Chapter 131

Mrs. Brown's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Sylvia Laurent rarely participated in such events.

Even when she did attend, it was merely for appearances.

It was a rare treat for her to personally brew tea today.

Of course, it had to be savored properly.

Sophia Sullivan approached slowly.

She looked up and her gaze met Sylvia's.

Sylvia was momentarily taken aback.

She then let out a cold snort.

Her chin lifted slightly.

Yet Sophia detected the unease beneath that haughty exterior.

Mrs. Brown smiled and offered a teacup. "Would you like to try this pot, Professor Sullivan?"

Sophia first rinsed her mouth.

Then she took a small sip.

She pondered for a moment.

She spoke honestly. "Too much tea leaves, not enough water. The liquor is too dark, the taste is bitter. The pot wasn't warmed beforehand, so the tea's aroma hasn't been fully released."

"Pfft—" Mrs. Brown burst out laughing. "I said skipping steps would affect the taste, but you insisted no one would notice. See?"

Sylvia's face darkened.

Even though Sophia was correct.

Did she have to be so blunt?

Couldn't she be more tactful?

Mrs. Brown laughed even louder. "I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up with you."

Sylvia was speechless.

Sophia remained oblivious.

She had already turned to sample the next lady's tea.

…

Victoria Roscente sat in her original spot.

She watched Sophia surrounded by a group of society ladies.

Her heart felt both sour and bitter.

She had worked hard for so many years to barely squeeze into this circle.

Yet Sophia gained everyone's recognition with such ease.

How was that fair?

What was even more infuriating was that Sophia didn't seem to care at all.

She answered each question calmly.

She evaluated each pot of tea objectively.

No flattery, no sycophancy.

Some of her critiques were even quite harsh.

But those picky women didn't seem offended at all.

Instead, they thanked her repeatedly.

Victoria was baffled. Had the world gone mad?

She then glanced at Isabella Langley shrinking nearby.

Her tea was a complete disaster.

Victoria felt even more stifled.

For the first time, she thought Sophia was far better than Isabella.

At least she wouldn't embarrass herself like this!

The tea ceremony ended at five.

Everyone left satisfied.

The moment they exited the hotel, Victoria pointed at Isabella and scolded her. "I told you to prepare properly, and this is what you came up with? Were you afraid people wouldn't know you have no class?"

"You brainless fool! How could anyone else be so unprepared? Utterly stupid!"

Isabella bit her lip, feeling wronged.

She tried to step forward and explain.

Victoria immediately backed away.

As if she were something filthy.

"Stay away from me. I can't stand stupidity! Don't let me see you for the next few days."

"I have no idea what my son sees in you…"

"Dream on if you think you can marry into the Roscente family!"

On the other side, Olivia's driver arrived.

Sylvia was about to leave.

Olivia offered. "Sister-in-law, need a ride?"

"No, thank you. I have other matters."

Olivia didn't press further.

She instructed her driver to leave.

Sophia was waiting for her car at the entrance.

People kept saying goodbye to her.

She responded to each with a smile.

Olivia knew someone was picking her up.

She hadn't arranged a driver.

Alexander Laurent was very punctual.

He arrived in ten minutes.

Actually, two minutes early.

A light drizzle began to fall.

Through the car window, he saw her not far away.

In the misty rain, Sophia stood in her qipao.

She looked like a fairy from a Jiangnan watercolor painting.

Alexander was momentarily stunned.

Collecting himself, he pulled over.

He got out with an umbrella.

After reaching her, he carefully opened the car door.

As Sophia bent to get in.

He placed a hand protectively above her head.

"Thank you."

Sophia settled into the seat.

She smiled at him. "Sorry for the trouble again, Professor Laurent."

She had originally planned to take a taxi.

But the sudden rain made it impossible to hail one.

In the pavilion diagonally across from the hotel entrance.

Sylvia waited for the valet to bring her car.

She inadvertently saw Sophia in the qipao getting into a black Volkswagen.

The distance was a bit far.

She couldn't clearly see the man's face.

But the umbrella in his hand bore a "Double R" logo.

It was the exclusive umbrella for Rolls-Royce.

Sylvia frowned and snorted coldly.

Pretty girls these days all want to land a sugar daddy.

She thought this girl was different.

Turns out…

What is wrong with these men's taste?

So eager to be taken for a fool…

…

In the car.

The supposed fool, Alexander Laurent, sneezed.

He had just gotten over a cold.

Why was he sneezing again?

As soon as Sophia got in the car, she noticed a new small pendant hanging from the rearview mirror.

A Chinese knot strung with an agarwood figurine.

Two jadeite beads dangled at the end.

It was a souvenir she brought back from the Maldives.

She said with surprise. "You hung this in your car?"

It was Alexander's first time seeing her in a qipao.

She was so beautiful he hardly dared to look directly.

Keeping his eyes on the road, he said. "Agarwood calms the mind. There's Arabic carved on the back, meaning 'safe travels.' Hanging it with a Chinese knot in the car seemed fitting."

Sophia gently touched the swaying little pendant.

She turned it over and indeed saw a string of unfamiliar script.

"So it's Arabic. I hadn't noticed before…"

"Mhm."

"You understand Arabic?"

"A little."

"How do you pronounce this?" Sophia traced the carving with her fingertip.

The man softly uttered the unfamiliar syllables.

Sophia repeated them once.

A bit awkward the first time.

Much smoother the second.

"…Was that right?"

Alexander nodded. "Very accurate."

Sophia was curious. "When did you learn Arabic?"

"Six years ago. I was reading a work by an Emirati physicist. The translation wasn't precise enough, so I spent half a year learning Arabic to read the original."

Sophia was speechless.

Learning a language just for one book?

…

Sophia still had data analysis to complete tonight.

They discussed it and decided to grab a quick bite at a casual restaurant.

Then they returned to the lab together.

The night was deep.

Only the two of them remained in the laboratory.