After lunch, Seth Sterling kept avoiding Ruby Sullivan’s gaze. It was evident he didn’t want to talk about school with her, and Ruby didn’t want to pressure him either. She knew Seth always subconsciously took on too much responsibility and hoped he would figure it out himself.
He was Honey’s brother, but not her guardian angel, constantly needing to be by her side. If Honey knew she was holding him back, she would be very unhappy too.
In the evening, Ruby and Mama Bennett were picking vegetables together. Mama Bennett asked if Seth was feeling off, and Ruby explained the situation at school to her.
Mama Bennett smiled wryly, sympathetic as she had watched Seth grow up and cared deeply for him.
"Actually, he had previously ntioned to Mr. Sterling that kindergarten was boring and wanted a private tutor. But Miss Sullivan said he was too young to learn too much, as it wouldn’t be good for his emotional developnt. Mr. Sterling probably thought she had a point and rejected Seth’s suggestion."
Mama Bennett sighed, "Seth is so mature that it makes him all the more endearing."
Ruby nodded in agreent, "Yes." She wished he could be a bit more self-indulgent and express his thoughts more; she didn’t want her son to always be soone who only thought of others.
Good people don’t live long.
After dinner, Ruby locked herself in the laboratory.
She had set aside a room for creating fragrances. Although it didn’t have the luxurious equipnt of the company, it was sufficient for her to finalize the formula for Daydream.
This was sothing she had promised Ethan Sterling before their divorce. Even though it was not specified in the divorce or resignation agreents, she had no intention of reneging on her word.
She would provide the final formula for Daydream as verbally agreed, without taking any sales royalties.
She was recording data when soone knocked on the door.
"Mom, can I co in?"
It was Seth.
Ruby removed her mask, went to the door to let him in, and invited him to sit, "Sit." She patted the high stool beside the experint table and steadied it for him to sit on.
Seth sat down but remained dejected, still appearing weighed down.
Seeing this, Ruby waited patiently, silently allowing him to speak first.
Seth clenched his hands tightly in front of him. Although he kept his head down, he sat up straight before finally raising his head and looking at Ruby, "Mom, I really want to go to elentary school, but I’m afraid Honey might get hurt."
Ruby smiled, "Mom knows."
"But even if I’m always by Honey’s side, it doesn’t an I can prevent accidents from happening, right?"
"Since they’re accidents, it’s sothing no one can stop. All we can do is accept and face the results, whether bad or fortunate, it won’t change."
Seth nodded, his eyes suddenly becoming resolute, "I’ve made up my mind. I want to go to elentary school and also want to enter university earlier, to grow up sooner and protect you and Honey better."
Ruby stood up, walked over, and gently cradled his head in her arms, "Seth, Mom also hopes you grow up soon, but I hope it’s to see more of the world and better enjoy your life, not just for and Honey, because Honey and I have our own lives too... You can protect us along the way."
"Just protect you along the way?" Seth liked the phrase and couldn’t help but smile, snuggling into her embrace, "Mom, I think I understand."
"Alright, don’t be upset over this anymore. Leave the rest to Mom."
"Okay." Seth smiled, got down from the stool, "Mom, you take care too."
Ruby ruffled his hair, truly fond of her son.
After Seth left, she checked the ti in ridia on her phone and figured Ethan was probably on his way to work, so she called him. After all, it was their son, and she felt it was right to inform him.
The call was quickly connected, but he sounded as though he hadn’t gotten up yet.
Ruby thought she had misread the ti, "Aren’t you up?"
"Hmm." Ethan responded, sitting up with difficulty, "What’s up?"
Ruby briefly explained Seth’s situation and then said, "Just wanted to let you know, I’ll look into the elentary school qualifications, don’t worry."
Ethan felt her eagerness to explain, like she was afraid he’d disapprove, "I trust your judgnt. If you need anything, you can call Howard."
"Okay, well... continue." Ruby said, intending to hang up.
"Are you alright?" Ethan asked slightly hurriedly as soon as she’d finished talking. For him, it seed a bit inappropriate to call her later just to ask such a question.
"I’m fine." Ruby thought for a mont, "The Daydream formula should be done this week, there’s no need to rush."
"Okay." Ethan replied, just about to say more when she added, "Alright then, I’m working on fragrance data."
He swallowed his words, "Okay."
He was scheduled to go on a business trip to ridia in a few days and thought of asking if she had ti for dinner. He sat on the bed dazedly for a while before getting up to go out.
Without Mama Bennett, the culinary skills of the others were lacking, and cooking fell to Rachel Lawson, so breakfast was only a seven-minute boiled soft-boiled egg and bread.
He went downstairs; the living room was empty. The servant said Rachel had left early in the morning, and Leon Sterling took Cindy to the hospital.
Cindy’s facial wound had mostly healed, but Faye Truman ntioned that the internal wound was deep and still not healed. Lately, Cindy often felt an itchy sting inside her cheeks, a sign of new muscle growth.
During today’s dressing change, she intentionally checked the wound in the mirror but closed her eyes in fright at the alarming sight of her scabs.
"Faye Truman, is my face really okay?" she asked, a bit doubtful.
Faye Truman raised an eyebrow, "Of course, don’t doubt my professional skills."
She sighed, "If my face doesn’t recover, you’ll have to take responsibility." Her Mandarin was average, and she frowned as she spoke, not like she was being coquettish, more like she was making a serious demand.
Faye Truman chuckled, amused by how her serious look had a bit of an airheaded charm. While tidying up the equipnt, he asked with equal seriousness, "How do you want to take responsibility? Marry you in return?"
Cindy felt her face heat up, murmuring quietly, "It’s not like it’s impossible."
"What did you say?" Faye Truman didn’t hear clearly and, seeing her resentful expression, laughed lightly, "Don’t worry; the situation is better than I expected, there won’t be any issues."
"Got it." Cindy carefully controlled her facial expressions, afraid of straining the muscles around her wound, "Then I’m leaving."
Leon Sterling drank chocolate in the car, as his sister insisted he not go in with her.
"How did it go?"
Cindy sighed and shook her head, "Pretty good. When are you leaving?"
"The red-eye flight the night after tomorrow."
"Does our big brother know?"
Leon Sterling thought for a mont, "I’ll tell him today."
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