Chapter 731 - 727: Randall Jennings Likes You

Jasmine Sterling was caught off guard and didn’t react at first. She froze for two seconds before exclaiming, "Randall’s sister-in-law?"

’Randall?’

Monica Coleman watched Jasmine, a knowing look flickering across her face. Even the way she addressed him had changed. Monica clearly remembered that when they first met, Jasmine had called him "Mr. Jennings."

’Looks like things have really changed,’ she thought. ’I’m just too out of the loop.’

"Yeah. You’ve never met her, right?"

Jasmine shook her head. "No, this is the first time. But I have met his older brother once."

When Randall was sick, she went to his home to take care of him. His older brother had paid a surprise visit then.

Hearing this, Monica asked tentatively, "Jasmine, have you and Chairman Jennings been seeing each other a lot recently?"

She didn’t want to be too direct, afraid it would be too blunt.

Jasmine, ever the honest one, blurted out, "He comes over for dinner a lot."

Monica instantly sensed something was off. ’A man as busy as Randall Jennings, frequently going to Jasmine’s house for dinner?’

It might seem like a simple thing, but for someone like Randall Jennings, it was completely out of character. Jasmine was a great cook, sure, but it wasn’t as if she were serving ambrosia fit for the gods.

If Randall didn’t have some other motive, given his usual sense of propriety, why would he constantly impose on her for a meal?

This was the chairman of the Jandon Group, a man whose time was more precious than gold.

With that, Monica was all but certain that what Ivy Winters had said was true. Chairman Jennings probably really did like Jasmine.

But looking at Jasmine, it seemed she was still completely oblivious. She naively thought they were just friends and that Randall simply liked her cooking.

"Monica, you could’ve just sent a text to let me know. You didn’t have to make a special trip back," Jasmine said with a helpless smile. She stood up and asked, "How about I make you some tea to warm you up?"

"Forget about the tea," Monica said, exasperated. She shot Jasmine a look, signaling for her to sit back down.

Jasmine was puzzled. "What is it? You look like something’s on your mind."

"It’s not me, it’s you," Monica said, taking a deep breath. "Ivy didn’t come here today to ask about cleaning services. She came for you."

"Me?"

"Yes!" Monica didn’t beat around the bush any longer. "She came to see you as Chairman Jennings’s sister-in-law."

Jasmine’s expression grew even more baffled.

"You still don’t get it?" Monica was getting anxious.

Jasmine looked troubled. "As Randall’s sister-in-law? But why?"

"Because Chairman Jennings likes you!"

Monica was at her wit’s end and had to spell it out. "Oh, Jasmine... have you gone so long without any romance that your senses for it have completely rusted over?"

Jasmine stood there, completely stunned. After a moment, she chuckled and shook her head. "Impossible."

She said the word with unwavering conviction. In her heart, it was an absolute impossibility.

"If I’d heard it from anyone else, I would’ve thought it was impossible too. But Ivy came here herself. This has to be true." Monica’s expression turned serious as she spoke to Jasmine gravely. "Jasmine, this is a big deal. I’m telling you so you can be prepared. You might not believe it, but the Jennings family already knows who you are."

Jasmine was still in disbelief. "Monica, that’s absolutely impossible. Randall is several years younger than me, and I have three children. How could he possibly like me?"

"Who can really explain why people fall for each other? Maybe it’s your personality, or maybe he just likes older women. Or heck, maybe it’s because you saved his life! Do you have that little confidence in yourself? Isn’t Director Vance relentlessly pursuing you, too? Why is it so impossible when it’s Chairman Jennings?"

"Besides, the proof is right in front of you. Ivy came here, and she told me with her own mouth that she came because of Randall. Because Randall likes you!"

Monica’s verbal onslaught left Jasmine speechless once more.

’Randall... likes me?’

Jasmine’s expression was lost and bewildered. Scenes of her interactions with him began to flash through her mind. As their contact became more frequent, the nature of their relationship had also changed.

Initially, after discovering Randall’s identity, her attitude toward him had been respectful but distant. Their social statuses were worlds apart; they were from completely different spheres of life.

Later, when she learned how well he had taken care of Cecilia in Lorcain and how much he’d helped her daughter, she had started to feel more grateful toward him.

’When did we start getting so close?’

Jasmine couldn’t pinpoint the moment. It had happened gradually, almost imperceptibly. Their relationship had simply, naturally, evolved into what it was now.

But it had definitely started after Randall began visiting her home so often.

"Jasmine?"

Seeing Jasmine staring into space, Monica asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Jasmine shook her head. "I’m fine. I’m just a little... a little..."

She couldn’t find the right words to describe how she was feeling.

Sensing Jasmine’s turmoil, Monica asked cautiously, "So... do you have feelings for Randall?"

Jasmine looked at Monica. Her mouth opened as if to deny it, but to her own horror, she realized her heart felt no impulse to do so.

But she didn’t admit to it, either.

Her mind was a tangled mess. She was completely unable to think about it calmly.

It was all too sudden, too unexpected.

Monica sighed and said reassuringly, "Jasmine, don’t rush. I know this must be a lot to take in all at once. You can take your time to think it over. That way, you won’t be caught completely off guard later. I’m only telling you this so you won’t be caught on the back foot."

Jasmine pressed her lips together, only then realizing belatedly that her palms were slick with sweat.

When she returned home in the evening, both her daughters were there.

At the dinner table, a bowl of white rice was placed in front of Cecilia. She looked up, surprised, only to see her mother’s gaze was distant; she wasn’t looking at her at all.

"Mom, I already served myself."

Jasmine snapped back to reality. "Oh, you did? I didn’t notice."

Cecilia frowned, concerned. Her mother had just handed her the rice paddle a moment ago.

The next moment, Lily’s brow furrowed. She looked up at her mother and asked, "Mom, why is the shredded potato sweet? Did you cook it with sugar?"

Hearing this, Cecilia picked up a few strands to taste. Sure enough, they were sweet.

"Are they? I must have mixed up the sugar and salt. I’ll go make another batch."

Jasmine said, about to get up and head back to the kitchen.

Cecilia gently pressed her mother back down, asking with concern, "Mom, what’s wrong? You’ve seemed heavy-hearted ever since you got home. Did something happen at the company?"

Her mother rarely showed this side of herself to them. She was always strong and optimistic.

Cooking had always been the one area where she was completely in her element. Ever since Cecilia was a little girl, her mother had never once made a mistake in the kitchen. That’s why Cecilia was certain something was weighing on her mother’s mind.