Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 394: Meeting too frequently at 393, there’s something wrong with this girl.

Chapter 394: Meeting too frequently at 393, there’s something wrong with this girl.

Zoe Payne glanced at her brother out of the corner of her eye.

Such a handful!

Actually, this engagement party didn’t necessarily require his presence, but their mother had also mentioned to her privately that if the Hale Family had any events, they should try to bring her brother along.

Tim Payne majored in design and, aside from managing company operations, also had to do design work, so most of his time was spent on his job. Julia Yates also wished he would go out and socialize more, to meet more people, and perhaps he would find a suitable girl.

So when she heard that he was going to attend the engagement party, Julia Yates specially picked out an outfit for him.

"Mom... this is a bit too fancy," Tim said with a resigned smile.

Anyone who didn’t know any better might think he was the main character at the engagement party.

"Too fancy?" Julia examined the outfit and removed a green jade bamboo leaf brooch that adorned it, "How about now?"

Tim nodded.

"Since you’re attending the event, and it’s such a festive and lively occasion like an engagement, don’t be too stern-faced. Mingle with others more; you might even drum up some business for the company."

Drum up business?

Tim was not stupid. Payne Corps mainly catered to women; his mother’s suggestion to drum up business was really just a covert way of matchmaking.

"Big sis," Martin Yates was also there today, "Children have their own fortune. Tim knows what he is doing; you don’t need to worry so much."

Julia looked at her brother with an expression that seemed to say:

Do you have the nerve to say that?

Where’s your wife?

Martin cleared his throat, "I’ve scheduled to see some houses with an agent, so I’m leaving first."

"Uncle is buying a house?" Zoe inquired.

"It’s inappropriate for him to keep living at Tim’s place; it wouldn’t be convenient for him if he wanted to bring a girl home."

Tim: "..."

Why is it that even uncle has started to tease him?

"What kind of house are you looking for?" Old Lady Payne asked.

"I have quite a few birds; a house with a yard would be best."

In Capital City, it’s not easy to find a place with a courtyard and a good location.

"I have a siheyuan under my name; you can move there. It’s suitable for raising birds too."

It was the siheyuan where Zoe first met her grandparents. Martin didn’t hesitate to accept, thanking them with a smile. He had been carefree for the first half of his fifty-something years of life, and if not for his niece’s "death," he might have become a master of equestrian arts.

Since joining the company, he had almost given up all his hobbies, devoting all his energy to the job.

Not only Julia but Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne also felt they owed him something.

After returning to Capital City, he didn’t even have a proper home.

The Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne agreed to transfer the siheyuan into his name. When Martin found out, he specifically went to the old manor, "I have no wife, no children; just having a place to live is enough. All my assets will be left to Tim and Zoe in the future, instead of giving me the house, you might as well give it directly to them."

"It’s our wish to give it to you, and what you do with it is your business," Mr. Payne insisted firmly, and Martin could not refuse any longer.

He moved out of Tim’s place three days later. To celebrate Uncle’s new home, Tim specifically instructed Assistant Law to buy some flowers and green plants to decorate the interior, as his housewarming gift.

There was a tree in the courtyard, and in the chill of winter, its leaves and branches had already withered.

Under the eaves, a bunch of birdcages hung, but not a hint of greenery adorned them.

The courtyard was cold and deserted.

Assistant Law, who had never bought green plants before, didn’t know which store was good.

A colleague recommended a shop that had reasonable prices and quality greenery, and he added the shop owner’s WeChat, ordered a dozen pots of plants, sent over the address, and proceeded to call the owner.

"What time would be convenient for the delivery?" asked Assistant Law.

It was a female shop owner.

This voice sounded familiar.

"You can deliver at any time, but the location is a bit hard to find, and the car can’t get in there," Assistant Law had also spent quite a while finding the address, "Let me know in advance when you are about to arrive."

"Sure, may I have your last name, sir?"

"Law, as in the word for road."

"And I am Miss Jones."

"..."

Assistant Law immediately had someone spring to mind.

Surely, it couldn’t be such a coincidence!

In his impression, Miss Jones of the Jones Family seemed not to have a job, as she was said to be contentedly waiting for marriage at home, probably a full-time housewife after getting married.

**

On the day of the housewarming, Zoe Payne made sure to arrive early.

"There’s no need to make such a big fuss just for moving houses," Martin Yates commented as he saw her carrying quite a few gifts.

"These are from William; a housewarming should have some sense of ceremony, after all. I’ll be cooking today. Uncle, is there anything specific you’d like to eat?"

"I’m good with anything, just prepare what you’ve planned."

"Then I’ll go get started on the ingredients."

Saying this, Zoe removed her coat. "Where’s my brother?"

"He’ll be here soon." Martin Yates stood under the porch playing with birds. Surrounded by houses on all sides, the yard was sheltered from the wind but still basked in generous sunlight, making it a perfect spot for sunbathing in winter.

Not long after Tim Payne arrived, Assistant Law received a call and quickly left the house because the plant shop owner said that after searching for a long time, they couldn’t find the place.

They arranged to meet at the entrance of a nearby restaurant.

From a distance, Assistant Law recognized a familiar figure.

With her hair up and wearing a simple black down jacket, she stood in the cold wind, with a small tricycle for transporting goods parked beside her, driven by a man in his forties.

Only two words crossed Assistant Law’s mind:

Holy shit!

This was too much of a coincidence.

At that moment, the girl also noticed him and, after a few seconds of surprise, smiled and said, "Are you Mr. Law who ordered the flowers?"

"Yes, I am. I had no idea that this is Miss Jones’s plant art shop."

"It’s been open for two or three years now."

"You deliver the goods personally?"

"Since you ordered quite a lot, I didn’t trust a delivery runner with it, and besides, the shop isn’t busy this early in the morning."

Running a small business without marketing, her reputation relied on word of mouth from loyal customers. It couldn’t compete with larger flower and plant art shops, but the business was still good, thanks to regulars.

Assistant Law led the way and couldn’t help asking, "I hadn’t heard that you also run a shop."

"It’s a small shop, purely a personal passion; I haven’t publicized it."

Her smile was mild.

Assistant Law, who had been working with Tim Payne for years, was a sharp person.

He suspected that the Jones Family probably forbade it, thinking it would be embarrassing.

"Is it Junior President Payne’s housewarming today?" she asked casually, thinking it was Tim Payne who was moving, otherwise, Assistant Law wouldn’t be supervising the job personally.

"No, it’s President Yates’s housewarming, Junior President Payne’s uncle."

She nodded in response.

Rumor had it,

Junior President Payne’s uncle had a notorious reputation, quite frightening.

She also remembered the falco rusticolus that had scared her half to death.

Martin Yates was enjoying the sun and teasing the birds in the yard while Tim Payne was chatting with him. Hearing some commotion outside, accompanied by the sound of the door opening, they saw a girl enter, holding a pot of pink orchids decorated with a fortune card and tassels, bearing the words "Joy of the New Home."

The moment their eyes met, he froze for two seconds.

Why was it her again?

Lately, he had been seeing her too frequently.

She greeted them politely, "Junior President Payne, Mr. Yates."

Martin Yates squinted his eyes. He found the girl somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall where he had seen her before, his gaze inadvertently shifting to his nephew.

Knowing last names and honorifics...

An acquaintance?

Assistant Law was busy moving plants. Passing by his employer, Junior President Payne, their eyes communicated silently.

Junior President Payne: What’s going on?

Assistant Law: Coincidence!

Junior President Payne: Do you think I’d believe that? Are you sure you didn’t do it on purpose?

Assistant Law: I’m truly at a loss for words here. It indeed is a coincidence; I didn’t even know she was running a shop. This must be fate, I guess.

Martin Yates raised his eyebrows. What were these two communicating with their glances?

He could only turn his attention to the person carrying the plants...

There’s something fishy about this young lady!