Hank pulled Sara into his arms.
Sara's body was soft. A faint scent of orange blossom of the body shampoo was lingering on her body. While holding her, Hank could rest his chin on the top of her head.
He sat on the lounge chair beside the bed and adjusted Sara to sit on his lap. Sara could feel the heat radiating off a man's body, accompanied by the smell of alcohol and cigarettes.
Hank buried his face into her shoulder, his lips brushing across her clavicle. Sara trembled a little.
"Why do you smell so nice? And so soft? Huh?" Hank grasped her waist with one hand and grazed her cheek with another hand. "Do you perhaps subsist on a diet of petals and dew?"
Being teased by an older man made Sara nervous. She blushed and stuttered in fright, "Master Bishop... I, I don't eat dew!"
So don't you ever think of feeding me dew! Hank was speechless.
His chest was moving and he smiled.
He slowly ran his fingertips over her cheek in a tender caressing motion, thoroughly gracing them with the softness of her skin. He replied, "Don't worry, I won't feed you that. What do you want to eat?"
Sara breathed a sigh of relief. She felt that big shots had a disgusting way to torture people. They would even feed people dew. Thus, after a close call, she dared not make any bold request. She said obediently, "I'm okay with anything."
Hank narrowed his eyes. His tone was sultry and seductive, "Be a good girl. Just tell Uncle what you want to eat and Uncle will definitely satisfy you."
Sara was speechless. She blushed again for no reason.
She moved away her gaze and bit her bottom lip, avoiding Hank's gaze that was as dark as a night, "...Hmm. Hmm, boiled mutton will do."
Spring was still in its early stages, winter hadn't gone completely yet. Savoring hot boiled mutton in that weather was one of the greatest joys of life.
The Martin family would always prepare a pot of steamed mutton soup on every Winter Solstice to warm themselves, but there would never be a portion for Sara.
The mutton she had requested was served promptly. It was undeniable that the Bishop family's personal chef had excellent skills. Every slice of mutton was cut evenly and rolled up neatly. After putting in the pot, the thinly sliced lamb became tender, turning into light red in color. It tasted especially wonderful when dipped with sauce.
To get rid of the usual gamey taste of mutton, the chef had added a small amount of chilli into the dipping sauce. It was too spicy. However, tastebuds was always honest. After Sara wolfed down around six slices of mutton, she used her hands to cool down her mouth.
Hank poured a cup of floral iced tea for her. It was made from damask rose, chrysanthemum, hawthorn, and honey. It was floral-scented with a pleasantly sweet and acidulous taste.
She took a sip of it to reduce the burn.
Hank then handed her a bowl of the mutton soup, comprising bone broth that was scrumptious. It tasted good with the sliced mutton, even when drinking it alone.
She said sheepishly, "Thank you."
Hank replied, "Do kids nowadays just thank people orally?"
Sara was at a loss for words, "What should I do then?"
He reached out his slender fingers, wiped off the stain on Sara's lips. He said, a smile in his voice, "You know, I am a businessman."
She nodded.
Of course she knew that.
Hank possessed the greatest power and influence. It could even be said that his status was the highest in Jena City. He owned properties all over Country. Country had a law that restricted expansion of trade by anyone in the military, but Hank was the sole exception. Bypassing the law, he had not only done that but also established a business empire in his name. If it were someone else, that person would have been suspended and investigated.
Hank continued, "From a businessman's perspective, if we help someone out, a mere 'thank you' isn't enough to show gratitude. We would exchange material things to show our appreciation."
It dawned on Sara. She pondered for a moment before setting her cutlery and bowl down, "Give me a second."
Turning around, she found her bag and took out a pendant from it. She put it in front of Hank and said in embarrassment, "I, I don't have money now, but I'll try my best to earn it. For now, please hold this in pledge... Although it isn't something valuable, it is what my mother left to me."
Hank was speechless. He looked at Sara confusedly. He did not take the pendant. Instead, he said, "By material things, I meant a kiss from you."
Sara was speechless.
Her widened watery eyes, looking at Hank blankly. After a long moment, she came out of her trance. She lowered her head in a daze, "Please... Please keep the pendant.
Seeing her pinching her hands as she muddled, Hank chuckled and took the jade pendant. "Alright, I took it already. Hurry up and eat."
Sara felt a load off her mind.
Hank asked casually, "I heard from Bella that things are getting well for you at school?"
Sara nodded, "I made two new friends yesterday."
Out of a sudden, something came to her mind. She looked at what she was wearing and thought, "It bothered Nina so much... The outfit must cost a fortune.
She stuffed a slice of mutton into her mouth and tried her best to swallow it all before speaking again, "Master Bishop, the clothes you bought for me... are too expensive. I..."
Expensive?" Hank snorted and said,
"They really aren't anything special. I'll ask the experienced tailor in Country to customize a set of new clothes for you in a few days. Tell Bella what style you'd prefer later."
Sara was wordless.
She had indeed heard that the rich would have experienced tailors customized their clothes. The price of a single piece of clothing was equivalent to the annual income of an ordinary family.
Sara quickly replied, "There's no need for that! I have too many clothes!"
Hank did not reply anymore. After watching her finish the bowl of soup he gave her, he let her do her assignment.
In fact, Scrollania College did not give much assignment. Sara had finished all already. She was reading medical books as self-studying.
The Lowell family was a renowned family of doctors. The ancestors had contributed significantly to medical books. Sara already read half of the books and found them extremely informative.
Hank was feeding bird in the yard. It was a parrot belonged to no one. It could mimic human speech very well.
"Are all young girls troublesome?" Hank asked out of the blue.
Bella stammered, "Hmm. I don't have a daughter."
Hank's gaze suddenly turned dark, his eyes was showing full of pressure, "Are you implying that I'm too old?"