Just when she was about to come out, a strange woman's voice sounded.
"You naughty boy. I knew you're here. You think you can fool me?" The woman complained, "You silly boy, I just want you to get married, and you just ran out. Can you blame me? You're twenty-four now, but you don't even have a girlfriend. What? Do you keep your first love for some girl? Look at Wesley, a year younger than you, had been divorced three times."
"Is that anything good to show off?"
"That is better than you being alone. I wonder if you don't like women. Speaking of which, Jasmine is amazing. She changes her boyfriend every day. Didn't she guide you?"
"Go home with me. Your uncle's daughter happens to come back from abroad for Christmas today. You can go and meet her. I have to go to the bathroom. You stay here and wait for me."
As she said, she went to the bathroom. She pushed the door, but it didn't open.
"Are you inside, Jasmine? All right, I'll wait for you."
Albert knew it must be Sophia inside and said at once, "There's one on the second floor, mum."
"Don't bother. I'm not in a hurry. It's troublesome to go upstairs."
Sophia didn't want to come out to meet Albert's mother, but she didn't seem to have any other choice. She had to open the door and said, "Hi!"
The mother was good-looking, and her eyes were like Albert's. She must have a good life. She was in the forties but looked as if she were in her thirties. She dressed plainly. When she entered the room, she took off her coat, and then there was a white high-collar shirt and black trousers.
She stayed for a moment, looked back at Albert, and then turned to Sophia. Then a smile came over her slightly angry face. "You're…"
"I'm Sophia, a friend of Albert."
"Wow, what a beautiful girl! Well, I… I'm here for Jasmine. Is she here?"
"No. She's out."
The mother turned back and gave Albert a meaningful look, "Well, I should go. What a naughty girl! She doesn't even stay at home for Christmas. I miss her."
Then she smiled at Sophia, "I'm leaving. Visit me anytime with Albert. I can make amazing salted eggs."
Sophia smiled, "Albert had sent us some. Yummy. They're the best eggs I've ever eaten."
The mother cheered up, "Of course. My family sold salted eggs before I got married. It's a secret recipe. I'm glad you like them. I'll make more so that Albert can bring them to you."
After that, she left and soon disappeared outside the gate.
"Don't she go to the bathroom?"
Albert said nothing.
They two were alone in the house. Sophia's heart was pounding again. Being so close to Albert, she could smell the Jasmine on him.
She knew she had better go away, but she couldn't move.
Then she thought of the pictures in Albert's phone, and she felt even more confused.
"It's getting late. How about I send you home? You should have dinner with your family, and I should also go home," Albert interrupted her thinking.
Families should get together for Christmas. It was a tradition. Most people came home from far away for the reunion.
"Yeah." Sophia nodded and got out with him.
When she got into the car, she sat in the back seat but not in the front with Albert. Words like "twenty-four but don't even have a girlfriend" sounded in her mind.
She felt confused.
Albert stopped downstairs. He just drove away without going up. Sophia calmed down a bit when she was alone. She stepped into the elevator and went home.
She took out the key and opened the door. Nobody was at home. Kate must go out with Andy after lunch. On the table were some foods which should be for the evening.
When it was getting dark, Kate came back. When she saw Sophia, she smiled and said, "You must be hungry. I'll cook for you right now."
"No. I'll help."
She went into the kitchen to help Kate with the dishes. "Mom," she said, "I heard from Albert that Andy is from the Sterling, a wealthy family.
Kate stunned, "No. He's just an ordinary teacher. He doesn't look like a rich man. Besides, how did Albert know about this?"
"Didn't Albert tell you that his family runs the Pearson Group? He's rich."
Kate paused for a while and then said, "The richest Pearson Group?"
"Yeah."
Kate said nothing for a while. Sophia asked tentatively, "Mum, will you change your mind about Andy after knowing this?"
Kate nodded, "Yeah. He's so rich. Is he reliable? I need to think about it. And… you should also think about it. Albert may not be reliable."
Sure enough, Kate didn't trust rich people.
No… Why did she say Albert was not reliable? Who did she take Albert as?
For the environment, fireworks were banned a few years ago. This Christmas Eve was as peaceful as usual. It was just that everyone knew that it was special.
After dinner, Sophia was sleepy and wanted to go to bed. She didn't stay up late, but Kate insisted on waiting for the new year's coming and she had to accompany her.
Finally, it was twelve o 'clock. She gave a big yawn and could finally go to bed. She was very sleepy.
Suddenly, there was a message tone. Sophia saw the name on it: Albert. Her heart was pounding.
It was a short blessing message: happy Christmas!
It was at zero o'clock. Right at the time.
Reading the message, Sophia smiled.
The Greens didn't have many relatives, and they were not quite close. Before Sophia's accident, there were contacts between Kate and these relatives. But after the accident, not one ever visited Kate and Sophia because they were afraid that Kate might ask them for help.
Kate had never asked anyone for help, so she lost contact with these relatives. Her parents had passed away. The only one who visited Kate was her brother, Sophia's uncle. However, he wasn't in Lands City but another city.. So, it was not convenient for them to visit each other.