When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

###Chapter 74: The Kind Old Gentleman

Hazel Hawthorne sat on the plane to Freyburg, still wondering how Aiden Xavier knew her every move. ’Did he really have someone following me in secret?’

If that was the case, then why was Aiden Xavier doing this? Was he worried she would hurt Raina Lowell, or did he not trust her not to have an inappropriate relationship with other men? Either reason sent a chill down Hazel’s spine.

The mere thought of being secretly followed made Hazel subconsciously look up and scan her surroundings for anyone with a strange expression or gaze.

Holly Shaw, sitting beside her, noticed Hazel’s odd behavior and looked at her quizzically. "What are you doing?"

Hazel shook her head. ’Maybe I’m just being too sensitive.’ But if she couldn’t get to the bottom of this, it was terrifying. She didn’t want her every word and action to be under Aiden Xavier’s surveillance.

The flight from Kenport to Freyburg was just over an hour.

After arriving in Freyburg, they didn’t dive straight into work. A friend of Holly Shaw’s picked them up from the airport. They went to the hotel and dropped off their luggage, and then Holly came knocking on Hazel’s door.

"Come with me to see a friend."

Hazel was now Holly Shaw’s secretary. She didn’t know why Holly wanted to bring her along to see a friend, but despite her questions, she went with her.

Along the way, Holly Shaw was silent, but the friend who had picked them up was very talkative, occasionally striking up a conversation with Hazel.

Hazel was beautiful and had a gentle, soft-spoken way of talking, which made it easy for her to make a good impression. She wasn’t a talkative person, but she wouldn’t let the atmosphere become awkward either.

When they reached their destination, Hazel got out of the car with Holly Shaw and found herself standing before a siheyuan, a traditional courtyard house.

It was her first time seeing such an ancient siheyuan in Freyburg. She looked around curiously, wondering what kind of background Holly’s friend could possibly have to own a place like this in the city.

Courtyard houses like this had been reclaimed by the state twenty years ago. Few remained, and those that did were now mostly private residences. Even so, not many people could own one. Some were even designated as tourist attractions for public viewing.

Hazel could only conclude that the person living here must be either rich or noble; it was impossible to do so without power and wealth.

"Ms. Shaw, you’ve finally arrived. The Old Master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Hazel quietly followed Holly Shaw. A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit approached them, looking at Holly with a very warm expression.

"How has the Old Master’s health been lately?"

"The Old Master’s health has been quite good. It’s just that he often talks about you, Ms. Shaw, always reminiscing about the days when you were by his side."

It was the first time Hazel had seen Holly so gentle, and she was a little surprised.

As they walked into the main hall, a long-bearded old man in a dark red Zhongshan suit emerged, leaning on a cane. Seeing Holly Shaw, a kindly smile spread across his face. "You silly girl, you disappear for years at a time. If you didn’t come back to see this old man soon, I’m afraid you wouldn’t get the chance."

Holly quickly went to support the old man. "But I’m back now, aren’t I? Grandpa, you’re in such good health, how can you say such things? You’ll definitely live to be a hundred."

"Don’t give me that. If you spent more time with me, I’d have a much better chance of living to a hundred."

"Grandpa, are you trying to make me feel guilty?"

Hazel stood to the side. ’So the "friend" Holly mentioned was this old man?’ She had never been one for gossip, so she just stood obediently beside Holly, maintaining a polite smile.

The old man’s gaze suddenly landed on Hazel’s face, and his expression turned peculiar. Holly noticed it too. She pulled Hazel to her side and introduced her to the old man, "Grandpa, this is my apprentice, Hazel Hawthorne."

Hazel was taken aback. This was the first time she had heard Holly use the word "apprentice."

Before she could process her surprise, the old man’s smile returned, bright as ever, as if nothing had happened. He said warmly, "Hazel Hawthorne, is it? Come closer, let Grandpa get a good look at our little Holly’s apprentice."

Hazel quickly moved closer. For some reason, she felt that the way the old man was looking at her was... different.

Holly and Hazel stayed at the siheyuan, drinking tea and playing chess with the old man until evening.

"The Old Master seems to like you," Holly remarked faintly.

Hazel didn’t know what to say. She still felt that the old man’s gaze held a strange quality, giving her an indescribable sense of unease.

"The Old Master has had a difficult life. His wife passed away in an accident early on, and he never remarried." Holly glanced at Hazel. "He originally had a son and a daughter, but his son also died in an accident."

’That sounds so tragic.’

Hazel thought silently, then asked, "But doesn’t he still have a daughter?"

"His daughter went missing. He’s been searching for her all these years, but sadly, he’s never found her. His greatest wish in life is to find his daughter."

"I hope the Old Master can find his daughter soon."

Hazel sighed. ’To live alone in such a large siheyuan without any family... how lonely must that be.’ The old man seemed so easygoing, yet his life had been filled with so much suffering.

Loss of his wife, loss of his son, and a missing daughter.

Back at the hotel, Holly’s words still echoed in Hazel’s ears. Thinking of the old man, Hazel was suddenly struck by how difficult life could be. ’Even if you have all the money in the world, so what? What good is it when all your loved ones are gone, leaving you to live on alone?’

’There’s no one to share your happiness, your sorrow, your joy with.’

They stayed in Freyburg for five days. Outside of work, Holly would always take Hazel to the siheyuan to visit the Old Master, chatting and playing chess with him, and occasionally staying for dinner.

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「Kenport.」

Raina Lowell clearly sensed that Aiden Xavier had been cold and distant toward her lately. She had tried every method she could think of, but the most she could get was a concerned phone call from him. Every time she asked to meet, Aiden would turn her down, citing his busy work schedule.

Unwilling to just sit back and wait, Raina went directly to Aiden’s company to find him.

That day, Aiden was in a meeting when Secretary Quinn received a call from the front desk. Learning that Raina Lowell had arrived, she immediately escorted Raina to the lounge. Raina’s status was special and sensitive; they couldn’t risk the paparazzi getting a story right now.

It wasn’t until Aiden’s meeting was over that he went to the lounge.

Raina joyfully lunged forward to embrace him, but Aiden, his face ashen, pushed her away. "Raina, didn’t I tell you I’ve been busy lately?"

Startled by Aiden’s expression, Raina was terrified. She didn’t dare get any closer, lowering her head. "I just... I don’t understand why your attitude toward me has changed so much recently."

"You’ve never treated me like this before. Did I do something wrong? Why won’t you see me? Don’t you know how upset it makes me when you avoid me? I’m always thinking about you."

"Raina."

"I know, you’re going to say you’re busy. Are you busy with work, or are you busy with Hazel Hawthorne?" Raina suddenly started sobbing. "If you really like Hazel, then I won’t bother you anymore. You don’t have to take my brother’s words to heart. I can take care of myself."

*****