Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 38: Another Slap

The man’s tone was nonchalant, making Thea Lynch initially think it was just another joke.

She frowned and looked up at him, only to find that he was also gazing at her.

The two were very close, just a slight turn would lead to a touch. The familiar scent surrounded them, a faint blend of sandalwood, growing stronger with the rising temperature, making it indistinguishable whom it emanated from.

Thea cast him a warning glance.

To Ian Preston, that glance was not threatening at all, instead, it resembled a cat playfully acting up. Thinking itself fierce, yet appearing more cute than intimidating to others.

Both lost in their own thoughts, Thea turned her head towards the window, pretending to sleep, and didn’t interact with him for the rest of the journey.

Half an hour later, at the high-speed rail station.

Ian got off the train a step before her, walked around to her side, and extended his hand to her.

In this situation, Thea couldn’t afford to be pretentious either, so she grasped his wrist for support as she stepped down.

Injury to her right foot was inconvenient everywhere, and just as she barely stood firm, the man withdrew his hand.

Leaving her standing there alone, caught between advancing and retreating.

Thea hadn’t anticipated his sudden withdrawal, she looked up at him incredulously.

"You..."

"What?" Ian, with his hands in his pockets, lowered his eyes at her voice, showing no trace of intentionality on his face. Thea wanted to find his assistant, only to realize he was already in line for security check to enter the station.

Only Ian was left around her.

Initially, she had hoped that even with his assistant absent, she could still manage to support herself with her suitcase to get in. But the assistant was proactive, as if fearing she might suddenly run away, he had already taken her suitcase.

Such cleverness, worthy of being Ian’s trusted aide.

Now, all paths were blocked. Thea grimaced bitterly, "All the people around Third Brother [Ian] are geniuses, staying by your side for a million annual salary is a bargain." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"If Third Brother doesn’t want him in the future, recommend him to me."

"He is indeed smarter than your current assistant. If you like him, I can transfer him to Stratus tomorrow."

His assistant joined LX Capital right after graduation, and had been by his side all these years, being promoted by him along the way. A smart person, meticulous in work, yet knowing personal boundaries as well. Over the years, many aides and secretaries had come and gone around him, but this one stayed.

There is no need to change someone who is accustomed to use. Previously, even Silas Cheney had asked him for this person, but he refused.

Thea: "..."

To be honest, she greatly admired such people and enjoyed working with them, indeed wanting to recruit him over. But after all, he was Ian’s person, even if both Ian and he agreed, she couldn’t consent.

If he agreed, it would surely be because of Ian, and deep inside, he wouldn’t want to change jobs.

The gap between an assistant in Stratus’s R&D department and a special assistant to the president of LX Capital is more than just one level. Even if she offered a high salary, the other party would have to be crazy to join Stratus voluntarily.

If she really relied on Ian to bring him over, he would definitely resent her deeply.

"No, no, I was just saying. They’re not from the same field, and he wouldn’t be of much use here."

With that, Thea focused on the task at hand, her immediate concern was how she was going to move forward.

She tried taking two steps. Limping and slow, even slower than the elderly rushing to the train beside her.

Walking was possible, but managing to not put weight on her right foot was utterly impossible.

Initially, when she was immobile, this foot seemed to have no sensation, appearing fine.

But when she walked, with a bit of force, it hurt, it really hurt.

From start to finish, someone stood aside like a bystander, watching the spectacle silently.

Thea took a deep breath, reluctantly yielding to him: "Is this how responsible Third Brother is?"

It seemed Ian was waiting for this moment, a faint smile flashed in his eyes as she glared at him. She had just moved a little, creating a slight distance between them. But with just a small step, he closed the distance, further irritating Thea.

"Weren’t you planning to return by yourself early this morning? I thought since you applied the medication only yesterday, you’d be all better today."

"..."

He knows well what her condition is, yet he still teases her.

Thea, fuming, turned her head away angrily. She must have been out of her mind to place any hope on him.

For a few hundred bucks, many people would help her in. Why should she rely on him!

Knowing she was upset, Ian restrained himself a bit, and before she could call someone over, he lifted her up horizontally in one swift motion.

The sudden loss of ground startled Thea into a brief scream, her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck, holding him tightly.

Once she realized it, the man was already carrying her with big strides toward the security checkpoint. Frustrated, she slapped his shoulder.

Yet still unsatisfied, she gathered strength for another hit, but as her hand came down, Ian happened to turn his head, causing her fingers to scrape harshly across his face...

Suddenly, Thea’s heart skipped a beat, as if someone had hit pause, her hand frozen mid-air.

As far as Thea could remember, apart from the elder of The Preston Family, Ian’s parents had never laid a hand on him. During their school days, Silas Cheney and Donovan Ryan were never the well-behaved types, skipping classes and getting into fights were common. The three of them were in the same class back then, but Ian was different from the other two; he rarely fought and no one dared to provoke him, more like a behind-the-scenes boss.

Her big brother, the older guy in the courtyard, often educated Silas and the others, and sometimes physically, too. Even her brother had never hit Ian, let alone slap his face.

But she...

Since she returned to the country, nobody around had mentioned that slap from years ago, and as the one slapped, Ian didn’t seem to hold a grudge.

She thought the matter had been put to bed, everyone tacitly agreeing to forget it happened.

She expected Ian to be angry, but who knew he wouldn’t even pause, instead glanced down at her.

Imitating her previous accusing tone, he quipped, "Thea, this is the second time."

"..."

Those few words instantly left Thea speechless, with nowhere to hide.

She knew Ian couldn’t possibly forget that slap.

Sometimes, one must swallow their pride. Admittedly, she was in the wrong.

The apology was on the tip of her tongue, but knowing herself, Thea just couldn’t say it aloud.

"I’ll remember this slap for now."

"I didn’t mean to hit you; it was accidental." Thea choked on her words.

"Besides, I’ve trimmed my nails, didn’t leave any marks."

"Would Third Brother really hold a grudge?"

From his tone, it sounded like he intended to repay the slap at a later time.

Ian was known to return slights in kind, she knew that. However, wouldn’t it be excessive to actually hit her?

"How about I apologize?"

"What do you think?"

"..."

"Alright, let Third Brother hit me back then."