Chapter 660 - 656: Spending the New Year Together

After lunch, Ethan Sterling drove them to the hospital.

There was a big difference in appearance between a high-end private hospital and a public one. It was Ronald’s first time at a place like this, and he couldn’t help but ask as soon as he got out of the car, "This is a hospital?"

"This is a private hospital. There are a lot of them in Veridia, but most people prefer public hospitals because they’re cheaper."

"The environment is nice, the service is good, and Aunt Yvonne is recovering very well here," Cecilia said, patting Ronald’s shoulder. "Come on, let’s go inside. I’m sure she’s been waiting for you."

They entered the inpatient wing, and Cecilia led Ronald to the room. Just as they reached it, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

"Aunt Jasmine!"

Seeing Jasmine Sterling, Ronald shouted excitedly and lunged forward to wrap his aunt in a hug.

Jasmine Sterling snapped out of her surprise and laughed. "Our Ronald is here! You’re so cold. It must be chilly in Lorcain, right? Hurry and get inside. Your mom’s in there!"

Yvonne Sterling, who was inside, seemed to have heard the commotion and was already walking out on her own.

Her post-op recovery was going very well, and her daily life was practically unaffected. What’s more, the hospital provided scientifically balanced and nutritious meals, so not only had Yvonne not lost any weight, she had actually filled out a bit.

Of course, Jasmine Sterling also deserved a lot of the credit, as she frequently brought her sister delicious homemade food.

"Mom!"

Seeing his mother, Ronald rushed over to her, immediately checking on her condition.

Although they video-chatted every day, seeing her in person finally set his mind completely at ease.

"Did your cousins pick you up? Have you eaten yet?"

"We ate. Cecilia took me to her high-end club for Chinese food. It was delicious!"

Hearing this, Yvonne Sterling couldn’t help but look at Cecilia Sterling with a faint smile. Cecilia gestured for everyone to sit down and talk.

The group sat down on the sofa, and Ronald asked after looking around, "Where’s my dad?"

"Your dad went to help out at Ethan’s Esports Base. He usually finishes up in the afternoon, goes home to shower, and then comes over to take care of me at night."

Yvonne herself laughed as she said this. "I feel like I don’t need anyone to take care of me at all anymore. I can eat and move around just like before. It’s just that the doctor said it’s best to wait until the observation period is over before being discharged."

Jasmine Sterling chimed in, "You’ll definitely be out before the Lunar New Year. I was just discussing it with your mom. We’ll all celebrate together in Lorcain this year."

When Cecilia and the others heard this, their faces lit up with joy.

"That’s wonderful!" Cecilia was thrilled. Back when they were in Veridia, her Aunt Yvonne and uncle always had to go to her uncle’s family home for the holiday. It was a long-standing rule in his family that sons had to return home for the New Year. Because of this, even though the two families were as close as one, they had always spent the holiday apart.

Ronald was happy too. "Finally, we can celebrate with Aunt Jasmine! I hate going back to my grandma’s for the New Year."

He pouted, his heart aching for his mother. "Every time we go back, my mom has to cook the New Year’s Eve dinner for that huge family. Their excuse is always that since she runs a roasted meat shop, she’s the best cook. Do they not cook at home on normal days? Do they live on air?"

"Ronald," Yvonne Sterling chided, patting his arm and shaking her head slightly, signaling for him to stop.

In truth, Cecilia’s family knew all about the situation. Yvonne had a strong personality and was certainly unhappy about it at first, so she would complain every year.

But complaining was one thing; she still did what needed to be done. She wouldn’t cause a scene at her in-laws’ place during the most important holiday of the year, needing to consider Brendan Harris’s feelings.

Brendan Harris had tried to speak up for her, but she always stopped him. Over time, after twenty years of marriage, she had actually gotten used to cooking the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Cecilia’s heart also ached for her aunt. She immediately looked at her mother and aunt. "Mom, Aunt Yvonne, since we have this rare chance to celebrate the New Year together, we should really enjoy our time. The custom here in Lorcain for New Year’s Eve is to have a big meal with drinks in the afternoon and evening, then make dumplings later that night. At midnight, the dumplings go into the pot, and we set off firecrackers."

"I was thinking, it’s always a hassle to prepare a meal for so many people. Every year, Aetherium offers a ’Custom New Year’s Eve Dinner.’ We could just have our dinner there. Afterward, we can all go home, watch the New Year’s Gala, and then make dumplings and set off fireworks together later!"

"That’s a great idea!" Jasmine Sterling nodded in agreement as soon as she heard it, taking her sister’s hand. "We can take a break for once and not cook!"

Yvonne Sterling was naturally delighted. "Okay, we’ll do whatever Cecilia arranges!"

*

「Rockport Department Store.」

Randall Jennings got out of his car in the underground garage and took the elevator straight to the first floor. Following the location Megan Nash had sent him, he circled the floor before finding her designer brand store, "N&M."

The shop’s decor was very stylish. The department store itself targeted a mid-to-high-end clientele, and the shoppers here were all either rich or influential.

Randall Jennings observed from the entrance for a moment. A few customers were inside, browsing and trying on clothes. He saw Megan Nash personally assisting them, so he waited instead of rushing in. It wasn’t long before she spotted him.

She broke into a bright, generous smile. Her entire demeanor had changed, and she now radiated a distinct vitality and powerful aura.

"Why didn’t you come in?"

Megan Nash asked as she came to the doorway, looking at Randall Jennings.

Randall Jennings was wearing a long, black cashmere overcoat over a suit. His tall frame made the clothes look crisp and sharp, and he exuded an extraordinary presence.

This time, however, Megan didn’t seem the least bit outshone by him. Or rather, the sense of helplessness and awe she used to feel in his presence had vanished.

"I saw you had customers, so I didn’t want to disturb you," Randall Jennings said in a gentle tone. "You’ve been working on this brand for the better part of half a year, and you’ve finally launched it. How is it? Is business good?"

Megan Nash smiled shyly and looked down for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "To be honest, I’m not very good at business; I’m just good at design. But I had help from a benefactor, so business is actually quite good. Since opening before New Year’s Day, our daily revenue has been far beyond my expectations."

"A benefactor?"

Megan nodded and blurted out without hesitation, "Jasmine. She recommended my store to her wealthy friends. These ladies love my designs. The cheongsams and faux fur series are the most popular, and we sell a lot of pieces every day. Some have even commissioned me to create custom designs for them, and the design fees are quite substantial."

"Randall, I have you to thank for this. It was through you that I had the good fortune to meet Jasmine."

"Honestly, the failure of my first brand was a huge blow to me. I was depressed for many years and didn’t even have the courage to try again. It was Jasmine who opened my eyes. She started her own career over again at forty-four. I’m not even thirty yet. I figured I had to pull myself together."