I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home-Chapter 104: You Can Tell at a Glance He’s Interested in You
"Don’t worry, Nolan. As long as you’ve thought it through, that’s what’s important." Grace patted the back of Nolan Winslow’s hand reassuringly.
Nolan Winslow smiled. "Oh, by the way, your sister-in-law took your advice and went to the hospital for a check-up. The baby’s very healthy, but its position isn’t quite right, and it’s a little on the large side. The doctor said it would be best to deliver at the hospital."
"And I asked the doctor—it’s a girl."
Nolan Winslow’s face lit up with a brilliant smile.
He had wanted a daughter for a very long time.
He already looked every bit the doting father.
Seeing Nolan Winslow so full of life made Grace happy, too.
’This is wonderful.’
’In this life, Nolan wasn’t harmed by Ivy White.’
’His wife is safe, too.’
’Their family of four is happy and harmonious.’
"When my little niece is born, I’ll have to get her a wonderful gift."
During the meal, Brandon Winslow also talked about his plans.
He was bolder than Nolan Winslow, and Hayley wasn’t one to hesitate. But with two sons, they had spent a lot of money over the years and hadn’t managed to save much.
If they were really going to start a business, they would need some support from Grace.
"Grace, Hayley and I have talked it over. We’ve only saved up five hundred over the years. If it’s not enough when the time comes, you can lend us another five hundred. We’ll split the profits with you fifty-fifty." As Brandon Winslow spoke, he turned to smile gently at Hayley beside him.
Hayley smiled back at him.
Grace felt like she was being smothered by their public display of affection.
She rubbed her arms. "Brandon, Hayley, you two will be the ones running the business and doing all the work. It wouldn’t be right for me to take half. Twenty percent is plenty for me."
"No way. Forty percent, at least. If you don’t agree, then I won’t borrow the money from you," Brandon Winslow refused without a second thought.
After a moment’s thought, Grace could only agree.
Only then did Brandon Winslow look pleased.
At the end of November, news broke that the college entrance exam was being reinstated.
The first exam after the reinstatement was scheduled for December. Many people weren’t prepared at all, but they signed up anyway, just to give it a shot.
When Grace saw the news, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
She had been waiting for this day for a very long time.
’It’s finally here.’
She immediately took her ID card and went to register for the exam. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
A surprising number of people at the textile factory were interested in the exam, and more people signed up than Grace had imagined.
When May Callahan found out that Grace had registered for the college entrance exam, she did her best to avoid giving her new assignments so she would have more time to study.
Grace spent every spare moment at the factory during the day reading and working through practice problems. At night, she went back to her dorm and continued to study and drill questions.
She hadn’t taken the college entrance exam in her past life, so she had no idea how difficult it would be.
This exam wasn’t like the ones in the future. There were a huge number of candidates, but very few available spots. It was like an entire army trying to cross a single-plank bridge; even she wasn’t sure if she could make it.
Before the exam, however, another piece of good news arrived.
Grace won the Model Employee Award, the Most Improved Award, and the Proactive Contributor Award.
The prize money for the three awards wasn’t much, and the prizes themselves were just an enamel cup, an enamel basin, and a thermos.
But for Grace, it was a completely new experience.
It was a form of commendation and honor she had never imagined, much less received, in her past life.
When she stood on the stage to receive the certificates, her hands were trembling.
Scenes from her past life flashed through her mind.
She knew that she and Caleb Forrest were finally, completely in the past.
Now, she had a brand-new life that was completely her own.
"Grace Winslow, congratulations! You truly deserve this award."
"Grace Winslow, you have to treat us! You must be rolling in it with all that prize money."
When she returned to her seat with her prizes, her colleagues all started to tease her good-naturedly.
Grace laughed along. "Of course, it’s my treat."
That afternoon, she found time to go to the general store, where she bought lots of candy and cookies to share with her colleagues back at the office.
Everyone was delighted with the candy and cookies.
As the college entrance exam got closer and closer, Grace started to get a little anxious.
She couldn’t control her pre-exam jitters.
Every day, she forced herself to clear her head and focus on studying.
Yet her mind still felt completely blank.
The feeling only made her more nervous.
’After all, this exam is a major turning point in my life. If I don’t do well...’
As she was thinking, someone patted her on the shoulder.
Grace snapped out of her thoughts to see May Callahan looking at her with concern. "Grace, you look a little pale. Have you been under too much stress lately?"
Grace touched her face and sighed. "Ms. Callahan, this is my first time taking an exam like this, so I’m a little nervous."
"I keep having nightmares where I forget my admission ticket, or I oversleep and miss the exam."
May Callahan couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re a grown woman! Why are you acting just like my kid?"
"She gets terribly nervous before every exam, too."
"Don’t worry. Just treat it like one of your practice sessions. You’re so good at your job, are you really going to let one little test scare you?"
"Oh, right! I almost forgot why I came over. Someone’s at the gate for you."
Grace was starting to get paranoid whenever someone came looking for her at the gate.
She asked May Callahan uncertainly, "Who’s looking for me?"
"It’s that handsome military officer who’s been to the factory before. I don’t know what he wants, but he’s at the gate right now." May Callahan nudged her with an elbow, a suggestive grin on her face. "Is there something going on between you two?"
"That explains it! No wonder you turn down all the handsome young men at the factory who are pursuing you. Your heart’s already taken."
Archer Rhys’s face subconsciously appeared in Grace’s mind, and she couldn’t help but blush. "What are you talking about?" she retorted, flustered.
"There’s nothing going on between us. He’s my older brother’s friend. Don’t spread baseless rumors and ruin his reputation."
"I’m a divorced woman, and he’s never even been in a relationship."
May Callahan just smiled and shook her head. "I’ve been around. You think I can’t tell by the way he looks at you? It’s obvious he’s interested."
"Go on, hurry. He might have something important to discuss with you."
May Callahan’s words left Grace’s heart fluttering with uncertainty.
’Archer Rhys... likes me?’
’How is that possible?’
’He’s probably just looking out for me because we were friends as children.’
’After all, I did call him ’big brother’ for years when we were kids.’
With that thought, her anxiety eased considerably.
Grace put down her book and went to the gate.
Sure enough, she saw his tall figure standing at the gate from a distance. Bathed in sunlight, he was so handsome it was hard to look directly at him.
Grace’s heart began to beat a little faster. She lowered her head and hurried to the gate.
Her face was flushed from the short run, and her breathing was still a little ragged. She stopped in front of Archer Rhys and caught her breath for a moment before speaking. "You were looking for me? Is there something I can help you with?"
