Chapter 691 - 687: Something’s Very Off

Lily’s words made Cecilia sit up straight and look at her seriously.

Over the past year, she had indeed done a lot for Lily behind the scenes. But she had overlooked one thing: she hadn’t been paying attention to Lily’s growth.

And now, she suddenly realized that Lily had actually grown up a lot, quietly. Her perspective on things was no longer that of a child.

"The fact that you can think this far ahead means you’ve grown up." Cecilia reached out and stroked her sister’s face, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Lily pressed her lips together and smiled, looking down. "It’s just that everyone has done so much for me. Yuna, Finn, Connie, all the teams in the various departments at the company, and of course, the most important person, you, Sis."

"I think realizing my own self-worth is important, but I also want to make sure that the efforts others have put in for me yield a corresponding return."

"Besides, Connie is very strict about managing every aspect of my career. So I feel that as long as a job gets her approval, I’m willing to do it. I trust her completely."

At this, Lily looked at her sister. "I want to give you a return on your investment too, Sis. I want the resources you’ve put into me to pay off many, many times over."

"You know that’s not what I care about. I’m supporting your dreams."

"Of course, I know." Lily nodded. "But I care. I want to do this for you, Sis. This is something I want to do."

Cecilia’s heart warmed as she listened. She looked at her sister and said softly, "Of course, you can do anything you want. But you have to promise me one thing: you must never let yourself be wronged. Otherwise, everything I’ve done will lose its meaning."

Lily smiled and nodded. Then her expression shifted, and she looked at her sister with a mysterious, slightly excited gaze. "Sis, do you know what the biggest change in me is right now?"

"What is it?"

"It’s confidence!" Lily’s eyes sparkled as she said excitedly, "Ever since I found out about your identity, my confidence has just kept growing. I don’t seem to get stage fright in any situation anymore. And it’s like everyone around me has suddenly become a nice person. Everywhere I go, all I see are smiling faces."

"Do you think I’m just basking in your borrowed glory?"

Cecilia chuckled. "Of course not. It’s because you and I are one and the same. But I’m very happy you’ve changed like this. I hope you’ll never let yourself be wronged or put up with being bullied by anyone. So go ahead and stand tall, because I will always have your back."

Lily nodded emphatically and threw her arms around her sister in a tight hug. "Sis, it’s so good to have you."

Cecilia gently patted her sister’s back. "And things will only get better from here."

Jasmine Sterling, who was just coming out of the kitchen, happened to see this heartwarming scene between the two sisters. Her gaze softened, and a knowing smile touched her lips.

She waited a moment before reluctantly interrupting. "Dinner’s almost ready. Go wash your hands."

Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Randall Jennings had arrived.

"Cecilia, that must be Mr. Jennings. Go get the door."

Cecilia got up, slipped on a jacket, and went to the front door.

Randall Jennings was standing outside, holding an exquisite gift box. Seeing him alone, Cecilia was surprised. "Mr. Jennings, you didn’t drive?"

"No, I took a taxi," Randall Jennings said.

After letting him into the house, Randall Jennings handed the gift box to Cecilia. "I brought you two bottles of good wine. I drank two of your good bottles the other day, so this is to replace them."

Cecilia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "There was no need for this, Mr. Jennings. I was just telling my mom it was well worth it for you to drink that wine. I can’t believe you were still thinking about it."

"Well, in that case, let’s just open them tonight. I’ll have a couple of drinks with you, Mr. Jennings."

Randall Jennings smiled and nodded. "That works for me."

Jasmine Sterling showed off her culinary skills again today, making dishes that Randall Jennings had never tried before. He clicked his tongue in amazement. "Jasmine, how many more of these amazing skills are you hiding?"

"That’s hard to say. You’ll just have to come over more often," Jasmine said.

Cecilia raised her glass and took the initiative to propose a toast. "Mr. Jennings, let me toast you first."

Seeing this, Randall Jennings gave Cecilia a meaningful look. "I get the feeling you have something you need my help with, don’t you?"

His one sentence made both Jasmine and Lily look up.

Cecilia paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh. "I really can’t hide anything from you, can I, Mr. Jennings?"

"When a little rascal like you suddenly invites me over, I know something’s up." As he spoke, Randall Jennings clinked his glass against Cecilia’s and, without waiting for her to explain the details, drained his glass.

Cecilia’s eyes lit up. Mr. Jennings’s action meant that no matter what she asked of him, he would agree.

’He already drank the wine!’

Beaming, she drained her glass as well. Only then did Randall Jennings ask, "Alright, out with it. What is it?"

Cecilia stopped beating around the bush and told Mr. Jennings about Cirrus Palace and her intention to acquire it.

"The shareholders of Cirrus Palace..." Randall Jennings thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I’ve met them a few times, but I don’t know them well."

It was mostly just people coming over to greet him and offer a toast whenever he was dining at Cirrus Palace.

But this kind of thing happened to Randall Jennings all the time, so he had never paid it any mind.

From Cecilia’s perspective, however, this meant that the owners of Cirrus Palace weren’t important enough to be acquainted with Mr. Jennings, a clear sign of a class barrier.

"But don’t you worry. I have a way to handle this." Randall Jennings changed his tone, giving Cecilia a reassuring answer. "Just give me a couple of days. Wait for my call."

Hearing this, Cecilia let out a long sigh of relief. She knew she was right to ask Mr. Jennings for help; he would definitely be able to handle it.

Jasmine Sterling, who had been listening from the side, finally understood what was going on. Her daughter was about to make another big move.

She couldn’t help but ask Randall Jennings worriedly, "Randall, Cirrus Palace is so big. Are there any risks for Cecilia to acquire it all by herself?"

"Jasmine, don’t worry. Since I’m going to help, I’ll get to the bottom of this. If there are no issues, then I’ll have Cecilia meet with them."

Randall Jennings’s assurance was always comforting. Jasmine Sterling raised her glass. "Thank you for going to all this trouble."

"Don’t be so formal with me."

They clinked their glasses to drink together. But before drinking, Randall Jennings paused. He watched Jasmine Sterling drink her wine, his gaze gentle, and only then did a smile touch his lips before he followed suit and drank his own.

This small detail did not escape Cecilia’s notice. She looked at her mother, then at Mr. Jennings, and it was as if she instantly understood something.

’I’m still not sure about Mom, but Mr. Jennings...’

’Something’s very off!’