Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”’Pillar of the state’ is an idiom. It refers to the ridgepole and main beam—timber strong enough to be the main support of a house. It’s a metaphor for a talented person who can shoulder great national responsibilities. Got it?”

Dylan Grant nodded. ”Got it.”

”Then I want to be a pillar of the state when I grow up,” Elmer Grant said with a nod.

Dylan Grant couldn’t resist pouring cold water on him. ”I think ’talent for being a crooked tree’ is more your style.”

Elmer Grant said nonchalantly, ”Anyway, Daddy’s business will depend on you in the future, big brother. I don’t have the skills for it. Mommy, I don’t like to study! I’m not interested in school at all.”

”You have to study even if you don’t like it. You’re still so young and can barely read. How are you going to find a wife when you grow up? No woman will want you.”

Elmer Grant grinned. ”You don’t have to worry about that. When we were in Harrowin, Mommy, you didn’t see all the little girls who wanted to be with me. Your son didn’t even give them the time of day.”

Nora Ainsworth didn’t want to banter with him any longer. ”Pay attention in class this afternoon. Mommy has to go to a shoot soon, so you two need to be good.”

”Mommy, you have to be home by five-thirty, six at the latest! Otherwise, we’ll call Daddy, and you’ll have to face the consequences. Oh, and don’t film any scenes that aren’t suitable for children.”

Nora Ainsworth chuckled and poked Elmer Grant’s little head with her finger. ”Alright, Mommy gets it. You’re such a little busybody. What are we going to do with you when you grow up?”

”Mom, call my brother for me. I specifically said I wanted to talk to him when he was picking up the kids that night, but I never even saw him.” Jean Grant was on the phone with her mother.

On the other end of the line, Mrs. Grant told her bluntly, ”I’d advise you not to tell your brother you want to join the company. You don’t need the money, so why go? You’re not young anymore. The most important thing is to hurry up and get pregnant to give the Ainsworth Family a grandchild. Stop thinking about such useless things all day.”

”Are you even my real mother? What’s the big deal about making a phone call?”

”It’s not that I don’t want to call. It’s that your brother doesn’t listen to me at all anymore. It makes no difference whether I say anything or not,” Mrs. Grant said, telling the truth.

”Hmph. Just think about it. Before my brother met Nora Ainsworth, was there anything he wouldn’t do for you? Ever since he met her, he’s grown distant from our entire family.”

Mrs. Grant couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. ”Stop badmouthing Nora. Our family owes her more than we can ever repay. If you want to find him, call your brother yourself. I don’t want to do it.”

Jean Grant said, ”I know,” and hung up.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her emotions churning.

When Nicholas Ainsworth came out after washing up, he saw the look on her face and asked, ”Your mom didn’t agree?”

”Yeah. My mom said my brother doesn’t listen to her at all and told me to find him myself,” she said. ”It’s just a phone call. She’s not even willing to help me with that. Is she even my real mother?”

Nicholas Ainsworth’s expression shifted. ”Families like ours have always valued sons over daughters. Besides, you’re married to me now. Isn’t there a saying? ’A married daughter is like spilt water.’”

Hearing this only made Jean Grant more dejected. ”Even if it’s spilt water, it’s still her own flesh and blood.”

He walked over and stroked her hair. ”It’s alright. We have plenty of time. Let’s go down and eat.”

Jean Grant nodded and followed him downstairs. Mr. Ainsworth had already finished breakfast, and Sharon Ainsworth had just sat down to eat.

”Brother, I have a boyfriend,” Sharon Ainsworth said. This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to tell her family about a boyfriend.

Nicholas Ainsworth looked up, a little surprised. ”Who?”

Sharon Ainsworth looked down and smiled. ”He’s from the Grant Family.”

Jean Grant’s first reaction was, ”Martin Grant?”

Although Sharon Ainsworth was wary of Jean Grant and disliked her immensely, she still asked coolly, ”How did you know?”

Jean Grant scoffed. ”Is it that surprising? The Grant Family only has three grandsons: my brother, my second uncle’s son, and my third uncle’s son. But as everyone knows, my third uncle’s son has been dating his girlfriend for a long time and they’re about to get engaged. That only leaves Martin Grant.”

Nicholas Ainsworth’s expression was unreadable. ”How long have you been dating?”

Sharon Ainsworth told the truth. ”Just one week.”

Nicholas Ainsworth paused for a moment but didn’t say anything more. ”As long as you think he’s good for you, I won’t object.”

Hearing this, Sharon Ainsworth nodded. ”I think he’s great. He’s coming to pick me up at our gate in a little while. You should meet him.”

Nicholas Ainsworth nodded. ”Alright.”

After breakfast, the three of them went out the main gate. Martin Grant was standing in front of his sports car.

”Martin, how long have you been here?”

A smile played on his lips. ”I just arrived.”

”Let me introduce you,” Sharon said. ”This is my brother. You already know her.”

Martin Grant nodded and extended his hand. ”Hello.”

Nicholas Ainsworth narrowed his eyes and shook his hand. ”Hello.”

The two men looked at each other.

Then, Martin Grant drove away with Sharon Ainsworth.

Nicholas Ainsworth followed close behind, driving to work.

Jean Grant turned and went back inside.

She sat on the living room sofa and crossed her legs, her mind a chaotic mess.

Mr. Ainsworth came downstairs. He sat down next to Jean Grant and asked, ”Has Nicholas gone to work?”

Jean Grant nodded. ”Yes, he’s gone to work.”

His eyes fell on her crossed legs, his gaze unwavering.

Jean Grant noticed his strange stare and, feeling extremely awkward, uncrossed her legs. She then went upstairs in embarrassment.

Entering her bedroom, she felt her face burn.

She lifted her skirt; she was only wearing a pair of transparent panties underneath.

She let her nightgown fall, then lay down on the bed. After mulling things over, Jean Grant sat up again and quickly dialed Quentin Grant’s number.

The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

”What is it?”

”Brother, I need to talk to you about something. Where are you?”

Quentin Grant’s voice came from the other end. ”I’m in the Capital. If you need something, we’ll talk when I get back. BEEP BEEP BEEP...”

Jean Grant tossed her phone aside.

She hadn’t had anything to do for so, so long. Her days were dry, tasteless, and meaningless.

After thinking it over, she sat up, opened her closet, and found an outfit to change into.

As she was about to reach the top of the stairs, a series of discordant sounds faintly reached her ears. Jean Grant froze.

Following the sound, she found herself standing at the door to her father-in-law’s room.

Jean Grant thought of what had just happened in the living room and instantly felt extremely uncomfortable.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the top of the stairs, and Jean Grant quickly ran back to her room.

Her heart pounded wildly, as if she were a thief with a guilty conscience.

She tossed her bag aside, crouched by the table, opened a drawer, and took out a stack of discs.

She took them to the bed and sifted through them, finally picking one out and putting it in the DVD player.

Then she put the rest back in the drawer.

She adjusted the volume and sat alone on her bed, watching the television screen.

Sunlight gradually filled the world outside the window, becoming a bit glaring. She got up, yanked the curtains shut, and continued watching.

Halfway through, she became agitated.

She stripped off all the clothes she had just put on.

When she finished watching, Jean Grant felt a rush of excitement, as if she’d been shot up with adrenaline.

She pulled the blanket over her head, trying to restrain herself.

She drowsily fell asleep.

When she woke up, it was already past four o’clock.

She put on her pajamas and went downstairs, still drowsy. Mr. Ainsworth said, ”There’s food left for you in the kitchen. You should eat something.”

”Mm, okay.”

She brought out some food and sat down to eat.

”Jean, have you been sleeping since this morning?”

She nodded. ”Yes.”

”Ohhh,” Mr. Ainsworth said, getting up. ”You probably won’t be able to sleep tonight then. Nicholas is very tired after a long day at work. If you can’t sleep, don’t disturb him.”

Jean Grant replied, ”Okay.”

Mr. Ainsworth gave her a deep look before leaving.

Not long after Jean Grant finished eating, Nicholas Ainsworth returned.

She glanced at her watch. ”Why are you home half an hour early today?”

”Yeah. I have to go discuss something with someone in a bit. I won’t be home for dinner.”

Hearing this, Jean Grant quickly asked, ”Then what time will you be back tonight?”

”I’ll be back before midnight. There will definitely be drinking tonight.”

Jean Grant said, ”Then drink a little less. And... don’t get any female companions. If you need company, it should be me.”

Nicholas Ainsworth gave a humorless smile. ”Aren’t you with me every day? What woman could possibly get close to me under your watchful eyes?”

Jean Grant opened the closet. ”Nicholas, I slept for a long time during the day, so I definitely won’t be able to sleep tonight. How about I go with you? I won’t say a word, I’ll just listen, okay?”

He refused flatly. ”Don’t come. It’s not appropriate for you to be there when men are discussing business.”

Jean Grant was a little disappointed. ”Alright... well, you can at least tell me where you’re going.”

”The usual place. Lips.”

Jean Grant took an outfit out of the closet. ”Fine then. I’ll go shopping. I’m bored to death at home.”

He gave her a cool glance. ”Suit yourself.”

He left after saying that.

By the time Jean Grant had changed and gone downstairs, he was already gone.

She got in her car and drove to Lips. When she arrived, she got a private room and asked Ruby, but he wasn’t there.

Jean Grant felt that he had lied to her.

And so, the suspicion in her heart grew stronger.

She went to the other entertainment venues they frequented, checking several before finally spotting Nicholas Ainsworth’s car in the parking lot of one of them.

She parked her car in the furthest corner and went inside wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap.

After finding out Nicholas Ainsworth’s specific room number from the manager, she got a room directly across from his.

She ordered a bottle of wine and sang by herself.

It was utterly boring.

She opened her phone’s contact list and scrolled through it, but there was no one she could call.

Jean Grant suddenly realized that from her school days until now, she had basically no friends. She had always been a loner. That was probably why she was so dependent on her family.

Finally, her finger stopped on Zoe Ellsworth’s name.

She and Zoe Ellsworth used to be very close. Even after she came back from studying abroad, they kept in frequent contact. But ever since the incident with Ethan Ellsworth, Zoe no longer initiated contact with her. Although they still spoke when they met, their relationship was nothing like it used to be.

Still, she called Zoe Ellsworth.

The phone rang a few times before Zoe Ellsworth answered.

”Zoe, it’s me.”

Zoe Ellsworth’s voice came from the other end. ”Yeah.”

”When do you get off work? Come to New Era KTV when you’re done.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end before she asked, ”Who all is there?”