Chapter 173

Basterel was indeed a vast city. Many foreigners who came to Wallingtonian often found themselves disoriented due to the incomprehensible maps and road signs. And if they happened to catch a taxi with a driver who didn’t speak Ustranasian, it would be very terrible.

Trance was indeed a bit careless. As a friend, she should take care of him in this unfamiliar place. Shermaine thought for a moment and asked, “Where are you?”

“I don’t know,” he replied.

“Ask the person who lent you the phone,” she suggested.

“Okay,” Trance responded and went to ask.

Although the person’s Ustranasian wasn’t very fluent, Shermaine was able to accurately pinpoint his location, Silvero Center.

‘He’s quite impressive, making it all the way there from the airport,’ Shermaine thought to herself. “I’ll come pick you up. Don’t wander around,” she said.

Trance’s eyes, those crystalline orbs, sparkled with a dazzling brilliance. “I’ll wait for you, Sheary,” he said before hanging up the phone.

Trance had borrowed the phone from a fan who recognized him. As he made the call, he transformed from a formidable presence to an adorable boy in an instant. The fan found it truly incredible.

He was genuinely good-looking, with wavy golden hair that was smooth and fluttering in the sunlight. His eyes were deep, his features chiseled, and he exuded an air of masculinity. Perhaps he wasn’t used to wearing suits, for now, his suit hung on his arm, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at several spots, giving off a sense of unrestrained charm.

Trance returned the phone and thanked the fan in Ustranasian. “Thank you for your phone.”

“You’re welcome,” the fan replied.

In return, Trance signed an autograph for him and took a photo together. The fan was overjoyed.

As the most bustling shopping center in Basterel, Silvero Center was packed with people. Trance, being a well-known and exceptionally handsome figure, soon attracted more and more people asking for autographs and photos. In a good mood, Trance didn’t refuse anyone.

Ross noticed Shermaine get up after answering the phone. “Going to pick up a friend?”

Shermaine nodded. “Yes.”

She glanced at Danielle, who was eating the fruit handed to her by her grandmother, looking calm and composed. The two were chatting and laughing, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere. Shermaine then said to Ross, “Ross, please take good care of Danielle.”

“Got it. I will,” Ross replied in a gentle, even tone. He would take care of Danielle; after all, she was currently playing the role of his girlfriend, and she was Shermaine’s good friend.

Hearing their conversation, Danielle glanced at Ross. ‘What a gentle and refined young master,’ she thought. Although Danielle had a personality, she wasn’t rigid. She took an instant liking to Ross and naturally paid attention to him.

Even though Danielle knew she wasn’t the type he usually favored, she still felt a bit tempted to give it a try, to pursue him and see if there was any real possibility of them being together.

“Drive safely,” Ross said.

“Okay,” Shermaine replied before heading upstairs to get her car keys.

Ross turned back and noticed Danielle still looking at him. She was stunningly beautiful, with a cool and elegant demeanor, wearing a plain evening dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure, making her incredibly charming.

Ross met her gaze. “Why are you staring at me?”

Danielle leaned closer. Ross felt her softness against his arm.

She whispered into his ear, her warm breath causing a shiver down his spine. Ross caught a whiff of her fragrance and was momentarily stunned. Danielle was usually cool and aloof, but when her voice softened, it seemed to have the power to make one’s bones go limp. “Jason keeps staring at me, Ross. You need to act more like my boyfriend and help me completely dissuade him.”

Ross was a bit surprised. He didn’t expect Danielle, the ice queen, to be so unexpectedly flirtatious. He wasn’t exactly a veteran in matters of the heart, but frequenting nightclubs for business deals had broadened his horizons and made him adept at handling such situations.

At that moment, with his grandmother watching them intently, Ross casually draped his arm around Danielle’s waist. He then picked up a fresh strawberry from the table and brought it to Danielle’s lips, speaking softly, “Try this.”

Danielle’s ears turned slightly pink. She played along perfectly with Ross, without a hint of awkwardness, as if she were truly his beloved. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her mouth to take the strawberry from him. Her lips brushed against Ross‘ fingers.

The sensation was moist and soft, and the feeling transmitted by her tongue was incredibly subtle.

After chewing slowly, Danielle said, “It’s very sweet.”

Janice was overjoyed inside. She was extremely pleased with Danielle. ‘If Danielle could continue to develop a stable relationship with Ross and eventually get married, that would be perfect,’ she thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Jason clenched his fists tightly, but he remained outwardly calm. Jameson, unaware of Jason’s feelings for Danielle, was worried that Janice might bring up marriage right away. Fortunately, she didn’t. After observing their interaction, Janice nodded approvingly and then turned to chat with the others.

Shermaine grabbed her car keys and headed straight to the garage. She only had one car, a gift from Joshua. She could have driven Ross‘, but among all the sports cars, the one Joshua had given her was her favorite. She rarely had the chance to drive it, and today seemed like a good opportunity to pick up Trance and take a little spin.

Just a few minutes after Shermaine left in her car, Joshua arrived at the Jean residence with Owen.

Owen, looking quite well and leaning on a cane, quickly outpaced Joshua and happily entered the main gate. Joshua followed at a leisurely pace, carrying several gifts.

As soon as he appeared, the debutantes who had come to meet Ross for a potential match couldn’t help but glance over, their hearts racing.

‘Mr. York is as handsome as ever. No wonder he’s the man every woman in Basterel dreams of sleeping with. He’s so desirable,’ they thought to themselves.

The Jean family’s maid, seeing them arrive, hurried to inform Janice. Upon seeing Owen, Janice’s face lit up with joy as she greeted him warmly. “Oh, you look great.”

“Thanks to Sheary,” Owen sighed with relief. Without her, he might not have made it.

Mentioning Shermaine, Owen, who hadn’t seen her in a while and missed her dearly, asked, “Where’s Sheary?”

After handing over the gifts to the Jean family’s maid, Joshua was eager to see Shermaine. They hadn’t seen each other for several days, and he missed her terribly. He wanted to hold her and give her a kiss. He thought Shermaine might be upstairs or somewhere else, but Janice said, “Sheary went to pick up a friend. She just left.”

‘Friend? What kind of friend needs to be picked up personally? Male or female?’ he wondered. Joshua looked at Danielle curiously.

Feeling Joshua’s gaze, Danielle smiled and mouthed, “It’s a very close male friend.”