Chapter 317
The reason for choosing a Faluosi-style restaurant was that Aivina knew Charles preferred the kind of dining experience where all the dishes were served at once. This way, Charles could enjoy her meal to the fullest without interruptions from others coming in and out.
Once all the dishes were laid out, the waitstaff quietly exited the room, leaving only the three of them in the suite.
"I used to come here occasionally; their Faluosi cuisine is quite authentic... You should give it a try," Aivina said, as she picked up a piece of cold meat from the platter in front of her and popped it into her mouth.
Aivina didn’t pay much attention to noble etiquette or appearances; she treated this meal like an ordinary family gathering.
Charles had already set her sights on a roasted pigeon and, without hesitation, cut off a leg to place on her plate, diving right into her meal.
As for Lichi, after a moment of hesitation, she removed her mask, revealing a horrifyingly burned face beneath.
But Aivina seemed unfazed. She simply pointed to the bowl of soup in front of Lichi and smiled, "Lichi... sister, you should try their turtle soup. It’s Ansu cuisine, but to be honest, I doubt many can get used to it."
This was the only dish from Ansu on the menu, and Aivina had chosen it solely because it contained sherry... a little alcohol made things easier to discuss.
Sister?
Lichi was taken aback by Aivina's address. After taking a small sip of the turtle soup, she looked at Aivina, then at Charles.
What exactly is the relationship between little Charles and Aivina now?
"Little Charles... are you still working for Miss Aivina?" Lichi finally asked, turning her gaze to Charles.
Just as Charles was about to respond after swallowing her food, Aivina spoke up first.
"Charles has become a senior consultant at the Dedun Group, thanks to her intelligence. She has provided the company with many groundbreaking and innovative suggestions," Aivina said with a smile. "As her referrer, I’ve also benefited greatly."
Dedun Group?
What kind of company is that?
A hint of confusion crossed Lichi's face, but soon she seemed to recall something, her tone tightening, "The casino?"
"The Dedun Group also operates amusement parks and circuses. Charles designed a plan that combines both, which caught the attention of a senior officer at the Dedun Group," Aivina continued calmly, finishing Charles's explanation.
"That gentleman holds Charles's ideas in high regard."
"Oh..."
Lichi nodded, looking at Charles with a sense of pride. "I knew it, little Charles has always been so clever."
Just as Aivina was about to gather her thoughts to discuss matters regarding Ansu, Lichi turned to her and asked, "So... you’re friends with Charles now, right?"
Until just now, Lichi had thought Aivina was Charles's employer, but now that Charles was no longer working for Aivina, Lichi became curious about their relationship.
Friends...
The topic that was supposed to come up later was thrown out prematurely, scattering the state Aivina had just regained. She took a gentle sip of tea and stood up.
The sudden movement startled both Charles and Lichi. Charles looked at Aivina, whose cheeks were slightly flushed, with curiosity.
Aivina, dressed elegantly, walked slowly to Lichi, slightly bent her knees, and performed a standard greeting.
"Miss Lichi, it is my honor to speak with you today. I should have visited you personally, but instead, I made you come here, for which I sincerely apologize."
Aivina lowered her head, her voice trembling at first, but as she continued, her words flowed more smoothly.
She looked at Lichi and continued in a very formal tone, "Your sister, Miss Charles, is a lady of extraordinary character, kindness, and wisdom. During the time I’ve known her, my respect and admiration for her have grown daily."
"With deep respect for you and the most sincere feelings for Miss Charles, I humbly request..."
"To ask for her hand in marriage."
Thud—
The more Charles listened, the more she felt something was off. When she heard the last part, she instantly understood Aivina's intentions. But as she tried to stand up, her knee bumped against the heavy wooden table, making a dull thud, and she doubled over in pain, clutching her knee.
At that moment, Lichi's mouth fell open, staring in shock at the serious Aivina before her.
She looked toward Charles for help, but all she saw was a bobbing head.
"I-I-I... y-you-you..."
Lichi stammered, looking at Aivina, "But... you’re both women... proposing like this..."
"Miss Lichi, love is not something that can be measured by gender; it should be a more open and inclusive concept... Please understand me."
Aivina responded, having rehearsed her words countless times in her mind.
"B-but your status, your family..."
Lichi was completely flustered, having never encountered such a situation before.
In her eyes, Charles still seemed like that little girl who barely reached her waist, trailing behind her calling her sister. But in the blink of an eye, her little sister was being proposed to...
By a lady from a prestigious family.
No matter how she looked at it, the disparity in their statuses was too great. In Lichi's view, this was simply impossible.
"Miss Lichi, you may not know, but I was cast out by my family and came to Bole City. The reason I haven’t discarded the surname 'Russell' is quite practical—because it can make money."
Aivina spoke sincerely, "Moreover, Charles has now become a senior consultant at Ansu's largest conglomerate, the Dedun Group, while I am merely a bankrupt noble. I believe status should not be an issue..."
"As for my family... they have never had the right to restrict me or dictate what I should do—neither in the past, nor now, nor in the future."
Lichi felt her eyes starting to glaze over, her head spinning.
Meanwhile, Charles leaned over the table, half her head peeking out, nervously scanning between Aivina and Lichi.
Charles had never imagined that Aivina, who was so shy and inexperienced in matters of the heart, would be so bold in this regard.
Aivina wanted to come along to talk with her sister because she sought her sister's permission for the proposal!
At that moment, Lichi's feelings were quite complex.
She found it hard to accept the sudden reality of her sister being proposed to, even though she had simulated such scenarios countless times in her mind, and had even thought about what it would be like when her sister got married.
For instance, was the suitor a handsome young man? Was he hardworking and capable? Was he considerate and gentle? How could she verify if he truly cared for Charles...
But she never expected that the "handsome young man" she had imagined would not appear; instead, it was a noble and graceful young lady—this stark contrast made her want to pinch herself to see if she was still dreaming.
However, once Lichi calmed down, she began to carefully consider her goals and Aivina's words.
Her goal had always been to help her sister escape the kind of suffering she had endured and to lead a better, happier life. That was why she worked so hard.
Now, her sister had graduated and even found a job that sounded impressive, and there was someone very exceptional who liked her...
Was she really looking for her sister to marry and have children? No, she just wanted her sister to be happy.
If this could bring her sister happiness, then gender didn’t seem to matter as much.
What she was most worried about now was the issue of status disparity.
Lichi was concerned whether her sister truly liked Aivina and whether that seemingly strong young lady would bully or let her sister down.
Lichi turned to Charles and softly asked, "Charles, I want to know your thoughts... when you’re together, does she ever bully you?"
If her sister said she was being bullied, Lichi would not hesitate for a second; she would punch that young lady and take her sister away.
Meanwhile, Aivina, listening to Lichi's words, gently bit her lip...
Bullying Charles... me?
I would love to bully her...
At that moment, Charles knew she could no longer hide. She stood up, walked over to Lichi's side, and said, "After this time together, Aivina has become my pillar of support, just like you, sister. We truly like each other..."
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