Lawson Group.

Mason Lawson had just arrived at the office when Neil Kane walked in with a stack of photos and résumés.

He glanced at them with displeasure. "Do HR recruitment matters require my personal attention now? Those people are getting more and more out of line."

Neil Kane wiped the sweat from his brow and said meekly, "President Lawson, the Old Master had me gather these. They’re files and photos of every suitable lady from a prominent family in Rivaster, Meridia, and Calypsos. If you take a liking to any of them, the Old Master will arrange a meeting for a more detailed discussion."

Mason Lawson looked at the thick stack. It was like an ancient emperor choosing his concubines, and the thought made his skin crawl.

His sharp eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them as he stared at Neil Kane. "You’re getting quite capable, aren’t you? You actually dared to hide something the Old Master had you do from me?"

Neil Kane replied, trembling, "I figured there was no avoiding this. Even if I told you, it would just upset you. Besides... you’ve been swamped with social engagements and meetings these past couple of days. I didn’t want to bother you with it."

With that, he placed the thick pile of documents on Mason Lawson’s desk for him to peruse.

Mason Lawson pinched the bridge of his nose, which was starting to ache. "You can go now."

Without a second glance, he simply set the pile aside and went back to his work.

...

It wasn’t until noon, when Neil Kane brought in his lunch, that Mason pulled his mind back from his heavy workload.

Neil Kane reminded him again, "President Lawson, why don’t you just take a look at the ladies? Otherwise, I won’t be able to answer to the Old Master! At the very least, just pick one. You can always say you’re not satisfied after you meet her."

"You think I need you to tell me that?"

Mason Lawson frowned at him. "Get out!"

Neil Kane knew Mason Lawson was probably thinking about Eve Vaughn. But the young woman’s family background wasn’t a match, her status was even less of a match—nothing about her was suitable.

She couldn’t help Mason Lawson’s career in any way.

He figured Mason Lawson knew this as well, which was why he was struggling with the issue of marriage.

On the one hand, he didn’t want to let Eve Vaughn down; on the other, he understood all too well that he could never marry her.

Neil Kane didn’t dare push his luck while Mason Lawson was in a bad mood, so he quickly made his exit.

After he left, Mason Lawson eventually picked up the photos and files, flipping through them half-heartedly.

Every woman possessed a family background that could rival the Lawson Family’s and an impressive academic record. Though their looks varied, appearance was never the top priority in marriages between powerful families.

Mason Lawson’s brow furrowed, and he tossed the materials aside once more.

He found himself inexplicably missing that innocent, naive girl—the one who wore all her joys and sorrows on her face, making her as easy to read as an open book.

He pulled out his phone and called Eve Vaughn, wanting to hear her voice.

When she answered, the other end of the line was filled with the chaotic sound of arguing.

"Hey, Uncle."

Eve Vaughn answered in a hushed voice, quickly stepping out of her dorm room.

Mason Lawson asked worriedly, "What’s going on over there? Are you in a fight with someone?"

Eve Vaughn sighed in frustration. "It’s not me! My roommate is arguing with someone. Ugh, I have the worst luck. One annoying roommate moves out, and now this afternoon a new one moves in who seems even more obnoxious than the last."

Listening to the young woman’s complaints, Mason Lawson found it inexplicably amusing. It felt like a father listening to his daughter talk about trivial matters at school.

He played along, asking, "Oh? How obnoxious is she?"

In truth, he didn’t care about the so-called new roommate; he just loved the sound of her little mouth chattering on and on.

Sure enough, Eve Vaughn was off, launching into a long rant. "This woman is apparently a Ph.D. student who studied abroad, part of a joint program with our school’s medical college. But the doctoral dorms are full, and since our room had an empty spot, she’s staying here temporarily. The moment she walked in, she started acting like a spoiled princess, telling my roommate to switch beds with her because she wanted the one by the balcony for better ventilation. Of course, my roommate refused. Then she actually pulled out a wad of cash and insisted on buying the spot. In the end, my roommate didn’t cave for the money, and they started arguing."

Eve Vaughn grew more indignant as she spoke. "What is wrong with people these days? If she’s so rich, why doesn’t she just live at home? Why insist on coming to a place with such basic conditions like ours? She could have at least rented an apartment off-campus!"

Mason Lawson chuckled. "Calm down. She hasn’t started on you, right? If she bullies you, you tell me."

"Hehe, Mr. Lawson, it’s so good to have you!" Eve Vaughn giggled foolishly. "That makes me feel so much better. For now, though, the disaster hasn’t spread to me yet."

Mason chatted with her for a few more moments before Eve, hearing the argument in her room grow louder, said, "Uncle, I have to go back in. I have a feeling they’re about to start a real fight!"

Mason advised, "Don’t get in the middle of it. You might get hurt."

"I won’t! Don’t worry!"

Eve Vaughn hurriedly hung up and ran back into the dorm room.

Sure enough, Aria and Regina Shaw were at each other’s throats.

"Who do you think you are? So what if you’re a Ph.D.? Does that give you the right to bully us underclassmen? Put your stinking money away! Who are you trying to insult?"

Aria’s anger flared, and she remained completely unmoved by the two thousand yuan Regina Shaw had offered.

Seeing that Aria had been angered to the point of tears, Eve Vaughn walked over and said to Regina Shaw, "Senior Shaw, this is Aria’s bed. Could you please be a little reasonable? You don’t look like you’re short on money. There are plenty of apartments for rent near the school with much better living conditions than our dorm room."

A look of disgust and contempt appeared in Regina Shaw’s beautiful eyes. "You think I want to live in a place like this? Besides, where I live and whether or not I rent an apartment is none of your business."

If it weren’t for her old-fashioned father’s orders that she couldn’t receive special treatment and had to experience campus life, why would she ever stay in a place like this?

Finally, Regina Shaw steeled herself, looked at Aria, and said, "Ten thousand. Will you switch or not?"

"How much?" Aria stared at her in disbelief.

Regina Shaw repeated, "I’ll give you ten thousand. I can transfer the money right now. You pack up your bed and switch with me immediately. How about it?"