After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 156: As Expected of Third Master

The only one who was truly surprised was Alice York.

She immediately looked at him and asked, "You... are you really not leaving this afternoon?"

Wyatt Sterling, looking as comfortable as if he were in his own home, offered the same answer to Alice York’s question: "When did I ever say I was leaving this afternoon?"

Alice York was at a loss for words.

Thinking back, she realized his words had been ambiguous. He had never explicitly said he was leaving this afternoon.

She had just assumed it on her own.

"It’s not often you get to visit," Grandpa said, reaching out to pat Wyatt Sterling on the shoulder. "Eat well, drink well, and enjoy yourself."

Wyatt Sterling smiled faintly. "I certainly will."

Alice York didn’t join the conversation. She sat down silently and picked up her bowl and chopsticks.

Sensing Wyatt Sterling’s gaze, she peeked at him before quickly looking away. ’If he’s not leaving this afternoon,’ she thought, ’he’s not planning on staying the night, is he? Is he really going to stay over at Grandpa and Grandma’s?’

"Eat standing up."

When Grandma came over and saw Finn Hawthorne carrying his bowl over to sit by Alice York, she immediately snapped at him.

Finn Hawthorne was stunned for a moment, pointing to himself with his chopsticks. "I have to eat standing up?"

Grandma said, "If not you, then who? A freeloader like you doesn’t get to sit. You’re lucky we’re feeding you at all. Stand up."

Finn Hawthorne had a terrible temper to begin with. Hearing Grandma’s tone, he immediately slammed his bowl of rice upside down on the table.

SLAM!

Wyatt Sterling’s brow furrowed. Mason Cheney shot to his feet. Grandpa snatched his cup while Grandma gripped her chopsticks, both poised to strike at any moment.

Finn Hawthorne swallowed and took half a step back.

But the thought of chopping wood until his hands blistered, only to be forced to eat standing up, erased his fear. "Go on then! Hit me! I’d rather you beat me to death than suffer this humiliation!"

"Never in my life has this young master suffered such a bitter ordeal or been so humiliated."

"I have to stand just to eat a meal? What do you take me for? Do you think I’m..."

"Finn Hawthorne."

Alice York spoke up.

Finn Hawthorne’s unfinished words came to an abrupt halt, and he instinctively looked at Alice York.

He saw Alice York with a cold expression on her face, pointing at the overturned rice bowl on the table. "Put that rice back in the bowl. Don’t leave a single grain on the table."

"Why should I do it just because you tell me to?" Finn Hawthorne said defiantly.

Alice York didn’t yell, curse, or hit him. She simply opened her mouth. "I’m counting to three. One, two..."

By the time she reached "two," Finn Hawthorne had already obediently picked up the bowl and used his chopsticks to scrape every last bit of rice from the table back into it, not leaving a single grain behind.

Holding the bowl, he pouted and mumbled, "Let’s continue eating."

Her grandparents exchanged a look, both sighing in relief, and Mason Cheney sat back down as well.

What no one had expected was that Alice York could actually keep him in line!

Now, Finn Hawthorne was standing there obediently.

Alice York glanced at him, then looked away and pointed to the spot next to her. "Sit down and eat."

Finn Hawthorne looked at her.

Alice York didn’t say it a second time, simply picking up her bowl and helping herself to some food.

Finn Hawthorne hesitated for a few seconds, then, while watching Alice York’s expression, tentatively and slowly sat down. When he saw that she wasn’t angry, he broke into a wide, toothy grin.

"Our Little Girl is just too soft-hearted," Grandma said, placing a piece of tofu in Alice York’s bowl.

Grandpa also put some food in Alice’s bowl, then said to Finn, "If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be eating at all today."

Finn Hawthorne quickly shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice, not caring that it had just been on the table.

Alice York couldn’t help but smile. As she ate, she said, "There’s plenty of rice. Don’t choke to death."

One of Finn Hawthorne’s cheeks was bulging with food, and he spoke indistinctly, "You’re still the best."

Alice York glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Only just realizing I’m nice? Where have you been all this time?"

Finn Hawthorne regretted it too, but he didn’t let it show. He didn’t want any of them to read his mind.

Wyatt Sterling watched this exchange with a stony expression. His face soured even more when Alice York smiled at the kid. ’What’s she smiling about? Doesn’t she know how eye-catching her smile is?!’

"Wyatt?"

Grandpa filled three small cups with baijiu. He passed one to Mason Cheney, but when he offered another to Wyatt Sterling, Wyatt didn’t take it immediately. His gaze was fixed off to the side.

When calling his name got no response, Grandpa was about to wave a hand in front of Wyatt Sterling’s eyes. Luckily, Alice York spoke up to remind him, "Grandpa’s calling you."

His gaze was so intense it felt like a physical touch, and being stared at like that was making her uncomfortable.

Wyatt Sterling withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and accepted the cup of baijiu with a smile on his lips.

Grandpa then stood up and poured a glass of milk for Alice York and Grandma, pointedly skipping Finn Hawthorne. Finn didn’t seem to mind, keeping his head down as he ate.

Then, Grandpa raised his glass. "Today is a happy occasion, and the liveliest day our family has had, with so many guests here."

Grandpa’s eyes swept over the three men before finally resting on Alice York. "Our Little Girl has come home twice this year. That’s wonderful."

Alice York smiled, her eyes growing warm.

Grandpa didn’t want to get sentimental and spoil the mood, so he raised his glass again. "Come, let’s toast to everyone’s health, successful careers, and all your wishes coming true. Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

Mason Cheney’s expression changed the moment he finished his first glass. The baijiu burned his throat. He usually drank it as a mixer, unable to drink it straight. He had forced himself to drink it neat this once, but it looked like that one glass was his limit. A second was completely out of the question.

Mason Cheney turned to look at Wyatt Sterling and saw him looking completely composed after downing his glass. ’As expected of the Third Master!’ he thought.

"Come on, let me fill you up again."

"Hey, young man, what was your name again?" Grandpa asked with a wide grin, reaching for Mason Cheney’s glass.

Mason covered his glass with one hand and waved the other frantically. "You can just call me Mason, sir," he said politely. "I’m a lightweight, I really can’t drink anymore."

"Oh, alright then. I won’t insist," Grandpa said. He had good drinking etiquette and never forced alcohol on anyone.

Then, he turned to Wyatt Sterling. Instead of pouring immediately, he asked first, "Can you still drink, Wyatt?"

Alice York looked over. That full glass just now was not a small amount, but Wyatt Sterling’s expression hadn’t changed at all after drinking it. She knew he had a high tolerance for alcohol; after all, he had countless business dinners and social engagements. A few drinks were nothing to him, but...

What worried Alice now was that it was baijiu.

’No, I have to refuse for him, just in case something happens.’ Just as Alice York was about to speak, she heard Wyatt Sterling say, "My tolerance might not be a match for yours, Grandpa, but it’s more than enough to drink with you to your heart’s content."

Grandpa laughed. "Wyatt, those are some bold words."

Wyatt Sterling replied modestly, "Not at all, I’m just telling the truth. After you, Grandpa."

’This attitude...’ Grandpa thought. ’I really can’t find a single fault with it. No wonder our Little Girl has taken a liking to him. If he were to become my grandson-in-law, I’d approve too.’

So, feeling quite satisfied, Grandpa filled Wyatt Sterling’s glass to the brim. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

When they clinked their glasses, Wyatt Sterling intentionally lowered the rim of his glass below Grandpa’s as a sign of respect. Grandpa took note of this and grew even more pleased.

Seeing Wyatt Sterling drink one glass after another, Alice York was anxious to remind him to drink less. Suddenly, Finn Hawthorne took the glass of milk from in front of her, tilted his head back, took a gulp, and said, "Someone’s trying to show off. Don’t interrupt."

"Showing off?"

Finn Hawthorne licked the milk from his upper lip. "You really can’t tell?"