Chapter 524 - 520: You Have a Girl You Like? Or a Boy?

Seeing the look on Mr. Young’s face, Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh. "Come on, Mr. Young, you don’t have to play games with me. After all your years in Lorcain, are you really telling me you can’t get a simple road construction permit?"

At Cecilia’s words, Mr. Young put on a somewhat troubled expression. "Sigh. You don’t deal with these people, so you wouldn’t understand. The new leadership in Sunstone District these days... how should I put it... they’re a tough bunch."

"But building a road is a good thing. If a company is willing to pay for it out of their own pocket, why wouldn’t they approve the permit?"

"You’re not wrong, but..." Mr. Young started to say, then stopped himself and shook his head. "Forget it. There’s no point in getting into it. Since you’re the one asking, of course I’ll do my best. Wait to hear from me."

He then looked at Cecilia and asked curiously, "By the way, do you have a concrete plan for this project? What’s the budget?"

"I haven’t budgeted for it," Cecilia admitted honestly.

She had never handled a project like this before. Cemeteries were such a niche market that she had almost no examples to reference, but she was still certain it would be profitable.

"There you go again." Mr. Young looked resigned. "No matter how rich you are, you can’t be so impulsive. If you’re serious about this, you need to get a budget estimate. At the very least, you need to define a range so the project doesn’t spiral out of control."

"In that case, Mr. Young, do you know any professionals who design cemeteries?" Cecilia asked.

Mr. Young laughed instantly. "What kind of ghoulish specialization is that? Who majors in cemetery design? For something like this, you just find a professional architect. I do have some connections in that area. I can introduce you if you need them."

"Great!" Cecilia gave a sweet smile and said playfully, like a junior buttering up a senior, "I’ll have to rely on you to look after me, Mr. Young. I knew you wouldn’t leave me to fend for myself."

"Oh, honestly, stop flattering me." Mr. Young waved his hand in mock disgust. "If Jeb were here, I wouldn’t have been the first person you thought of."

Cecilia covered her face, a little embarrassed at being called out so directly.

But Mr. Young was clearly joking. His next words, however, held a hint of seriousness. "All kidding aside, I was actually quite surprised that Jeb took such a liking to you and accepted you as his little sister. As I watched you two get closer, I’ll admit I was secretly a little jealous."

"Really?" Cecilia sounded pleasantly surprised. "You’d get jealous over something like that, Mr. Young? Were you jealous of me or of my brother?"

"Ha, a bit of both, I suppose. There’s no shame in admitting it." Mr. Young took a sip of red wine and added, "So now that Jeb is away, I have to seize this opportunity to move in. By the time he gets out, our friendship will be even stronger, and then we can gang up on him and give him the cold shoulder!"

Cecilia laughed, knowing that Mr. Young was just kidding.

But in the next moment, Mr. Young let out a soft sigh. "Your brother’s trial starts in less than a month. To be honest, I have a bad feeling about it. I’m pretty worried."

Cecilia felt the same way, though she didn’t let it show.

"We’ll just have to wait and see. Lawyer Quincy said that as long as no murder or drugs are involved, based on the crimes my brother has confessed to, his sentence won’t be too severe," Cecilia said softly.

Mr. Young pursed his lips, then offered a faint smile. "All we can do is wait for the verdict. Let’s hope for the best."

It was already nine o’clock at night by the time Cecilia got home from dinner with Mr. Young.

The lights were on in the villa, and the moment Cecilia stepped inside, she was greeted by the rich aroma of a home-cooked meal. In the dining room, her mother and younger brother were eating dinner.

Seeing her daughter return, Jasmine Sterling stood up. "Would you like to eat some more?"

Cecilia glanced at the dishes on the table—they were all her favorites, but she really couldn’t eat another bite.

She shook her head. "I’m full."

"Then have a bowl of mung bean soup," Jasmine Sterling said, opening the refrigerator to ladle out a bowl of the chilled, refreshing soup.

Cecilia was a little surprised. "Weren’t you out this afternoon? How did you find the time to make mung bean soup?"

"Mrs. Duncan made it and brought some over for us. It’s perfectly sweet and refreshing. Your brother just drank two huge bowls."

Ethan Sterling looked up at the mention of his name and broke into a goofy grin. Cecilia sat down next to him. "What’s the deal with you? Didn’t you say you were going to stay at school for the holiday? Why’d you come back?"

She couldn’t figure out what was up with her brother. He used to spend the entire weekend at home, only rushing back to school first thing on Monday morning.

But now, he hadn’t even wanted to come home for the national holiday.

Cecilia could only think of one reason.

Seeing the hesitant look on her brother’s face, she couldn’t help but ask, "Are you dating someone?"

Her question made Jasmine Sterling look up at her son, too.

Ethan blushed and instinctively denied it. "No..."

"So you have a crush on a girl, then?" Cecilia pressed.

This time, Ethan didn’t deny it, though he didn’t admit it right away either.

Cecilia blinked. "Is it a boy you like?"

"Sis!" Ethan yelped, making Jasmine Sterling chuckle.

Cecilia gave an innocent shrug. "Why such a big reaction? Our family is very open-minded. Your mom and I would support you even if you liked boys."

Jasmine Sterling looked at her son with nothing but deep motherly love in her eyes. Although she didn’t say anything, she clearly agreed with her daughter.

"Sis!" Ethan cried, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Of course I like girls!"

"So there is someone you like? Have you made a move?" Cecilia’s interest was suddenly piqued. She picked up her mung bean soup, her eyes full of anticipation as she watched her brother and took a sip.

Ethan stopped denying it and nodded. "I’m trying, but I haven’t succeeded yet."

"Got a picture? Let me see!" Cecilia glanced at her brother’s phone, which was sitting nearby, and wiggled her eyebrows.

Ethan scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish, just as his mother chimed in, "Let me see, too."

With two pairs of eyes staring him down, Ethan pursed his lips, unlocked his phone, and carefully selected their best photo together to show his sister and mother.

It was the one taken at the aquarium.

Cecilia picked up the phone, and Jasmine Sterling immediately leaned in close. As they looked at the photo, the mother and daughter’s eyes lit up with the exact same expression.

Jasmine Sterling couldn’t help but exclaim, "What a beautiful girl!"

Cecilia had seen more than her fair share of beautiful women—she was surrounded by them—but she, too, was genuinely struck by Seraphina’s looks. It was a kind of beauty that was full of spirit.

"You’ve got good taste. Was this on a date?" Cecilia asked.

"Sort of," Ethan replied, then turned to Cecilia. "Sis, Seraphina’s birthday is coming up, and I want to get her a gift. For a first birthday present, do you think I should go for something expensive or something more restrained?"

Cecilia looked at her brother’s earnest, questioning face and asked in return, "What do you think?"

"I think Seraphina would prefer a more thoughtful gift. Whenever we go on dates, she insists on splitting the cost. I don’t think she’s a materialistic girl."

Insists on splitting the cost on dates?

Cecilia smiled and asked, "So, up until now, you’ve basically spent almost no money on this girl?"

Ethan thought about it seriously for a moment before shaking his head. "Basically none."

Cecilia tilted her head back and drained the bowl of mung bean soup. Then she turned to her brother and said, "What I’m trying to say is, thoughtful and valuable aren’t mutually exclusive. Since you’re torn between the two, why not give her a gift that’s both?"