Chapter 179: Three Rules
“Three rules?” Hazel looked at her curiously.
“Yes.” Harry looked at Joshua. “You have to say yes and before we give you our blessing to be with Hazel.”
“Rachel and Harry, please tell me,” said Joshua quietly.
The Crowe family could make such a request, and it was probably because they wanted to protect Hazel. Hence, he certainly wouldn’t refuse them.
“First of all, we hope that Hazel won’t be involved in any affair, and I don’t think it’s hard for you to do, is it?”
“I promise,” Joshua promised solemnly.
“Second, if you’re planning to get engaged and get married, it mustn’t be done before Hazel finishes school. And you have to make sure you don’t have premarital sex.”
This point really cut Joshua to the quick.
He and Hazel had never broken through to the last step, and now his future father-in-law was directly stopping him from having sex with Hazel.
But for his future with Hazel, he had to say yes even if he was unwilling.
“You have my word,” Joshua said in a deep voice.
“Third, if Hazel wants to break up with you, you have to agree and stop pestering her!” Harry’s eyes turned a little deeper as he stared hard at Joshua.
He admitted that his rules were a little too much for Joshua. But Hazel was his daughter, and he certainly wanted to protect her in any way.
Joshua’s eyes turned a bit deeper. The Crowe family didn’t take advantage of these three rules to ask for money or something but to try hard to minimize Hazel’s possible harm.
He would have to do everything he could to be nice to Hazel, and if he made her sad, he was very likely to face the end of their relationship.
“I will follow them,” Joshua said seriously.
Harry looked relieved and said gently, “We can trust your promise. Well, let’s eat.”
“Mom...” Hazel’s eyes were red because she was greatly touched.
“Don’t think these three rules are only for Joshua, and you don’t have to follow it,” Rachel said solemnly. “You can’t break the second rule, even if it’s you who initiates it!”
Hazel instantly became embarrassed. How could she initiate anything with Joshua? What kind of thoughts did her parents have about her?
Then they all had a happy lunch together.
After lunch, Hazel lovingly took Rachel’s arm. “Mom, let’s continue shopping this afternoon.”
“No. Do you think we’re free like you?” Although Rachel still talked tough, there was a touch of softness in her eyes. “We’ve already bought our tickets, we’re leaving this afternoon, and it’s time to get to the station.”
Hazel was shocked and confused. “So soon? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t we tell you yesterday that we would be going home today?” Rachel rolled her eyes at Hazel. If it hadn’t been for Hazel’s runaway, she would have been leaving with them.
Hazel was even more reluctant as she looked at them. “You don’t have to leave so soon, do you? At least stay for two more days…”
“Come on, Hazel, you need to go to school, and we need to go to work,” Harry said lovingly. “We’ve been here long enough. Our holiday is already over, and it’s time for us to leave.”
Hazel was about to open her mouth when Rachel touched her head and said to her, “Hazel, you’ve always been a comfort to me. Keep that in mind, if you are ever thinking of doing anything out of line before you graduate…”
Hazel was both amused and powerless. Her parents and brother insisted on leaving, so she had to let them go. When Joshua offered to drive them to the station, they politely accepted.
In the station, Harry and Rachel pulled Hazel aside and kept telling her to follow the rules.
Joshua looked at them from afar, his eyes soft.
“Take care of Hazel.” Ronald walked up to him and whispered, “If you’ve wronged her in any way, I’ll take her away.”
Joshua cocked his eyebrows slightly as his eye fell upon him. “Then you’ll be disappointed.”
Ronald looked away with a profound expression.
Hazel looked at them and walked toward Ronald. She opened her arms and gave him a big hug. “Thanks, brother.”
Ronald must have helped her, for Harry and Rachel to change their attitudes so quickly.
Ronald patted her on the back lovingly.
“Brother, the eyes you look at me are a little strange.” She asked secretly, “What did you say to Joshua?”
“Can’t they be strange?” Ronald could not help but sigh. “I have watched a good cabbage grow for twenty years, but it is going to be eaten by a pig…”
“What did you say?” She pushed him away, both annoyed and amused. “Don’t change the subject!”
“I just warned him not to bully you.” He rubbed her hair reluctantly.
“He won’t.” She laughed.
Ronald couldn’t resist giving her another hug. “Hazel, take care of yourself.”
When the train arrived, the Crowe family picked up their bags and walked through security. Hazel looked sad as she watched her family walk away.
Joshua took her to the car and softly consoled her. “Hazel, if you miss them, we can visit them in City S any time.”
“Mm.” Hazel nodded.
“Come on, let’s go home,” Joshua whispered.
“Take me back to school, Joshua,” she said suddenly.
“Hazel?” He is surprised.
“I have promised my parents, so I want to live in school,” she said thoughtfully.
He frowned. “Hazel, I wouldn’t do anything to you even if you lived in Denmark Residence…”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I moved to Denmark Residence because I didn’t have a place to stay for my vacation. School starts now, and of course, I should live back in the school.”
Besides., there was another important reason, living with Joshua, she was too quickly obsessed with his beauty, and of course, she could not say that. She was not as active as her parents thought, but she could not think straight every time she was with Joshua.
“... Alright.” Seeing her stubborn attitude, Joshua had to agree, “but you must continue with the secretary’s work.”
Hazel nodded.
***
Since she had moved back to the dormitory, Hazel worked harder than ever and saw Joshua less, causing Summer and Ariel to wonder if something was wrong with their relationship.
Hazel was heading to the library one weekend, but as soon as she stepped out of her dormitory building, she saw Joshua waiting for her downstairs.
“Hazel, let’s go. I have somewhere to take you,” he said quietly.
“Where?” she asked blankly.
“Halfway Cemetery,” Joshua said, his eyes slightly dimmed, “Today is the anniversary of our father’s death.”