Chapter 21 A Present For Wayne

"Grandpa's birthday is coming?" Fiona asked with a surprised frown. "When?"

"Yes. It's next Wednesday." Spencer answered, jamming his hands into his pockets. "We were supposed to have a party for his eightieth birthday but considering his health, my father and I have decided to invite some relatives and friends to our house for dinner."

Fiona nodded, "Oh, I see. But it's still several days away. I'll pick up his gift myself. I have to go now."

"Fiona!" Spencer bellowed. "I said you are not allowed to leave today!"

"Spencer, please don't make a fuss out of nothing." Fiona looked at him defiantly.

"What did you say?" He pointed at the door with his right hand. "Fiona, if you have the guts to leave, go ahead and see if you can get out of the door without my permission!"

"What the hell is your problem?" she asked, biting her lips.

"I told you we have to buy a gift for Grandpa today. The gift must be from both of us. Grandpa plans to introduce you to everyone on his birthday! Do you understand?"

There was a bitter smile on Fiona's face. She was rigid for a while before she let out a breath and said gently, "Let's go and buy the gift."

"Don't pull a long face. I hate this arrangement more than you do," Spencer remarked laughing sarcastically.

Then he took out his phone and demanded, "Johnson, come to the Four Seasons Scenery in twenty minutes."

Fiona also pulled out her phone to send a message to Ryan. "Ryan, I'm sorry. Something urgent has come up. I'll make it up to you next time."

In the cool interiors of the ice cream shop near the main gate of D University, Ryan was waiting for her after he had invited her. When he had received the text from Fiona saying she would come, he had almost jumped up excitedly. Even though he detested waiting for someone, it was worth it for Fiona.

Now a new message popped up on his phone. He panicked and swiped on it to unlock the screen with a bright smile on his face. But after he read the message, he was sad.

"It's okay.

but remember to treat me next time!" Ryan felt that his fingers had run out of strength.

Fiona's phone rang just as she just walked out of the house.

She glanced at it, smiled but didn't reply.

Spencer raised his eyebrows and stole a glance at her phone screen but he was unable to see anything.

There was a Hummer parked at the community entrance. Since it had an ordinary license plate, Fiona thought that it might not be Spencer's car.

"Sir!" Johnson stepped out of the Hummer and saluted to Spencer.

"Hmm." Spencer nodded and walked over. "You can go back. I'll drive by myself."

"Yes, sir!"

Fiona followed him to greet Johnson and then she turned to Spencer. "Is this your car?"

"Of course!" he replied gruffly. "Now get in!"

She was just to get into the back seat when Spencer yelled, "Sit next to me!"

Fiona shrugged her shoulders and got into the car from the other side.

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking about," Spencer commented before started the car.

"Okay, so what am I thinking about?"

"Humph!" Spencer snorted. "I bought this car with my own money."

"I'm not interested in your business at all. You don't have to give me any explanations." Turning her head to look out of the window, she saw Spencer's reflection, who was glaring back at her.

Spencer then took out his Bluetooth headset and put it on. He dialed a number.

"Hello?" Terence's lazy voice sounded from the other end of the line.

"Why are you still asleep? What did you do last night?" Spencer asked contemptuously.

"Hey! I was working overtime last night! I've been busy with a case recently. Anyway, what are you calling for?" asked Terence sullenly.

"Is the Chinese chess set I asked you to order finished?" Spencer asked.

"Why are you so worried? It's already finished."

"Great! Tell me the location of the store and I'll go fetch it now."

"All right. I'll send the location to you on WeChat. You can just tell them my name and they'll give it to you."

"Got it. I've got to go."

"Hold on!"

"Yes? Anything else?"

"Is Fiona by your side?" Terence asked grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes, she is. Why? What's wrong?"

"Take a picture of her and sent it to me."

"Get lost! I'm driving!"

"Tsk! So petty! Anyway, I'll meet her at Grandpa Wayne's birthday dinner. There's no use hiding her from me."

"I am not hiding her!" Spencer was irritated. "Whatever!

But you are so many years older than her. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? She is such a young girl!"

"I am a teenager for heaven's sake! Go lost!" He pulled the headset off and threw it away.

Fiona didn't want to eavesdrop on his phone conversation, but when she heard his last sentence, she couldn't stop the slight twitching of her lips.

They arri

ved at the store soon. Fiona followed Spencer and the two of them entered the store.

The shop was chock-full of all kinds of antiques. The shop owner was in front of a wooden cabinet in a long robe. When he saw them come in, he hurriedly walked up to them, bowed politely and asked, "What would you like to see?"

"Terence He has asked us to collect something from here," Spencer replied, taking in the store.

"Oh, you must be Spencer Cheng!" "That's right."

Spencer nodded. "Okay,

please follow me upstairs!" The shop owner gestured towards the staircase.

The staircase was too narrow for them to walk up together, so the shop owner led the way while Spencer trudged behind him impolitely.

Shaking her head, Fiona followed Spencer. She took a step carefully but didn't realize that she missed one step. She staggered backwards. "Ahhh!"

Spencer heard her cry and immediately spun around to see Fiona flailing. She was about to have a nasty fall.

He frowned and instantly grabbed her arm and tugged her towards him.

She felt his warm chest while her hands were subconsciously draped around his firm waist. In that moment, she was so close to him that she could hear his strong heartbeat. The faint smell of him filled her nostrils.

"Lady, are you okay?" the store owner asked with concern. "I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you to watch your steps. I was so careless."

"It's not your fault. She was too stupid." When she heard Spencer's jibe, Fiona stopped herself from expressing gratitude.

Seeing that Fiona wasn't moving, he assumed that she must be frightened. So he put his right arm around her waist and lifted her up.

"Hey!" she snapped. "What are you doing? Put me down this instant! Spencer! Are you out of your mind?"

"You'll be steadier on these steps with me holding you." He continued climbing the stairs with heavy steps.

In the room upstairs,

the shop owner took out a square box from a carved rosewood shelf. He brought the box over to a wooden table and said, "This is the Chinese chess set Mr. He asked us to make. Please have a look."

Spencer finally let go of Fiona and walked over to the box to inspect it.

Rubbing her waist, Fiona, too, followed suit and saw the wooden chessboard and a set of chess pieces made of the same material in the box. There was a faint fragrance in it.

"The chessboard as well as the chess pieces are from the maple tree. The color is pleasing to the eyes, the texture is smooth and flawless and it feels exquisite to touch. It took my master three months to create this new chess set by hand. Mr. He is our regular client. He always wants the best."

Spencer nodded and turned to look at Fiona, asking, "Well, what do you think? Would it make a good birthday present for Grandpa?"

Running her hand over the beautiful chessboard, Fiona nodded slightly. "Very good!"

"Did Terence pay you already?" Spencer inquired.

"Yes, he has made the payment."

"All right, then we'll take it with us. Please pack it up," he requested.

"Okay, right away."

"Thank you!" "Didn't you say you wanted to select a gift? Why did you ask me to accompany you when you had already arranged for it?" Fiona asked in a low voice.

"I told you this must be from the both of us. You are also part of this. Of course you should come along," Spencer said brusquely.

Fiona ground her teeth in anger thinking, 'You jerk!' She asked, "So you allowed other people to pay for the gift?"

Putting his hands into his pockets, Spencer retorted, "I already gave Terence the money and asked him to order it for me. Do you think I'm someone who's greedy enough to take advantage of others?"

"How much is this chess set?" Fiona asked.

"Not much!" He turned to look at Fiona and continued, "Besides, if Grandpa asks you, you can tell him that the chess set was your idea, and I asked someone to order it."

"Okay, but you have to tell me the price of the chess set. I'll pay you back."

Spencer laughed. "I said something wrong in the morning, and you just wouldn't let that go, huh?"

"It's not that. This is my principle," Fiona said holding her head up high. "A hundred grand.

Are you going to give me fifty grand?" Spencer said with a smug smile and raised his eyebrows.

She swallowed and blinked. "Are you lying to me?"

"I have no reason to."

"Then..." Fiona stuttered. "I'll pay you back after I have enough money. I owe you fifty grand."

The chessboard set was packed and brought to them. He took it and said, "Let me carry you downstairs."

"No need!" she huffed. Glaring at him, she carefully held the railing of the stairs and started going down one step at a time.

"Hey!" Spencer suddenly shouted behind her seeing her nervousness.

Fiona turned around and shot him a dirty look. Spencer shrugged.