Chapter 147 - 146
When it came to being a creep, no one did it quite like her.
Joanna Kennedy was like a wilted flower, limply letting the man fuss over her.
After the initial numbness faded, a faint sting started to surface on her lips. When the tissue touched them, the pain became even more pronounced.
"Stop it..." she mumbled, not daring to look the man in the eye.
Simon Lockwood examined her lips carefully once more. After confirming it was just a small swollen spot, he let her go, his tone leaving no room for argument. "No spicy food for the next few days."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy felt the tingling pain on her lips. She glanced guiltily at the prominent scratch on the man’s profile and nodded in defeat.
It was the middle of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the commercial street was incredibly lively. Crowds of people thronged the road, which was lined with lanterns, food stalls, and small lantern riddle games.
While they were waiting at a red light, Joanna Kennedy stared eagerly out the window, practically sticking her head out. Simon Lockwood watched her little round head for a moment and asked, "Want to go have some fun?"
Hearing this, Joanna Kennedy immediately turned around. Her eyes sparkled, her excitement written all over her face.
Yet, she still had to feign composure. "It’s alright, I guess. If you want to go, I can keep you company."
’I’m a mature adult, not some kid who chases after every fun-looking thing. But... if Simon Lockwood really wants to go, I suppose I could reluctantly accompany him. After all, I am his understanding girlfriend.’
Joanna Kennedy convinced herself with her own logic, happily waiting for Simon Lockwood to say "I want to go."
But the man before her remained expressionless, speaking coolly, "Then let’s go home."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy: "!!!"
"I never said I wouldn’t go with you!" she blurted out anxiously. Her teeth bit her lip again, and the pain brought tears to her eyes.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed, the girl covered her mouth, turned away, and rested her forehead against the car window, looking like a pitiful, wretched little thing.
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Simon Lockwood stared at her miserable state, rendered speechless. After a long moment, he relented as if in compromise. "Fine. I want to go have some fun."
The moment he finished speaking, the previously dejected girl shot upright. She wiped away her tears, pouted her badly swollen lips, and said in a bright voice, "I knew you liked this stuff, and you wouldn’t even admit it."
Her mood change was so fast it left others in the dust.
Simon Lockwood pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling both exasperated and amused.
The foot traffic was heavy, so parking was hard to find. Luckily, there was a hotel owned by the Southland Group nearby. After parking the car, Simon Lockwood got out and said coolly, "Are you getting out or not?"
Joanna Kennedy happily put on a mask and a hat and got out of the car. Even from several meters away, she could already smell the aroma of the food stalls.
Grilled squid... starch sausage... meat and egg stew... snowflake chicken strips... oden...
Joanna Kennedy couldn’t help but swallow, murmuring, "Simon Lockwood, do you like grilled squid?"
"No," Simon Lockwood replied, his tone unchanged.
Joanna Kennedy didn’t give up. "But it’s delicious! You’ll know once you try it!"
Simon Lockwood’s expression was still placid. "Oh."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy huffed and turned her head away, ignoring him.
Simon Lockwood frowned slightly but still asked, "Your lip doesn’t hurt anymore?"
"I can eat it without spice."
"..."
The surrounding crowd surged, a mix of vendors’ cries and playful shouts filling the air. The trees along the road were hung with lanterns. The girl lifted her pure, pretty little face. With her mask on, only her eyes were visible—clear and filled with a touch of eager anticipation.
Simon Lockwood was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Only one."
’He agreed?!’
Joanna Kennedy immediately nodded, her eyes shining even brighter. She rubbed her hands together, ready to go buy it.
The line for the squid was long, with men and women packed closely together, occasionally bumping into one another. Simon Lockwood frowned, grabbed the girl’s wrist, and said in a low voice, "Go sit over there and wait for me."
There were benches by the roadside for people to rest. Thinking about the squid she would soon be eating, Joanna Kennedy was exceptionally obedient and nodded meekly.
’It pays to be meek sometimes.’
After seating Joanna Kennedy on a bench, Simon Lockwood turned back to buy the squid. He was tall and had a distinguished air, so Joanna Kennedy could spot him in the crowd with a single glance.
Two cute-looking girls went up to talk to him. She didn’t know what Simon Lockwood said, but they walked away looking a little disappointed.
’Hmph, even with his face "disfigured," he can still attract all the girls.’ Joanna Kennedy’s mouth, hidden under her mask, pouted high.
In a restaurant not far away, huge floor-to-ceiling windows allowed guests a clear view of the lively scene outside.
"Cousin, what are you looking at?" Owen Jennings asked coolly.
The man across from him slowly withdrew his gaze, a gentle smile on his face. "Nothing. Just a little cat."
A stray little cat.
"Oh." Owen Jennings wasn’t very interested. He picked up a crisp jujube and finished it in two or three bites.
Seeing the man across from him start to eat in a slow, methodical manner, he finally grew impatient and asked, "What exactly did you want to see me for?"
"It’s nothing much," Charles Jennings began slowly. "I just wanted to discuss a business deal with you."
’A business deal with me?’
Owen Jennings scoffed. "Cousin, I’m just an actor. I’m not involved in the Jennings Group’s operations. You’re talking to the wrong person."
It was as if Charles Jennings had known he would say that. His expression didn’t change as he said, "It has nothing to do with the company."
He smiled. "I hear you’re very interested in Director Conor Archer’s new film."
Conor Archer, the most famous director in the domestic entertainment industry. The five films he had directed since his debut had produced three Best Actors and two Best Actresses.
Owen Jennings narrowed his eyes, his expression turning more serious. "What do you mean?"
"I can help you," Charles Jennings said. "But you have to do me a favor in return."
"I’m listening."
Charles Jennings smiled and said something. Owen Jennings looked a bit surprised. "That’s it?"
"Yes," Charles Jennings said. "That’s it."
Owen Jennings’s mouth twitched. He thought it was going to be something major, but it was just this. ’Spying on a young girl... that’s pretty twisted.’
*
The line was too long, so Joanna Kennedy had to wait quite a while for Simon Lockwood. When she saw what he had bought, she immediately held out her hand.
Unexpectedly, Simon Lockwood handed her a cup of soy milk instead. "Drink some of this first."
Joanna Kennedy’s eyes widened slightly. She reluctantly took it and had a few sips. "Alright, can I have the grilled squid now?"
Another wave of people came from the front. Simon Lockwood turned sideways to shield the girl and handed her the grilled squid.
It was freshly made and still a bit hot, giving off the unique aroma of squid. Joanna Kennedy, tucked into his arms, blew on it, took a careful bite, and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
’This is the taste. It would be even better with some chili peppers.’
Simon Lockwood’s expression was unchanged. In one hand, he held her half-finished cup of soy milk and a millet cake; his other arm was wrapped firmly around her, protecting her.
His serious expression and cool, detached demeanor, contrasted with the red, swollen scratch on his cheek that looked like someone had clawed him, was inexplicably comical.