My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 72: Status

The Sterling Group R&D Building.

Director Linden had been waiting in the lobby for less than five minutes when a discreet black Guster pulled into the parking area at the main entrance.

A bodyguard from the front seat stepped out, bowed respectfully, and opened the rear door. A handsome, upright figure emerged. Even with a mask on, his refined and noble air left Director Linden momentarily dazed.

She was inwardly marveling at which nearby company had produced such a handsome man, when she saw him walk toward her with unhurried, graceful ease, finally stopping at the entrance of the Sterling Group’s R&D department.

He took out his phone, pulled up a temporary access code, and spoke in a gentle, captivating voice, "I’m looking for Celia Sterling."

Director Linden shot to her feet and strode forward, her tone enthusiastic. "Are you the one delivering afternoon tea for President Sterling?"

Silas Norwood gave a slight nod, his amber eyes resting lightly on Director Linden. "It’s my first time here. Please, lead the way."

Director Linden’s heart fluttered at his velvety voice. As she led him inside, she discreetly sized him up. From a distance, the man’s physique was already perfect. Up close, his cool, noble, and almost sculpted temperament was even more captivating. Though a black mask concealed most of his face, his deep, arresting, pale gold eyes perfectly fused the two extremes of asceticism and allure.

Director Linden’s heart was pounding uncontrollably, but she put on her director’s air, forcing a calm, teasing tone. "Hey, handsome, do you have a girlfriend? With looks like yours, your boss is surprisingly comfortable letting you deliver afternoon tea to President Sterling. Aren’t they afraid you’ll charm her away?"

Since Silas Norwood had come in person, he had naturally come to claim his status. His tone was serious. "I *am* Cece’s boyfriend."

Director Linden immediately fell silent!

President Sterling’s boyfriend. He had to be from a wealthy and powerful family, a perfect match for her in social standing. He wasn’t someone a high-end corporate drone like her could joke around with.

After an awkwardly silent walk to the R&D lab, Director Linden proactively opened the door and cleared her throat. "Please, come in. President Sterling is inside."

"Thank you." The refined, familiar voice made Celia Sterling, who had been busy working, snap her head around.

When she saw who was at the door, Celia Sterling’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. "You came in person?"

Silas Norwood’s voice was gentle, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "I missed my girlfriend, so I came to see for myself."

Celia Sterling glanced at Director Linden.

Director Linden understood in an instant. She backed out silently, pulling the door closed behind her.

"Silas, come here." Only then did Celia Sterling step forward, her eyes sparkling. She took his hand and pulled him over to sit in the lounge area.

Silas Norwood took off his mask and set out the coffee and pastries he’d brought. "Have a little something to tide you over. I’ll take you out to eat after work."

"After work? Silas, are you planning to stay here with me until I’m done?"

Silas Norwood glanced around at the various colorful bottles and jars, and some notebooks filled with records he couldn’t comprehend. "Would that be inappropriate?"

"Not at all. You can’t learn a single thing about perfume development just by watching. Besides, I’m not worried about you stealing my secrets, Silas. If you really wanted to learn, I’d teach you myself, step by step."

Silas Norwood shook his head. "I’m not interested in perfumery."

He paused. "But I do know a little about fragrance ingredients. Cece, you don’t have to worry about us not having anything in common to talk about."

Celia Sterling picked up her coffee cup and settled comfortably beside him. Sipping her coffee, she hummed softly. "Since you’re here this afternoon, Silas, how about you give me a hand?"

Giving her a hand meant simply taking notes—Celia Sterling would speak, and he would write. Occasionally, she’d ask him to grab bottles and jars from high shelves, and they would chat idly as they worked.

"I’m going to Port Sovereign in a few days for The Fragrance Gala. You know the Lowell Family, right? They’re one of the three legendary perfume dynasties in the world. Their fragrances are never sold publicly. I’ve only ever seen a bottle or two at my brother’s place, and they’re absolutely divine! I’m going this time to learn everything I can from them."

"When are you going, roughly?" After the ambiguous yet agonizing time on the cruise party, Silas Norwood was becoming a little addicted to going out with Celia Sterling. "Let me see if I can clear my schedule to go with you."

"My brother is also in Port Sovereign," Celia Sterling said, rejecting the idea. "You two already chat nonstop on your phones. I’m afraid if you actually go to Port Sovereign, you’ll end up pulling a few all-nighters with him..."

Silas Norwood fell silent.

’If I really went, we wouldn’t be chatting nonstop. Utter chaos, on the other hand, is a real possibility.’

’I’ve never met a brother-in-law with such a poor sense of boundaries.’

With Silas Norwood there, Celia Sterling felt lazy and canceled her overtime. As soon as it struck six, she left the R&D lab with their fingers intertwined. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two acted as if no one else existed, chatting and laughing as they went downstairs.

Silas Norwood still wore his mask, but while it could hide his features, it couldn’t hide his noble and graceful aura. Many people turned to look as they passed, but no one dared to ask questions. It wasn’t until the two had left the R&D department that people gathered in small groups, squealing with excitement as they discussed the future son-in-law of the Sterling Family.

"The last time the R&D department was this excited was when my brother came looking for me," Celia Sterling said with a laugh, glancing back at the buzzing crowd.

"Every time Cece visits me, everyone at The Norwood Family gets just as restless," Silas Norwood said with a low chuckle. "Across all departments, there are at least twenty group chats dedicated to discussing you, the Chairman’s future wife."

"How do you know?"

Silas Norwood said softly, "Assistant Thorne has a burner account in those groups. He showed them to me once."

"You care about that kind of gossipy stuff, Silas?"

"Normally, I don’t," Silas Norwood said meaningfully. "But anything related to Cece, big or small, is important to me."

Celia Sterling was pleased. She took the initiative to link her arm with his. "What are we eating tonight?"

"Seafood."

Celia Sterling hesitated. "Seafood..."

"The bland, fishy-sweet kind of seafood. Cece, you don’t like it, and I hate it too." Silas Norwood pointed to a car slowly approaching. "But what if it’s spicy Australian lobster, spicy drunken crab, plus a few skewers of grilled squid and oysters?"

As he spoke, Theo Chambers got out of the car, followed by a bodyguard holding a specialized seafood container.

"Boss, this is the seafood that was just flown in." Inside the container was an Australian lobster, a top-grade king crab, and plenty of squid tentacles, oysters, sea cucumbers, and yellow croakers, all extremely fresh. The crab and the lobster were even still fighting each other.

The thought of all this being served up spicy and fragrant made Celia Sterling swallow softly. "Are we going to cook it ourselves?"

"How could what we make ourselves be as delicious as what’s made by a professional master chef with decades of experience?" Silas Norwood wrapped his arm around her. "Come on, I’m taking Cece to the night market."

Surrounded by several bodyguard cars, the Guster drove slowly toward a night market in Metropia.

「Port Sovereign.」

Evan Rhodes took a call and privately found Kian Sterling, who was in the middle of a social engagement. "Boss, a call from the bodyguards in Metropia. They say Miss Sterling has been picked up by Chairman Norwood."

"He certainly knows how to seize an opportunity," Kian Sterling scoffed. "Where did they go?"

"The Kestrel Street night market."

"Kestrel Street?" Kian Sterling raised an eyebrow slightly. "I don’t recall any decent commercial districts in that area."

"It’s a street food market with roadside stalls in the old district," Evan Rhodes explained. "A very down-to-earth street, full of life. You can even buy lamb skewers there for two yuan a piece."

Kian Sterling’s eyes turned cold. "He took my sister to eat that kind of stuff?"

He immediately dialed a number.

Silas Norwood instantly hung up.

It was followed by a short but irritating text message:

Silas Norwood: [Kade. Boundaries.]