My Wife is a Hidden Big Shot-Chapter 31: I’ll Be Your Sponsor

Lana Guthrie’s gaze fell upon Aurora Sinclair, sizing her up.

’Stella Sinclair’s calligraphy is decent,’ she thought. ’But I wonder about this Second Miss Sinclair...’

Someone in the crowd recognized Stella Sinclair, and whispers broke out. "Isn’t that Stella Sinclair? The president of the Calligraphy Association himself said he wanted to take her on as a disciple. Is that her sister next to her?"

"Must be! A while back, I heard the Sinclair Family’s Second Miss, the one who was away training in martial arts, had returned. That’s probably her!"

"She’s pretty, but her taste in clothes is unbelievably tacky."

"I heard the Second Miss Sinclair has been studying in some small town. She must be totally unsophisticated, nothing like Stella Sinclair!"

"Tsk, tsk... They’re both Sinclair sisters, but the difference between them is huge. Don’t tell me they brought her out today to introduce her to high society?"

"Please. High society isn’t that easy to get into. Stella Sinclair herself barely makes the cut. The Sinclairs are really getting ahead of themselves!"

"Shh, keep it down. Don’t you see the Quincys are here too?"

...

A flicker of contempt crossed Sue Quinn’s eyes, but she kept a smile on her face. "Second Miss, the Family Head has always said your calligraphy is excellent. Why don’t you go up and write something for us?"

Aurora Sinclair nodded.

Standing beside them, Jean Quincy instantly saw through Sue Quinn’s ploy. She shot several glances at Stella Sinclair, but Stella remained silent.

"But my cousin has never learned..."

Before she could finish, Stella Sinclair gave her a tug. Aurora Sinclair was already walking forward.

The black sweatsuit hung loosely on her frame. She ambled along slowly, hands stuffed in her pockets, causing the onlookers to frown.

’Why does the Second Miss Sinclair walk so slowly?’

’She’s not even anyone important. Acting so high and mighty... she sure has a lot of nerve!’

A few people scoffed and began to turn away.

Aurora Sinclair took the brush from the host and asked quizzically, "What should I write?"

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried to everyone’s ears, and her question once again became the butt of the joke.

"She doesn’t even know what to write. Is her head filled with straw?"

"So this is all the Sinclair Family amounts to. They have no one besides Stella Sinclair!"

"Hah, and she wants to enter high society? The nerve! I’m done watching this..."

Several of the younger socialites turned and left without a second thought.

Sue Quinn listened to the surrounding gossip, unable to suppress the glee in her eyes. ’From now on, the only true young lady of the Sinclair Family of Kingsford will be Stella Sinclair!’

The host, likely never having been asked such a question before, froze in embarrassment for a moment before replying, "You can write anything you like. Your name is fine, too."

Aurora Sinclair nodded, picked up the brush, and moistened the tip.

The chatter from the audience died down a little.

"She knows how to hold a brush..."

She lightly dipped the brush into the nearby inkstone, smoothed the tip, and laid the first stroke onto the rice paper.

Two cameras were positioned by the table to project her writing onto the large LED screen behind her.

The smile on Sue Quinn’s face froze.

Aurora Sinclair continued writing, finishing the first character of her name in a beautiful Slender Gold small regular script.

Next came the second character, rendered just as neatly and beautifully.

Finally, she began the last and most difficult character of her name. Sue Quinn silently prayed, ’She’ll mess it up. She has to mess it up...’

But Aurora Sinclair executed it in one single, fluid motion, from the first stroke to the last. It was so masterfully done that one couldn’t help but want to cheer.

Just then, a clear voice cried out, "Excellent—!" causing those who were already leaving to stop in their tracks.

Lana Guthrie strode to the table, picked up the rice paper, and examined it closely.

As she looked, she praised, "Your style has the spirit of Master Flora Guthrie’s work! Who was your teacher?"

"My teacher’s wife."

Lana Guthrie nodded again and again, a rare smile gracing her usually cold face. "Would you like to join the Calligraphy Association?"

Aurora Sinclair didn’t understand. She blinked, not answering.

Jean Quincy, snapping back to reality, was ecstatic. She shouted, "Yes! My cousin will join!" then rushed over to grab Aurora Sinclair’s hand.

Seeing how happy she was, Aurora Sinclair nodded as well.

Lana Guthrie immediately pulled out a business card and handed it to Aurora Sinclair, her voice surprisingly gentle. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Hmm... you are a bit young, but that’s not a major issue. There’s an entrance exam in the latter half of the year. Give me a call then, and I will be your sponsor."

Aurora Sinclair nodded, her expression unchanged, but the rest of the hall erupted into a frenzy. Though they didn’t know who this woman was, her words had stunned them.

To join the Calligraphy Association, one had to pass an entrance exam. To even qualify for the exam, a candidate either needed to have their work displayed in a city-level exhibition, like Stella Sinclair, or be sponsored by a Level One or higher member of the Association.

Clearly, this woman was, at the very least, a Level One member of the Calligraphy Association.

In the audience, Stella Sinclair bit her lip so hard her nails dug into her palms, her face twisted into a stiff, forced smile.

After they said their goodbyes to Lana Guthrie, Jean Quincy was beaming, unable to stop smiling. "Cousin, Grandpa is going to be so happy when he finds out! Hahaha..."

Aurora Sinclair glanced at the business card in her hand and stuffed it into her jacket pocket.

Just then, Stella Sinclair and Sue Quinn walked over, smiling as they congratulated Aurora. But the smile on Jean Quincy’s face faded considerably. She gave them a meaningful look and said, "Stella, Grandpa asked me to take Aurora to buy some new clothes, so we’ll be leaving now—"

Without waiting for Stella to reply, she grabbed Aurora’s sleeve and pulled her toward the exit.

Sue Quinn watched as Stella Sinclair stared at the two departing figures, the smile on her face slowly vanishing. Panicked, Sue lowered her head, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Stella Sinclair retracted her gaze, shot Sue a cold, emotionless glance, then pursed her lips and strode out.

***

Leaving the art gallery, Jean Quincy took Aurora Sinclair straight to a high-end shopping center she often frequented.

This was Aurora Sinclair’s first time in a mall since her return to Kingsford, and her eyes were wide with wonder.

She looked here and there, wandering about, and would vanish in the blink of an eye, leaving Jean Quincy exasperated.

If the Sinclair Family bodyguards hadn’t been following them the whole time, she probably would have lost Aurora right there in the mall.

"Cousin, let’s get something to eat first. We can come back and shop later—"

Aurora Sinclair nodded, clutching a cup of juice. Her face remained expressionless, but she somehow gave off a very docile and obedient vibe.

Jean Quincy suddenly felt she understood why their grandfather and Butler Sinclair were so fond of her.

That face of hers was just so deceptive. Anyone who didn’t know her would think she was withdrawn and unapproachable. But if you actually got to know her and paid attention, all that "withdrawn and unapproachable" nonsense was a load of crap!

She was simply a cool, docile girl!

Her disposition was as gentle as a little lamb’s.

With this realization, Jean Quincy looked as though she had discovered a new continent, the grin on her face growing wider and wider.

"Cousin, you’re not that much older than me. Is it okay if I call you Aurora from now on?"

Once again, Aurora Sinclair gave an obedient nod.

Jean Quincy chuckled to herself. ’Aurora is actually pretty fun!’

The two of them were heading toward the entrance of an upscale foreign restaurant when a group of older boys suddenly emerged.

Jean Quincy’s face fell instantly. She grabbed Aurora’s sleeve and spun around to leave, but it was too late.

A drawling, cocky voice called out from the restaurant entrance. "Jean, what’s the rush? I haven’t seen you in ages!"

Jean Quincy bit her lip and pretended not to hear, quickening her pace. But a dark figure behind them moved even faster, cutting them off.

Jean Quincy stopped, frowning and turning around. "Glenn Lockwood, what do you want?"

Glenn Lockwood was a member of the Lockwood Family of Kingsford, and a distant relative of the family’s current patriarch. According to their family tree, his was the collateral branch with the closest blood ties to the Core Lineage. As such, his family held a very high position within the Lockwood clan.

But Glenn Lockwood was a scoundrel who had teased and harassed her from elementary all the way through middle school. Zeke Quincy had gotten into countless fights with him over it. She had only truly escaped his pestering when they ended up at different high schools.

Glenn Lockwood sauntered closer, stopping about a yard in front of Jean Quincy. His eyes roamed over her insolently. "Jean, long time no see. You’ve gotten even prettier! Hey... and who is this lovely lady?"

His gaze was lewd and teasing.

Jean Quincy immediately pulled Aurora behind her, her expression wary. "I’m warning you, stay back! Or I’ll report you for harassment!"

A wicked smirk played on Glenn Lockwood’s lips. He snatched Jean Quincy’s hand, yanking her toward him. "It’s not harassment if it’s you. After all, you’re my future wif—"

"AHH—"

With a pained shriek, Glenn Lockwood was sent flying backward through the air. His back slammed hard against a mall pillar before he slid to the floor, clutching his chest and coughing violently.

"Glenn—"

"Young Master—"