Chapter 271 - 270: Lovers on the Same Wavelength

"Well, I did manage to sell myself in the end, didn’t I?" A playful glint twinkled in Leo Grant’s deep, dark eyes.

"And I didn’t just hype myself up—I hyped you up, too. If I joined the sales department, all the salespeople at the Grants would probably resign out of shame."

"Go easy on us working folk, you evil capitalist."

A faint smile touched Yvonne Lowell’s lips as she continued.

"Before this house was even built, my favorite place to go was the back mountain. Back then, I thought I was hot stuff and had already learned everything, so I’d often skip my classes and training sessions to go hide out there and slack off.

But even though I made sure to change my hiding spot every single time, Auntie Dahlia would always manage to find me. Getting caught meant punishment, but I just never learned my lesson. I’d do it all over again the next time, trapping Auntie Dahlia and me in an endless game of cat and mouse."

Auntie Dahlia: Because there were surveillance cameras in the back mountain. Didn’t see that coming, did you, little Jerry? (?????????)

The warm yellow light spilled onto Yvonne Lowell’s face, softening the features that usually held a hint of aggression.

Her thick eyelashes fluttered like miniature feathered fans, making her look unutterably beautiful.

Leo Grant was so mesmerized that, while he heard every word she said, he forgot to respond.

But Yvonne Lowell didn’t seem to need a reply, simply continuing on her own.

"I’ll take you for a walk in the back mountain tomorrow morning. The scenery there is beautiful, too. I planted a huge grove of bamboo deep in the mountains once—all of it black bamboo.

Over three hundred stalks, and I planted every single one with my own two hands. It’s not that I was trying to be a hero and do it all myself—the old man wouldn’t let me get help. Not from Old Man Jennings, not even from Jackie.

I mean, seriously. What was even the point of my title as Second Miss *and* Young Master?

Besides, black bamboo is ridiculously finicky, so it took a ton of my effort at the beginning. But now the stalks have grown so tall, they look cool as hell.

I have no idea what I was thinking back then, choosing to plant bamboo of all things. Maybe I was a giant panda in a past life, and this was me working hard to grow some food for my former self.

Oh, right. I also hid some little things in a few places back then. I wonder if that little brat, The Mountain Lord, has found any of them.

Ever since I brought The Mountain Lord home, that entire area has become her turf. I worked myself to the bone and I’m just the ’Young Master,’ but she didn’t have to lift a finger or spend a dime to become the queen of the mountain..."

Leo Grant listened quietly and patiently, his eyes never leaving her.

It seemed this was a place where she could completely let go of her burdens, a place where she could relax and truly be herself.

And only at times like this did she seem to act her age.

Leo felt as if he could see the young Yvonne Lowell through her words.

The clever, mischievous, vibrant, and lively Yvonne Lowell—the one given a new life by Apeiron, the one the people here had so carefully nurtured, giving her new flesh and blood.

When she finished, Leo Grant finally spoke. "Well then, may I ask this little national treasure, reincarnated as a human, if you might bring me back here for long stays in the future?"

Yvonne turned her head and raised an eyebrow. "And why, may I ask, would a human like you suddenly have such an idea?"

"Because I like it here. It would be perfect if I could come back to spend my retirement. Any chance of that, my dear National Treasure and Young Master?"

Leo leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek.

Yvonne blinked. "This Young Master is just a poor wretch who has to plant her own bamboo. I don’t have a shred of real power. For something like that, you’ll have to ask the Continent Lord."

"That’s fine. By then, you’ll probably be the Continent Lord, so it would be perfectly normal for me to live here as the Continent Lord’s Wife, wouldn’t it?"

"Well..." Yvonne lowered her gaze, pretending to mull it over. Her tone was laced with mock hesitation.

The very next second, however, Yvonne suddenly cupped his face with her hands and planted a firm kiss on his lips.

"Gigi, I think I fell even more in love with you today!"

Yvonne knew he was only saying all this because of her.

After all, Leo Grant always seemed to understand her perfectly, effortlessly seeing through to her innermost thoughts.

Yvonne had always been adept at putting up a facade. For people in their world, being seen through was the ultimate taboo; it made her feel insecure and endangered.

But when the one seeing through her was Leo Grant, she felt an overwhelming sense of security instead.

Leo’s eyes darkened, and his voice grew husky. "The honor is all mine."

With that, he raised a hand to caress her cheek, lowered his head, and once again captured the rosy lips that had been chattering all evening.

’He had once believed that so-called "love" was nothing more than an ethereal concept. He’d always scoffed at the idea, even though he grew up watching his parents, who were the very model of a devoted couple.

People say that great men don’t sweat the small stuff, but he believed that a man destined for greatness shouldn’t—and wouldn’t—get caught up in romance.

That was, until he saw Yvonne Lowell again after more than a decade and was forced to eat his words.

To hell with achieving great things. Anyone who wanted to could go do it. All he wanted now was to lose himself in love.

He’d even resorted to the lame and childish excuse of her "forcibly" kissing him when she was two, all in an attempt to win her over and lock her down.

In the beginning, when he was plagued by insecurity, he’d even entertained some dark, despicable thoughts—contemplating underhanded ways to keep her by his side forever.

Fortunately, they were kindred spirits, lovers on the same wavelength.

He understood her, but she also understood him better than anyone else.

That was why she could always sense the subtle shifts in his mood that no one else could see, and she would effortlessly soothe them away.’

After a long while, Leo Grant finally let her go, resting his forehead against hers.

"Then I’ll just have to try a little harder, and make you love me a little more every day."

"I’m tired," Yvonne said, her voice lazy. "If someone were to carry me back to my room right now, I’d definitely love them a little more tomorrow than I do today."

"You’ve got a deal."

A smile bloomed in Leo Grant’s eyes as he scooped her up with one arm and stood.

Yvonne expertly wrapped her legs around his waist and clung to him, a perfect imitation of a koala.

Leo carried her back to the master bedroom, then dutifully helped her wash up.

After taking a quick shower himself, he climbed into bed and held his sweet-smelling girlfriend as they drifted off to sleep.