I'm Your Sister, Brother Chow novel Chapter 36

Professor Bender nodded at her. "Hello," she greeted warmly. She knew that she couldn't be cold towards the chairman's sister.

Aunt Blaine had also followed Vivian into the living room. She spoke up just then. "I will show Professor Bender to the study first, Assistant Ethan, so you may speak to Miss Vivian alone."

Hearing Aunt Blaine's words, Vivian knew then that Ethan had other things to say to her.

After saying goodbye to Professor Bender, Vivian followed Ethan to the door. "What's the matter, Assistant Ethan?" she asked.

Ethan nodded and said with some hesitation. "I'd like to know if there are any colleges that you're interested in applying for? I'm starting to look into the local colleges and I just wanted to know if you had any preferences."

Vivian was stunned. She understood at once where this conversation was going. "Did Brother Chow say that it must be a local college?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes, he said that the college must be located in this city, but you're free to choose whichever major you're interested in. He said that you liked designing. Is that correct?"

Vivian's lips lifted in a stiff smile as she nodded. "Yes, that's right, but I haven't thought about which college I wanted to attend yet. I'll let you know once I've thought about it. Thank you, Assistant Ethan."

"Miss, you're too kind. This is my job," Ethan said with a smile.

They reached the door just then. Ethan pushed the door open before turning to Vivian. "In that case, I'll wait for your call. I have a meeting this afternoon, but you can call me anytime after that today. I'll be taking my leave first."

Ethan left after speaking. Just as he was about to disappear out of sight, Vivian suddenly called out to him. "Assistant Ethan!"

"Yes, Miss Vivian?"

Vivian bit her lower lip hesitantly. "Must the college be a local one?" she asked. "Do you think he'll let me choose a college farther away if I begged him?"

Assistant Ethan gripped the briefcase in his hand and pursed his lips rather awkwardly. "I think you shouldn't be too rash about it. Mr. President would be very angry if you brought this up with him."

The slight glimmer of hope in Vivian's eyes died down. She lowered her eyes and nodded softly. "I understand. In that case, it doesn't matter which college I go to. You can pick whichever one you think is the most suitable."

Assistant Ethan let out a soft sigh when he saw how docile Vivian was acting. He then turned and left.

Vivian stood at the door and looked at the diminishing figure through the glass. She suddenly felt like she was a prisoner trapped in a glass cage.

Just because she couldn't see the metal bars, it didn't mean that she felt any less like a prisoner.

Four years. If she really had to pick a college in Holy City, she would have to stay here for another four more years.

Anything could happen within these four years.

If Chow got sick and tired of her in these four years, then where was she going to go?

If Chow decided to marry Celine in the next four years, then what was she going to do?

For now, she could still turn a blind eye and stay by Chow's side.

However, when he got married, she was not going to be like her mother and stay on as a mistress who destroyed another family's happiness, even if it killed her.

The sun was setting in the sky. It was still rather light out, but the darkness was gradually creeping in.

Chow glanced at his wristwatch once again. Ethan, who was standing behind him, couldn't help letting out a chuckle. "Mr. President, there still are two more minutes till the end of the workday."

"Shut up!" Chow turned around and chided him just as the phone in his pocket started ringing.

Chow took out his phone, saw the name on the screen, and impatiently tossed his phone at Ethan.

Ethan hurriedly caught it and glanced at the caller ID with a rather dark look. It was Celine.

Since when did his job entail answering his boss's girlfriend's phone calls as well?

Nonetheless, he dared not go against the chairman's orders. He accepted the call and held the phone against his ear.

Before he could open his mouth to reveal his identity, Celine's saccharine sweet voice started talking. "Darling, are you done with work yet?"

Ethan glanced at Chow and cleared his throat uneasily. "Miss Celine, I am Ethan. Mr. President is busy and can't answer the phone at the moment."

When she heard Ethan answering the call, Celine's voice instantly went back to normal. "I see, is he going to be tied up at work for a long time?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Well, I don't think it'll take too long," Ethan answered truthfully when he heard her disappointed tone.

Celine's voice immediately perked up. "Really? In that case, can you please let him know that I'm really craving the chocolate cake from the bakery downstairs? I'd love it if he could bring some up when he comes over later."

Ethan looked hesitantly at Chow who seemed not the least bit concerned with the call. He really wanted to ask Celine how sure she was that Chow would even go over to her place after work, but of course he couldn't.

...

"Okay, I will let him know as soon as possible." He was just going to tell Chow. Whether or not Chow actually went over to her place was completely out of his control anyway.

"Thank you, Assistant Ethan. Bye!" Celine hung up immediately after that.

Ethan returned the phone to Chow. "Mr. President, Celine said that she wanted to eat the chocolate cake from the bakery downstairs, and would you please bring some for her later?"

Chow took the phone from Ethan and frowned impatiently. "Then have it delivered to her later. Working hours are now over. I'm going home."

With that, Chow got up and headed straight for the exit.

Ethan gaped as he watched his boss stride out of the office without a care in the world. As soon as Chow was out of sight, Ethan let out a splutter. "Sure, while we're on the topic, why don't I help you date her as well?"

Still, there was nothing he could do about it. Ethan still had to do whatever Chow told him to do.

Ethan thought that he'd finally be getting off work early today, but it no longer seemed to be the case. He got into his car and drove off in the opposite direction of his home.

He bought a piece of the chocolate cake from the bakery underneath Celine's apartment and brought it up to her. He pressed on the doorbell when he got to her door.

It didn't seem like Celine was affected by her foot injury after all, judging from her immediate opening of the door after just a few seconds. 

"Why did you ring the doorbell? You could have just come in straightaway!" The door swung open as she spoke, but when they finally caught sight of each other, they both stiffened at once.

Celine was wearing a sexy nightgown that showed off all her assets. Ethan was pretty sure that he saw something else he shouldn't have seen as well.

He quickly turned around as Celine let out a small scream and hid behind the door. "W-What are you doing here? Where's Chow?"

Ethan cleared his throat and tried his best to remain calm. "Mr. President had a sudden emergency, so he asked me to send you the cake instead," he said.

After saying that, Ethan quickly handed Celine the paper bag with the cake in it.

Celine's eyes hardened in contempt when she heard Ethan's explanation, but the assistant missed it because he was facing away.

...

Nonetheless, Celine said nothing else as she took the paper bag from him. "What kind of emergency? Is it some last-minute social engagement?"

Before Ethan could answer, she let out another low laugh. "No way, come to think of it, if it were a social engagement, then Assistant Ethan wouldn't even be here. The one bringing me the cake would be one of the waiters downstairs instead."

Since his back was to her, Ethan pursed his lips in agreement, but tactfully said nothing.

Faced with Ethan's silence, Celine knew that there was no point going on and on about it anymore. Just like with Aunt Blaine, Celine didn't think that she needed to curry favour with Ethan, but she still couldn't afford to offend them before officially establishing herself as Mrs. Howard. "Thank you for sending the cake, Mr. Ethan. I'd invite you in but it's rather inappropriate at the moment. See you next time."

"Alright then, Miss Celine. Goodbye." Before Ethan could even finish speaking, the door had closed behind him with a click.

Ethan shrugged and turned to look at the closed door.

Was this woman really going to be Mr. President's wife one day?

When he visualised them together, something just felt off.

After a whole day of tutoring, Vivian finally saw Professor Bender out the door. It was still a while before dinner, so she went back to her room to take a warm bath.

She turned on the double taps in her bathtub. In no time at all, the bathroom was filled with a warm, relaxing mist.

Listening to the sound of the flowing water, Vivian slowly took off her clothes one by one. As soon as she stepped into the warm water, she suddenly heard a light knock on the bathroom door.

Chow's voice came from outside. "Vivian, are you inside?"

Vivian was shocked. She lost her footing and slipped into the bathtub with a soft splash. Holding her arms protectively in front of her chest, Vivian stared at the door with a panicked expression. "B-Brother Chow, I-I'm taking a bath!"

Chow stopped knocking on the door when he heard her reply.

However, that did nothing to calm Vivian down. She still stared at the door nervously, as if expecting something else to happen.

Sure enough, in the next instant, the bathroom door jiggled for a while before it was pushed open under Vivian's frightened eyes.

Vivian gasped. She curled up in the bathtub and hugged her body tightly, her face flushing a deep crimson.