Chapter 027: Signed with a Company

"I don't know." Quentin’s mood was equally complicated.

Xenia sighed and asked again, "Don't you feel that Sera has been a bit unusual lately? Is it possible something happened that we don't know about?"

"It’s not just Sera; Leo is also acting out of character," Quentin noted. "These past few days, Leo has been constantly running to the company. With his grades, helping out won't delay his studies, but in the past, he never visited the office this frequently."

Xenia was aware of this too.

However, she had assumed Leo was just helping Quentin out because his schoolwork wasn't demanding; she hadn't given it much thought.

Now that Quentin mentioned it, she realized it was indeed abnormal.

More importantly, Quentin had mentioned that the company wasn't particularly busy lately—he even had time to stay home with her. Even if Leo were helping, there was no reason for him to spend entire days at the office.

After a long silence, Quentin said, "But perhaps we shouldn't worry too much. Sera has been smart and independent since she was a child, and Leo isn't a kid anymore. Even if he went to the company now, he could hold his own. They must have their own reasons for what they're doing."

"So we just do nothing? How can that be? Sera and Leo are smart, but Sera has focused only on music since she was little. She hasn't spent much time learning about other things and isn't well-versed in them. If something really happened that her expertise can't solve, I worry... and Leo, no matter how bright he is, he’s still just a seventeen-year-old boy..."

Xenia was full of anxiety. "These two kids are really something, not giving us a single hint about what they're up to. It’s truly worrying."

"Hubby, do you think their strange behavior could be related to Silas and Sylvia? Ever since those two returned, the children have been very off."

"It didn't start when Silas and the others came back. Sera has been unusual for a while now. Even though she hasn't shown it much, I’ve watched her grow up; I know her temperament. At first, I thought it was the impact of that blind date that made her a bit different, but now it seems it wasn't."

Or rather, not entirely.

Given his understanding of his daughter, he had expected her to refuse the blind date, no matter how excellent the other party was, simply because she disliked the format.

He had just been testing his luck.

He thought Silas Sterling was a true talent with no overwhelming background. If he and Sera could get together, Sera wouldn't be bullied by in-laws, and she would have found a good husband. Even if Sera didn't agree, at least she would have met a talented young man through the date—there was no loss either way.

To his surprise, Sera actually became interested in Silas Sterling.

That was already beyond his expectations.

Gradually, Sera stopped spending almost all her time in the practice room composing or practicing once she got home. Instead, she began joining her mother for tea, pruning flowers in the courtyard, and proactively inviting friends out...

All of these things were quite unusual.

Of course, it was possible he was overthinking.

But Sera finding assistants for them today—that could certainly be counted as abnormal, right?

She claimed those two were in urgent need of money and work, but why make them

their

assistants specifically? His daughter had several childhood friends from prominent families; she didn't lack resources to recommend someone for a job.

At the very least, she could have arranged for them to enter the Pierce Group; they didn't have to be personal assistants.

And she had specifically arranged a

personal

assistant for him.

A personal assistant doesn't have much professional work to complete, but they are undoubtedly the person who spends the most time with him outside of family—sometimes even more than family.

He did indeed need a personal assistant, but his daughter knew very well that he could arrange that himself for such a small matter.

His wife also truly needed an assistant. Although she had refused every time he mentioned it on the grounds of not finding someone suitable, the whole family knew she simply liked peace and quiet. Since her work wasn't hectic, she had no intention of hiring one.

Yet, Sera had arranged an assistant for her anyway.

Furthermore, those two—Lin Zhi and his wife—he felt they weren't that simple.

"Hearing you say that, I realize it really does seem to be the case. Oh well, with the temperaments of those two siblings, if it’s something they don't want to say, we won't get anything out of them no matter how we ask. As for the two people Sera brought today, Hubby, should we look into them?"

Investigate?

Quentin shook his head. "No need to investigate. We’ll just observe them while they're around. Sera wouldn't harm us."

Xenia thought about it and agreed.

Sera wouldn't harm them, so why bother investigating?

"Just keep a closer eye on the siblings as well. Alright, it’s late. Let’s sleep." After Quentin spoke, he reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.

Lin Zhi and Mia Lu, having returned to the apartment Seraphina arranged, weren't much different from Quentin and Xenia.

However, they had seen Seraphina’s skills and were now working for her. They didn't dwell on her secrets but made a tacit decision: ignore everything else and just follow her instructions to the letter.

Both knew very well that while they were assistants on the surface, their real job was to protect Quentin and Xenia. Thus, early the next morning, both appeared at the Pierce mansion.

Lin Zhi came to pick up Quentin for work, while Mia came to serve as Xenia’s assistant, even though Xenia had no immediate tasks.

When Lin Zhi picked up Quentin, he mentioned that his driving skills were quite good and he could double as a chauffeur.

Quentin gave him a deep, long look before nodding in agreement.

The car drove out of the Pierce gates toward the Pierce Group building.

Meanwhile, Mia appeared in the living room of the main house. "Miss, Mrs. Pierce."

She addressed Seraphina first, then Xenia, using the titles "Miss" and "Mrs. Pierce," which made Xenia glance at her sideways.

As expected, she is my daughter’s person.

"I don't have much work lately. You don't actually have to come over; when I have work, I’ll call you."

Sylvia, walking into the living room, happened to overhear Xenia’s words. She looked at Mia and asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, who is this?"

"My newly hired assistant, Mia Lu."

"So it’s Miss Lu. Hello."

Mia glanced at her with a neutral gaze. "Hello." She knew this person—the daughter of the Fosters and the fiancée of the young uncle.

However, this person likely wouldn't have much interaction with her, so she didn't pay much attention.

But her indifferent attitude appeared as a snub to Sylvia.

Sylvia’s gaze momentarily turned several degrees colder.

Although she recovered quickly, the sharp Mia captured it.

She was slightly surprised.

This Miss Foster—I haven't offended her, have I?

She cast a slightly questioning look toward Seraphina. Seeing Seraphina looking back with a faint smile, Mia felt a jolt of realization and immediately suppressed all her doubts.

She had truly been retired for too long; she had almost forgotten that keeping one's emotions hidden is the most basic professional requirement.

In a family like this, there were no simple characters.

The Miss had found her and her husband right as Silas and Sylvia returned to the country; it likely had something to do with these two.

"Sister-in-law, didn't you say you weren't in the habit of having an assistant? Why did you decide to hire one?"

"I didn't hire one before because I was still young and could do everything myself. Lately, I’ve found that as I get older, I lack the energy to do many things personally."

"Sera was really worried about me doing everything alone with no one by my side when I go out to work, so she hired an assistant for me. Sera found Mia for me. I didn't want the children or their father to worry, and Mia is quite likable, so I agreed."

Before Sylvia could speak further on the topic, Xenia asked with a smile, "Have you had breakfast yet?"

Sylvia was slightly annoyed but couldn't show it, feeling quite suppressed.

"I have. I ate with Silas. He went out after breakfast. The commotion of our return hasn't died down yet and there are still reporters waiting, so I don't plan on going out for now. I was bored alone in my room, so I came over to visit, thinking Sister-in-law was home too and could use some company."

"It’s wonderful that you came to talk to me. Even though Sera isn't busy and has been home lately, she’s always been a person of few words; I was almost bored to death."

As she spoke, Xenia gave Seraphina a look of mock reproach.

Receiving her gaze, Seraphina smiled and took a sip of hot milk from the table. She said nothing.

Xenia shook her head helplessly and turned back to Sylvia. "By the way, you mentioned Silas went out? Does he have an appointment with friends?"

"Not exactly. Before returning to the country, Silas signed with a company. He went to report for duty today."

This was a bit surprising to Xenia. "Silas signed with a company? Why haven't we heard you mention this?"