison sighed, looking her husband straight in the eye. "Charles, you know my love for you will never change. Though it is upsetting that you often question that lately."

"You know I am growing old," he sighed dramatically. "And my performance is not the same anymore."

The second Penny heard that, she almost threw up all the drinks and food she had eaten tonight. Instead of covering Chunchun to stop it from purring, she covered her mouth to stop herself from throwing a huge fit.

"Oh, Charles." Allison’s eyes softened, smiling beautifully. "You’re growing old, but so am I. It’s not like before, but what’s important is that our hearts and our love never aged."

’Please talk somewhere else!’ Penny mentally screamed in distress, not sure if she was growing sober or even more drunk and dizzy. ’I love you, and I know how I was made, but please... I don’t want to see the reenactment!’

"Allison..."

"Charles..."

The couple called each other lovingly before Penny heard some brief smooching noises. Penny’s face drained of color, staring at the two pairs of legs before her in horror. Chunchun, who opened its mouth to purr, glanced at Penny and stopped.

Chunchun’s poor mother was already horrified at the sound assaulting her ears. Chunchun wanted to give her some slack.

"Hehe." After a while, Charles’s devious chuckle was heard. "Ali, I don’t think a night walk is what we need right now."

Allison giggled. "Let’s go back to our bedroom?"

"Hehe. Let’s go."

Having said that, Charles and Allison held each other’s hands and walked back to where they came from. Penny, on the other hand, stayed frozen in the same spot.

’My mom...’ she thought. ’... she can’t get pregnant anymore, can she?’