Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 416 - 415 has the toughest mouth all over, known as a friend regardless of age.

Chapter 416: 415 has the toughest mouth all over, known as a friend regardless of age.

Assistant Law finished speaking, and seeing no reaction from his boss, uttered a sigh of resignation, and began to reflect.

"Miss Jones is really pitiable. After her parents divorced, she lived with her mother and grandmother. A few years ago, her mother died of cancer, which cost a lot of money."

"Now her grandmother is also in poor health, which is how Silas Jones got hold of her."

"There might be other reasons as well, but we don’t know them yet."

"Forget it, we’re neither kin nor kith of hers, what does it have to do with us?"

"Everyone has their own karma to deal with, and we outsiders shouldn’t interfere."

While saying this, he kept observing his boss’s expression and leaned in with a smile: "Right, Junior President Payne?"

Tim Payne was busy drawing up drafts, "Post a job recruitment notice for me."

"Is our company short-staffed?"

"After the New Year, I’ll be short an assistant."

"..."

Does he want to fire me?

I’ve said so much for the sake of my boss’s happiness, too.

Assistant Law began to play dead at the side.

The hardest part of you is your mouth.

If you really didn’t care, why would you specifically ask Old Sir Lewis about his surgery arrangements after the New Year?

----

In the following days, Tim Payne indeed did not see Cressida Jones again. She was extremely cautious, making it hard for Silas Jones to scheme against her.

During the holidays, there were many gift-givers, and to avoid his mother’s matchmaking arrangements, he simply went to his uncle’s house for some quiet solitude.

"Why are you here? What a rare guest." Martin Yates pointed to the watering can on the side, "Go on, help me water the plants in the house."

Tim Payne nodded.

After watering the plants, he also helped feed the birds.

Martin Yates was quite at leisure these days, and with a yard, he began to take care of birds and plants.

"The New Year is coming soon, and it will be the first Spring Festival since Zoe has been brought back home, and she is pregnant too. What do you think would be a good gift?" Martin Yates was fretting over this recently.

"Jewelry."

"That’s unoriginal."

"Clothes and bags?"

"..."

Tim Payne glanced at his uncle, "Why don’t you just give her money."

"Tacky and unbearable!"

"Well, then I really don’t know what you should give her." Tim Payne shrugged and kept feeding the birds.

"I shouldn’t have even asked you; you’ve never been in a relationship, you don’t understand the hearts of girls," Martin Yates scoffed, eyeing him with disdain.

Tim Payne, helpless:

You’ve been a bachelor all your life, and you have the nerve to talk about me?

"Uncle, love knows no age. You’ve always used Zoe as an excuse; when do you plan to find me an aunt? At your age, with money and free time, it’s perfect for dating."

"How about a twilight romance?"

Hearing this, Martin Yates’s face darkened, "You’ve got quite the mouth lately, daring to joke about me?"

"I’m just speaking some truths."

"Get out of here!"

Martin Yates was this close to grabbing a stick and chasing him out!

Tim Payne did indeed have something on tonight—a dinner party, they had all once studied under the same teacher.

Naturally, Sussie Lopez was also there.

And she brought her family member.

It was Finn Hale’s first time coming, and so naturally, he became the center of attention. The two of them were loving and sweet, the envy of everyone. Upon seeing Tim Payne, he smiled and called out, "Senior brother."

The first time he was called ’senior brother’ by him, Tim Payne inexplicably felt a bit thrilled.

But now, he always felt that the guy was a bit deserving of a beating.

Finn Hale sat next to Sussie Lopez, pouring tea and serving water, peeling shrimp and picking vegetables, just like a model twenty-four-seven boyfriend.

Tim Payne snorted at the display:

Love is terrifying indeed!

It can actually change a person to this extent.

During the toast, since it was Finn Hale’s first visit and he had an eminent reputation in the circle, he naturally became the target of everyone’s toasts. Amidst the compliments, people inevitably added: "Wishing you and your junior sister a sweet and loving relationship."

Anyone unaware would think it was their wedding banquet.

Tim Payne’s phone vibrated—it was a call from his uncle. He stepped outside to the private room and just as he pressed the answer button, he heard his roaring voice: "Tim Payne, you little rascal!"

"Uncle?"

"I asked you to water the plants, were you trying to drown them?!"

"..."

"No wonder you can’t find a girlfriend."

Tim had never expected his uncle to call and berate him over a few potted plants.

Besides, how is watering plants necessarily connected to finding a girlfriend?

He was hoping to spend the quiet New Year at his uncle’s place, so the next evening after work, he purposely went to the bird and flower market and bought a parrot to apologize.

Winter days end early, and as cars couldn’t enter the courtyard, by the time he entered carrying the birdcage, it was completely dark.

Inside the courtyard was pitch black, with only the moonlight above, casting a trail of apricot yellow.

As he pushed open the door to the main house...

His gaze collided with another’s, and he was stunned for a few seconds.

Cressida Jones was dressed in an off-white sweater, holding a set of white porcelain tea ware, with sandalwood burning in an osmanthus incense holder beside her. She was innately elegant; now she seemed like a scene from an ancient painting.

She said she would invite him for dinner.

Then all was quiet.

Unexpectedly, he would encounter her at his uncle’s place.

Upon seeing Tim, she put down her tea cup and stood up, "Junior President Payne."

"Why are you here?"

"I just got off work and came to deliver some green plants. Uncle Yates said that some plants were overwatered here; he’s not good at handling it, so I came to help."

Uncle Yates?

Tim was surprised inside:

When did they become so familiar?

On the day of Uncle Yates’ housewarming, she clearly addressed him as President Yates.

While they were talking, Martin Yates came out from the inside of the house and didn’t show a pleasant face to Tim, but his expression softened a bit when he saw the Sun Parakeet in his hands.

The kid has got some insight.

Martin Yates took the parakeet from him and then turned to look at Cressida Jones, "Cressida, after dinner, let Tim drive you back home."

It was clear that Cressida Jones intended to stay and dine here tonight.

She and Uncle Yates, have they started a personal relationship?

He knows his uncle too well—cold and aloof. It’s hard for others to approach him, and it’s difficult to get along with him; he only ever shows slight favor towards his mother and sister.

"By the way, how should I care for the gladiolus?" Martin Yates asked Cressida.

"Refresh the water deeply, keep it at a medium to low level, change the water and trim the roots every two to five days."

"Take a look at my plant here; I’ve been maintaining it according to your method, but the leaves are still wilting."

"It’s probably because the indoor temperature is too high."

...

Both of them were discussing plants—it’s obvious they’re in regular communication.

Martin Yates had hired a housekeeper who did the cooking and cleaning, and before dining, Tim specifically asked Martin Yates, "Uncle, when did you become so close with her?"

"Do I need to report whom I associate with to you?"

"You know that’s not what I mean."

"She gave me her business card before, we added contact information, and she often posts photos of various flowers and greenery in her friends’ circle. I frequently visit it to ask for tips on caring for plants; we grew familiar through this exchange."

"I’ve never heard you mention it."

"This..." Martin Yates frowned, "Is it necessary to mention it to you?"

"It’s just rare to see you get so close with a younger person; I’m a bit curious."

"Can’t there be a friendship that transcends age?"

Tim didn’t reply, only glanced at Cressida Jones who was pruning the plants not far away. He certainly didn’t expect her to get along so well with his uncle.