Legend of Dragon Son-in-law
Chapter 1444: 1444: The First Cup of Milk Tea in Autumn

Chapter 1444: Chapter 1444: The First Cup of Milk Tea in Autumn

“Jorvik Reed, you’re back?”

Upon hearing the door open, Merrill Caldwell quickly jumped off the bed, excitement lighting up her face.

Perhaps thinking she had been a bit too forward, she feigned a serious demeanor, lowered her head, and nervously pinched the hem of her clothing. Quietly, she explained, “I thought about thanking you personally, so I came here without invitation. But after waiting for a while, you still didn’t come back. I planned to rest a bit, but I didn’t expect I’d fall asleep…”

Merrill Caldwell was mortified!

Her blush extended all the way to the tips of her ears.

She actually fell asleep.

How embarrassing!

“It’s fine. Besides, this isn’t even my home,” Julius Reed reflected; he had been too negligent.

Having a stranger lying in his room—he should have been aware of it while standing outside the door.

But his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Mont and the imperial bloodline, to the point where the presence of a living person in his bed escaped his senses completely.

“But it’s the middle of the night—perhaps you should return to your own room,” Julius Reed said helplessly.

At times, he genuinely disliked his handsome face.

Everywhere he went, it brought trouble.

Women fought over him out of jealousy, while men envied him with spite.

And jealousy—it turns people into monsters.

The very root of all evil!

From Merrill Caldwell’s infatuated expression, he deduced a hint of trouble.

Most likely, this little girl’s heart was fluttering without even realizing it herself.

But he could understand.

After all, which woman wouldn’t fall for him upon meeting him?

If there had to be one exception, perhaps Jennifer Lopez was it.

But Jennifer Lopez was dead.

When Julius Reed bluntly asked her to leave, Merrill Caldwell looked up with disappointment, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she’d suffered a grave injustice.

“Sob…”

Covering her face with her hands, she began to cry!

“Please, don’t!”

Julius Reed hurried to her side, speaking softly to console her, “Why are you crying?”

With dawn still far away, a single man and a single woman alone in a room—now Merrill Caldwell was crying like a weeping statue. If someone saw them, wouldn’t his reputation be irreparably tarnished?

Enemies were simpler.

If they were enemies—a single strike, problem solved.

Women…

Trouble!

“You’re blaming me!” Merrill Caldwell pouted and puffed up her cheeks, speaking angrily: “You drove me away!”

When a woman gets unreasonable, it’s truly terrifying.

“No, I just worry about your reputation,” Julius Reed said, though deep down he wished she’d leave. Still, looking at this pitiful young woman in front of him, he couldn’t help but think of Sophia Leocadia.

Ah!

A man’s greatest weakness remains his soft heart.

“You come from a prestigious family, where reputation means everything. If rumors were to spread, you’d live in their shadow for the rest of your life.”

Julius Reed wasn’t sure if she responded better to kindness or harshness.

Though he’d lived for tens of thousands of years, he lacked experience in dealing with women.

The only fact he’d learned was that Nelson preferred men who took a harder approach.

Well, start with kindness—and if it doesn’t work, try toughness.

“No! I don’t care!”

Merrill Caldwell lifted her face, still streaked with drying tears. “If your shoes are straight, you don’t fear crooked steps! Who dares to gossip? My Caldwell Family on Boulevard will tear their mouths apart! If I’m in a bad mood, I’ll wipe out their entire households!”

Julius Reed felt a chill run down his spine!

Something was off!

Since meeting the girl this afternoon, she had been a meek little lamb all along.

But now—didn’t she seem more unruly and brash?

Earlier, Julius Reed thought Merrill Caldwell resembled Sophia Leocadia. But now, it seemed she was more like a mix of Sophia Leocadia and Bamboo Whitaker.

The elegant debutante, growing up wild.

“What if your family finds out and comes after me for revenge?” Julius Reed continued coaxing the girl. “Your tyrannical Caldwell Family on Boulevard—if your father hears that the two of us stayed in the same room, he might send someone to kill me…”

“I’ve already called my family, told them you cured my frost sickness,” Merrill Caldwell replied solemnly. “Also, I said you held me.”

“Miss, please have some self-respect!”

Julius Reed furrowed his brow deeply. “When did I ever…”

At this point, he realized something wasn’t quite right.

Indeed, it seemed he might have held her while curing her back at Cloud Pavilion.

But that was for medical reasons!

“Fine—so now your family intends to send someone to kill me?” Julius Reed finally felt relieved; this way, he could feign anger and kick Merrill Caldwell out.

“My father said, since you’re so skilled and brave, I should bring you back!” Merrill Caldwell’s triumphant smile beamed as she raised her head in pride. “See? Aren’t I impressive, Jorvik Reed? Come back with me! A man as exceptional as you can only be the Caldwell Family’s Son-in-law.”

“No, I’m someone with a strong spine—I don’t live off others,” Julius Reed nearly choked in disbelief.

It was truly a tale of the farmer and the snake!

But it even seemed reminiscent of the kind-hearted maiden repaying kindness, only to be betrayed and killed, then cooked in a pot.

And why did her words sound so eerily similar to his own tone?

If it were a treasure, it belonged to only him…

“Jorvik Reed, Gabriel Young seems to have some rather eccentric hobbies!” Merrill Caldwell evidently believed Julius Reed was infatuated with Gabriel Young’s beauty and the treasures of the Young Family.

“I saw steel wool, candles, and even a whip in their house!” She feigned horror, which starkly contrasted the gentle, naive persona she’d displayed earlier!

Of course.

Steel wool in the kitchen, candles in the storage, whips in the stables.

Julius Reed froze.

Wasn’t Merrill Caldwell supposed to be sequestered in the Caldwell Family on Boulevard, receiving proper education since childhood?

How could her mind contain such… peculiar things?

But what Julius Reed didn’t understand was this: the more constrained someone is, the more rebellious they become, yearning to explore strange, forbidden things.

Spring blooms can’t be caged forever; one crimson branch always escapes its confines.

The only solution—chop down the tree.

Slap!

Julius Reed landed a fierce slap before swiftly drawing the bone blade at his waist!

The sharp sword edge instantly pressed against Merrill Caldwell’s neck.

“Speak! Who exactly are you!? What have you done with my sister Caldwell?” he demanded, his tone growing colder with every word. “She’s pure and sweet—she blushes just from speaking with a man! I’m warning you—if you so much as harm a single strand of her hair, I’ll annihilate your entire clan!”

The slap completely scared Merrill Caldwell.

But then—she was overwhelmed with joy!

“It’s true… It’s truly me…” Merrill Caldwell’s heart warmed; suddenly, the slap didn’t seem to hurt anymore.

“Really? I don’t believe you! If it were truly Merrill Caldwell, she’d be in her own room right now. Because she knows—I prefer reserved girls.”

Julius Reed frowned skeptically, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Then I’ll go back now!”

Merrill Caldwell quickly covered her face and bolted for the door.

“Jorvik Reed, will you give me the first cup of milk tea this autumn?” she asked, her watery eyes brimming with hope.

“Autumn hasn’t arrived yet,” Julius Reed replied, sheathing his longsword with a long sigh of relief.

“What if it has?” Merrill Caldwell pressed on stubbornly.

“If you insist, I can be the first to burn paper offerings for you during Qingming,” Julius Reed felt the blade at his waist trembling.

“Thank you!” Merrill Caldwell turned and left.

If he had promised her, she would have been deeply disappointed.

Indeed, the man she fancied was no ordinary sycophant from the mundane world.

If he were, countless suitors across the land pursued her—so why would she seek out this particular Jorvik Reed?

As soon as Merrill Caldwell stepped out the door, a black-clad figure quietly followed her, keeping a safe distance.

“Master, that man slapped Miss and even threatened to kill her,” the black-clad figure sent a message before stowing his phone, continuing to shadow Merrill Caldwell from afar.