Chapter 776: The Boss is a Doofus

If the Hawthorne family hadn’t suffered its downfall, Rosalind Green might have held onto her rare innocence forever. She was drawn only to beautiful things; even in novels, she disliked protagonists with the slightest flaw.

This was why Rosalind Green had never liked *Jane Eyre* or *The Hunchback of the Cathedral of Veridia*. The male protagonists in those books were disabled, and she couldn’t relate to them.

But now, Rosalind’s perspective had shifted. She understood why Victor Hugo had written a protagonist as ugly as Quasimodo. Judging people by their appearance was the greatest folly; reality was full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Take a woman like Phoenix Golding, for instance. Who would believe she was a vicious slut just by looking at her?

Then there was Phoebe Huxley. Though she looked like a ruffian, she was blunt, outspoken, and warm-hearted. Rosalind felt that Millstone Peak was the real-life Cathedral of Veridia, and she decided she would never judge anyone by their appearance again.

As for Jane Eyre choosing to be with a blind Rochester in the end, it was because a responsible and devoted man like him was worthy of her lifelong commitment. What good was a handsome man if he was irresponsible and a womanizer?

Just like her husband, Ethan Hawthorne. Whether it was Quasimodo or Rochester, Ethan couldn’t compare to either of them.

Rosalind sighed softly, her expression somber. She led Tang Xiaonan by the hand and left the Lowe family’s home. The moment she turned, Mad Lord’s composure shattered. His eyes burned with a feverish light, fixed on her retreating figure.

Tang Xiaonan sensed something was off and instinctively glanced back, her eyes meeting Mad Lord’s longing gaze. He froze for a second before his expression turned cold again. Tang Xiaonan eyed him with suspicion. ’Was I just imagining things?’

"Goodbye, Uncle!"

Tang Xiaonan waved. Mad Lord’s lips twitched into a slight smile as he said abruptly, "I’ll come see you in a couple of days."

"Okay! I’ll be waiting for you at home."

Tang Xiaonan didn’t think much of it. She would never have dreamed that the seemingly upright Mad Lord was lusting after Rosalind, a married woman.

Mad Lord’s lips twitched again; he could barely keep a straight face. ’I’ll get to see my beauty again soon, and I can even eat food she made herself. Life really is getting better every day.’

"Boss, they’re gone."

Will couldn’t help but speak up. The woman was long gone, yet the boss was still squeezing his hand—and with so much force.

Mad Lord finally retracted his gaze and shot Will a look of disgust. ’He thought I didn’t see him drooling like an idiot just now? I squeezed him on purpose.’

A chill went down Will’s spine. He quickly tried to curry favor, "The lady and you are a match made in heaven, a perfect pair."

Mad Lord’s expression softened. ’Now that’s what I like to hear. It really is a match destined by fate.’

Will breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow. ’I need a zongzi to calm my nerves.’ But just as he picked one up, a hand shot out and snatched it away. It was Mad Lord.

"Eat that qingming guo."

Mad Lord counted the zongzi. There were twenty-five left. He felt a pang of loss—that damn kid Will had already eaten several.

"Boss, I thought you didn’t like these?"

"I like them now," Mad Lord warned sternly. "Don’t you dare sneak a single one, or I’ll break your legs!"

’His beauty made these zongzi for him. Every single one was a token of her affection. He had to eat them all, even if he got a potbelly. If it came to that, he’d just run a few extra laps in the morning.’

Will’s lips twitched. ’He used to think his boss was brilliant and formidable, but now he just seemed like a total doofus. They’re just a few zongzi. Does he really have to guard them like a dog with a bone?’

’Fine, I won’t eat them. I’ll just get my wife to make some for me when I get home. It’s not like I don’t have a wife of my own.’