“Ah?” Mason Scott lowered her head, watching as Ian Mitchell’s long fingers calmly and unhurriedly helped her button up her coat again. The embarrassment and shyness she had temporarily ignored in her anxiety immediately resurfaced, and Mason Scott’s face gradually turned red.

“All done.” Sensing the ambiguous atmosphere, Ian Mitchell’s mind wavered slightly. He quickly let go, reined in his wandering thoughts, picked up the car keys, and said, “Hurry up, pack your things and I’ll take you to the airport.”

By the time they arrived at the airport, there were only twenty minutes left before boarding. Mason Scott hurriedly got out of the car, but was stopped by Ian Mitchell.

“I’m running out of time.” Her voice suddenly trailed off as Mason Scott stared blankly at the new object on the ring finger of her left hand.

A very simple platinum ring, with an extremely minimalist design—nothing fancy, just a circle of tiny diamonds set into the delicate pattern of the band. Yet it looked unexpectedly elegant and tasteful.

“When did you buy this?”

“I don’t remember.” It had been too long. “I found it last night.”

“Oh…” Mason Scott held her hand up, staring dazedly at the ring on her finger. In the winter sunlight, it sparkled brilliantly.

“You have less than ten minutes left.” Ian Mitchell reminded her with a smile at the corner of his lips.

Ten minutes? In Mason Scott’s mind, she immediately pictured Sister Collins holding a hammer… She’s doomed!

She didn’t even bother to say goodbye. Grabbing her luggage, Mason Scott turned and ran, but even as she ran, she couldn’t help glancing down at the ring on her finger again and again. The happiness swelling in her chest felt like it was about to overflow.

Hong Kong, China.

This time, the magazine sent staff to Hong Kong mainly to discuss a collaboration with a local magazine. Originally, it had nothing to do with Mason Scott, but because she was fluent in English, she was brought along as a translator.

Thanks to thorough preparation, the negotiations went very smoothly. Three days later, after the contract was signed, the group had some free time and went out shopping that night.

“Oh My God! Why are the cosmetics here so cheap? I can’t believe it—this necklace style I just bought was a thousand yuan more expensive than here…” Sister Collins was on a shopping spree in the mall, her eyes practically bloodshot.

She was supposed to accompany Mason Scott shopping, but ended up being even more enthusiastic than Mason Scott, shopping all night in the city that never sleeps. It was even more exhausting than the intense meetings of the previous days combined.

When they got back to the hotel that night, Sister Collins was done for, collapsing on the bed like a corpse.

Mason Scott looked at the phone on the table, hesitating whether to call Ian Mitchell.

“If you’re going to call, do it quickly—it’s on the company’s tab.” Mason Scott jumped in surprise and turned to look at Sister Collins, who rolled over with her eyes closed… Was she talking in her sleep?

Picking up the phone, she dialed the number she knew by heart.

Soon, Ian Mitchell’s steady voice came through: “Mason Scott.”

Mason Scott was taken aback. “How did you know it was me?” Some kind of telepathy?

“Caller ID.”

Oh, right. “So, are you off work yet?”

“…You called the home number.”

“…” Mason Scott was speechless at herself.

There was a brief silence on the other end. Mason Scott could almost feel Ian Mitchell sighing. “What have you been up to these days in Hong Kong?”

“Oh…” Mason Scott immediately began reporting her whereabouts. Whenever she ran out of things to say, Ian Mitchell would casually bring up another topic. The call ended up lasting nearly an hour, and after hanging up, Mason Scott was still lost in the afterglow of their conversation.

Meanwhile, after hanging up, Ian Mitchell picked up his fountain pen, but didn’t write a single word for a long time.

She hadn’t coughed at all during their long conversation—her cold must be almost better.

The law firm had been winning case after case lately. After the weekly meeting, everyone was in such high spirits that they refused to leave, clearly planning to treat the three senior lawyers to a meal. With a boss like Old Wilson, who loved a lively atmosphere, he waved his hand grandly and said, “Fine, fine, wherever you want to celebrate, just say the word. All expenses are on you, Lawyer Mitchell.”

So he was being generous with someone else’s money? After the meeting, Ian Mitchell, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up, concise and to the point: “Reason.”

“We need a reason?” Old Wilson pulled a funny face. “Don’t you know that throughout history, it’s always the heroes who get fleeced? The greater the achievement, the faster you get taken advantage of.”

Fair point. Ian Mitchell accepted the lesson and nodded in resignation.

Everyone cheered, enthusiastically discussing where to go. Though opinions varied, they all agreed on picking the most expensive options.

Henry Wilson shook his head as he listened and said to Ian Mitchell, “You’d better prepare yourself.”

Ian Mitchell just smiled, unconcerned.

After all that, they still hadn’t reached a decision. Amid the noisy debate, someone suddenly suggested, “How about we go to Lawyer Mitchell’s place?”

The meeting room instantly fell silent, all eyes turning to the speaker—it was Gavin, the intern at the firm.

With everyone looking at her, the usually cheerful girl grew a bit shy. “I just thought, instead of going somewhere else, why not have hotpot at Lawyer Mitchell’s place? We can do it ourselves—it would be more meaningful.”

Her suggestion tempted everyone, but no one wanted to be the first to chime in. Of the three senior lawyers at the firm, only Old Wilson was always cheerful and approachable; the other two were rather distant, especially Lawyer Mitchell, who always kept work and personal life strictly separate, maintaining a certain aloofness outside of business.

Still, Lawyer Mitchell’s home… everyone was curious to see it.

“Exactly!” Old Wilson suddenly slapped his thigh. “Why didn’t I think of that? Your place is big enough, it’s perfect. We’ll feel more at home. What do you say? Just one word from you.”

With Old Wilson saying that, everyone looked at Ian Mitchell with even more anticipation. Amused by their hopeful gazes, and remembering that Mason Scott wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, Ian Mitchell thought it would be good to keep himself busy today. He nodded and said, “As long as you don’t think you’re getting too good a deal, you’re all welcome.”

The car drove smoothly along, with Gavin in the passenger seat, barely able to contain her excitement. Tasks had just been assigned—others went to buy hotpot ingredients, while she and Lawyer Mitchell went ahead to prepare. Alone with him! Today must be her lucky day.

She sneaked another glance at Lawyer Mitchell. His striking profile made Gavin’s heart race and her cheeks flush. Even though she’d only interned with Lawyer Mitchell for a few days, she already knew what an outstanding and upright man he was. It was impossible not to be attracted to someone like him!

“Lawyer Mitchell, what kind of person do you like?” Gavin asked curiously, with a student’s innocence and boldness.

Ian Mitchell smiled. Such a girlish question, but she really had stumped him.

“You don’t know either, Lawyer Mitchell?” Gavin said in disappointment. Did that mean she had no direction to work toward? She pressed on, “Lawyer Mitchell, have you ever liked anyone?” She tried to imagine this always rational and aloof Lawyer Mitchell in love—would he be gentle? It was hard to picture.

“Of course.” That was much easier to answer.

“Ah…” So he had! Gavin said enviously, “She must be really outstanding.”

“No, quite the opposite.” Ian Mitchell shook his head. “She wasn’t outstanding at all. Her grades were mediocre, always thinking about having fun, and her personality was so scatterbrained it gave people headaches.” Unfortunately, she still seemed that way—who knew where all those years had gone.

Oh, that was different from what she’d imagined. “Then is she very pretty?”

Ian Mitchell smiled faintly and said objectively, “She’s not bad, but there are plenty of people prettier than her.”

“Then she must have a great temperament.” Gavin said with certainty.

Temperament? Not at all! Ian Mitchell sighed.

“She’s very noisy.” So noisy that for years, every time he closed his eyes, he could hear her calling “Ian MitchellIan MitchellIan Mitchell” in his ear, but when he opened his eyes, there was only emptiness.

That was probably when he started to resent her.

Gavin was puzzled. Not outstanding, not very pretty, and from Lawyer Mitchell’s tone, not a woman of great temperament either. “Then why do you like her, Lawyer Mitchell?”

Why? Ian Mitchell couldn’t figure it out either.

Maybe it was because her constant chatter filled the emptiness in his heart; maybe it was because, even though she didn’t like self-study, she forced herself to keep him company, only to fall asleep and drool all over half his criminal law textbook; maybe it was because, even though she failed her English Level 4, she still happily dragged him out to celebrate his excellent Level 6 result—though she got a real scolding from him that time. Not teaching his girlfriend was his own failing… She even raised her hand and swore she’d pass Level 4 next time and never embarrass him again. Unfortunately, she never got the chance…

Turning his head, he saw the intern still waiting for his answer. Ian Mitchell smiled wryly, looking utterly helpless. “Back then, I just had bad taste. I liked her, and that was that. There’s nothing I could do.”

Why is it so noisy outside?

Mason Scott burrowed under the covers, but still couldn’t block out the racket. Was it the TV? Was Ian Mitchell back?

She got up, still a bit groggy, and opened the bedroom door—only to freeze in shock… Why were there so many people in the living room?

The people in the living room gradually noticed her standing at the bedroom door, and one by one, they fell silent.

They stared at each other in a daze. The room was dead quiet.

Ian Mitchell came out of the kitchen holding bowls and chopsticks. Seeing Mason Scott standing at the bedroom door, a look of surprise flashed across his handsome face, and he frowned.

“Go back in and put your shoes on.”