Chapter 225 - 224: I, Birthday, Send Money

As long as Ruby wasn’t slacking off, she was actually quite efficient.

The day after Yvonne sent the message, the delivery arrived for her not long after Leo Grant had left for the day.

Not only did they deliver everything she needed, but they also included plenty of extras.

Ruby also had her subordinate pass on a message: Yvonne should go wild and create to her heart’s content. If she ran out of materials, they’d send more—after all, it was all being bought with Yvonne’s money.

Besides, as the big boss and the renowned Master Lilos, Yvonne Lowell was bound to create something amazing. She was the perfect cash cow, wasn’t she?

Then it would be money begetting money, rolling in from all directions... Hehehe...

Yvonne Lowell: ’...You do realize this is *my* money, right? And what business does the Minister of the Ministry of Industry have meddling in the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue?’

Yvonne chose the largest empty room on the ground floor and had them set everything up.

And just like that, without anyone being the wiser, Yvonne’s villa gained a small research lab.

During the day, after Leo Grant left for the office, Yvonne would head in to work on his birthday gift. In the evenings, they would have dinner together.

After five full days of tinkering—from drafting and assembly to final testing—Yvonne finally dealt with this major headache. And through it all, Leo Grant remained completely oblivious.

Leo Grant: ’My Bonnie is so well-behaved! She waits obediently at home for me every day! This must be a preview of our happy married life!’

Yvonne Lowell: ’Heh. I’m busy doing naughty things behind your back every day, you big dummy.’

...

The night before his birthday, the two of them were sitting down to dinner in the dining room.

Leo Grant ladled a bowl of soup for her and asked casually, "Bonnie, I’ve noticed you’ve been staying home a lot lately. Aren’t you getting bored?"

He hadn’t seen her go out once in the past few days. Every time he came home, she was either sprawled on the couch or playing video games.

’She hasn’t asked about tomorrow, either. But back at The Shadow Pavilion, she looked at my ID and even asked if I celebrate my solar or lunar birthday. This doesn’t make sense...’

"Not at all. Why the sudden question? You’re not planning to drag me to the office, are you?" Yvonne paused what she was doing and looked up at him.

"No, of course not. It’s just... my mom wanted me to ask if you’d like to come over for lunch tomorrow."

Leo Grant’s inner monologue: ’No way, no way. She can’t possibly not get the hint, right?! C’mon, remember! Ask me! ASK ME!!! AHHH!!’

"I can’t, maybe another time. I actually have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. Please give my regards to your parents for me."

Yvonne had already lowered her head to continue wrestling with the braised pork ribs in her bowl, so she missed the eager glint in his eyes as she replied.

Leo Grant pressed his lips together, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. ’So she really doesn’t remember?’

But before he could say something to save face, he heard Yvonne speak again.

"Besides, if I went with you, wouldn’t I just steal the spotlight from the birthday boy?"

Huh?! The little boy whose heart had just shattered into a million pieces suddenly felt himself coming back to life!

"You remember?" Leo asked, his voice full of pleasant surprise.

Yvonne glanced up at him. "I asked you about it before, remember? Or do you have some kind of misconception about the memory of a Loster lifetime honorary professor?"

"No, it’s not that. I just thought, since it was so many days ago..." Leo trailed off, his voice growing quieter.

In the past, his birthdays had always been the same, year after year: lunch with the Grant family, and then an evening out with his friends.

Sometimes he wouldn’t even remember it was his birthday until Caleb Lowell and his other friends dragged him out of the office, having already planned everything.

But when Yvonne had proactively asked him about it, he’d subconsciously felt this year would be different. He’d actually started looking forward to it.

But he was worried about seeming too eager. He wasn’t trying to fish for presents, so he’d kept his feelings to himself.

"President Grant," Yvonne said, "we have mouths for more than just eating, you know. Are you really going to keep up this act with me?"

Yvonne sighed silently and picked up a meatball to stuff in his mouth. "What would happen if you told me every single day for a month, ’Hey, I have a birthday coming up, remember to wire me some cash’?"

Seeing the look on his face, what more did Yvonne need to understand? This clam had probably been sulking for days.

No wonder he’d suddenly brought up a business partner’s birthday party the other day, asking her for gift ideas.

’Thinking back, it was her fault, really.’

’She’d been so busy preparing his gift and surprise that she hadn’t paid much attention to the poor guy’s emotional state.’

’It was her bad. A surprise shouldn’t come at the cost of making the person of honor miserable.’

A certain someone’s mood visibly improved. He was still a little embarrassed by his own foolishness, but his girlfriend’s word was law.

So, he asked bluntly, "Well, since it’s my birthday tomorrow, does my girlfriend have anything planned?"

Yvonne found this amusing. He was a fast learner. "You’ll find out tomorrow night. But I really am busy tomorrow afternoon, so I can’t go to the Grant family’s place."

"Then don’t go. I’ll just let them know. But we’re so close, can’t you give me a little hint?" Leo Grant looked at her with pleading eyes.

Yvonne wagged her index finger. "Don’t even think about it. Just focus on finishing your work early tomorrow."

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely finish my work early. I’ll turn down Boss Crawford and the others, too, so I can come home early," Leo said with a sycophantic grin.

Yvonne didn’t say anything, lifting her soup bowl to hide the smile playing on her lips.

’Boss Crawford hadn’t even planned a party for him tomorrow, to say nothing of her own older brother, who was away on business in Continent O. Who exactly was he planning to turn down?’

...

「The next day.」

Leo Grant went to work first thing in the morning, his face glowing. The sooner he finished his work, the sooner he could go home and celebrate his birthday.

Yvonne also headed out around noon. She went to Prosperity Pavilion for lunch and to check on the progress of the decorations in the private room.

A little after four in the afternoon, seeing that there were no issues and that everyone else had been notified, Yvonne made her way over to The Grants.

The moment the receptionist saw her, her eyes lit up. "Miss Lowell, you’re here!"

Yvonne smiled and pressed a finger to her lips. "Don’t announce me. I’m here for a surprise inspection today."

The receptionist nodded eagerly. "Rest assured, Miss Lowell. I understand completely!"

’She didn’t really believe Miss Lowell was here for an "inspection." She was obviously just visiting him at work—wasn’t that a gift she was holding?’

Yvonne had no idea what the receptionist was thinking. She was already in the elevator on her way to the top floor, carrying two formal outfits.

Silas ’Spy’ Lynch was already waiting by the elevators. "Miss Lowell. The boss is in his office. His work for the day is just about finished."

’Of course it’s almost finished,’ he thought to himself. ’He dumped two-thirds of it on me and Ian. Is he the only one with a girlfriend? Like the rest of us don’t have lives?’

Ian Lynch: ’Meow?’