On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 32: Producing Dog Food

Jasper Lockwood left the study and approached the master bedroom door, knocking gently. "Chloe, are you asleep?"

There was no response from the room.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jasper Lockwood pushed the door open and went inside.

Chloe had been exhausted lately, so she’d fallen asleep early.

Watching her sleep so peacefully, Jasper’s lips curled into a faint smile. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Good night."

Then he quietly slipped out.

「The next morning.」

Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, and Chloe slowly opened her eyes. She had slept soundly and felt utterly content.

She thought she’d had a dream, too. In it, Jasper had snuck into the master bedroom to kiss her.

Chloe pressed her lips together. The kiss in her dream had felt far too real.

’Could Jasper... have actually been here?’

She suddenly recalled the time she first moved into The Lockwood Residence. Jasper had come to her room then, too, kissing her and whispering good night.

Chloe suddenly shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

After getting out of bed, she quickly washed up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs.

After breakfast, the two of them left the dining room.

Jasper suddenly said, "Chloe, I’ll drive you to The Medical College in a bit."

Chloe said, "That’s okay, I’ll just drive myself."

’If I go with Jasper, I’ll never hear the end of it.’

"As it happens, I’m going to The Medical College, too."

"What are you going to The Medical College for?"

"I’m thinking of investing in The Medical College’s new research project."

Chloe glanced at him sideways, pausing for a long moment before asking, "Why the sudden interest in investing in a research project at The Medical College?"

Jasper said, "It’s not sudden. This has been in the works for a while."

Nearby, Henry Chamberlain thought, ’...’

’There was no such plan. He’s clearly only investing because of his wife.’

Chloe nodded. "The new research project is definitely meaningful. If they can crack it, it’ll be a major breakthrough for the medical field."

Jasper said, "That’s why I’d like to contribute to medical science."

"Did you make an appointment with Director Xavier?"

"It’s scheduled for nine-thirty this morning."

"Okay." Chloe didn’t press the issue. After a moment of thought, she added, "But I’ll need to get out early."

’With Jasper Lockwood making a grand appearance, a whole delegation of the college’s leadership would undoubtedly be there to greet him. It would be a huge spectacle, and there’d be no shortage of onlookers.’ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Chloe had no desire to be the center of attention; she just wanted some peace and quiet.

Understanding her intentions, Jasper said, "Alright."

Just as they neared The Medical College, Chloe said, "Henry, please pull over. I’ll get out here."

"Chloe, we’re still a ways away," Jasper said.

"I know. I’m meeting Julian Xavier at the coffee shop here. I’ll go in with him in a bit."

Jasper: "...So you can’t go in with me, but you can with him?"

Chloe asked with a perfectly straight face, "Jasper Lockwood, with that attitude, are you planning to invest in a salt mine next?"

Jasper: "If you’d like me to, I can arrange it."

Henry, driving up front, thought to himself, ’You two could also invest in a processing plant... for producing all this nauseating PDA.’

The car slowed to a stop at the curb. Chloe said, "I’m getting out now."

Jasper said, "I’ll pick you up this afternoon. Make sure you call me beforehand."

"Alright."

The car door was opened from the outside. "Watch your step, Ma’am," Henry said.

Chloe got out of the car and walked into the roadside coffee shop.

They had made plans the night before, so Julian Xavier was already waiting for her in the coffee shop.

"Chloe, you’re here."

Chloe sat down across from him. "When did you get here?"

"Just a little while ago. I ordered your favorite, a coconut latte." As he spoke, Julian pushed the coffee toward her.

A small smile touched Chloe’s lips. "Thanks."

"Don’t mention it. I was planning to take you out for some fun on your day off, but I didn’t expect Old Master Lockwood to suddenly fall ill."

The Lockwood family hadn’t yet announced Old Master Lockwood’s recovery, so very few people knew that Chloe had been the one to cure him of the poison.

"Oh, right. What was it you needed to see me about before?" Chloe asked.

Julian pulled a small white pill bottle from his pocket. "I was hoping you could help me figure out what this is and what it does."

Chloe picked up the white bottle and examined it. "Where did you get this?"

"I found it in my bar. I’m sure it’s nothing good, but I want to know its exact effects."

Chloe opened the cap, and Julian immediately exclaimed, "Don’t smell it! Some of the stuff you find in bars is dangerous even to sniff."

"I know." Chloe only glanced at the contents before adding, "I’ll let you know as soon as I have the test results."

"Okay."

Chloe put the bottle in her bag.

After they finished their coffee, they chatted for a while longer before heading back to The Medical College together.

Just as Chloe had expected, everywhere they went, the air was buzzing with talk about Jasper Lockwood.

"President Lockwood is so tall and handsome! How can such a perfect man exist!"

"I wonder which lucky woman will get to marry a man like President Lockwood."

"Why is President Lockwood at our school? Does anyone know?"

"I heard he’s here to invest in our Medical College."

"What! Really? Does that mean he’ll be coming around more often?"

"Maybe!"

"You’re getting your hopes up. A man like President Lockwood is swamped with work; how could he possibly visit often? He’ll probably just come this one time for an inspection. After this, he’ll definitely just send his subordinates."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"President Lockwood is here at The Medical College! Did you know?" Julian asked in a low voice.

Chloe nodded. "Yes, I know."

’After all, we came here together.’

"Why the sudden interest in investing in The Medical College? I remember my dad approached the Lockwood Group before, but they turned him away at the door."

Chloe: "...Director Xavier approached Jasper? When was that?"

Julian: "About six months ago. My dad wanted to acquire a piece of equipment. It was not only expensive, but also in limited supply. The company that makes it is controlled by the Lockwood Group, so Dad went to see them, but he never even got to meet with Jasper Lockwood."

Chloe: "..."

’I can’t believe something like that happened!’

’So when Jasper said this had been in the works for a while... just how long is ’a while’?’

"So what happened? Did you ever get the equipment?"

Julian smiled wryly. "Of course not. We couldn’t even get a meeting."

「Meanwhile, in the director’s office.」

Director Xavier was overjoyed. When one of Jasper Lockwood’s people contacted him yesterday, he could hardly believe it. He’d even suspected it was a prank call.

"President Lockwood, thank you so much. Allow me to offer you a toast—with tea, in place of wine."

Jasper replied, "Director Xavier, there’s no need for such formalities. I’ll have the equipment sent over as soon as possible."

"Thank you for going to the trouble, President Lockwood."

...

「In front of the lab building.」

Julian said, "You go on in. I’m heading out."

"Okay." Chloe agreed, then turned and walked into the lab building.

Once inside the lab, her first order of business was to test the substance for Julian.

When she got the results, Chloe’s brows knitted together. The substance not only caused severe hallucinations but also acted as an aphrodisiac.

’It really is nasty stuff.’