Giana knew what he was going to say.
"Mr.Proctor, aren't you a little...?"
Jameson said coldly, "A little what? Forget it.You should go to the dinner."
"No, no! Okay, I promise you!"
Jameson hung up and tossed the phone to Jacob.
"Ask someone else to go to the dinner tomorrow night."
"Yes, sir."
After a pause, Jameson asked, "Do I have any appointments for tomorrow night?"
"There was..."
Realizing something, Jacob immediately changed his answer.
"No, there isn't."
"Good."
Jameson walked on.
In the car, Jacob said, "Mr.Proctor, there is one more thing."
"What is it?"
"Miss Beale has been very close to a foreigner named Daniel recently."
Jameson asked, "Is he Sharon's neighbor?"
"Yes," Jacob nodded.
"Did you check him out? What do you know about him?"
"He is a cello player of Chinese and Italian descent.Both of his parents have died.With a certain
international fame, he held a national tour a few months ago, and the South City is the last stop."
Jameson said, "How did he and Natalia know each other?"
"He was invited to perform at Miss Beale's birthday party last week.After that, the two of them met in
private a few times.From the looks of it, it seems like..."
"Enough,” Jameson interrupted him.
"I don't care about that.Keep an eye on her and don't let her go to Sharon.”
"Yes, sir."
On the winter solstice, it started snowing in the morning and the temperature plummeted.
Sharon and Tiffany went out early in the morning to buy hotpot ingredients.
As soon as they came back, they saw Ruben waiting at the door.
Sharon asked as she opened the door, "Didn't I tell you to come this afternoon? Why are you here so
early?"
Ruben took the grocery bag from her and said, "Our teacher was occupied with something else this
morning, so we have half a day off."
Tiffany said enviously, "That's great.I hope my boss has something else to deal with and gives me a
day off."
Amused, Sharon smiled and said, "You are the boss yourself.What are you thinking?"
"Right.What a shame."
Just as they were talking, the door to the next house was opened.
Standing at the door, Daniel swept his gaze across the three of them and in the end, stared at Ruben.
"Who is this?" he asked.
"This is my younger brother,’ Sharon said.
Daniel smiled.
"I didn't know you have a younger brother."
With that, he nodded to Ruben and greeted him.
Ruben nodded slightly in response.
Daniel added, "Are you having a family get-together?"
"Today is the Winter Solstice Festival.I invited some friends over."
Daniel raised his eyebrows, looking puzzled.
"Winter Solstice Festival?"
Tiffany explained briefly, "It is a traditional Chinese festival.After the winter solstice, it will get colder and
colder."
Daniel understood.
"I see.This is the first time I've heard of this festival.It's embarrassing."
Tiffany was surprised.
"I thought you knew a lot about Chinese culture since you speak Chinese so fluently."
"But I never knew about this festival."
"Since you don't know about the Winter Solstice Festival, I guess you don't know what we eat to
celebrate it either, right?"
Daniel asked humbly, "What do you eat on this day?"
Tiffany said seriously, "Canned food."
Daniel was dumbstruck.
Sharon couldn't help but laugh.
Daniel coughed awkwardly.
He wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to begin.
Sharon said, "Trey will also come tonight.Would you like to join us, Daniel?"
"It would be very rude of me to refuse.Thank you.I'll see you tonight, Ms.Allyson."
Sharon smiled and nodded.
After closing the door, Tiffany asked with a pout, "Sharon, why did you invite him?"
"I felt like he wanted to come," Sharon said.
"Really?"
"So did I," Ruben said.
Tiffany rubbed her nose in confusion.
"Why didn't I see it?"
Sharon said, "Daniel is all alone.He must be lonely in the South City.Didn't you say that the neighbors
should take care of each other? Trey will also be here, so it won't be too awkward."
"I said that?" Tiffany mumbled.
"But I think he prefers to eat canned food alone."
"If you don't want him to come, I'll go tell him..."
"Wait."
Tiffany grabbed Sharon and said, "How can you take back what you said? Never mind."
Smiling, Sharon took the grocery bag from her and walked into the kitchen.
After standing there for a few seconds, Tiffany quickly ran to her room to change her clothes.
Then she ran out and said, "Ruben, how do I look?"
Ruben answered honestly, "Not so good."
"Okay, I'll go change."
In the afternoon, Trey came with a bouquet of flowers.
Hearing the commotion, Ruben turned around and looked at him.
Then, he whispered to Sharon, "Is this the guy whom Tiffany mentioned and that is chasing you?"
Sharon slapped him on the shoulder and took the vegetables to wash.
"Don't talk nonsense.He is not."
"I think he is hot.Why don't you accept him?"
"There are so many girls chasing you, why haven't you gone on a date with any of them?"
Ruben didn't know what to say.
In silence, he began chopping the vegetables.After a while, Trey's voice sounded from outside the
kitchen.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Sharon smiled, "You don't have to.Just wait a while.It's almost done."
Trey nodded and looked at Ruben.
"This must be Ruben.It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hearing this, Ruben was a little surprised.
"You know me?"
Trey had wanted to tell him that in college he had seen Sharon with him, but in the end, he just replied,
"Tiffany mentioned you before."
Ruben said, "I thought you had heard about me from ...someone else."
Sharon coughed to caution him, and handed him the vegetables.
"Ruben, help me wash these."
Trey said, "Then I will leave you be.Let me know if there is anything I can do."
Sharon smiled and nodded, "Alright."
Not long after Trey arrived, Daniel also came over with a bottle of red wine.
As it got late, the snow became heavier.
When the people gathered together, the room had a warm, happy atmosphere.
This was the first time Sharon had gathered with so many friends.
Seeing this scene, she smiled with a better mood.
Tiffany leaned against the door and asked, "Sharon, is dinner ready yet? How much longer will it take?
Giana hasn't arrived yet.Should I call her?"
Sharon said, "Five more minutes.Go ahead.Call her now."
"Alright."
Unexpectedly, the moment Tiffany finished speaking, the doorbell and her phone rang at the same
time.
Sharon said, "Answer it.I'll go get the door."
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