Chapter 65 She Favors Him Over You
“It’s me, Courtney.” The loud and clear voice of a young man spoke from the other end of the line.
“I know it’s you,” Courtney spoke gently with a note of familiarity. “It’s not like the caller ID isn’t displayed. What’s the matter? You told me last time that you’d return to the country after the performances are over. Have you confirmed when you’re coming back?”
“It’s been confirmed.”
“Well, when is it? I just wrapped up a project, so I can go to the airport to pick you up if I’m available.”
“It’s not necessary.”
“You’re right.” Courtney smiled. “Our famous cellist here is also a popular Prince Charming whom every lady in the country dreams of marrying; naturally, he has a special car to take him wherever he goes.”
“This Prince Charming is about to sleep out on the streets right now. Don’t you care about me, Courtney?”
“What do you mean by sleeping out on the streets?”
“Just turn around.”
Upon hearing this, Courtney subconsciously turned around to look at Sunhill Hotel’s entrance. Standing at the entrance against the background of a large fountain, the young man was dragging his suitcase with a huge cello case on his back. He was staring at her with a grin, revealing his white teeth.
His grin was innocent without a trace of impurity. Then, he spread his arms wide and shouted, “Surprise, Courtney!”
Courtney was startled for a moment before smiling almost instantly. Trotting up to him in her 10-centimeter heels, she slapped his shoulder and complained with a smile, “You brat! When did you come back? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I have been traveling by plane for more than 40 hours, and I’m almost dying of exhaustion right now.”
“Let’s have dinner later.” Courtney checked the time. “It just so happens that I’ve finished my work today. Wait for me while I pack my stuff up and clock out.”
“Wait a minute.” Instead of allowing her to leave, the young man suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.
“What are you doing? I’m sweating all over.” Courtney struggled.
Acting like a spoiled child, the young man leaned his head on Courtney’s shoulder and swayed his body. He whispered to her ear in an attractive voice, “I’m recharging my batteries, sis. I’m running out of batteries, so I need to recharge with a hug.”
Courtney patted him on the back in resignation. “How old are you already? Why are you still behaving like a kid?”
She always found herself at a loss whenever Shay called her ‘sis’.
Shay looked pitiful on their way to pick Tina up. “I have just returned to the country, so I don’t have a place to stay, sis.”
“Cut that nonsense. Didn’t your philharmonic orchestra arrange a place for you to stay?”
“I’m no longer working in the philharmonic orchestra.” Shay blinked his eyes. “The work at the philharmonic orchestra is too easy, and it doesn’t pay much either. Hence, I signed up with a new agency.”
“Has your contract with the philharmonic orchestra expired?” Courtney frowned. “That’s not right. Didn’t you tell me that you were coming back to the country to prepare for your concert last time?”
“That’s right. The contract hasn’t expired, so I have to pay the damages for the concert’s cancellation. After paying the compensation for the breach of contract, I don’t even have enough money to stay in a hotel until my new agency arranges a job for me. Please take me in, sis.”
Shay’s words didn’t sound like a lie. He had always known his own mind; he’d rather continue staying in the philharmonic orchestra than pay such a huge amount of money for the breach of contract unless something had happened there.
Concerned, Courtney asked, “Did something happen?”
“Nothing.” Shay waved his hand nonchalantly. “What can possibly happen to me?”
“Don’t keep it a secret from me if something happened to you.”
“I’m really all right. I’m a man who wrestled in underground boxing rings at the risk of my life since I was 10 years old—what can possibly happen to me?” Shay pulled Courtney’s arm over and leaned on it naturally. Then, he changed the subject by saying, “Let me sleep for a while first. Wake me up when we arrive.”
Seeing that he was really asleep and exhausted in a way that made people feel sorry for him, Courtney let out a sigh in resignation and pulled up his collar with her other hand.
Shay was two years younger than her, so he always called her ‘sis’ and put on a mischievous grin. He liked behaving like a spoiled child more than actual kids did, but Courtney was aware deep down inside that some bloody memories of the past would haunt him for the rest of his life. To him, he could never put these memories out of his mind, and his smile was only a barrier that concealed his innermost self.
After Courtney and Shay waited at the kindergarten’s entrance for a while, school finally ended. A figure darted out like a launched rocket; the next instant, Courtney sensed her feet being hugged tightly.
“Mommy!” Tina wrapped her arms around Courtney’s feet with a look of delight. “Have you finished work, Mommy? Why do you have time to pick me up?”
Courtney nodded. “That’s right. My job is done, so you and I will be staying at our home from today onward.”
“Huh?” The sudden and distressing news hit Tina hard, and her face fell at once. She pouted her lips and asked, “Can’t we keep staying at Mr. Alexander’s home?”
“Of course not.”
Alexander, who had just picked Jordan up, heard this while Jordan dragged him toward Courtney, and his expression froze for a moment. He asked, “Don’t you have to get busy with the celebrations later as well?”
Courtney nodded. “I do, but I won’t be so busy. I should be able to clock in and out on time, so I won’t be troubling you after this. Thank you for looking after Tina over the past two weeks. I’ll return to Royal Park Manor this Saturday to collect the stuff we’ve left there.”
She had brought some belongings with her while staying there previously, so she should take them back.
Upon hearing that Courtney was leaving, Jordan was immediately displeased; he kept tugging at the hem of Alexander’s suit jacket and glared at the latter.
Tina looked reluctant as well. She grabbed her own hand and muttered, “I want to play with Jordan.”
Courtney frowned at her and was about to pretend to get angry when Shay’s voice spoke from behind. “Long time no see, Tina.”
The young man’s clear voice was particularly pleasing to hear, and it made its way through the noise of the crowd—precisely into the ears of everyone.
Tina’s expression lightened almost instantly. She threw herself into Shay’s arms and screamed, “Shay!”
“Do you miss me, little girl?”
“Yes, I do! I miss you to death!”
“That won’t do. I have brought you many little gifts. Don’t you want to see them?”
“Yes, I do!”
Shay laughed while scooping her up in his arms, making her giggle.
Dressed casually in a white T-shirt and black trousers, the young man—who was in his early twenties—looked incredibly pure and innocent as the wind lifted the hair in front of his forehead, making many young ladies pause as they walked by. Some of them even took out their cell phones and started taking pictures of him.
Seeing that Tina and Shay were playing like that, Courtney immediately urged, “Hey, Shay—it’s dangerous for you to lift her up that high! That’s enough! Tina, how many times have I told you that you should call him Uncle Shay instead of Shay?”
“It’s Shay, my favorite Shay!” Tina held Shay’s face and planted a smacker on it with a smug expression. “Shay, you mustn’t leave after coming back this time!”
“I’m not leaving. Your Mommy has promised to let me stay together with you two!” Shay winked an eye at Tina. “Tomorrow is a Saturday, so feel free to tell me whatever you want to play with me, Tina!”
At the sight of the scene, Jordan desperately tugged at the hem of Alexander’s suit jacket with great anxiety.
However, Alexander merely lowered his head and glanced at Jordan before speaking in a cold voice, “Obviously, she favors this uncle over you, so it’s useless to tug at me. Let’s go—it’s time to go home.”
Jordan flushed angrily at once.
