Chapter 322: Chapter 322: This is My Friend, Barbie Lowe
Sean Fuller blushed and explained, "Sheâs not my girlfriend yet."
"Not yet?" Michelle Fuller slung an arm around her brotherâs shoulder, grinning as she asked, "So that means itâs about to happen?"
Sean pressed his lips together and said uncomfortably, "I canât be sure yet. What if she says no?"
Michelle hadnât expected this. âAfter that whole thing with Lilian, Iâm surprised my little brother isnât completely scarred. He still has the courage to look for a girlfriend. His mental fortitude is pretty impressive.â
"How could she say no?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Just be sincere and youâll win her over."
Sean asked, "So, should I have her come over?"
Michelle nodded. "Sure. Let Grandpa meet her first."
"Is Seanâs girlfriend coming over?" Mr. Fuller asked with a chuckle.
Seanâs face reddened. "Grandpa, sheâs not my girlfriend yet. When she gets here, please donât call her that. I donât want to make her feel awkward."
"Got it." Michelle gave him an OK sign. "Donât worry, weâll be discreet."
ăTwenty minutes later.ă
Renee Jennings put Green Hat back in its terrarium, patting its head. "There now, you be good."
The group moved to the main hall for tea and conversation.
Another twenty minutes passed before Sean stood up and said, "My friendâs here. Iâll go meet her at the door."
With that, he hurried off.
Watching him go, the corners of Mr. Fullerâs eyes crinkled with delight. "Looks like Iâll be a great-grandfather soon."
Michelle was munching on the snacks Mr. Fuller had the housekeeper prepare when she suddenly remembered something and whipped her head around to stare at Renee Jennings.
Sensing her gaze, Renee tilted her head to meet it, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Michelle whispered two words: "Barbie Lowe!"
She had almost forgotten.
âThe friend Sean mentioned... it couldnât be Barbie Lowe, could it?â
Her heart sank with a sense of foreboding.
A moment later, Sean walked in carrying a fruit basket. Beside him was a girl with long, wavy black hair.
Michelle gritted her teeth. "It really is her..."
Renee pursed her lips, her expression placid and unreadable.
Barbie Lowe wore a pink cheongsam and took delicate little steps beside Sean, a shy, bashful smile playing on her lips.
But as they neared the main hall, the smile on her face suddenly froze. Her eyes flickered, and a wave of unease washed over her.
Sean, oblivious to her change in mood, happily introduced her to his family. "This is my friend, Barbie Lowe."
"Barbie, this is my grandfather."
Out of the corner of her eye, Barbie Lowe glanced at Renee, feeling ill at ease.
She forced a smile at Mr. Fuller. "Hello, Grandpa."
Mr. Fuller offered a faint smile in return. "Hello."
âSheâs not quite what I expected for my grandson.â
Although Barbie Lowe was wearing a cheongsam, it was an extremely form-fitting style. On her, with her large bust, it gave off a somewhat vulgar impression.
"Barbie, this is Renee," Sean said, introducing Renee Jennings.
Barbie Lowe braced herself and met Reneeâs eyes. Pursing her lips, she forced a smile and said, "Hi, Renee."
"Hello," Renee replied with a slight nod.
Sean then pointed to Michelle. "And this is Sister Michelle."
"Hi, Sister Michelle." After the greeting, Barbie Lowe feigned a relaxed smile and asked, "Sean, I didnât realize you had two older sisters."
"Renee is practically my own sister," Sean explained.
Barbie Lowe quietly breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Renee wasnât Seanâs biological sister.
âIf sheâs not his real sister, then itâs not a big problem.â
"Barbie, have a seat here." Sean gestured for Barbie Lowe to sit down and poured her a cup of tea. "Here, have some tea."
"Thank you," Barbie Lowe said sweetly, secretly sizing up the estate.
âTo own such a large estate in a prime location like Zenvia... The Fullers are even more influential than I imagined.â
The main hall suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
Sean shot his sister a look, urging her to start a conversation.
Michelle rolled her eyes and pretended not to see him.
Sean was speechless.
âWhatâs going on?â
After sipping her tea for a moment, Barbie Lowe smiled and said, "Sean, didnât you post a picture of an iguana earlier? How come I donât see it?"
"Heâs in my grandfatherâs study," Sean explained. "The conditions out here arenât right for him, so he canât stay out for long."
"Oh, thatâs such a shame," Barbie Lowe said with a look of disappointment. "I was hoping to get a picture with him. Iâve never seen an animal like that before."
"I can take you to the study to take a picture," Sean offered, standing up. "Do you want to?"
"Would that be all right?" Barbie Lowe asked, feigning hesitation.
Sean waved it off. "Of course itâs all right. Grandpa wonât mind, right, Grandpa?"
Mr. Fuller said flatly, "Go ahead if you want to take a picture."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Barbie Lowe said, getting up joyfully. "Then Iâll have to trouble you to take my picture, Sean."
Sean scratched his head. "Itâs no trouble. Iâm just worried my photography skills wonât do your beauty justice."
The pair walked off side by side, chatting and laughing, and their figures soon disappeared from the view of Renee, Michelle, and Mr. Fuller.
Michelle got up, walked behind Mr. Fuller, and started massaging his shoulders. She asked with a smile, "Grandpa, you donât like Seanâs friend, do you?"
"Itâs not about liking her or not," Mr. Fuller said with a slight frown. "I just think that while itâs fine for Sean to be friends with her, I donât think theyâre a good fit for a romantic relationship."
"Grandpa, I feel the exact same way!" Michelleâs voice was tinged with excitement.
Hearing this, Mr. Fuller chuckled. "I could tell you and Renee donât like her."
âThat girl, Michelle, she wears her heart on her sleeve.â
âIf she liked the girl Sean brought home, she definitely wouldnât have acted like that.â
"Grandpa, the old saying is right: the older, the wiser," Renee said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Her comment made Mr. Fuller burst out laughing. "Alright, tell me. Why donât you two like her?"
Renee glanced in the direction Sean and Barbie Lowe had gone and said softly, "Grandpa, if we speak ill of her here, what if someone overhears?"
"I understand. Letâs talk somewhere else, then." Mr. Fuller pushed himself up from the armrests of his large armchair. "Come on, letâs go admire the flowers in the backyard."
ăThe Studyă
Hearing footsteps, Green Hat thought it was Renee coming for him. His dark green eyes stared intently at the study door.
When he saw who it was, his head drooped in disappointment. âSigh, no fun.â
The moment Barbie Lowe entered the study, her eyes were drawn to the items on the curio shelves. "Sean, are all these things your grandfather collects antiques?"
"They are," Sean confirmed with a nod.
"Like, *real* antiques?"
"Of course."
Barbie Loweâs eyes suddenly lit up.
Sean walked over to the terrarium and waved at Green Hat. "Hey, we meet again."
Green Hat was thoroughly unimpressed. âBoring. You canât even understand Lizard-speak.â
"Barbie, didnât you want to take a picture?" Sean turned his head and saw that Barbie Lowe was still standing in front of the curio shelves.