“Leo, you’ve really become quite extravagant lately,” Sophia chuckled, walking up to the car’s passenger side and opening the door.
Leaving the underground parking lot of the Golden Leaf Shopping Plaza, the two headed home.
During the drive, Sophia curiously asked, “Leo, you’ve only been working at the Wilde Jewelry Group for about a month, right? Have you received your salary yet?”
“No, I had some good luck while gambling on jade stones and made a significant profit,” Leo casually explained, providing a convenient excuse.
Suddenly, Sophia’s tone shifted, and she spoke with a hint of concern, “Leo, even though you’re now a gemstone consultant at Wilde Jewelry Group and have opened a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic, please don’t spend recklessly. In case we…”
Sophia abruptly stopped herself, her cheeks turning slightly red.
Leo glanced at her and grinned, “Go on, what were you going to say?”
“Nothing,” Sophia replied, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, her expression tinged with shyness. “Regardless, we have many future expenses, and you should save money for unexpected situations.”
Leo chuckled, “Sophia, Dad mentioned he wants a grandchild.”
“My dad wants a grandchild. What’s it to me?” Sophia responded, her face blushing even more.
“If you don’t have a child, he won’t have a grandchild,” Leo pointed out.
“Why should I have one? If you want a child, have one yourself,” Sophia retorted.
Leo sighed, “I’m a man, I don’t have that capability. So, I need your cooperation.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “Cooperation for what?”
“You know, for those intimate activities at night,” Leo grinned mischievously.
Sophia playfully shrugged, “I don’t know how to.”
“Don’t worry, I can teach you,” Leo thought he had a chance.
Suddenly, Sophia sighed and said, “But I don’t want to learn right now. What should we do?”
Leo was wordless.
Throughout the ride, the two of them exchanged light-hearted banter.
Before reaching home, they stopped at the market to buy groceries and then returned to cook dinner together.
While Leo was busy in the kitchen, Jessica arrived home. She saw Sophia sitting on the couch, scrolling through her social media feed, and curiously asked, “Sweetie, whose Audi A8L is parked in our spot?”
“Leo bought it,” Sophia casually replied.
Jessica smiled and didn’t believe her, saying, “Honey, Leo couldn’t possibly afford that kind of car. It must be yours. It’s okay; Mom won’t say anything. Now that you’ve established a comprehensive partnership with Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company, it’s time to get a new car.”
“Mom, it really is Leo’s. He’s a gemstone consultant at Wilde Jewelry Group and made a good profit from selecting gemstones, so he bought the car,” Sophia explained, following Leo’s reasoning.
“Really?” Jessica still seemed skeptical.
Sophia sighed, “If you don’t believe me, you can ask him in the kitchen.”
Jessica’s eyes flickered with an idea. “Since it’s Leo’s car, how about this? We can keep the Audi A8L for me and your dad to use, and you can let Leo drive your dad’s Honda CRV.”
“Mom, are you sure about this?” Sophia couldn’t believe her mother was interested in Leo’s Audi A8L.
“What’s wrong with that? Leo is my son-in-law, and now that he’s achieved some success, he should show some filial piety to your dad and me,” Jessica said confidently.
Seeing Sophia about to protest, Jessica cut her off, saying, “This matter has been happily settled.”
“But Mom, you should ask Leo’s opinion!” Sophia couldn’t help but interject.
At that moment, Leo entered the kitchen with a plate of cooked dishes and interrupted, “Sophia, since your mom likes the car, let your parents use it,” Leo suggested.”
Jessica remained silent, in her view, Leo, as the Henley family’s son-in-law, was as much a part of the Henley family as anyone, and the car was a minor consideration.
As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together,” and Jessica was one who valued appearances. In her social circle, most people were similarly inclined, so driving an Audi A8L would undoubtedly satisfy her vanity to a great extent.
What Jessica loved most was the admiring glances directed at her.
Sophia understood her mother well enough to know that this matter was settled and that there was no way to change her mind. She walked into the kitchen and apologized to Leo in a hushed tone, “Leo, I’m sorry, my mom is just that way. Please don’t…”
Leo interrupted her while he paused in his cooking, saying, “Sophia, it’s okay. Don’t feel like you need to apologize. Your mom is my mom too, and it’s only right to give her the car.”
Hearing these words, Sophia felt her heart warm with affection for this man.
Hearing these words, Sophia felt a warm surge in her heart. This man was willing to compromise and accommodate not just for her but also for the sake of family harmony.
“Leo, I’m sorry for everything these years,” Sophia said sincerely.
Leo smiled and replied, “Sophia, meeting you in this lifetime is the greatest luck I’ve ever had. I don’t feel wronged in the slightest.”
Had Leo not been occupied with cooking, Sophia might have hugged him right then.
Leo smiled as he kept pace with Sophia during their evening run. “Sophia, why should I thank you?” he asked, intrigued by her statement.
Sophia chuckled, her voice light in the cool night air. “Over the past four years, every time I’ve gone for a night run, you’ve secretly followed me, right? It’s because of me that you’ve gained better health and maintained your physique.”
Leo laughed softly, slightly embarrassed. He had thought his stealthy runs were well-concealed, but it seemed she was aware of them all along. He stopped in front of Sophia, turned around, and playfully said, “Miss Sophia, please accept my sincere gratitude.”
Sophia grinned and teased, “From now on, you have to join me for a night run every evening, alright?”
Leo nodded with a smile, saying, “Of course, I’m at your service!”