A feeling that she was getting into trouble made Jane Sidney upset. She tried to calm herself down but could not prevent cold sweat from soaking her palms.

Holding her hand, Edward Pike felt the change in her palm and turned to look at her. Jane immediately tilted her head to look away.

All of a sudden, he shouted with a frown, "Ouch, it hurts."

For fear that another accident had happened to further complicate the situation at the critical moment, Jane refocused on the man. "What's wrong?"

She hurried to hold the man's arm. When she was about to express her concern, Edward leaned towards her. Staring at the man in surprise, she wondered, "What are you doing?"

Old Master Pike faked a cough and interrupted the interaction between the couple.

"I'm fine." Edward chuckled, touched his nose, regained his balance, and shot a sidelong glance at Jane. The look in his eyes was tinged with meaningful and complicated emotions, too hard for the woman to read.

"Grandpa." Edward adjusted the expression on his face in a second and walked over the front of the old man, holding Jane's hand. "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Jane thought it was inappropriate for them to have let an elder wait for them, so apologized with a bow. "Grandpa, sorry that we're late. Edward and I... He was delayed by something."

Just then, Edward stretched out his hand to encircle her waist and prevent her from bending down. He closed to her face, landed a gentle kiss on her cherry lips, and whispered, "You don't have to apologize. Grandpa will understand us. We needed time."

The expression on Old Master Pike's face changed subtly but soon returned to solemnity. "Alright, let's get seated."

Then he turned to walk to the dining hall sprightly. Jacob York, who initially stood next to the old man greeted Edward and Jane with a smile and followed Old Master Pike to walk away.

"Let's go." Edward withdrew his hand and distanced himself from Jane as if it were not him who had kissed the woman.

Staring at the man, Jane adjusted her mood and followed up.

After stopping before the table, Edward did not sit down immediately but gently moved a chair for the woman. "Please sit down here, Jane."

Jane expressed her appreciation in a soft voice, smiled at the old man sitting in the primary seat, and then got seated.

Then Edward sat next to the woman and glanced at the delicacies on the table. It was an exquisite Japanese meal.

Upon seeing the sashimi and other seafood, Jane suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She was never a seafood eater. How was she going to deal with the sumptuous meal?

It seemed that her stomach was bound to suffer today.

"Let's get it started." Noticing that the couple was staring at the cuisine, Old Master Pike thought they must be hungry.

Edward then picked up his chopsticks and tilted his head to ask the woman, "What do you like to eat? I'll get you some."

Looking at the onigiri and thinking that the rice balls would not make her stomach uncomfortable, Jane said politely, "Thanks, please give me some of those."

She pointed at the rice balls with seaweed.

The look in Edward's eyes changed slightly, but he nodded and added some of the rice balls upon Jane's plate.

Jane let out a slight sigh, noticed that Old Master Pike kept silent, and hurried to take a bite of the onigiri. Somehow, she then felt inappropriate and looked at Edward, who was also staring at her.

For a moment, Jane even dared not chew the food, gazing at the man and wondering if she should not have eaten the rice ball.

"No worries." Edward shrugged slightly and buried his head to eat.

Jane glanced at the food on the man's plate, then at Old Master Pike's. The food they were enjoying was superior cuisine she had never eaten or even seen.

Her stomach could only accept Chinese food, and even steak would upset her digestive system. In her memory, it was Stephen Sidney who prepared meals for her all the time, and all the dishes were Chinese style.

Although hesitated, Jane continued to eat as both Old Master Pike and Edward immersed in their meals without commenting on her choice of food.

She ate nothing else but rice balls.

Edward wanted to say something several times but did not open his mouth in the end and moved his eyes from the woman.

He could not help but think to himself, "What has Stephen done to Jane? Why is she eating onigiri only?"

Jane felt relieved when she finished her meal. She then put down her chopsticks, sat up straight, and smiled. "I am full. It's delicious. Thanks."

Old Master Pike nodded with an expressionless face. He put down the tableware as well, took the silken handkerchief handed by Jacob, and slowly wiped his mouth with it.

Edward ate with great grace and was very particular about his food choices. He gradually reduced his food intake after he was seven-point full, but he did not stop the movement of his hands, because Jane was then still eating.

He pulled out a tissue and handed it to Jane, giving the woman a hint about taking it.

"Thanks." Jane nodded and took it.

Edward placed his right hand upon Jane's hand that had just finished placing the tissue on the table and said to Old Master Pike, "Grandpa, if there's nothing else, we'll be off. It's getting late, and she has to work tomorrow, so I'll take her back."

Somewhat surprised by Edward's intimate movement, Jane tried to extract her hand from the man's palm, but the man clutched it tightly and even rubbed its back with his thumb.

Jane looked at Edward with a disgruntled pout, implying that the man had gone too far.

Old Master Pike clearly saw the change in the woman's face and thought she was acting coquettishly and was a little agitated by her bold and willful performance.

The old man covered his mouth with the handkerchief and pretended to cough. Upon hearing the sound, Jane sat upright in an instant and looked at Old Master Pike seriously.

Old Master Pike proposed a question, "I heard that Miss Sidney is a teacher?"

"Yes, I work at Viaduct No. 1 Primary School as a second-grade math teacher." Jane nodded and glanced at Edward.

Old Master Pike posed another question, "How long have you been dating Edward?"

"Not very long," Jane replied perfunctorily. She looked at Edward and set her red lips in a straight line, hoping the answer would satisfy the man.

Edward gazed at Jane and added, "It was love at first sight between us." Then he looked at Old Master Pike, saying, "Grandpa, I hope you will respect my own choice."

At the words, the old man contemplated for a brief moment. "I will respect your choice, but you must remember the responsibility you have on your shoulders."

Edward fell silent, making no immediate response.

Jane could conjecture that the old man was urging his grandson to settle down with a proper woman and shoulder the duties to inherit and develop the family. However, the woman was only a contracted girlfriend who was unwilling to be restrained within a wealthy and influential family.

Edward stared at the woman with a sweet smile and said firmly, "Jane is an eligible, wonderful woman."

Seeing Edward's attitude, Old Master did not say anything else and decided to leave it for future observation.

He then waved his hand, indicating that Edward and Jane could leave.

In great relief, Jane immediately looked at Edward, wishing to get out of here with him at once.

Edward stood up, adjusted his suit coat, and held out a hand to Jane, who placed one of hers into his palm. The moment she rose to her feet, she utterly forgotten that she was wearing eight-centimeter high heels, lost her balance, and fell to one side.

"Take care." Luckily, Edward nimbly took the woman into his arms.

"Sorry that I wore you out last night. How are your legs?" Before Jane could say anything, Edward's meaningful words sounded in the woman's ears, rendering her speechless in surprise.

The next second, the man directly carried her up.

"I should have been gentle," Edward said in a soft voice.