As Ulric finished his call outside, she stepped out of the car and approached him.
“This restaurant serves Jingtown cuisine,” he remarked in a cold, deep voice reminiscent of a cello.
“Oh,” Rosalind was taken aback. Did Ulric remember that they were desk mates in middle school? Or perhaps he had known all along.
Standing next to Ulric, Rosalind felt completely out of place. He was dressed in an elegant suit, exuding an air of privilege, while she couldn’t hide her assistant role.
They entered the restaurant together and took their seats, but Rosalind couldn’t shake off her growing discomfort.
What should she do now? It wouldn’t be appropriate to bring up their middle school days and put Ulric in an awkward position.
In contrast to her unease, Ulric seemed at ease, as if he were meeting a close friend. He adjusted his shirt cuffs with his slender fingers before calling a waiter to order a few dishes.
“Are you the one in charge of the Huayi project?” he suddenly asked, shifting the conversation to work.
Rosalind nodded hurriedly. “Yes, I am.”
“Have you thoroughly reviewed the company’s financial situation?” Ulric leaned back slightly, awaiting her response.
“I have. I’ve verified all their financial data, and there’s no falsification.”
He smirked and took a sip from his water glass. “Rosalind, just because the data isn’t falsified doesn’t mean there are no financial issues.”
She froze as Ulric took out a document and pushed it in front of her.
“Huayi’s account shows only fifty million in liquid assets, but their self-funding commitment letter states eighty million. Who do you think will cover this gap?”
Silent, Rosalind pondered his question.
“You can’t rush projects,” Ulric’s tone differed from the day he reprimanded Mr. Chan, it now held a hint of patient advice.
Annoyed by her own oversight yet admiring Ulric’s sharpness, Rosalind bit her lower lip.
He could identify issues so swiftly with the project she had just submitted.
With that realization, her appetite waned, and she longed to return to the office for a more detailed due diligence on Huayi.
Perhaps sensing her intention, Ulric placed some freshly served food into her bowl. “Finish your meal, we have the whole night.”
“The whole night?” Rosalind looked up in shock. “Am I staying with you tonight?”
Ulric raised an eyebrow. “It’s more convenient for registering tomorrow morning.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She clenched her fists under the table and gathered the courage to ask directly, “After we register, do we still need to live together?”
Would they truly have to share the same bed?
“Otherwise?” Ulric’s questioning tone made her question seem foolish.
Rosalind pondered his response and realized its validity.
To save her mother, Ulric went beyond using his connections to seek authoritative doctors, he also bore the burden of high surgery and medical fees. This endeavor couldn’t merely be about obtaining a certificate.
Tilda had once mentioned that men were straightforward creatures with simple desires. Perhaps Rosalind had been too naive.
“Is there a problem?” Ulric asked.
“No,” she replied.
“Eat more,” Ulric’s gentle tone and his act of serving her food made it feel as if they were truly an engaged couple on the verge of marriage.
Throughout the meal, Rosalind had no appetite, her heart weighed down by a heavy burden.
As the car approached Ulric’s residence, her anxiety intensified.
Beside her, Ulric didn’t look at her but softly instructed his assistant on some work matters. Finally, he added a sentence.
“By the way, purchase a few boxes of condoms and bring them along.”