Chapter 465

"Excellent!" He was so excited he nearly jumped.

"Mr. Granger, I understand. My parents and I will be going to the city in a couple of days, and we'll visit Jude then... Yes, don't worry, it's all resolved... Really, the Croix brothers were taken by the police yesterday... Alright, we'll talk more when we see you."

Hannah Morse immediately asked as he hung up, "Is there news about Jude Granger?"

Caleb Watson turned to Alexander Laurent, his eyes reddening. "Professor Laurent, thank you... truly, thank you... Mr. Granger insisted I thank you in person on his behalf!"

Hannah blinked. "What exactly happened?"

"Mr. Granger just called. Jude has woken up!"

"Really? That's wonderful!" Hannah smiled. "But why are you thanking the Professor?"

Caleb said, "Mr. Granger said Professor Laurent helped arrange the transfer to the city hospital. He brought in specialists for a consultation. Jude woke up without needing surgery."

Sophia Sullivan looked at Alexander in surprise. "When did you arrange this?"

"Yesterday."

"Why didn't you mention it?"

"I contacted the city hospital on the way here."

"You're always so thoughtful."

Sebastian Evans was puzzled. "?" When did he contact them?

Weren't they together the whole time yesterday? Except... when he went to get people from Mr. Quincy...

Incredible!

He even found an opportunity for that!

...

The group stayed one more night at the town's hotel and returned to Kyoto the next day.

Caleb did not accompany them. He would return to school after getting his parents settled.

To prevent the Croix family from causing more trouble after their departure, Sebastian specifically left two of his own men at the Watson home.

They were his personal bodyguards, not Mr. Quincy's people.

Hannah asked curiously, "Mr. Evans, is there a particular reason for this?"

Sebastian, in a good mood, was happy to explain. "Mr. Quincy and I have no personal connection. I reached out to him through intermediaries. Judging by his attitude towards the Croix brothers, his help was genuine, but he was also largely spectating."

"You can't trust that kind of person. All smiles to your face, but they might stab you in the back later. To be safe, using my own people is more reassuring."

That afternoon, the group arrived.

Both Sebastian and Alexander offered to drive Sophia home.

Alexander said, "I'm heading home anyway. It's on the way."

"Alright, thank you, Professor." Sophia nodded with a smile.

Sebastian sat in his Mercedes, watching the two hail a taxi in the rearview mirror before finally looking away. "Drive."

"Where to, young master?"

Sebastian paused. "...The old residence."

He should go see Irene Valdemar.

Theodore Valdemar kept his word.

Since moving out of the old residence, he hadn't returned.

According to the butler, Irene had gone from being "extremely emotionally unstable" initially to "much quieter recently," seemingly accepting the situation.

But Sebastian felt his mother wouldn't surrender so easily.

...

May arrived in the blink of an eye, the weather gradually warming.

Everything was reviving, full of spring vitality.

After returning from Chongqing, Sophia first explained Caleb and Jude's situation to the department leadership, applying for leave and completing the necessary procedures for both.

She also needed to update Professor Eleanor Watson.

After hearing about Caleb's ordeal, Eleanor turned away.

Sophia knew she was secretly wiping her tears.

"I knew that child was exceptional very early on. I occasionally lamented what a pity it was such a promising student ended up with Professor Victoria Lowell, but I never imagined his family circumstances were so difficult..."

"After he transferred to me, I didn't look into these details properly. I failed in my duty."

"Here is ten thousand dollars. Please give it to him for me. It's not much, just a token from his advisor. Any more, and he wouldn't accept it."

Sophia took the money. "I'm not sure he'll take it."

"Tell him directly: one must not refuse a gift from an elder. He will accept."

"Alright."

After handling these matters, Sophia returned to her routine of lab, school, and home.

Once immersed, time flew.

Even Hannah remarked, "Sophia is like a carrot dangling in front of me. Seeing her ahead, no matter how tired I am, I have to keep up."

Marcus Lawrence laughed hearing this.

Hannah frowned. "What's so funny? Aren't you the same?"

Marcus said, "I'm not a donkey."

Hannah: "??"

What did he mean? If he wasn't the donkey, did that mean she was?

Things were going smoothly for Caleb as well.

Shortly after Sophia's group left, he moved his parents out of the village.

The neighbors were all concerned about what would happen to the cherry orchard.

The Croix brothers weren't the only ones who coveted it.

Others were just more cautious and didn't dare make a move.

But in their hearts, everyone was thinking about it.

It was a money-making asset!

Hearing the Watsons were moving away and the Croix brothers were in jail, everyone's minds started working overtime.

Every day, people came to the Watson home, subtly probing Mr. Watson for information.

In Caleb's words—

Their home hadn't been this lively even during the New Year.

Some even directly asked Mr. Watson, since they were moving anyway, if he could just give them the cherry orchard.

Mr. Watson laughed in disbelief.

Even related uncles and伯伯 from the neighboring village heard the news and came over.

Mr. Watson said, "Since everyone is here, I'll say it all at once. The cherry orchard is not for transfer, and certainly not for free."

"Then if you move away, who will manage it? You can't just let it go to waste, right? That's too much of a shame!"

Mr. Watson: "Naturally not. I've already signed a contract handing it over to a management company."

"A management company? You're joking? Would a company want such a small plot? If you don't want to give it, just say so. No need to make up excuses."

After saying this, they all left in a huff.

Once the Watsons moved away, whoever acted fastest would get the orchard, right?

However, the day after the Watsons moved, when the management company's personnel officially took over the cherry orchard, all the villagers were stunned.

"They really gave it to a management company..."

"What incredible luck did the Watson family have? I heard they're buying an apartment in the city! And both Croix brothers are in jail. This is really..."

People are like that. They worry you might be suffering, but they also fear you might suddenly strike it rich.

Caleb found a second-hand apartment near the Southwest Hospital he liked. It came with a school placement, and it was for a good middle school in the Shapingba District.

Three bedrooms, living room, renovated, furnished, with appliances. 1.3 million.

Caleb paid in full outright.

His mother's medical treatment and his sister's schooling were both solved.

He gave the remaining money to his father, suggesting he start a small business if he wanted, but only if he felt he could handle it. Otherwise, he didn't have to.

It was entirely up to him.

After thinking for two days, Mr. Watson decided to sell fresh tofu pudding. He would carry a shoulder pole and sell it in nearby residential areas every day.

He wouldn't go far. Once sold out, he'd go home to cook.

Saving on shop rent meant it was essentially a zero-cost business.

Things were going well for Jude too.

After regaining consciousness, his physical indicators gradually improved.

Half a month later, he was finally discharged from the hospital.

He returned to school and classes on the third day.

He specially invited Alexander Laurent, Sophia Sullivan, Marcus Lawrence, and Hannah Morse for a meal.

"My dad said I must thank the Professor and Sophia in person!"

...

Everything was moving in a positive direction.

Including Sophia's new research project.

The only one who might not be entirely happy was probably...