Harry Si! As the name sounded familiar, Carl lowered his head and sank in thought. It took him a while to realize who Harry was! "You're the CEO of SL Group?" Carl couldn't help but be surprised.
"Yes, I am. Sorry to drop in on you like this." The two men shook hands politely. Hearing Harry's courteous greeting, Carl nodded.
"Come in, please!" Carl beckoned them into a two-story building.
The house was a bit old, but quite clean. They sat down in the living room. Carl, holding Nicole in his arms, introduced the elderly to them.
"Lola, this is your grandfather. He couldn't hear since a few years ago." Carl introduced the old man who had just opened the door for them.
"Grandpa!" Although the old man couldn't hear, Lola greeted him sweetly. She thought that calling "Grandpa" instead of "Grandfather" would be more cordial!
The old man looked at her mouth and understood. He held her hands and nodded with joy. "Good girl, good girl!"
She had never seen her grandparents, because she was too far away from them and they didn't approve her parents' marriage.
Later, her mother secretly left Echo Bay and never went back after 20-plus years...
At this time, an elderly woman in a homespun jacket came out with a cane, eyes unfocused.
Harry, who was closer to her, helped her.
"Carl! Who is it?" Harry help her sit on the chair and sat back in his seat.
"Mother, my daughter Lola, her daughter Nicole, and her boyfriend Harry are all here!" Carl introduced to his mother. Lola walked to the old woman with gray hair.
"Grandma! I'm Lola! Your granddaughter!" Lola greeted her sweetly, holding the old woman's gnarled hands.
"Lola! Lavender's daughter!" The old woman burst into tears as she thought of her poor daughter! She could never accept being parted from her daughter.
After her daughter left home, she cried her heart out until she went blind in both eyes!
Lola was grieved when she saw her grandmother crying.
After the tearful reunion, Carl walked out with Nicole. "You guys go on catching up and I'm going out."
Lola and Harry had been listening carefully to what grandmother talked about Lola's mother. And her grandfather was so gratified that he could hardly take his eyes off them.
He laughed heartily, but Lola felt sad to see the remaining few teeth in his mouth.
When Carl returned, he was holding Nicole in his arms and was followed by a plump woman. Puzzled, Lola glanced at Harry.
"This is Mrs. Niu, an excellent cook in the village. I have asked her to cook a lunch for us!" Hearing what Carl said, Lola was relieved.
Mrs. Niu smiled sheepishly. "No, Mr. Li is flattering me. I can only cook some homely dishes!"
"Mrs. Niu, we have important guests today. Tell me if you need any ingredients, I'll give you money to buy them! Buy a few pounds of meat!" As grandmother stood up on the cane, Lola hastened to help her walk to Mrs. Niu.
Upon hearing what grandmother was saying, Lola tried to grab her purse, but Harry was a step faster.
"Mrs. Niu, thank you! Take this." Harry shoved a few hundred dollar bills into Mrs. Niu's hands, which terrified her.
"No, no, no. One is enough!" Mrs. Niu pulled out one bill and quickly returned the rest to the handsome young man in front of her. She had never seen such a handsome young man!
"Take them and buy something else! Maybe we'll bother you later!" The man put the money into Mrs. Niu's hands again and calmly sat back on the stool.
"Mrs. Niu, take the money! He's wealthy! If you can't use up, you can buy food for the children in the village!" Lola joked with a smile while watching Harry. The man smiled as well.
Mrs. Niu held the bills with shaking hands. She had barely gone out of the village in her life. Nor had she ever seen so much money, for she was born in a poor family. Having no idea what to do, she turned to Carl.
"Mr. Li..."
Carl smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Take them! Buy some tasty food. And I'll need you to bring two new blankets and quilt covers tonight."
Mrs. Niu nodded honestly, held the money tighter, and decided to do as Lola said.
At noon, Mrs. Niu called in her daughter to help her. They made eight special dishes of Echo Bay.
Looking at the brand new tableware and rich dishes, Lola was moved. "If we didn't come, they would certainly not buy new tableware and prepare so many dishes!" thought Lola.
It was a joyful meal. Carl and Harry drank a lot, and her grandfather drank some as well.
In the afternoon, Carl didn't go to the school but talked to Harry for a long time. Nicole, accompanied by Lola, had been playing with the neighboring children in the yard.
Before sunset, Mrs. Niu brought two freshly made blankets, one bright red and the other dark green. Lola couldn't help laughing at the color of the blankets, but still helped Mrs. Niu to put the blankets in the room that her father had prepared.
Before that, Carl had asked Lola how many rooms they need. Lola answered with a blush. "We only stay for a few days. We will share a room."
Then, she whispered in Carl's ear, "Nicole is his daughter, but it is not the right time to tell him the truth. Father, don't spill the beans." It explained the matter! Carl nodded with understanding and said no more.
As there was no entertainment in the village, they went to bed early in the evening. That was how people there lived.
After washing her feet, Nicole fell asleep before nine. The two adults were wide awake in the darkness. "You are not used to it, right?" asked Lola.
Having lived an extravagant life for years, Lola was not used to the life in here, let alone Harry.
The man moved the sleeping Nicole to the inner side of the bed and held Lola in his arms. "No!" Lola protested in a low voice, as the rooms here were not even soundproofed.
Harry smiled silently and said, "You think too much!"
She gave him a gentle pinch. The man snorted and said, "Since you are seducing me, don't blame me!"
Lola quickly withdrew her hands and placed them on both sides of her body. The bed was only enough for the three of them to lie down.
The man held her again in his arms. "The place is beautiful. I'm thinking about investing and developing." He simply expressed his thoughts.
"Ah? Investing and developing?" She was a bit surprised, but the place was indeed beautiful with fresh air.