CHAPTER 121

Nina glanced back at her, noticing the smile on her lips and the look of admiration in her eyes. She recognized that look-admiration, a desire to understand everything about him. She, too, wanted to be the

one who understood him the most.

“I know him a little,” Nina said casually. “So, what exactly do you want to know from me about him?”

Linda didn’t hide anything, confessing to her openly, “I want to know everything. The more I understand him, the less likely I’ll upset him.”

Nina asked again, “So, you think if you understand him well, don’t upset him, and make him satisfied with everything, he’ll like you more?”

Linda blushed in embarrassment. “Is it that obvious to you? Does Mr. York also notice that I might have a bit of a crush on him?”

Nina remained silent, noticing that Linda did not conceal her own ambitions.

“It’s just not right. He sees right through everything. If I try too hard to please him, will I seem desperate?” Linda pondered, wanting to become the one Mr. York admired the most. “I don’t come from a prestigious background, yet he doesn’t mind. Just being in the same space as him is good enough. If I want too much, it’s just greed. Just being able to steal a few glances at him is already satisfying.” But even so, that wasn’t her ultimate goal.

She looked to Nina, seeking an answer. “Nina, if I go to college, study hard, and make something of myself, disregarding my family background, will I be worthy of him?”

Her thoughts were bold, but they also reflected on Nina.

In a way, she and Linda were similar.

From Linda, Nina could see shades of her past self, striving tirelessly to pursue someone.

She didn’t judge Linda harshly and asked, “Why do you like Mr. York?”

Linda responded, “He’s been really good to me, letting me stay in a big house. Sure, he might seem cold on the outside, but he looks after me, takes me to the hospital and chats with me. He’s different from other men. He doesn’t have any ulterior motives towards me.”

To call Linda naive would be oversimplifying, as Nina herself wasn’t entirely pure, understanding how to take advantage of opportunities. And while Linda wasn’t entirely pure, she still could be swayed by small gestures of kindness.

“You’d better not harbor such

thoughts,” Nina said, putting aside her own small schemes and offering an advice as a woman who had walked a similar path before. “Just because he’s a bit nicer to you, you think he’s different. But in reality, it’s all the same. These are just small gestures on his part. Don’t read too much into it; he may never have given it a second thought. He’s not someone you can control.”

These words were meant for Linda, but they were also a reminder to herself.

Linda had been brimming with joy, only to be brought down to earth by Nina’s words. She thought Mr. York had been really good to her. No man had ever treated her this well before. But She also felt disheartened and insecure because of Nina’s words.

Nina didn’t say much more, fearing that saying too much might make Linda dislike her. Some things were best left unsaid.

Linda didn’t ask any more questions. Her enthusiasm had been extinguished, and she left the kitchen quietly.

Nina made some beef stew and prepared a glass of lemonade for Nash.

Nash had been quite hot-tempered lately, so it was a good opportunity to cool him down.

She brought a tray of the stew and lemonade to his study.

Nash was sitting calmly on the sofa. He recognized her but didn’t change

his expression, still as impasse Poet

ever, as if she owed him millions.

as

Nina placed the tray on the table, patiently saying, “Mr. York, I made some beef stew and iced lemonade for you.”

Nash noticed and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Your culinary skills seem to be improving.”

Nina replied, “Mr. York, you’ve been a bit hot-tempered lately. I thought you might want something to cool you down.”

Nash remained silent, neither rebuffing her nor acknowledging her.

Seeing that he was a bit more stable, Nina explained, “Linda wasn’t brought here by me to see you.”