Jane Sampson breathed a sigh of relief. She was genuinely afraid that if she hadnāt appeased James Black, once the grilled meat skewers came, he would go crazy and make her watch him eat.
"Weāll head back to Capital Province after the meal," James Black said, tapping the water in his teacup, signaling Jane to take a few sips before he began to speak.
"Why the rush?" Jane didnāt understand. "We could take a look around here."
"Donāt you want to buy a purse? Can you find what youāre looking for in this shopping mall?" James certainly hadnāt forgotten the look of longing Jane had given him last night, saying she wanted a new bag.
"Awesome." The smile on Janeās face truly could not be concealed. Going shopping with James meant she could buy whatever she wanted. Not to mention that now her money was under his control, she could spend his openly and, most importantly, have a very strong pack mule at her disposal.
This mule would also let her shop as long as she wanted without uttering a word of complaint.
It was only at times like this that Jane felt James had his advantages, with his few words.
Just as the waiter brought the big plate chicken to the table and Jane had picked up her chopsticks, her mobile phone rang from inside her purse. She reluctantly put her chopsticks down to get her phone, and seeing it was Bright Sampton, she put away her unwilling expression and cheerfully picked up.
Holding down the answer button, Jane switched the phone to her left hand while her right hand wielded the chopsticks, her eyes settled on the chicken wing James had in his grasp.
After a momentās thought, without saying a word, she picked up her bowl and held it out to James, opening her mouth to declare, "I want it! I want it!"
Her gaze was filled with longing, and James deliberately turned the chicken wing in his bowl around once, watching as Janeās face puckered up before he finally placed it into the bowl she was holding up.
"Thank you, Lord Chief!" Jane took back the bowl, joyfully placing it on the tabletop and, having benefited from Jamesās generosity, did not forget to look up at him with a flattering and ingratiating smile. Only then did she resume eating the chicken wing with her right hand, finally freeing herself up to talk to Bright who had been waiting on the line for quite a while.
"Hmm, Iām listening, go ahead," Jane responded to Bright.
"Are you just eating now? Why so late? Are you with brother-in-law again?" Brightās comment was quite pointed; he had noticed that Jamesās presence in Janeās life had become more frequent and regular.
"Yes, I came to visit Sister Tinās husband today. Heās on vacation and joined me. Speaking of which, Iām going to Smytheton in a few days, and James will be going with me," Jane said. Except for things she didnāt want Bright to know about, she never purposely hid anything from him.
Upon hearing this, Bright muttered to himself, astonished. Was Jane almost always accompanied by James whenever she went out? Could what mom said be true?
Bright blurted out, "Sis, are you really pregnant? Am I going to be an uncle?"
Jane nearly choked on her chicken wing.
"Cough cough! What are you babbling about? You scared me to death!" Jane gulped down a big mouthful of tea, her old face turning as red as a red persimmon.
"Mom said you were pregnant, so I called to see if it was true," Bright explained. "So, are you, or arenāt you?"
"No! No! No!" Afraid Bright wouldnāt believe her, Jane hastily repeated herself three times, earnestly clearing her name.