Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 32: The Beginning of the Nightmare

Ultimately, Thea Lynch wasn’t able to get out of the business trip.

Silas Cheney had a sudden issue and couldn’t go, so he asked her to go ahead with the assistant for the report.

"Why aren’t we flying? Wouldn’t that be faster?" At the train station, the assistant lined up behind Thea, dissatisfied.

Ahead, Thea was bowing her head, replying to Silas’s message.

For some reason, the train station was particularly crowded today, with a long line forming just for security at the entrance.

The assistant waited for a while, and seeing her put away her phone without a word, he frowned and shuffled forward: "I said, why aren’t we..."

Thea stood upright, interrupting him with a sharp voice: "Are you talking to me?"

Assistant: "Who else?"

Hearing this, Thea turned back and squinted at him, seriously asking, "Has anyone ever told you you’re quite rude?"

"No."

She curled her lips, sarcastically: "Well, now someone has."

Assistant: "..."

Seeing her turn back with a cold face, the assistant felt a bit baffled. It was only after passing through security that he came to understand.

"Foreman Lynch." Funny how they were classmates before, but now suddenly superior and subordinate, it’s quite hard to get used to.

"Those words are burning your mouth?"

The assistant twitched his mouth, "No."

"Foreman Lynch, why aren’t we taking a plane? I’ve checked the flights, plenty available. It takes just over two hours to Riverbend."

In the lounge, Thea leaned on the sofa resting, and just when the assistant thought she was asleep, he finally heard her reply, "No reason, just because I want to."

"If you find it bothersome, you can still catch a taxi to the airport now, no need to go with me."

They were going to Valiant tomorrow; there wasn’t anything urgent after arriving in Riverbend today, mainly just rest, so it wasn’t necessary to travel together.

After a moment of silence, the assistant decided to change the topic, "Foreman Lynch, I heard you’re a direct Ph.D.?"

"Hmm."

She kept her eyes closed, without elaboration.

The assistant pursed his lips and simply shut his mouth. He understood that getting close to Thea was pointless because she wouldn’t give even a chance.

Her face practically said, "Keep your distance," as if someone owed her millions.

Also, she’s quite contradictory, usually exuding a refined and well-mannered demeanor. Though he’s never heard her swear, her tongue can be sharp enough without profanity, hitting where it hurts, leaving people embarrassed.

He still hadn’t figured out her family background, but her aura, that proud arrogance, seemed very much like a young lady from a prestigious family. Her brother before looked quite wealthy. But if she was rich, why work so hard?

More zealous than small players like them without background, it didn’t make sense at all. The image of wealthy offspring he had in mind was more like carefree heirs, born into Rome, with no need to strive.

He had asked her previous assistant Leo, who acted mysteriously and didn’t say much, simply advising, "Focus on work, speak less. Though Foreman Lynch seems aloof, she’s even colder inside.

But if you work diligently, don’t make mistakes, and avoid trying to stand out before her, she won’t bother us."

"Really?"

"Of course, though I only worked with Foreman Lynch for a week and even offended her, she didn’t hold it against me and still showed some leniency. Don’t get clever, that’s the only taboo. Besides that, as a superior, she’s actually...quite decent."

——

They arrived in Riverbend by evening.

Thea had slept throughout the trip, and when she got off the train, her eyes were sleepy, looking gentle and innocent, lacking the previous strong demeanor and seeming more approachable.

The assistant turned to ask if she wanted to grab some food first, and as he turned, he fell into the captivating pool in her eyes, unable to extricate himself.

"No need, I’m heading back to the hotel. Suit yourself."

Thea didn’t look at him, pulling her luggage and bypassing him to go to the parking lot.

The assistant, a bit belatedly, followed, glancing at her secretly again, and it wasn’t an illusion; her gaze wasn’t as sharp, gently soft. Only at this moment did he feel they were of the same age, equal.

Of course, preferably if she didn’t speak.

Thinking about it, he even missed Thea when she couldn’t speak, though her attitude wasn’t much better, at least she wouldn’t say embarrassing things.

"Then I’ll go back to the hotel with you." He said.

She didn’t respond, though her ears could hear, she just didn’t care to reply.

But her indifference truly made one love and hate. Back in school, many knew about her physiological defect yet couldn’t help but approach her, not without reason for many flying into flames.

He still remembered the first time he saw Thea. It was said a little beauty transferred from a neighboring class, and everyone clamored during the break to go and see.

Once there, he squeezed to the front and caught sight of Thea quietly reading by the window. Some whistled deliberately at her, prompting her to frown lightly, coldly gazing out the window.

Just that cold glance, suddenly there were gasps in the crowd, none not marveling at her features. Privately, the girls were jealous, saying Thea looked overly striking, finding God too partial.

Even after knowing about Thea’s issues, her pursuers didn’t decrease. Some were genuinely interested, others just thought it was fun. He was half of each.

Initially, he was truly amazed, but knowing her situation later, felt beauty alone was useless, how could someone incomplete match him, and if they dated, how would his friends mock him?

His family was well-off, a well-known figure in school, with plenty of girls liking him, why bother with just one Thea?

Yet he couldn’t resist tagging along with buddies after school to see Thea, hearing how many she’d rejected, thus making a bet on who could win her over.

He believed he had the upper hand among everyone, but unexpectedly, Thea repeatedly shot him down. Initially, still bearable, until she impatiently smashed what he gifted and told him to get lost.

From then on, it became his nightmare. On the way from school, that man blocked him with a group and almost broke his hand.

Thought his parents would report it to find the person, but family funds suddenly faltered, they were overwhelmed, and blamed him for offending people.

He was expelled, and not just in Coronet or Westmere, even the entire northern high schools were impossible for him.

Throughout, he didn’t know who the man was, his parents weren’t clear either. Only certain was that he was Thea’s brother, a significant figure in Coronet.

Apparently...surname Qin.