Chapter 205 - 204
Joanna Kennedy didn’t know much about fish, so she secretly looked them up online. Now she finally understood why the usually calm middle-aged actor was so worked up.
The Gilded Orchid. A single one cost nearly twenty million, and in this pond, there was one... two... three...
The more Joanna Kennedy counted, the more numb she became. She felt a bit of resentment toward the wealthy bubbling up, and at the same time, she just couldn’t understand.
’They’re just a few fish. How can they be so expensive? And people actually buy them? Do rich people just have too much money and nowhere to spend it?!’
’Her Simon Lockwood is so much better; he never wastes money,’ Joanna Kennedy praised him silently, completely forgetting the entire wall of antique calligraphy and paintings that served as decorations in their villa.
"Like them?" Owen Jennings had sidled up to her at some point. He narrowed his eyes, his tone playful. "Want me to have that guy from Southland buy you a few?"
Owen Jennings’s voice was low, so no one around them heard what he said.
Joanna Kennedy frowned, her tone sharp. "Are you sick in the head?"
"He wouldn’t be willing?" Owen Jennings prodded, deliberately trying to get a rise out of her.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy let out a cold laugh, refusing to take his bait. She turned and walked away to browse another area.
Owen Jennings had only followed a couple of steps when his assistant hurried over, seemingly with something urgent. By the time he was done, the girl was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile, Joanna Kennedy had wandered to a quieter spot. This area was mostly gardens, and she could occasionally hear the sound of birds chirping. A faint scent of osmanthus hung in the air, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and take a deep breath.
’The fragrance of nature.’
Just as she was immersing herself in the sweet scent, she suddenly felt something brush against her leg.
!
’What the hell was that?!’
Joanna Kennedy’s eyes flew open. She struggled to look down and saw a white Samoyed.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
She let out a huge sigh of relief and wiped away the cold sweat she’d broken into. Crouching down, she gave the Samoyed’s fluffy head a vigorous ruffle. "Hey buddy, you scared me to death!"
’Good grief, in that split second, her mind had raced through so many possibilities—she’d even considered something supernatural. And it turned out to be...’
"Speak! Who sent you?!" Joanna Kennedy demanded, deliberately deepening her voice.
The Samoyed just stared at her with its clear, innocent eyes, let out a soft whimper, and rubbed against her leg even more excitedly. It spun around in circles, revealing a red tag on its collar.
’So it has an owner...’
Joanna Kennedy patted the Samoyed’s head in understanding and took a closer look at the red tag. It read: Sasha Valentine, Contact: "152****4159".
Joanna Kennedy said, "So your name is Sasha, huh?"
Hearing its name, the little Samoyed barked excitedly, "WOOF!"
"So, this must be your owner’s contact info?"
"WOOF!"
The dog responded to every question, which made Joanna Kennedy laugh.
It seemed to be a well-raised, friendly dog. Joanna Kennedy took out her phone, ready to contact the owner.
Domesticated dogs have poor survival skills, and she figured the owner must be very worried by now.
The phone rang a few times before someone picked up. A very pleasant male voice answered, "Hello, who is this?"
The voice was as light and clear as a breeze blowing through a mountain valley. Joanna Kennedy paused for a moment before speaking. "Uh, hello. Do you own a white Samoyed named Sasha Valentine?"
"Did she run off again?" The man’s voice was tinged with resignation. "I’m sorry, I hope she didn’t scare you."
"No, not at all," Joanna Kennedy said. "So, are you coming to pick her up?"
"No need. She knows the way home on her own," the man replied. "As long as she didn’t scare you, it’s fine."
After hanging up, Joanna Kennedy slowly furrowed her brow. ’Why did that voice sound so familiar?’
Before she could figure out where she’d heard it, she felt a tug on her pants. The little Samoyed was biting her cuff.
Caught off guard, Joanna Kennedy was pulled along for a few steps. She remembered what the man on the phone had said. ’Is the Samoyed trying to go home?’
’Then why is she pulling me along?’
The Samoyed was surprisingly strong, and for a moment, Joanna Kennedy couldn’t break free. Worried she might hurt the dog, she tried to coax it in a low voice, but it was no use. Instead, she was dragged another few steps.
Just as Joanna Kennedy was at a loss for what to do, a man’s voice called out from a short distance away, "Sasha Valentine."
The man’s tone was light, but it carried a hint of a threat. The little Samoyed at her leg immediately let go and ran toward the man.
But Joanna Kennedy froze. Now she finally knew where the familiarity in his voice came from.
In a square pavilion, a servant brought out several plates of fruit and pastries, followed by a whole platter of large sea shrimp, and even lobster.
Joanna Kennedy: "..." ’What a strange combination of food.’
Seeing that they seemed intent on bringing out even more "dishes," Joanna Kennedy quickly interjected, "President Valentine, I have to go film soon. I really can’t eat!"
"Miss Kennedy, there’s no need to be so formal. You helped me find Sasha, so this is the least I can do," Liam Valentine said with a smile.
Perhaps because he was at his own residence, Liam Valentine was dressed very casually in a dark gray hoodie and black pants, which made him look several years younger.
Joanna Kennedy was truly surprised to learn that this private residence actually belonged to the Valentine Family. No wonder the film crew wasn’t allowed to cross the fence line—it was because Liam Valentine lived here.
"I just happened to be passing by; it really wasn’t any help at all. President Valentine, you don’t have to be so courteous," Joanna Kennedy said politely, not wanting to take any credit.
Liam Valentine smiled and didn’t dwell on the issue. Instead, he said, "What a coincidence. I didn’t expect we’d meet again, especially like this..."
After their last encounter, Southland had, as expected, rejected the Valentine Group’s proposal for cooperation. That had given him a clear picture of the situation.
As the man spoke, he put on a pair of disposable gloves and began to peel a shrimp. The words of farewell on Joanna Kennedy’s lips were swallowed back down. She could only offer a polite laugh and agree, "Yes, ha ha ha..."
Her own fake smile felt awkward. Remembering a promise she’d made to Simon Lockwood, Joanna Kennedy felt a pang of guilt. She grew restless, her gaze wandering, until it suddenly landed on a patch of blue flowers planted along the opposite corridor—Blue Enchantress roses.
Liam Valentine continued peeling shrimp, placing the perfectly shelled meat onto a small plate. It wasn’t until the plate, now full of shrimp, was placed in front of her that Joanna Kennedy snapped back to reality. Her eyes flickered with confusion.
Liam Valentine took off his gloves and explained, "I caught these shrimp myself when I went foraging at the beach yesterday. Miss Kennedy, please have a taste."
"...You go foraging at the beach?" Joanna Kennedy’s tone was unreadable, as if she couldn’t believe it.
Liam Valentine smiled. "Why wouldn’t I?"
"..."
Joanna Kennedy found it hard to imagine the scene: Liam Valentine in rubber boots, holding a bucket and tongs, foraging on a beach. It felt as incongruous as seeing a delicate historical figure at a modern rave. It was just too jarring.
Moreover, the act of Liam Valentine peeling shrimp for her made her a little uncomfortable. Then her thoughts drifted back to those Blue Enchantress roses...
Joanna Kennedy stood up, intending to politely take her leave, but she rose too quickly. A sharp pain shot through her lower back, and she let out a sharp, "HISS!" She instinctively reached for the table to steady herself, but instead, the man caught her firmly, and she fell into a warm, pleasantly scented embrace.