I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you, and I never intended to lie. I was just worried you’d feel pressured if you knew." Archer felt like he’d been caught red-handed. His heart was hammering in his chest, terrified that Grace would get angry and ignore him from then on.

Grace was amused by his reaction. "Thank you. You really did help me a lot. But just now, Sean York said you were seriously injured and almost didn’t wake up. Is that true?"

"Not at all. It was just a minor injury, and it’s all healed now." Hearing Grace’s concern, Archer was secretly overjoyed, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face.

Grace couldn’t help but shake her head at him. "Alright, let’s go inside. Don’t just stand there. Since you helped me so much, I have even more reason to treat you to a proper meal."

Archer smiled and agreed, following Grace inside with a stiff, uncoordinated gait.

Irene Lynch snuck a glance at him, covering her mouth to hide a giggle.

Archer felt a little awkward. It was like he was a prospective son-in-law meeting the family for the first time.

He wasn’t sure how Grace truly felt about him, but he figured she at least wasn’t repulsed by him.

He knew that after what had happened with Caleb Forrest, it would be difficult for Grace to accept someone new right away. ’But I’ve already waited so many years,’ he thought, ’I don’t mind waiting a few more.’

Irene Lynch went to the kitchen to cook. Grace poured Archer a cup of tea and brought out some pastries her mother had made. "Here, have some to tide you over. If you like them, I’ll pack some for you to take home later."

"My mom made them a while back. She was originally planning to sell them."

"Okay." Archer sat ramrod straight, his expression as solemn as if he were being sworn into office.

Grace went to the kitchen to help Irene Lynch, but was shooed out almost immediately. "Go on, get out of here. I don’t need your help. Go keep Archer company. What kind of host leaves her guest all alone like that? There’s no one else home. That’s no way to treat a guest."

Grace rubbed her nose, looking resigned, and returned to the main hall.

She sat down across from Archer, and for a moment, they just stared at each other in awkward silence.

Grace pointed to the pastries in front of him. "Don’t you like sweets?"

"No, I do like them." Archer quickly grabbed one and stuffed it in his mouth.

Grace didn’t even have time to stop him.

Irene Lynch’s almond cookies were a bit hard, but incredibly fragrant. One bite filled his mouth with a rich, toasty aroma and the distinct flavor of roasted nuts.

A sip of tea to follow made for a surprisingly wonderful combination.

Archer ate three almond cookies in a row, then set down his cup. "These are delicious. They’re so fragrant. They might be a little dry on their own, but they’re perfect with tea. They make for an excellent tea snack."

"I remember your mother’s shop is a bit like a teahouse. Why not just make it one? You could focus on selling tea leaves and offer pastries to go with them."

"I have an army buddy who returned to his hometown to grow tea after he was discharged. His whole village is famous for its tea. If you’re interested, I can take you there to have a look sometime."

"Some new policies might be implemented in a couple of years, and his tea plantation is set to expand."

Grace’s eyes lit up. "Really? But are people even allowed to run private tea plantations right now?"

"It’s grown specially for senior officials and for supplying foreign dignitaries. It’s a special exception, you could say." Archer knew what she was getting at and replied with a smile.

With the ice broken, the two of them started talking.

They chatted about everything under the sun.

They talked about the economy, the changing times, and things from their own lives.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Irene Lynch finished cooking and came to call them for dinner.

They washed their hands and then took their seats at the table.

Seeing the table laden with food, Archer felt a bit abashed. "Mrs. Lynch, you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. You’ve made so much."

"It’s no trouble at all. Eat up, eat up! I’m the one who should be thanking you. Grace’s father hasn’t been back recently, so I’m home all by myself with no motivation to cook. Back in Prospera Town, the whole family would eat together every night. Now... it’s so quiet. I’m still not quite used to it."

As Irene Lynch spoke, her expression clouded over.

Grace squeezed her hand. "Mom, just wait a little while. Once my brother and sister-in-law get their business off the ground, maybe they’ll move here too."

"Traveling long distances is still such a hassle. We just have to be patient."

"Oh, I’m just rambling. Don’t mind me. Come on, eat up." Irene Lynch raised a hand to wipe the corner of her eye, then smiled and beckoned for Archer to eat.

Archer quickly picked up his bowl, took a bite of food, and offered a gracious compliment. "Mmm, this is delicious. Mrs. Lynch, your cooking is on par with a state-run restaurant. If you opened your own place, you’d definitely be successful."

Grace’s eyes lit up. "That’s right! Opening a fast-food place near Crestwood University would be a great idea."

"Archer, you’re a genius."

Irene Lynch gently rapped Grace on the head. "We’re already short on money. We just bought a house, a storefront, and paid for renovations. And now you want to open another shop?"

"Besides, who would help run it? You have classes. Are you going to drop out of school just to open a fast-food joint?"

Grace rubbed her forehead. "Mom, it’s not like I’d have to run it myself. I could just get a space and hire some staff, couldn’t I?"

"If someone has the skill to cook, why wouldn’t they just open their own place?" Irene Lynch shook her head.

The older generation’s way of thinking hadn’t caught up yet. They still believed that "going into business" was no match for a stable factory job.

’If someone already has a good job, why would they quit for no reason to come work for you?’

’There’s no telling how long it would last. There’s no security in it at all.’

Grace didn’t know how to explain it to her mother.

After all, she had the advantage of knowing what the next few decades would bring. She knew that in a few years, economic shocks would cause many of those factories to go bankrupt, leading to mass layoffs.

"Mom, I’m just planning it out for now. I haven’t even found a space yet." Grace’s ambitions were soaring.

She didn’t just want to open a fast-food restaurant; she was also planning to offer a delivery service.

All it would take is one phone call to have food delivered right to your door.

That would surely be a huge draw for university students busy with their studies.

’As for staff, that’s simple too. I can just recruit from the university.’

’Part-time work. Pay them a small fee for each delivery, and plenty of students would be willing to do it.’

’After all, plenty of students come from poor, rural areas. Who would turn down a chance to earn some money?’

Seeing Grace’s excited expression and her mind already racing with one idea after another, Irene Lynch sighed in resignation.

She glanced at Archer again before explaining, a little embarrassed, "My daughter’s always been like this—full of wild ideas, always chasing the latest whim. Archer, don’t pay her any mind."