Chapter 591: Everyone Likes Beauties

The next day, everyone slept in. Ellie Ashton was the first to get up. Seeing that no one else was awake and having nothing to do, she decided to make breakfast. Tang Xiaonan and the others were roused by the fragrant aroma of congee. On such a lovely morning, the sudden scent of warm porridge made them feel cozy, and their spirits lifted instantly.

Tang Xiaonan glanced at the wall clock. It was already nine-thirty in the morning, but not a sliver of sunlight penetrated the room. The heavy curtains blocked it out, muffling the sounds from outside as well.

After getting dressed and washing up, she went downstairs to find Ellie Ashton busy in the kitchen. Tang Xiaonan was quite surprised. She had assumed Ellie Ashton was the type who never had to lift a finger, given her privileged background and a personality that didn’t seem suited for a gentle, domestic life. But her cooking was surprisingly deft; you could tell she did it often.

"Xiaonan, you’re awake. Go wake your brothers and the others up. If they don’t get up soon, we’ll only be able to go out at night."

Ellie Ashton was stir-frying vegetables from the fridge, which was stocked with fresh ingredients Will’s wife had bought early that morning. His wife had offered to help with breakfast, but Ellie Ashton didn’t want to impose, so she’d taken on the task herself.

"It smells amazing!"

Tang Xiaonan took a deep breath. It was the aroma of stir-fried green peppers and eggs, a truly authentic scent that made her mouth water.

"Smells good, right? Here, try a piece."

Ellie Ashton picked up a piece of egg, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to Tang Xiaonan. Then she casually pinched the girl’s cheek, smiling gleefully.

After eating the egg, Tang Xiaonan said earnestly, "Ellie, you’re the perfect example of a good wife and loving mother."

Ellie Ashton froze for a moment, then burst out laughing so hard that tears streamed from her eyes. "You silly girl, you even know what a good wife and loving mother is? I could never be that, and I have no interest in it. My dream is to be a journalist and expose the hidden darkness in society. Who has time to be a good wife and loving mother? I don’t even need a man. Honestly, why am I telling a little girl like you all this? You wouldn’t understand anyway."

She pinched Tang Xiaonan’s face again, then went back to stir-frying, skillfully working the spatula. ’Of course I understand,’ Tang Xiaonan thought. ’Ellie’s dream is noble, but it’s also dangerous. It’s not easy for a woman to do that kind of work.’

"You like Mr. Xavier," Tang Xiaonan said innocently.

It was also something of a test; she wanted to know what Ellie was thinking, since she clearly had an unusual interest in Clayton Xavier.

"That’s right, I like Mr. Xavier. He’s so handsome, isn’t he? His face looks like it was painted. I just have a thing for beautiful people. They’re such a feast for the eyes."

Ellie Ashton admitted it openly, her gaze perfectly clear. And in that moment, Tang Xiaonan understood.

They were two of a kind: both of them were suckers for a pretty face.

’We both love pretty boys. I like Takashi Kashiwabara, Takuya Kimura, Won Bin, a young Leonardo DiCaprio before that water-gun meme, Vic Chou, and Louis Koo... I like any man who’s handsome; I could fill an entire notebook with their names. So that means Ellie doesn’t have romantic feelings for Clayton Xavier. She just genuinely appreciates his beauty.’

’Looks like my second brother has even less of a chance now.’

’Who could blame her? My second brother and the word ’handsome’ are worlds apart!’

Tang Xiaonan held a three-second moment of silence in her heart for Patrick Thorne, mourning the rose of his love that had withered before it could even bloom. Then she stopped dwelling on it. ’Even if she can’t be my sister-in-law, they can still be friends, right?’

"I’m starving..."

Jim Thorne’s listless voice echoed from the living room. Tang Xiaonan walked out to see him looking pale and slumped over the table, completely drained. She hurried over to feel his forehead, but he didn’t have a fever.

’But ever since she’d arrived, Jim had always been so full of energy. This time, though, he looked as if he’d been hit by a frost. Was he not adjusting well to the new environment?’

"Xiaonan’s up... So sleepy..."

Patrick Thorne emerged with a yawn, followed closely by Clayton Xavier and Adrian Hawthorne. All four of them were glassy-eyed and pale. Adrian Hawthorne and Clayton Xavier were at least managing to sit upright, but both of the Thorne brothers were slumped over the table.