Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO-Chapter 635 - 383: Scamming and Scheming to Accept Andrew Hughes as a Disciple
Sitting on the bay window, Nora Scott flipped through the original draft given by Crystal Hughes, her expression serious.
After finishing the last page, Nora asked, "Is this all first-hand data?"
"More or less."
Crystal, who was sorting through some data, responded succinctly.
Propping her chin with one hand, Nora smiled lightly and casually remarked, "Impressive."
Crystal glanced at her.
"Not done yet?"
Nodding slightly, Crystal said, "I’ve only managed to sort out a third of it. The rest is still being organized, mostly notes, can’t show you."
Nora raised an eyebrow.
Seems like there’s more to come.
After tidying up the manuscript in her hand, Nora stepped down from the bay window and placed it on Crystal’s desk.
Leaning against the side, her gaze fell upon an album, pausing slightly, and then she nodded her chin towards Crystal.
Crystal understood, picked up the album, and handed it to her.
Upon opening the album, it was full of various war zone photos, categorized by subjects, mostly focusing on the living conditions of residents, taking up the majority, while a smaller portion featured leaders at major events, along with pictures left from various attacks and skirmishes.
Nora estimated that these photos were just a selected portion, the number of photos Crystal had was surely far more than this.
"Did you take these?"
Nora looked through them expressionlessly, genuinely admiring Crystal’s photography skills.
"Half and half," Crystal said, "Some were gathered from peers."
"Really well taken," Nora sincerely praised.
Crystal: ?
Is that the main point?
After a brief pause, Crystal asked, "I’ve read your ’Little White Dove’, you must have collected quite a bit of data too, right?"
"Yes."
Nora responded.
After a pause, she added, "Got it from friends. Do you need any?"
When drawing ’Little White Dove’, her senior sister had just participated in a peacekeeping mission. She hadn’t been out of the hospital long and needed good rest, so she stayed home to draw this. She didn’t go out, and all the data was obtained through friends but she ensured the content was authentic and reliable.
"There are indeed a few issues, but..." Crystal seemed a little troubled, "Domestic reporters probably don’t have access to the information."
Nora chuckled lightly, tilting her head, "Coincidentally, my friend is abroad."
Crystal raised her eyebrows.
"His name is Kerry Burns..." Nora asked, "I heard he’s quite famous in your circle?"
Crystal was stunned, "The one who won the Carlos Non-Fiction Literature Award, dared to shove a DSLR into the face of a certain evil leader, and managed to trick an organization like KB into giving him a lot of money?"
"...Possibly."
Nora wasn’t very familiar with these specifics.
They met during a wilderness survival experience, become friends through intriguing conversations, he was straightforward and loyal, and when she asked him for information, he gave it without hesitation. Although he pursued her once... still, after being rejected, they remained friends.
Crystal stared at her incredulously.
Having read some of Nora’s gossip recently, when she heard netizens claim that Nora had wide connections, she didn’t grasp the concept, but now—
It was a little shocking.
"By the way—" Nora closed the album and suddenly thought of something, curling her lips, "He has an interesting perspective."
"Oh?"
Taking out her phone, Nora spoke slowly, "What the job has brought him is nothing but thrill and fun. Compassion is secondary. One must take care of their own emotions."
Crystal was slightly stunned but then understood.
Nora probably had heard about her situation... saying these words was likely her indirect way of offering comfort.
Crystal smiled gently, "Thank you."
After sending a message, Crystal’s phone vibrated.
Nora said, "I’ve sent you the contact information, and I’ll let him know in advance."
"Thank you."
Crystal expressed her gratitude once again.
Standing up straight, Nora said, "You get busy, I’ll go play with Andrew."
"Mm."
...
To get closer to Nora, Andrew Hughes was willing to put aside his practice books to have a chat with her now and then.
Midway through the conversation, Nora suddenly remembered something, "The card I gave you last time, did you recreate it?"
"Yes!"
Andrew nodded, quickly got up, ran to his bedroom to get the finished product, and brought it over to show Nora. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
He brought two pieces.
One was casually drawn by Nora for him before, and the other was recreated using thicker cardboard.
Identical, down to the smallest detail.
Nora raised her eyebrows in slight surprise.
Squinting her eyes slightly, she examined Andrew a few times, tossing the recreated piece up and down with her fingers.
She asked, "Is it fun?"
"Yes."
Andrew nodded.
So decisively, one reason was not wanting to go against Nora’s intention, another was... it was indeed quite fun.
A few cards, without glue or tape, no adhesion at all, just relying on some indentations and protrusions, are pieced together into a whole. Like Lego, but much more interesting than Lego.
Nora Scott asked, "Want to learn?"
Although she wasn’t as good as Antonio Easton... it’s a family skill, it’d be a pity if it were lost.
Andrew Hughes blinked, "Can I?"
Placing the finished product on the coffee table, Nora crossed her legs, sat up straight, leaned back, and then looked down at Andrew with seriousness, "You have to become an apprentice."
"Master."
Andrew immediately changed his address.
Chin slightly raised, Nora said, "Go pour the tea."
"Oh."
Not understanding the apprenticeship process, Andrew just assumed Nora was thirsty and immediately picked up a teacup, running around to pour tea for Nora.
Soon, he ran to Nora with the tea, offering it with both hands.
In the old days, apprenticeship ceremonies were elaborate, and when Nora apprenticed James Mason, she went through all the steps. But now, she skipped those, took the tea, sipped it, and considered the ceremony done.
Putting the tea down, Nora stared at Andrew, "Call me Master."
"Master."
Andrew called without hesitation, his voice crisp and clear.
Nora was extremely satisfied.
The favor she owed was finally repaid...
She just wondered if Antonio Easton found out she accepted an apprentice so casually, would he be so angry he’d scold her from beyond the grave.
Eyelids fluttered as Nora recalled the 108 rules Fátima once jokingly made up, and since she couldn’t remember, she simply abandoned it.
She leaned slightly forward, her elbow resting on her knee, and spoke leisurely, "I’ll tell you some rules."
"Go ahead, Master."
Andrew cleverly responded.
"First rule, never disobey your master. Which means, the master’s word is always right. You must follow the master’s orders."
"Oh."
Andrew nodded, somewhat understanding.
"Second rule, the family Mechanical Techniques mustn’t be shared. Which means, what I teach you shouldn’t be easily revealed to others."
"Okay."
Andrew obediently responded.
"Third rule..." Nora thought for a moment, then added slowly, "All Mechanical Techniques are based on the master’s sect. Which means, those others out there bragging, just watch, for sure you will be better than them once you’ve learned."
"..."
Though a bit hard to grasp, surprisingly, Andrew understood Nora’s words.
Arrogance aside, it filled Andrew with anticipation.
"Hmm!"
Andrew nodded immediately.
Nora squinted slightly.
This was a boy who loved to learn. Nora was in a good mood and temporarily taught him some basic knowledge, and he listened very attentively.
Moreover, Andrew caught on fast. Before long, he changed how he addressed her, calling "Master" frequently, circling around Nora without stopping.
When Crystal Hughes came out to pour water, she saw Andrew sticking to Nora and calling her Master. She was a bit stunned, but not knowing the reason, she didn’t pay much attention to the title "Master".
—Probably Nora taught Andrew a few math problems, and he was impressed by her eagerness.
It was strange since Andrew rarely got close to anyone. He had a somewhat good relationship with Marcus Shaw because he was mostly raised by him, following Marcus around since he was little.
Never had she seen Andrew this close to someone he had just met...
*
"Shall we have lunch together later?" Crystal asked Nora while drinking water, "We’re eating at home, then heading out around one or two in the afternoon."
"Sure."
Nora didn’t hesitate, nodded, and then thought of something, asking, "Where are you going?"
"There’s a technology exhibition today, meeting some friends. Andrew is interested, so we’re taking him along," Crystal answered truthfully.
"What a coincidence?" Nora raised an eyebrow.
"You’re going too?" Crystal was surprised.
"Yes," Nora smiled, "Shall we go together then?"
"Sure."
Crystal didn’t think much, agreeing readily.
The three of them had lunch at home, and then Nora drove, taking Crystal and Andrew straight to the technology exhibition.
The crowd was astonishingly large.
As soon as they parked, Nora called Pedro Langley to come meet them at the entrance, and then walked towards the entrance with Crystal and Andrew.
Unexpectedly—
Two people came to pick them up.
"Mr. Langley, Camilo Nogueira."
Andrew politely greeted the two.
Meeting Camilo’s gaze, Crystal’s expression faltered slightly.
And, the subtle emotions exchanged by those two at that moment were clearly caught by Nora.
?
This little secret...
