Chapter 164: I’ll Pick You Up After Work

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: I’ll Pick You Up After Work

...

The car was already parked downstairs from her company.

This time, there was no chauffeur. Adrian Grant was driving himself.

After she got in, the man smiled and tapped his cheek. "We haven’t seen each other all morning. Don’t I get a kiss?"

Caroline Whitman stared for two seconds, then quietly uttered two words: "Secretly smug."

She then leaned over and gave his cheek a light, fleeting touch.

Adrian Grant was clearly unsatisfied with this perfunctory peck. He turned his head to look at her, his gaze asking, ’That’s it?’

Caroline Whitman, expression unchanged, pulled her seatbelt and fastened it. "Drive. I’m hungry."

Adrian Grant regretfully retracted his gaze and started the car. "You can make it up to me when I drop you off this afternoon," he said in an even tone.

Caroline Whitman pretended not to hear and turned her head to look out the window.

Their lunch spot was a Sichuan restaurant tucked away in an old alley, with a modest storefront.

Adrian Grant had booked a private room in advance. After they sat down, he pushed the menu to her. Caroline Whitman didn’t hold back, quickly ticking off a few dishes before pushing it back.

Adrian Grant glanced at her selections, added a stir-fried seasonal vegetable and a soup, and handed the menu to the server.

While waiting for the food, Caroline Whitman took a sip of her tea and brought up how Luna Lynn had approached her the previous night.

After listening, Adrian Grant set down his teacup. "Luna Lynn wants to set up a collaboration between you and Vincent Fuller?"

Caroline Whitman: "Yes."

"Do you think Vincent Fuller’s company project is worth investing in?"

Although she had no intention of investing, that didn’t stop her from asking for Adrian Grant’s opinion on the matter.

She had meant to bring it up with him last night, but other things had interfered.

It had been completely impossible to discuss business under those circumstances.

Adrian Grant scoffed. "You’d be better off investing in my company than his."

Caroline Whitman: "Is the Grant Group really short on small-time investors like me?"

Adrian Grant: "It’s short on ones *like you*."

"..."

"I’m serious," Caroline Whitman asked directly. "Based on your insight, how big do you think Vincent Fuller can get?"

But Adrian Grant just smiled. "Don’t you think bringing up another man’s career prospects in front of your boyfriend is a rather provocative thing to do?"

Caroline Whitman: "..."

’This guy isn’t just secretly smug, he’s petty too.’

"Are you complimenting me on being petty?" Adrian Grant asked, seeming to have read her mind.

Caroline Whitman was puzzled, muttering inwardly, ’How does this guy always manage to guess what I’m thinking?’

As if he had guessed even this inner thought, Adrian Grant chuckled. "Are you wondering how I know what you’re thinking?"

Caroline Whitman looked at him suspiciously. "Don’t tell me you have some kind of Mind Reading Technique?"

Adrian Grant laughed. "If I really had that ability, I wouldn’t just be some vulgar entrepreneur."

"Then what would you be?" Caroline Whitman asked curiously.

"Handed over to the state."

’Huh? How did the topic suddenly change? It’s gone in such a patriotic direction all of a sudden.’

Realizing he had led her astray, she quickly steered the conversation back.

Caroline Whitman: "Be serious."

Adrian Grant nodded. "Mm, I really don’t have a Mind Reading Technique. Could it be because we’re just so compatible? When you’re compatible in every way, you develop a telepathic understanding."

Caroline Whitman was speechless.

’Compatible, my ass...’

’Compatible in *every* way, he says. So shameless.’

That’s what she thought, but images from the past two nights flashed uncontrollably through her mind.

’Well... I guess he’s half right.’

’We are pretty compatible in *certain* aspects.’

Adrian Grant watched her calmly. "Why are you blushing all of a sudden? What naughty things are you thinking, you little pervert?"

"..."

Just then, the dishes began to arrive one after another.

"I’m not talking to you anymore."

Caroline Whitman’s cheeks puffed out as she let out an indignant huff. She wasn’t speaking to him anymore!

She picked up her rice bowl and started to chow down!

Adrian Grant moved the plate of spicy chicken, which was out of her reach, closer to her. This time, he finally got serious and began to speak slowly:

"If it were me, I wouldn’t invest in the project.

For one, Vincent Fuller has broken away from the Fuller Family. From what I know, he’s basically in a state of being a semi-abandoned son.

To put it bluntly, Vincent Fuller’s current company is a startup from scratch. He might have the ability, but what’s more important is whether he’s holding any trump cards. It’s hard to say.

At the very least, he has completely lost access to the Fuller Family’s resources. He’ll have to build up his domestic connections and channels on his own, bit by bit. This is likely a test the Fuller Family has set for him."

As Adrian Grant spoke, he picked up the teapot and refilled his own empty cup.

"In this kind of family power struggle, if you back the right side, you get glory and riches. If you back the wrong one, it’s easy to lose everything."

"Of course, after all that, the most important point is that Vincent Fuller didn’t approach you directly. He had Luna Lynn act as a middleman. I don’t think he’s sincere about dealing with the Whitman Group, or perhaps, he’s not yet so down on his luck that he needs to take your company seriously."

Adrian Grant’s final words were exceedingly blunt.

Caroline Whitman swallowed a large mouthful of rice and took a sip of water from her teacup. "You’re certainly blunt. Aren’t you afraid of hurting my feelings?"

Adrian Grant: "I don’t think we need to beat around the bush with each other."

But despite saying that, he still observed Caroline Whitman’s expression. "So, did what I just said hurt you?"

Caroline Whitman wasn’t being coy. "Not at all. That’s what I was thinking, too. I only asked you just now because I wanted to see your take on Vincent Fuller’s startup.

After all, if he succeeds, our company will have another competitor."

Hearing this, Adrian Grant’s eyebrow twitched slightly. "You see him as a competitor?"

"Just planning ahead." Caroline Whitman picked up a piece of boiled fish, pressed it against her rice, and said in a casual tone, "The market pie is only so big. One more person splitting it means one less bite for everyone else. Just because he can’t make it big today doesn’t mean he won’t make a glorious comeback in three years.

If I don’t pay attention to him now and wait until he’s already established, what if the Fuller Group sees his potential, changes its mind, and hands the family business over to him? Wouldn’t his power grow even more then?"

At this point, she hummed twice and shot a sidelong glance at Adrian Grant. "What if he surpasses you one day?"

Adrian Grant didn’t argue. "You’re right. That’s certainly a possibility."

Caroline Whitman nodded. Seeing that he’d gotten her point, she didn’t say any more. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed his untouched food and suddenly realized she had been the only one eating this whole time. He had been busy serving her and swapping her plates.

"Why aren’t you eating? Is the food here not to your liking?"

Only then did Adrian Grant pick up his chopsticks, take a bite of the stir-fried vegetables, and begin to eat in an unhurried manner.

They ate and drank their fill.

"What time are we picking up Ryan tonight?" Adrian Grant asked.

Caroline Whitman gave a cold smile, seeing right through his little trick. "If you want to pick up the child early, you don’t have to ask me."

Adrian Grant put on an innocent smile. "You really have a low opinion of my character lately."

"Could it be that this is just the kind of person you are?" Caroline Whitman huffed lightly before making a decision. "Let’s go get Ryan right after work."

"Oh."

"Then I’ll pick you up first after work," Adrian Grant said.