Chapter 22 - Luxurious Family Dinner

Randy followed after Emilia as they made their way to her family's house. However, the atmosphere between them was getting suffocating as time went by due to them not saying anything to each other as they walked side by side.

At some point, Randy could not bear the awkwardness anymore and decided to say something.

"You…"

However, when he looked forward, he realized that they had already made it to Emilia's house. Emilia was about to take out her key card from her bag at this moment.

Emilia turned head around to his direction when she heard his voice.

After noticing that they had already arrived, Randy sighed and then said while waving his hand dismissively, "Never mind, let's go."

At this, Emilia also did not pursue the reason for his actions, turned around and proceeded to tap her key card on the monitor followed by a buzzing sound and the gate opened by itself to reveal the luxurious interior behind the gate.

Emilia then proceeded to walked in first, followed by Randy, as they made their way further towards the mansion in the distance. There was quite a considerable distance from the gate of the building to the actual mansion itself, thus they proceeded to walk for a while until they finally made it to the door leading into mansion. After tapping her key card again, they proceeded to head inside without delay.

However, what they did not expect was to be met with a cold gaze and a suffocating environment as if the air was being suppressed the moment that they had opened the door to the mansion.

Randy's mother, Riley was coldly staring at him, and for some reason, Emilia's mother, Jenny was also gazing at her daughter with an inexplicable expression as if she was trying to suppress her emotions.

At this point, Riley opened her mouth to speak first, "Randy, what were you doing outside? Why did you leave your little sister all alone in this room? How did you even unlock the gate to this house?"

"Ah"

Randy did not know what how to answer her questions as he maintained his silence.

Randy's thought moved quickly contemplating on what to say.

'Should I say that I was playing hide and seek with Lydia and that was the reason why I was outside? No, I had been gone for too long, about 20 minutes had passed, give and take. Then what should I say?' Randy was very troubled by this as he silently thought of possible answers to his mother's inquiries.

Emilia wore a confused expression on her face as she looked at Randy's expression. She knew him very well and she could tell from his expression that he had probably used her secret key card in order to open the gate to the mansion and then left the mansion using that. As she thought of this, she then recalled something and felt nostalgic for a brief moment, however she inwardly shook her head to dismiss the thoughts.

She glanced at Randy briefly before turning her head away.

And then she unexpected spoke out first, "Auntie Riley, I was the one who gave him the key card the last time that he was here. As for why he was outside, I also have no idea either."

At this point, she turned to look at Randy again along with everyone else as if expecting his explanation.

Randy could feel the pressure from those piercing eyes as they stared at him as if to see through him. Nevertheless, whether it was on purpose or just by a coincidence, Emilia had undoubtedly helped him out just now and with that, Randy spoke out this time.

"That's right, I received a key card from Emilia the last time I was here and that was how I left the mansion this time." Randy confirmed without hesitation.

Riley then questioned him further with an unchanged expression, "Then what were you doing outside?"

Hearing this, Randy immediately replied in a calm tone, "That was because, I wanted to check on your car since we parked it in that secluded location; there was a breaking news saying that a burglar was spotted roaming around this neighborhood, and he also happens to possess a way to hijack cars— even ones with security protection. I just went to check on your car for a little bit and was on my way back before I ran into Emilia on my way."

Randy gave a long explanation that encompasses his behavior and reason for leaving the house and proceeding outside without informing everyone beforehand. Although he did not tell the complete truth, especially the fact that he had indeed run into that criminal or that he was the one chasing after the criminal in the first place.

There was also the undeniable fact that he had actually managed to apprehend the said criminal without sustaining any injuries. But would he actually tell them that? Would they even believe him? After all, to them, he was the same Randy Smith who could not awaken his innate ability like everyone else at his age. Why would someone like that be able to defeat a notorious criminal and to even not sustain any injuries? Is that even possible for someone like him? Impossible!

Hearing his explanation, Riley frowned slightly, discontented with his actions and immediately reprimanded.

"Randy, what were you thinking? Do you not understand what it means for a wanted criminal to be wandering around this neighborhood? What if something happened to you when you were out there? Are you not afraid of death?" Riley spoke disapprovingly to him.

Randy lowered his head and tried to explain, "I'm sorry mom, I was just…"

However before he could finish his sentence, Riley cut his speech off in anger, "Enough!"

After recalling what transpired just last night, she began to speak again in a stern voice, "Just yesterday you almost…"

Realizing where they were, she immediately stopped herself from finishing this sentence and proceeded to shake her head slightly in dismay, calmed herself down and spoke to him again.

"Forget it, it is good that you are safe." She sighed and said.

"Hm? Emilia, how did get here? As far I am aware, whenever there are cases like these, they usually block the neighborhood to prevent anyone from going in or out. So how were you able to get here without any hindrance?" She turned to Emilia and doubtfully asked.

"Ah, now that I think about it, there was indeed a police blockage around the neighborhood; however it seems like they were done with whatever they were doing as they were removing the blockages when I got here and so they easily allowed me to pass. I did not think much of it since I did not see the news, but I guess they might've already caught the wanted criminal, at least that is what I think happened." Emilia replied after recalling the situation on her way home.

After hearing her words everyone sighed in relief including Randy. He appeared pleased but did not show it on his face.

Although his mom and Jenny sighing made sense as they could tell from Emilia's words that the criminal had been caught but for Randy's case, he was very glad that he was able to resolve this case albeit still getting his mother worried about him. From Emilia's words, it could be inferred that after the police had arrested that burglar, they had immediately undone the security measures around the neighborhood.

At this point, Emilia's mother, Jenny finally spoke with her usual amiable expression back on her face, "It is good that you're all okay; come, let us not dwell on this matter any longer. The chefs had already arranged the cooked food on the dining table; everyone should partake in this occasional family dinner together."

After saying that, she turned to Emilia staring straight into her eyes, her eyes were cold for an instant, this caused Emilia to flinch as she turns her head to avert her mother's gaze.

Jenny then regained her usual expression before saying to her, "Emilia, go and change your clothes first and then come join us for dinner. It is very rare for us two families to come together and have dinner like this. So it is only appropriate that we all begin eating at the same."

Emilia immediately replied in timid voice, "Okay, mother."

After replying she turned around and made her way to the top floor.

Jenny sighed and said in disappointed tone, "Unfortunately, both our husbands are not here as they are busy with matters at work, so us women would stand in for them instead."

She said while looking at Riley, who replied in kind after hearing her words, "That's right, what you say makes sense."

After that, Jenny led Riley and her family to the dining table. This dining table was decorated with various food from left to right, side to side. There various kinds of foods placed on the table that would elicit jealousy for those who are poor and can only afford the bare minimum, in terms of food. For the main dish, there were steamed fresh vegetables, savory vegetable soup with a light taste, neatly sliced roasted meat, braised chicken, marinated and fried steaks, Lasagna, mashed potatoes with specially made gravy, freshly made salad with variety of greens, some steaming hot white rice with complementing stew, and a fried rice mixed with some eggs, peas, carrots, green onions and many others.

There were other Asian cuisines and sauces like soy sauce that goes really well with the savory roasted meats or even the already braised chicken; you can even add it to the fried rice depending on your taste. As for side dishes, there was some fruit salads and if one wanted something to soothe their throat, there was also a freshly made ice cream or yogurt for that.. All in all, this was a luxurious family dinner, one that only the rich could afford to eat every day.