“Well, then, after discussing business, let’s go relax.” Beitan Xi said playfully. Outside of work, they used nicknames, and they were the only ones who could call Dean “Huo,” except for Dean’s brother and grandmother.
“Okay. The usual place.” Dean stood up; he also needed to unwind.
“Let’s go change.” Dongfang Lie said.
“Hmm, I’ll go greet grandmother too.” He planned to leave tomorrow.
Dean went downstairs and entered the side hall, where he saw Misha sitting gracefully at the long table by the window, arranging flowers with his mother. “Mommy,” Dean called out softly, interrupting their task. “Dean, you’re home?” His mother was surprised; it was rare for Dean to be home at this time. Misha looked at Dean and gave a faint smile; she actually didn’t know when Dean had returned home. After the dinner that night, she was escorted back to the castle by her chaperone.
“Yes, I’ll be heading to Rome, Italy tomorrow. The construction of the property there is about to start,” Dean said. “Oh,” his mother responded with a smile, accustomed to the frequent travels of her husband and son due to their busy schedules. “Rome? How long will you be gone?” Misha started to feel uneasy. Although Dean often went on business trips and would be away for a month or more, she had a vague feeling that this time was different. “I’m not sure, it depends on how the work progresses over there,” Dean replied. “Can you come back in the middle?” Misha asked quietly, knowing she was not allowed to interfere with his work. “I should be able to,” Dean said, this being his limit as he only answered because his mother was present. “Oh,” Misha didn’t ask further, but in her heart, she recalled the scene from the dinner where her husband left her to chase after another woman…
[From Paris to Rome: Twenty-Eight, Exchange Students Appear]
